by Lori Wick
Clayton shook his head. It was disconcerting to be read so easily. He could probably sweet-talk circles around the lovely Miss Fontaine, but Eddie was right, he wouldn’t.
“Well, Mr. Taggart, I’d best get back to work.”
“Please call me Clay, or Tag, like my friends do.”
The adorable head cocked again. “Well, now, since I hope we’ll be friends, I’ll call you Tag.”
Clayton smiled at her, but a moment later his eyes went back to the door.
“Would I be out of line to ask how old you ladies are?”
“Yes,” Eddie told him good-naturedly, “but I’ll tell you anyway. I just turned 18, and Jackie’s 15.”
“And the rest of you?”
“You are nosey,” Eddie teased. “Danny is 13, Lexa is 12, and Sammy is 10.”
“Lexa?”
“Alexandra,” Eddie supplied. “Father calls her Alex.”
Clayton nodded, his smile back in place. “Well, Eddie, it’s been a pleasure. I hope to see you again.”
“Don’t tell lies, Tag,” she coined his nickname immediately. “You hope to see Jackie again.”
Clayton didn’t reply to this but threw her a huge grin. A moment later he’d climbed onto the buckboard and started the team toward home.
2
“Is that you, Clay?” his mother called from the bedroom as he walked in the door.
“Yes, I’m back.”
A moment later Elaine Taggart came into the kitchen of the small house.
“I think I got everything on your list.”
“Thank you, dear,” she said as she crossed the room to take one of the sacks from his arms and place it on the table.
“How’s Milly?”
“You can ask her yourself. She’s not had a fever today, but she’s bored with her own company.”
Clayton started toward the stairs that led to two bedrooms, Milly’s and his parents’.
“No, Clay, she’s in the front room. Settle in, and I’ll bring you both some lunch.”
Clayton walked quietly into the living room. His sister was curled on the sofa, covered with a light blanket. Her eyes were closed, and Clayton assumed she was asleep. His own bedroom was a small room right off the living room, and he stepped quietly inside to get a book. Returning to the living room, he took a comfortable chair. He opened the book and had read only the first page when he glanced up to find his sister’s eyes on him.
“You got a haircut,” she said unnecessarily.
Clayton’s hand went to the back of his neck. Since he’d arrived late last night and left that morning before she was out of her room, she hadn’t seen how much he’d needed one.
“Did you see Dad when you were out?”
“Yes. He’s just up at Silver Plume, and I would think he’d be home by the end of the week. Probably sooner if he’d known you were sick.”
Milly smiled at the thought. She loved her father dearly and missed him so much when he was away. The way she was feeling at the moment, she knew she would cry if she kept on thinking about him, so with a small note of desperation in her voice she asked, “Who did you see in town?”
“The regulars were at the barber shop,” Clayton began and then obliged her with a detailed account of all he’d seen and done. He finished with his talk with Eddie while in front of the general store and Milly spoke up.
“I met Eddie Fontaine one day when Mom asked me to take them some muffins. I think the youngest girl was there too.”
“About ten years old?”
“Yeah.”
“That would be Sammy. Eddie told me there are five, all told.” “And all with boys’ names.”
“Well, the nicknames their father has given them may be masculine, but they’re definitely feminine.”
“What’s Jackie like? Isn’t she the one my age?”
Clayton’s brows drew together. He did not usually speak ill of people, but Jackie was hard to describe. “She’s your age, all right, but I would say that you’re going to have a hard time liking her very much.”
“What exactly does that mean?”
Clayton dropped his eyes. He should never have put ideas into her head.
“I’m sorry, Milly. That was wrong of me. You might get along fine, but I sense that the move here wasn’t the easiest for her. Georgetown’s not Boston, and I don’t know how much of a sense of humor she has.”
“Is this your way of saying she’s a snob?”
Clayton grimaced slightly; his sister was no fool, but he’d seen something in Jackie’s eyes that was difficult to describe. Finally he replied, “I think she’s more scared than she is a snob, but it’s not going to come across that way.”
Milly nodded. Though she didn’t have a fever or headache today, she was still tired, and the conversation was wearing her out. It was a relief to have her mother come in with large mugs of soup and thick pieces of bread. Both Elaine and Clayton stayed with Milly while they ate, but she was soon in need of a nap. Mother and brother left her alone. Elaine had baking to do, and Clayton had some letters to open and answer.
“Okay, Dan,” her father panted. “Lift that end now.”
Thirteen-year-old Danny tried to do as she was instructed. She was able to lift the box, but it was just too heavy to move once she had it in the air.
“It’s too heavy.”
Morgan frowned at her, but the young teen took it in stride.
“Where’s Ed?”
“Reading a letter from Robert.”
The frown turned into a dark scowl.
“That’s quite a face,” Addy commented softly as she approached. A reluctant smile tugged at Morgan’s mouth. He could grow angry, and often did with nearly everyone in the world. However, just the sight of his precious wife was enough to calm him. She had given him all girls when he had specifically asked for boys, but he’d even forgiven her that. She now smiled into his eyes and put a gentle hand on his chest as she passed. Morgan took a quick glance around the store before he landed a quick swat to her backside. She turned indignantly.
