by Kit Morgan
He reached the Smythes’, went to the barn in back and walked right in. “What’s the trouble?” he asked as Julian and Garrett slipped off a bale of hay and stood.
“We fixed it,” Garrett told him. “We got tired of waiting for you.”
“Gee, Morgan,” Julian said. “That girl has to be one of the prettiest things I’ve seen in a long time.”
There it was again, that prick of jealousy. “Oh, she’s all right,” he said with a shrug.
“All right?” echoed Garrett. “I’d like to stare at that every day. I don’t mind telling you, but when I found out Eva Brock got married, my gut felt like I’d just eaten a bucket of disappointment. I’d had my eye on her for a long time.”
“Whole lot of good it did you, especially since you never told her,” Morgan pointed out.
“How could I, when I was away at school?” Garrett asked as he plucked a piece of hay from a bale. He stuck one end in his mouth and chewed on it. “Maybe I ought to think about getting a mail-order bride.”
“Yeah,” agreed Julian. “What other options do we have? All the other girls in this town are either too old or too young for us.”
Morgan should tell them what he’d planned, but just couldn’t bring himself to do it. Best let them think that he and Daisy were actually courting. Otherwise, they might start flirting with her before Aunt Eunice left town. He could just imagine what she’d say about his two best friends eyeing his so-called betrothed. “You both are fresh out of college, just like I am. The difference is that you have more of a choice in the matter. If you send away for a mail-order bride, make sure you’re the one doing the sending. Otherwise you might be stuck in the same fix I’m in.”
“Fix?” Garrett asked with interest. “So are you still going to be seeing Miss Evers?”
“Yes, I am. And that means you two had better be extra careful. Bernice might set her cap for one of you.”
“Say no more,” Garrett said as he held his hands up as if to block the notion.
“Yes,” Julian agreed, “but we won’t have your aunt trying to arrange a marriage with Bernice’s parents over Sunday supper.” He pulled his watch out of his vest pocket and flipped it open. “Which, by my calculations, is starting in half an hour.”
Morgan groaned. “There’s nothing my aunt or anyone can do; not if I’m going to be marrying Miss Evers. Of course, the Caulders will be welcome to stay for supper.”
“So you’re really going to go through with it?” Julian asked.
“I just said so, didn’t I?”
“I’m only asking. You seemed so against it before.” Julian looked around the funeral parlor. “I guess I’d better go inside and see if my folks need help with anything. I don’t really relish going back to digging graves.”
“I’ll help you if you need it,” offered Garrett.
“Thanks. I’ll send word or come get you if I do.” Julian sighed. “Eva married an undertaker, did you know that?”
Garrett nodded grudgingly. “Yeah, I heard – about a hundred times from my mother.”
Julian and Morgan laughed. “So have I,” Julian said. “But don’t worry – when we’re ready, we’ll get ourselves some wives. And we’d better think about doing it soon, or Morgan will be way ahead of us.”
Morgan stared at them both. “Ahead of you?”
“Of course! Married, a baby on the way…” Garrett said.
“A baby!” exclaimed Morgan. “Egads, man, don’t rush me!”
“What’s the matter, Morgan?” Julian asked. “Don’t you want kids?”
“Of course … just not right away.”
“I’d like to have me a litter,” Garrett said with a dreamy smile.
Morgan rolled his eyes and shook his head. Of the three of them, Garrett was the one most likely to have his own tribe – he loved children, and they loved him. “Don’t worry, I’ll wait for you.”
The three men started for the barn door. “Remember how we used to say it’d be nice if we all got married and had children about the same time?” Garrett asked. “They’d grow up together, then watch us get old and cranky. I think about it more than I used to. I guess that means I’m maturing, doesn’t it?”
“We all are,” Morgan said. “We got out of high school, helped our folks with their businesses for a few years, went off to college when we all had enough money …”
“I already had enough money,” Garrett commented. “I was just waiting for you two.”
Julian and Morgan both slapped him on the back and laughed. “We appreciate it, Garrett, we really do,” Julian said. “Thanks. It’s nice that all of us came home about the same time.”
