“Heavens, I’ve known half these people my whole life and I never knew Gladys liked to quilt!” Charlie Sue said in amazement.
“Well who did you think made that quilt you got for Christmas from your father?” Gladys asked, a bit hurt.
“Why I thought he’d gotten it from the General Store, special order! You made that quilt? It is the most beautiful design I’ve ever seen!”
Gratified, Gladys beamed. “That’s how I help out with the household, making and selling quilts.”
“I’d love to see some of your work,” Barbara said thoughtfully. “I had an idea once for quilted jackets—plain fabric, not pieced—to provide extra warmth in winter. I’ve been warned yours here are even colder than those to which we are accustomed.”
Gladys looked doubtful. “I truly cannot make a dress, you know.”
“No, but if your quilting is good enough to sell, I’m betting you could work with pre-cut pieces to apply a pleasing pattern to create a thickly padded garment.”
Shaking her head in wonder, Charlie turned to Judith. “She really is crazy about designing clothes, isn’t she?”
Indicating her own gown and then sweeping her hand to indicate the entire room, Judith replied, “She created every single dress we are wearing today.”
Charlie looked around the room. As little attention as she generally paid to fashion, she was aware of the flair these city gals all seemed to possess, and had put it down to eastern sophistication. She glanced over toward Barbara with new respect for her talents.
Before long the chaperones were standing and everyone was helping with cleanup. The space needed to be cleared for tonight’s dance, and they each hoped to get a bit of rest before dressing for the evening. The pastors’ conniving had been a great success as many friendships had been forged throughout the room.
CHAPTER 26 – The Dance
Billy
Billy watched as the young ladies entered the room in a group, looking like flowers wearing the latest fashions, but he had eyes for only one, his Barbara. Something about her sad still face made him think of his mother.
But it was more than that. When she had written, he had felt she touched him. And when they had met at the train and he had taken her arm and escorted her the wagon, he had believed he belonged by her side. He just knew his guardian angel was there with him, just as his mother had told him she would always be. No one truly believed he could remember her, but certain scents always made him feel safe and secure.
He wasn't even aware he had started walking forward until he was in front of her and putting out his hand to her. His mouth spoke for him.
“It is wonderful to see you this evening Miss McKevitt. May I introduce you to some people?”
With a quick smile for the other girls she allowed him to escort her over to a pair of women who were talking with two young girls.
Billy leaned toward her and murmured in her ear, “I know by now you’ve probably heard more about Tri Brands Ranch then you ever thought you'd care to know but they helped sponsor your visit. These two ladies and Miss Mary's husband are the owners of the three brands that merged to make a single operation. I met Miss Mary at a horse sale in Texas and she asked me to come work for her. I'm right fond of horses.”
Barbara smiled up at him. He'd made that rather clear in his letters. It was somehow endearing to know how much he loved what he did.
More Introductions
He brought her right up to the group and introduced her formally.
“Miss Mary, Miss Dorothy, I'm sure you all met last night, but it does me great honor to present to you Miss Barbara Juliana McKevitt with whom I have been corresponding.”
Barbara raised her eyebrows in surprise at his formal mode. He had admitted to being relatively uneducated, so for him to use such a formal manner came as a surprise. The ladies all curtsied to one another and then Dorothy drew forth her young daughters and introduced each of them.
“Miss McKevitt, it is a pleasure to meet you again. Please, may I make known to you my daughters, Harmony and Melody? Harmony, Melody, this is Miss McKevitt.”
Each of the girls dropped graceful curtsies as well, as Barbara dipped her head toward them in acknowledgement.
“You young ladies are beautifully turned out,” she commented.
“My mama makes all our clothes,” piped up Melody.
Billy chimed in, “And that's why I wanted to bring Miss McKevitt over to talk with you, Miss Dorothy. She's quite a seamstress herself and hopes to perhaps earn a living at sewing until she is ready to settle down to marriage. I believe she made all the dresses for her group of friends.”
He nodded toward the young ladies who were beginning to mingle and be introduced.
Mary spoke up. “I have been admiring all their outfits. They seem to be in the latest mode.”
“Well, thank you,” replied Barbara. “I did try to incorporate some of the ideas from the most recent Godey’s Lady’s Book without going to extremes. Some of the highest fashion looks rather uncomfortable to wear, does it not?”
All of the ladies tittered softly behind their gloves and fans. Billy raise a finger to his neck cloth and tugged slightly in discomfort, before bowing to the ladies.
“Say, I believe I see the band about to start up, and I would like to claim this first dance with Miss McKevitt,” he turned to her, “if I may?”
Smiling, she gracefully excused herself to the ladies as she had been taught.
“It was such a pleasure to meet you again.”
“Yes,” replied Dorothy, “let's plan to talk soon. Perhaps after church on Sunday?”
“Well I will be attending the mass at Saint Mary's with Father Francis, but I understand Reverend Richardson's flock will be joining us all afterward for a social. I hope to see you then.”
Curtsies and nods once more shared all around, Billy escorted Barbara onto the dance floor. The band consisted of a few of the cowhands and some of the townsfolk who enjoyed fiddling. There was even a Spanish guitar quartet of music makers presently on stage. They started with a waltz.
