by Annie Boone
Giggling, she teased him and touched his arm again, just gracing his shoulder with her fingertips. No pressure, just a slight caress. “Maybe.”
Of course, June had to interrupt. “The dance is a few weeks away, but there is a special music service at the little red chapel soon. Next Sunday, in fact. We always do it before the dance; it’s tradition. No sermon, just song after song. It’s one of my favorite ones to attend, you know. Anyone can sing. It’s very lovely.”
Slowly, Zeke nodded. “That does sound nice.”
Chapter 17
June hesitated as her sister clapped loudly. “Wonderful! Why, how about this? You should sit with us on Sunday! You must say yes, Zeke, please. Do say you’ll join us!” Her sister looked at the man in a way that reminded her of a fox entering a hen house, and June felt her stomach sink.
He hesitated between them before grudgingly nodding. Mary clapped again. “Oh, how delightful!”
June had to say something, anything. Just to stop her sister. “It is, it really is. However, I’m very sorry, Zeke, but we do need to be going now. I’m terribly sorry. Do you forgive us?” He nodded again and she brightened. “Oh good. And then I’ll see you Sunday?”
“We’ll see you Sunday,” Mary corrected her.
“Uh, yes,” he faltered but nodded again. “Of course, Sunday. This Sunday with June. And, um, Mary, of course,” he added hurriedly. Still, the younger woman blushed and her heated cheeks blazed with no way for her to stop them. “The Pershings, on Sunday.” He glanced around and finally put his hat on. “It was nice to see the two of you.”
Mary shouted after him. “Sunday!” Then she grabbed June who instinctively stiffened. “Can you believe it?” Mary cried out jubilantly.
Flushing in embarrassment at her sister’s noise, June ducked her head and tugged on her sister’s arm into the shop. “You don’t need to be so brash, Mary. Keep your voice down, would you? There’s no reason to attract such attention. You’re not a schoolgirl.”
But her sister was still dancing on her feet, humming loudly and clapping her hands together. June grabbed her arm, but she was too happy to listen. The younger woman watched as Mary danced up and down a row before taking a deep breath and fixing her hair up as though she hadn’t been sure it was perfectly set. She spoke as she did this, “I know, so there’s no reason to act like an old biddy, June. Honestly, no wonder Zeke is more interested in me than you. No one wants to be told what to do all the time. Live a little, for crying out loud.”
“What do you mean? And watch your language, Mary.” Her breath caught. What was she talking about? She was fairly certain, or at least hopeful, that Zeke liked her. That hope deflated as her older sister towered over her.
Mary crossed her arms with a smirk. “Wasn’t it obvious? I masterfully took charge and he fell in line. I gave him directions and he did just what I wanted.”
The statement made June feel queasy, which she realized was strange. After all, she used to do exactly the same thing. How had she lost interest in that kind of manipulation? Biting her lip, June glanced down at their feet as a sinking realization hit her. Mary was trying to win him and had no idea how June felt. It hurt that her sister was so single-minded that she never considered anyone else’s feelings. Clearly, she was unconcerned about Zeke since she was willing to do anything to get him.
June hardly knew herself how she felt about Zeke Miller, but surely her feelings were more than Mary’s false interest and desperate eagerness for a beau. “What?” she mumbled.
“Oh, you know. Bat your eyelashes, and all the boys fall over. The Lord did bless me with captivating eyes, after all,” her older sister teased her with a nudge and giggled loudly again. “A lovely summer wedding it will be. Just imagine!”
Swallowing hard, June watched her sister wander off since she’d already forgotten why they were in town. Touching her neck, June turned back towards the door as though she might see Zeke again, but he wasn’t there. Of course not.
“What’s the matter with you?” Mary groaned, returning to June’s side. The girl dragged her sister down the aisle, pausing to look at things as they went. “Honestly, you are very strange sometimes. Why, you were practically normal when we were talking with him. And then he left. Now you’re like this?”
Blinking, June remained quiet. She had hoped that subtlety would do the trick, that Mary would stop scheming. The fact that she knew more about Zeke than Mary did, the fact that she had still talked with him more than she had… but then again, the younger woman wondered, what if Mary wasn’t telling everything?
As they wandered around, she tried to read her sister’s face. Her eyes were bright and open, with a silly smile. Even her nose looked more pert. Mary was very pretty and June wondered if she was fooling herself.