Morgan let out a weary sigh. “And now we’re all starting a new life at the same time.”
“Especially you!” Garrett chuckled.
Morgan said nothing and simply smiled. After all, what could he say?
* * *
Daisy sat on the sofa, sipping slowly from a mug of coffee. “What have I done?” she whispered.
You did what you always do, she thought to herself. Whatever it takes to survive, and you’ll survive this.
“Yes, I will,” she said aloud and set the cup on the table in front of her. She looked around the parlor and listened for any sign of Winnie. She had to be around somewhere
It wouldn’t do for Morgan and her to be left alone in the parlor for as long as they had. Did Winnie even know he’d left? Perhaps she’d heard him go, and had decided to run out back and use the privy.
Daisy thought about going to go look for her, but decided against it. She wanted to have a few moments to herself to think while the house was quiet. She had the job at the mercantile set up, so that was good. If she could also secure one at, say, the café, she should be able to earn enough to pay for her own lodgings, maybe even put some away. But how long was the job with the mercantile likely to last once Morgan’s parents found out they’d called off the wedding? Maybe she should concentrate on working at the café alone, but would that be enough? Well, there was always the dressmaker’s …
“When did Morgan leave?”
Daisy looked up to see Winnie standing in the parlor entrance. “A few moments ago. I’m sure I’ll see him tomorrow.”
Winnie came in, took a chair and sat. “What happened?”
Daisy smiled, but it wasn’t as sincere as she wanted. “We’re going to court to see if we suit.”
“Daisy, that’s wonderful – I’m so glad to hear it. How long do you think you’ll court?”
Daisy shrugged, and wondered what would happen if Morgan’s aunt left tomorrow. The courtship would be short indeed. “I’m not sure,” she finally said. “We just need to spend some time together.”
“You can stay with us as long as you like,” Winnie offered. “I’ll speak with Luke about it.”
“Mrs. Vander has also made an offer for me to stay with them,” Daisy reminded her.
“You’re welcome to stay with the Vanders, of course, but I really wish you’d stay with us. It’s nice having another woman around to talk to, not to mention help with things.”
This time, Daisy’s smile was heartfelt. “That’s so nice of you to offer. Thank you, Winnie.”
“You’re welcome. Besides, there isn’t a more respectable place for you to be than with the pastor and his wife.”
“You do have a point,” Daisy laughed, “but what about the Vanders? Aren’t they just as respectable?”
“Oh yes, of course. But I know Mercy Vander – she might have you helping out with too many things before you’re ready. You’ll have more peace and quiet if you stay here. But the choice is yours.”
“I suppose since I’m already here, I might as well stay. I hope Mrs. Vander doesn’t mind.”
“I’m sure she won’t.” Winnie studied her a moment, looked away, then picked up Daisy’s empty mug. “What will you do if it doesn’t work between you and Morgan?”
Daisy didn’t blink. Had Winnie heard their plan? If so, what did sh
e think of it? “If we don’t, then we don’t,” she answered. “In the meantime, I’ll go find myself a job and work on getting my own place. I’m not going to count on anything as far as Morgan Tindle is concerned.”
“That sounds … sensible,” agreed Winnie reluctantly.
“Morgan said he’d ask his parents about putting me to work in the mercantile,” Daisy informed her, to see how she’d react.
Winnie smiled. “That’s very kind of him. I know that Martha and Octavius couldn’t wait for Morgan to get home so that he could help out. It would be good for you to start learning how things are done around there, especially since you’ll be married to Morgan soon.”
“If we suit,” Daisy was quick to add.
“Of course,” Winnie said. “But I have a strong feeling you will.”
Daisy bit the inside of her cheek to keep from saying anything that would give the game away. “Really? What gives you that idea?”
“Oh, just a hunch.” Winnie stood, the cup in her hands. “Would you like some more coffee?”