Getting to Know You
Barbara was surprised to discover that Billy was rather accomplished at dancing.
“I guess I forgot to tell you that my brothers did make me learn certain accomplishments even though they didn't encourage me to go to school. They told me our mother had drummed into them how to be gentleman and they felt kind of guilty for not having bothered to teach me, so as I became old enough to attend dances they sort of made up for letting me run wild.
“Over the last few years they gave me a few lessons in society behavior. I had almost forgotten about it until you ladies arrived. The cow hands don't have much use for manners and such.”
Barbara was utterly charmed.
Despite his uneducated letters, Billy was a beautiful dancer and the first waltz ended far too soon. Both had been caught up in the music and their shyness, so hadn't spoken much, but their enjoyment seemed to glow from within.
Rather than returning to the edge of the dance floor when the music concluded, they paused together, standing perhaps a little closer than propriety would dictate, but not quite touching, ready to begin the next dance.
Changing Partners
Billy jerked when he felt a touch on his shoulder, then realized Sam was standing next to him with a grin on his face.
“My turn to cut in partner!”
And then Sam swiveled and bowed to Barbara, offering his hand for the next dance.
Knowing that conventionally she should only be dancing one dance with each gentleman she gazed back at Billy with regret and accepted Sam's hand with a gentle smile.
Sam simply did not have any grace on the dance floor. He had lots of energy and enthusiasm but Barbara made sure to take small steps, keeping her feet directly under her body in an attempt to avoid his stomping.
Fortunately, this was an open reel so that three-quarters of her dancing was with others in the set, although she winced when she heard Judith squea
l when her own toes were stomped. But everyone was laughing by the end of the dance, and as she was whisked away by one cowboy after another, the enjoyment of dancing enveloped her and all the girls.
Making Repairs
When she finally was permitted a break for refreshment, she found a small queue of girls awaiting her assistance with ripped and torn flounces from over-enthusiastic dancing.
Turning to look at the group on the dance floor, Barbara chuckled softly, tilting her head toward Judith to comment, “I think we need to design somewhat shorter gowns for use here.”
One of the other girls overheard her comment, which spread rapidly to the merriment of all. Barbara had brought her sewing kit with her, because wardrobe malfunctions were not unknown at dances.
She went over to where the children were being minded by a rotating group of mothers and older siblings.
“Do you mind if we duck behind you for a bit of privacy?”
Soon she was doing rapid repairs on their costumes so that the girls would not trip over drooping hems, grateful for a chance to catch her breath.
Emilene
She was surprised, when she looked up, to see Billy by her side offering her a glass of lemonade. His smile was still shy but there was a twinkle in his eye.
“The next dance is the supper dance, and I would be honored if you would be my partner.”
Barbara sipped at her drink. She was surprised to realize she had gotten through all the minor repairs and one or two more major ones.
“Do we have a moment to check on Emilene?” she asked.
“Always,” he replied simply, and followed her over to where Emilene was sleeping next to several other toddlers on a blanket. Soft toys were being cuddled by or scattered among the children. The girl who sat watching them grinned at Barbara.
“You wouldn't believe the chaos earlier and now look at them so sweetly dropped off to sleep despite all the ongoing noise.”
Having spent a lot of time at the orphanage Nursery, Barbara was well aware of the resilience of babies and shared the grin.
“You're Harmony, right?” Barbara asked.
“I'm surprised you remember my name among all the people you've met in the last day.”
“But it is such a pretty name and seems to suit you.”
Harmony dimpled and dropped her eyes at the compliment. Even from her sitting position she seemed to execute a small curtsey of thanks.
“You made right quick work of all those repairs. Mama was a bit put out at me for forgetting to bring my own mending kit and she has run out of thread. Our ladies don't have such fancy dresses so they don't get stomped on quite so much. Although I guess there are always these little accidents when you let those big boots get near pretty silk and muslins,” Harmony laughed.
An older women who had been sitting near Emilene came over smiling.
“My dear, I’m Ma Kenner, Suzanne’s mother-in-law. She says you met at the tea party.”
“Why, yes. I understand you have the next ranch over from the Tri Brands spread?”
“That’s right. I don’t suppose Suzanne mentioned that your little girl shares my name?”
Barbara’s eyes rounded like saucers. “You are named Emilene?”
Ma nodded proudly. “I’m named after my grandmother and she, after hers. Been in the family for generations, but Suzanne didn’t have any girls. I can’t tell you how pleased I am to know the name is carried on.”
Barbara smiled at Mrs. Kenner, but did feel she needed to set the record straight.
“My sister Emily named her daughter, and had her baptized, before she died. My niece Emilene is an orphan, just like me.”
“Oh, bless you my child. I am so sorry for your loss. But would you do me the honor of allowing me to become her grandmother? In spirit, if not in fact.”
Touched to the core, Barbara just nodded.
The Supper Dance
“I can hear the musicians getting ready to start the dinner dance. And I see you have your escort awaiting you, so you and I can chat later.” Ma Kenner made shooing motions with her hands.