“Do you honestly think Zeke Miller is very interested in you?” June’s voice grew much smaller than she expected, but she couldn’t help it. Fiddling with her fingers, she bit her lip and watched her sister’s expression in case it changed too drastically.
But Mary appeared satisfied. “Of course he is, June. If not more than just interested. He might not be in love with me, but soon he will be. And I believe he’s very close. Perhaps at church something will happen.”
“Like what?” June asked her hesitantly.
Her sister winked. “Oh, anything. It’ll be a lovely day full of singing. Hearts will be blooming with love, don’t you suppose?”
“Perhaps,” June muttered haltingly.
She swallowed and fell silent as she had a lot of thinking to tend to. Biting her lip, she followed her sister around, having lost all interest in being in town. They were supposed to be purchasing something, but she didn’t have the slightest clue what it might be, and she no longer cared.
After all, what if her sister was right? That feeling was not one that she cared to consider. Mary could have any of the men in town, but why did she have to aim for this particularly nice, handsome fellow?
As she watched her sister’s elegant figure flitter about the store, it seemed as if a darkness sank into June’s heart. She hated to admit it to herself, but she would have a hard time recovering if Zeke Miller did indeed marry her sister. Though being his sister-in-law would certainly mean she’d get to see him more often, a small inkling in the back of her mind told her that he and her sister weren’t a good match. He was too kind for Mary. That was a mean thought, but June couldn’t help it.
But her sister was right that there was nothing else to do for now. Sunday would come and he would sit with them. Perhaps between them, June supposed, so she could be close, as well. Trailing behind her sister, she forced herself to be patient and wait for church. Anything could happen, and if anything did, well, then she would know what to do after that.
Chapter 18
The building was rather small, one of the first ones built in Cutter’s Creek. There were several rows against the walls, some reaching all the way to the ceiling. They were filled with men’s hats, trousers, jackets, and anything else a man might need to dress smartly.
On the left side of the room stood a long counter, with a case for ties and small items and storage below. In the middle of the room on the back wall was a desk where paperwork and other tasks could be completed while being available to shoppers at the same time. On the right side of the room were shelves of materials for selection.
“It’s impressive,” Zeke Miller nodded grudgingly. “I must say, it’s just like the men’s outfitting shop in Chicago.”
The words slipped out before he thought of it, but by then it was too late. Mr. Prater had just settled his hat on the counter and glanced up with a curious expression. “Which shop?”
Zeke blinked. “Oh sorry, I just mean other shops I’ve been in. That’s all. So that’s all of your inventory then?” He tried to distract the man but he was dismayed to find he wasn’t good at it.
Mr. Prater cleared his throat delicately. “From the way you talk about this,” he waved a hand around,
“it certainly sounds like you know what you’re doing. In a retail establishment, I mean.”
He wanted to smile, but Zeke wasn’t even sure he liked the man. “Oh, it’s just from all of my classes. Business people have to, you know… always look their best.” He didn’t know where he was going with it and his comment trailed off uncertainly as the man peered at him through his glasses.
“That’s funny because I was going to say it sounds more like you know particularly about the work in a shop like this, a haberdashery. Or perhaps, a men’s clothing shop in Chicago?” And Zeke received such a look from the man, it reminded him of one of his professors who was well known to stare students down until they cracked. Perhaps they were related.
Glancing around anxiously, Zeke wiped his hands on his pants. “Well, perhaps I do know a little bit, already. Just a little bit. Inflation changed the price of tuition, things got more expensive, and the money my father left me didn’t go as far as I thought it would.” The words burst out of his mouth and the rest of Zeke’s story just spilled out. “I mean, I had just enough, but then there was nothing for housing or for food or even my books. And there was no way I could attend without any of those things. But I couldn’t ask my mother. I couldn’t, not since she was so proud to send me off after Father had saved up for so long.”
John Prater listened quietly. Taking it all in, he nodded along as he heard Zeke’s story.
“I couldn’t make it stretch far enough, so I had to work. That’s why I know about this business, don’t you see? I’ve already been a store clerk for a men’s shop.” His shoulders drooped and he looked down. “Don’t tell her about this. Please.”
Silence fell and he wondered how hard Mr. Prater was looking at him now. Zeke felt like a child again, in trouble and awaiting punishment.
A hand finally clapped on his shoulder. It was heavy but warm as the feeling turned comforting. Zeke took a deep breath.