What I would like is to go outside and hit my head against a wall a few times, Daisy thought to herself. How was she going to get through this without lying like a rug? She wasn’t sure. Maybe she should go down to the mercantile and tell Morgan she’d decided she couldn’t do it. “No thank you,” she finally said.
“Did Morgan say what time he’d come calling tomorrow?” Winnie asked, with a worried expression.
Daisy stared at her, a grimace on her face. “No, he didn’t.”
“Well, if he doesn’t come straightaway, then we’ll just mosey on down to the mercantile and pay him a visit.”
Daisy watched as Winnie disappeared down the hall. “Yes, let’s,” she called after her. She put her face in her hands and shook her head. “What have I done?” she mumbled through her fingers. She took her face out of her hands and stood. “Oh, Morgan, if only you’d wanted me from the start.” But he didn’t – and therein lay the problem for both of them.
Daisy sat again, when she thought of something she hadn’t before. In fact, she wished she hadn’t thought of it all. What if Morgan’s aunt never left? Would they have to marry against their wishes, just to keep up the pretense? No, no, a hundred times no – she wasn’t about to marry someone she didn’t want to, anymore more than Morgan was.
“Or would I?” she asked herself. If her situation with Morgan had been reversed, if he’d traveled all this way to marry her and no one had let her in on it, how would she feel? If she’d been adamant about not marrying until she was good and ready, would she marry him? No, of course not. “At least the man knows his own mind,” she whispered. “If only I did …”
She bowed her head and stared at the floor until Winnie came to fetch her.
Eight
All was silent in the Tindles’ dining parlor that night, the only sound the tick-tick-tick of the clock on the sideboard. Morgan sighed in relief when his mother came in from the kitchen carrying a tureen of soup and set it on the table. “Here we are, everyone,” she said happily. “Octavius, will you say the blessing?”
Everyone bowed their head as Morgan’s father said a quick prayer and the “dinner of death,” as Garrett had called it, got underway.
Morgan sat next to Bernice and wondered if it was considered improper. Her father sat on his other side, with her mother directly across from him, next to Aunt Eunice. His parents sat at either end of the table.
“How did you like school?” asked Matthias Caulder as he took the tureen from Morgan’s father.
“Quite stimulating, on many different levels,” Morgan said, choosing his words carefully. He didn’t want to give Aunt Eunice any ammunition to use to goad him to the altar.
“Stimulating, you say?” said Mr. Caulder. “How so?”
Morgan took the tureen from him. “Oh, intellectually, socially. I’m glad I took the time and earned the money to go.” He made to pass the tureen to Bernice, but she refused to take it. She just sat with a puppy-dog look on her face, as if begging him to serve her. Morgan gulped. It was going to be a long night.
And to make matters worse… “Don’t just sit there like a dolt,” Aunt Eunice snapped. “Serve the girl.”
Morgan flinched at her sharp voice. Reluctantly, but much to Bernice’s delight, he put a ladleful of soup into her bowl, then shoved the tureen down the table to his mother.
“I see no reason to go to college,” Bernice commented as she took a spoonful from her bowl.
“No?” Morgan said. “That’s too bad. I find a well-educated woman to be quite attractive.”
Aunt Eunice choked. Two can play at this game, Morgan thought.
“I couldn’t agree with you more, Bernice,” said her father. “What do women want to be educated for?”
Now Morgan was alarmed. He set his spoon down and stared at Mr. Caulder. “You mean, you wouldn’t want to see Bernice educated and able to do something other than clean house and raise children?”
“That’s what women are for,” said Mr. Caulder. “Isn’t that right, Eunice?” Both Mrs. Caulder and Morgan’s aunt looked up. “I mean, Mrs. Caulder,” he corrected himself.
Morgan tried not to laugh when he realized his aunt and Mrs. Caulder sat next to each other and shared the same first name.
“Yes, dear,” the woman answered, then went back to eating.
Hmmm, Morgan mused. Time to try another tactic. “In the mercantile business, one needs a woman with an education.”
Bernice’s spoon stopped halfway to her mouth as her eyes flicked to him. “Then it’s a good thing I can read and write well, isn’t it?”