“Morgan Fontaine! We’re in the store!”
“No one’s here, Addy,” he replied reasonably.
“You call Danny ‘no one’?”
“You didn’t see anything, did you, Dan?”
“Not a thing,” she told them with eyes wide to match her smile.
Addy shook her head in mock despair and heard Morgan tell Danny to go for Eddy.
“She’s reading a letter from Robert,” Addy informed him in a voice that caused Danny to stay still. Her mother had a way with her father.
The words still caused Morgan to scowl, but he said, “Then where is Jack?”
“Oh, she’s home, trying to figure out what to wear for the first day of school,” Danny informed him calmly.
“The first day of school is next week,” he grunted in mild exasperation. “Run home and tell her to come down here, Dan. Alex too, if you see her.”
Danny had only just walked from home and didn’t want to go all the way back, but she did as she was told.
“Thank you.” Addy’s voice came softly to her husband’s ears.
“For what?”
“For not making Eddy come.”
Morgan frowned. “I don’t like this correspondence with men.”
“Not men, man. Just Robert Langley.”
“I still don’t like it.”
“Oh, my darling,” Addy’s voice was still soft, “I wish you would accept the inevitable.”
“Meaning?”
“Morgan, she’s in love with the man. My sister said it happened the moment they set eyes on each other.”
“Lacey can’t possibly know such a thing, Addy.”
Addy looked at him for a few moments. He returned her look. “I’m going to ask Eddie about the letter tonight, and I want you to watch her reaction,” she said.
“I don’t know what that will prove.”
The bell rang, signaling a customer entering the store,
and Addy had time only to whisper, “Just watch.”
“Jackie,” her younger sister called as soon as she entered the front door of the deep, narrow, two-story house.
“Upstairs,” came a faint reply.
“Father wants you at the store.”
Danny was still standing right inside the front door, watching as Jackie appeared at the top of the stairs wearing only her underclothes.
“But I just got home,” she protested. “Where’s Eddie?”
“Reading a letter from Robert.”
Jackie was as easy to anger as her father, and had it been anyone else, she would have given vent to her temper. But Eddie had the same effect on Jackie that Addy had on her father, so Jackie turned back to her room to dress. Twenty minutes later she was at the store, her hair not even brushed. Still she was in trouble with her father for taking far too long.
“You’re much too worried about the way you look,” he scolded her, and Jackie, the only one of his five children to ever do so, answered back in equal anger.
“School begins next week, and I’ve nothing to wear!”
“You have a closetful of clothes and then some.”
“I hate all of them! I need something new!”
“I can barely get a moment’s work out of you, but you want new clothes.”
The 15-year-old’s mouth swung open. She had done nothing but work since she arrived in Georgetown, and the expression on her face reminded her father of that fact.
“Okay, Jack,” he conceded, “we’ll discuss your clothing tonight, but right now I want some work done.”
“All right,” Jackie acquiesced, but made it plain that she wasn’t happy about it.
Ten minutes later Eddie made an appearance as well, and much was accomplished before the store closed for the day. Addy invited Mitch to supper that night, but he declined with a gracious smile. He was tired, he admitted to Addy, and looking forward to the quiet of his spacious rooms above the store.
The Morgan Fontaine family made their way home. Addy was still amazed at how perfectly the large house fit them. The downstairs had a lovely parlor, a formal dining room that lacked only table and chairs, a large, spacious kitchen with a walk-in pantry, and a small bedroom off the back. Four bedrooms surrounded the huge landing upstairs, and there was even a room with a water closet and large freestanding bathtub. Addy praised God every day for His provision and could well understand why Mitch didn’t want to rattle around by himself in the large structure.
Hands were washed and aprons put in place, and after a half hour’s work in the kitchen where there were numerous chairs and a large table, they sat down to their evening meal. Morgan spoke for a time as they all began to eat, thanking his family for their hard work, but also urging them to work harder still.
Adaline remained quiet during his talk, but when Morgan appeared to be through, she broke in with a quiet question to Eddie.
“Danny mentioned that you received a letter from Robert today.”
Suddenly shy, Eddie only nodded and dropped her gaze to the edge of the blue-and-white china plate.
“How is he?” her mother persisted.
Eddie’s entire demeanor changed. She tucked her lower lip under her teeth, and her eyes shone with happiness.
“He’s fine,” she breathed.
Addy exchanged a swift look with her husband, who was frowning, before gently pressing her daughter.
“What did he write about?”
“Well.” Eddie’s face was still alight with love. “He says that he envies us the cool of the mountains. Boulder has been very hot. He also said business at the bank is excellent, but he’s getting tired of his small, downtown apartment.” She hesitated and then added quietly, “He’s looking for property and hopes to build a house someday.”
“That would be exciting,” Addy said smoothly before Eddie’s sisters joined in the conversation. They asked Eddie many things she didn’t know, but her shrug was so adorable that everyone but her father ended up laughing. He had stopped frowning but didn’t comment or join in the fun. His wife could see that he was determined to talk to Eddie directly after the meal, but Addy caught him while the girls did the cleanup. With her hand gently holding his, she pulled him down the front hallway and into the living room. She lit a lamp and spoke, her eyes looking seriously into his.