Barbara smiled, bowing slightly, and turned back toward Billy, who escorted her to the dance floor. Again, a comfortable silence lingered between them and Billy cleared his throat.
“You know,” he said, “I am as taken with you in person as I was by your letters and your picture. I would like to ask your permission to court you formally. Do I need to talk with your matron?”
Barbara had found herself drawn to the cowboy from his first letter, and closer acquaintance had not put her off, but there was so much going on in her life that she needed to process, including the grief she was carefully tamping down. Biting her lip she took a deep breath, expelling it slowly and then looked up into his eyes as they continued their stately steps around the floor.
“While I am much inclined to accept your offer, I don't want to be hasty, and we have in fact only just arrived. Before I make any decisions, there is so much we need to talk about. I understand the two churches are putting on a big picnic for everyone after services. Perhaps we will have a few minutes then to chat.”
“Then may I sit with you at Mass?” he queried.
To that she smiled and nodded. They hadn’t talked about faith in their letters, but she found reassurance in his casual assumption.
CHAPTER 27 – The Picnic
St. Mary’s on the Hill
Efforts had been made at the orphanage to ensure those children who already had a place of worship would be able to continue in the faith with which they were familiar. So those ladies who were not Catholics joined the Barnetts and the other Protestants and set off to Green River Church, while Mother Evangeline and the remaining young women were escorted by Billy and Sam and the other Catholic ranch hands, as well as a few of no particular belief system, except that these were might pretty women.
Billy was at the ready to assist Mother and then Barbara from the buggy in which they were riding, and favorably impressed Mother Evangeline when he offered her his arm before extending his other to Barbara.
“My brothers made a point of teaching me to be sure I was always escorting the best looking woman in the room,” commented Billy, “and look at me, I’ve been blessed with two!”
For a moment Mother Evangeline wished she still had a fan with which she might rap his wrist before flashing it open and flirting over the top. Ah, but her debutante days were far behind her. Somehow this young cowboy, who did, she admitted, clean up quite nicely, had a polish one wouldn’t quite expect in a ranch hand.
Father Flanagan had begun his sermon welcoming the town’s newest inhabitants and praising them for their courage in coming to a place not only unknown to them but completely different from what they’d always known.
“The journey of these ladies is clearly an act of faith and trust in the Lord to deliver them safely.”
Then he went on to talk about faith.
“The particular church at which one worships is far less important than that one recognize and know God for all His blessings upon us. Keep in mind that Christ taught the parable of the Good Samaritan to show a pure heart and soul was not limited to Jews. Jesus looked beyond the label to the person.
“I feel blessed to live in Green River where it seems most people have taken His strictures to heart and offer fellowship and aid to each other when it is needed, out of their own goodness, disregarding the minor differences that make us each unique.
“St. Mary on the Hill parishioners have traditionally shared a Christmas pageant with Green River Church. Today we are joining together for a picnic to further welcome our new guests. While I hope this, too, becomes a regular event, I have to warn you newcomers that this is a working community. Tomorrow everyone goes back to work.”
This last was greeted with laughter from his hard-working parishioners, most of whom kept livestock and never really got a day off.
“Those of you helping set up, please meet Mrs. Henderson at the parish hall. Even
knowing the good Reverend Johnson is somewhat more long-winded than I, we will be hard pressed to be ready by the time he and his flock arrive, so any additional volunteers are welcome.”
Father Flanagan stepped down from the pulpit to continue the service, after which, instead of having the usual receiving line, he led the way to the hall and plunged into those remaining preparations that had awaited the weather’s input.
Green River Church
Perhaps not so surprisingly, Pastor Joe’s sermon mirrored Father Francis’. He’d assured Francis of the extra half hour with no qualms, as he was considered a fine orator and cared about his topic. Anyway, his congregation expected a solid sermon.
Curiosity was such that few in town weren’t planning to attend. Not everyone danced, but they all needed to eat. And besides those who could afford the help were hoping to take advantage of the various talents described in Mother Evangeline’s letters to her brother.
Several of the women were experienced in childcare, all had solid household skills, and a few had specialties that were in short supply.
“And besides,” commented one of the ladies, “did you see how stylishly they were turned out?” Glances were cast over to where several of the young ladies in question were seated, escorted by Tri Brand hands, to the discomfort of a few of the other young sparks in town who hadn’t settled on a future bride among those with whom they’d grown up.
That the fabrics were not expensive had not been noticed, when they had been so beautifully draped, twisted, folded, stitched, and decorated. Everyone who hadn’t already met them at the dance was anxious to greet these exotic creatures. Certainly these weren’t the pitiful creatures most had expected when they’d learned about the orphan mail-order brides coming to town.
Sorry, Francis, thought Pastor Joe as his congregation rushed past his reception line heading for their horses and wagons and buggies, ladies checking to be sure their covered dishes were secure. Because, blue ribbons at the fair notwithstanding, comments would be made about Sarah Mae’s fried chicken and Charlie Sue’s apple pie, and wouldn’t it be nice if my dish became talked of favorably, thought more than one woman wistfully.
Mail Order Barbara Page 7