Morgan’s stomach tied itself into a knot. Good grief! Did she already think they were getting married? “There’s a lot more to running a mercantile of this size than simply being able to read and write, Miss Caulder,” he replied with a don’t-be-silly chuckle.
She slurped up the soup in her spoon and ignored him. “Bernice has always been good with numbers,” said Mr. Caulder with pride. “Excels at them, I’d say.”
“Good,” said Aunt Eunice. “She’ll need the skills for doing such things as inventory.”
Morgan set his spoon down more forcibly than he needed to. “Speaking of which … I almost forgot to tell you, Father,” he said. “I hired on some extra help today.”
His father stopped eating and looked at him, as did his mother. “What’s this, you say? You hired someone?”
“Yes. By my calculations, we’re going to need the help what with Thanksgiving and Christmas coming. You know we always get busier in the mercantile this time of year.”
Mrs. Tindle nodded. “Smart thinking, Morgan.” She looked at her husband. “He’s right, you know. I was just thinking the other day how we needed to get some help. Of course, I did have someone in mind until someone else …” She looked right at Morgan. “… had other plans.”
It was now or never. “Which is why I hired Miss Evers,” Morgan announced.
Bernice dropped her spoon. But that’s not what made Morgan jump. One of her hands had been in her lap, but was now on his leg! His eyes widened at the contact.
“What?!” barked Aunt Eunice. “You hired that … that girl?”
“Yes, I hired Miss Evers to give us a hand, at least for a little while.”
“Whatever possessed you to do such a thing?” his aunt asked. “You didn’t want anything to do with her yesterday.”
“That was yesterday,” Morgan said casually. At the same time, he took Bernice’s hand with a thumb and forefinger and unobtrusively removed it from his leg.
His aunt’s eyes narrowed. “Well, you’ll just have to tell her the position has already been filled.”
Morgan raised an inquisitive eyebrow. “Really? I wasn’t informed that you were lending a hand, Aunt Eunice.”
“Well, I am. Bernice starts tomorrow.”
Bernice’s head snapped up from her bowl. “What?!”
Morgan suddenly realized he now had all the le
verage in the conversation. Time to put it to use. “I apologize for my aunt’s, um, presumption,” he told Bernice – at the same time quietly fending off her wandering hand again. Then he turned his guns back on his aunt. “But no, Bernice does not start tomorrow, because Bernice has not been hired,” he said sternly.
His parents looked at him, looked at Aunt Eunice, then back to him as if viewing a game of catch. The Caulders were likewise content to stay spectators for the moment.
Morgan continued. “You’re just here for a visit, dear aunt – not to run our family business.”
“And suppose I’d like to stay?” she posited, the threat in her voice obvious.
“Then you’ll just have to get used to Miss Evers being around.”
“Whatever is the matter with you?” she demanded. “Why on earth would you even want to be near that girl?”
Time to really let her have it. Of course, he’d have to make sure he didn’t burst into laughter when he did. “Because, my dear Aunt Eunice, Miss Evers and I are courting.”
“What?!” everyone said in unison.
Morgan bit the inside of his cheek to keep from losing it. If only Garrett and Julian had been here to enjoy this. If only Daisy had! “Why do you all look so shocked?” he asked calmly. “Can’t a man change his mind?”
“Pa?” Bernice squeaked. “What’s he talking about?”
Mr. Caulder stared at Morgan with a bug-eyed expression. “Yes, what are you talking about? I was under the impression that Bernice here was your betrothed.”
“You … you were?” Morgan replied, feigning confusion. “Who told you that?” Then lowly he turned to look at his aunt.
In fact, everyone was looking at Eunice at this point. “Morgan, it’s all been arranged,” she declared.
“Really?” he said skeptically. “And why was I not informed of this … ‘arrangement’?”
“What!” barked Mr. Caulder, aghast. “I thought it was your idea?”
“No, sir, I’m afraid not. I believe …” He drew it out, selling the act. “… I believe you’ve been misled.”