“You don’t like me to be right, so I’ll not ask you to admit it, but I must say this, Morgan. You’re certain in your mind that this wouldn’t be happening if we’d had boys, but I can’t agree with you. They would still grow up, fall in love, and move away. Some might stay, but certainly not all. We must accept this.
“Robert is a wonderful man, and Eddie has never disobeyed us. This is not some whim. If you forbid her this, it will break her heart. She’ll obey you because of the love between you, but you’ll crush her sweet heart until she’s positive she’s going to die.”
“But we don’t even know this man!” Morgan broke in in a desperate whisper.
“So let’s invite him for a visit and get to know him. Let’s encourage Eddie and not beat her down.” Tears filled Addy’s eyes. “My father never approved of you, but I ran away because you stole my heart. Before he died, my father realized he was all wrong about you. Eddie would never choose to rebel as I did, but you could be all wrong about Robert too.”
Morgan’s sigh was huge. He pulled Addy into his arms and just held her. He could never handle her tears. His sweet wife would never know it, but part of the reason that everything turned to success in Morgan’s hand was because Addy’s father had said it would never happen. Morgan Fontaine easily grew restless. They had lived in many places and he’d had his hand in many a business, but all had been successful, mainly because he’d been challenged.
He looked down now to where Addy’s head lay on his chest. She tipped her head back to see him, and he pressed a kiss to her brow.
“I don’t care what you say, Adaline, boys are easier.” He was doing his level best to sound stern.
“Be that as it may, Morgan, we have girls.”
Morgan only shook his head and kissed her again. It sounded like Lexa and Sammy were arguing over something, so he gently released his wife and moved to the kitchen. Morgan threatened to find additional chores to keep them busy until bedtime if the girls could not get along, and things quieted swiftly. Addy had come in slowly behind him, still praying that Morgan would accept what was to come. Her heart was greatly lifted when she heard him speak to Eddie.
“Does Robert ever talk about visiting Georgetown, Ed?”
“He did once,” she told her father, “but I wasn’t sure it would be all right, so I didn’t reply to it.”
“But you’d like him to come.”
Eddie’s anxious eyes flew to her father. She looked at him with such longing that she suddenly looked much younger than her 18 years. Her mouth opened, but no words came out. She finally just nodded.
“Well then.” Morgan’s voice had become soft. “I guess you’d better ask him.”
Eddie threw her arms around her father’s neck and squeezed him with all her might. He laughed and hugged her in return.
“Well, if you thought it was hard to get work out of Eddie before,” Lexa now commented, “it’ll be dang-near impossible now.”
“You shut your mouth, Lexa Fontaine,” Jackie told her in no uncertain terms.
“That’s a very good idea,” Addy broke in with a firm but much calmer tone. “And if you use that kind of language again, Lexa, I’ll find a bar of soap with your name on it.”
“Yes, Mother.” Lexa was suitably cowed by her mother, but when she turned away, Jackie received a dirty look. It did nothing to intimidate the older girl, however, and her lovely chin only rose in challenge until Lexa’s gaze dropped.
That night in bed, the incident with Lexa put out of her mind, Jackie had more questions for Eddie. The girls shared a very feminine room as well as a large, soft bed, and as usual, ended the evening with talk about the
day.
“Do you love Robert, Eddie?”
“Yes,” the older girl said softly. “I think I loved him right away but then thought it must be a crush. Then after we started to write each other, I knew it was real.”
“Do you get excited about living in a house that he built for the two of you?”
Eddie only laughed. Her mind hadn’t gone that far.
“I’m never going to fall in love,” Jackie declared as she got comfortable on the pillow. “I think men are a pain.”
“You might change your mind, Jackie,” Eddie said gently.
“Never! I’m still amazed that you spoke to that Clay Taggart today. I just hate him.”
Eddie smiled as she rolled to turn down the lantern, but didn’t speak. However, she was still thinking, You might change your mind, Jackie.
3
Clayton dropped Milly off at the schoolhouse on the first day of September and told her to have fun. Their father was still not home; he’d been expected on the weekend so that he could take his daughter to school. Milly had been disappointed but smiled at Clay anyway and then walked toward the group of other students waiting for the school bell to ring.
They had a new teacher this year, a Miss Bradley. None of the students had met her, but rumors were already circulating that she was strict. Milly knew some apprehension over this, but it was forgotten as she looked over to see the Fontaine sisters approaching. There were four of them, all with thick mahogany-colored hair and eyes in various shades of blue. Milly tried to remember their names. The oldest, the one she had met at the house, was not among them. She’d also met a younger sister and now spotted her, but still could not recall their names.
She was telling the Lord that she would make a good effort to get to know them today when she spotted her longtime friend, Padriac O’Brien. Milly would have gone to him, but his attention was riveted on something. It took a moment for her to see that it was not a something, but a someone—the oldest Fontaine girl. Indeed, nearly every eye in the group was on her. Milly’s mind grappled with her name and finally came up with Jackie.