“I won’t tell her,” Mr. Prater said, in a softer voice. “That’s not my place and I understand where you’re coming from.” Then Zeke was surprised to hear a chuckle and looked up. “It makes training so much easier now, wouldn’t you agree?”
From there, Zeke reluctantly found himself talking with John as they set up plans for their work. As they discussed blueprints for the remodeling, Zeke found himself confessing his dreams about studying financials more in order to run his own business someday. To his surprise, the older man took him seriously and began to ask questions, and Zeke told him about some of his new ideas.
As the days passed, his new job kept Zeke so distracted that he had forgotten his promise to join the Pershing sisters at church. On Sunday, Mary waited near the door when he arrived, however, and latched onto him the moment she could to lead him over to their pew.
She chattered incessantly, but Zeke’s attention slipped when he sat down beside June who looked up from her hymn book. “Hello, June,” he said immediately. His heart pounded loudly in his chest as he studied the girl’s smile.
“And hello to you,” she replied. Was he imagining things, or did her cheeks flush? Zeke tried to pull himself away from staring, but couldn’t. Not until Mary sat down, as close as she could.
He cleared his throat and finally looked back at her.
Mary smiled. “How are you?”
“Good, thank you. And you?” Zeke said automatically.
She beamed. “Just grand. It’s going to be a lovely day, don’t you think? Now granted, I’m also disappointed to be sitting in here with sunshine like that outside. Hopefully, it’ll still be sunny after church. Wouldn’t that be nice?”
“Yes, it would. Did you, uh, have a good week?” He tried desperately to find something else to say. Talking about himself always made him uncomfortable, but more around girls like Mary. He couldn’t tell what it was, he just knew he was always on edge.
By asking that question, Zeke had nearly five minutes to himself as Mary Pershing responded, waving her arms around until she settled a hand on his arm. “Oh, you let me talk for too long, Zeke. And how was your week?” Mary’s skirts brushed up against his leg as she scooted even closer and gave him a smile.
“Good,” he said automatically. “Things are going well. I’m busy again, with the new job and everything.”
Mary squealed. “Oh, I didn’t know you had a new job. June, did you know?” She crossed over Zeke to touch her sister. His eyes followed, looking at June’s face and wondering where her hands were. They were wrapped around her now closed hymnal book that resided right in her lap. If only he could reach out and touch one soft, white hand.
“I didn’t,” the girl agreed, and then met his gaze. Blood rushed through his ears as they shared a big smile. “Where are you working then, Zeke?”
He swallowed, finding his throat rather dry now. “At Prater’s haberdashery,” he mumbled. “Mr. Prater asked me to help out. He’s planning to expand.” Zeke’s voice faltered and he vainly wished he was able to speak more confidently, but something about June and Mary together made it more difficult.
“How exciting!” Mary suddenly chimed in, right next to his ear. “Oh, you must be so thrilled, Zeke Miller. That’s good experience so you can move on to other wonderful things. Aren’t you happy?”
There was a light in her eye that he avoided as he shrugged. Was he supposed to be thrilled about this? Since he’d already had a similar role for so long, it was difficult to tell or not what he was supposed to think about this. Cutter’s Creek made things work differently, after all. He thought about his future and found it difficult to pay attention when the music started.
“The singing was beautiful,” June murmured when the service came to a close. Everyone began to stand, ready to leave. “Don’t you think?”
He was fairly certain that she was speaking to him, but her sister replied instead before Zeke had a chance to open his mouth. “Just divine, I truly felt as though we were at the very steps of Heaven. Wouldn’t you agree, Zeke?”
He nodded. “It was beautiful.”
As Zeke turned to June again, Mary clutched his arm.
“It really was. And what did you think of the last piece? Which was your favorite? I do love the hymn, oh dear, what is it called again? I’ve completely forgotten what it was. Silly me.”
Shrugging, Zeke glanced back at June. “I liked the first one. June, what did you think?”
“The second one was my favorite, but that’s because I love Easter. Usually they don’t play any holiday songs, but the holiday is nearly here and I’m very glad they included—”
“Oh hurry,” Mary cut through and placed an arm on his shoulder. “Let’s step towards the back, shall we? It’s less crowded. We can have a private conversation there.”
Zeke tugged June along as Mary tugged him. The woman talked as she led the way, loud enough to be heard by most folks in the building. If she were a man, she’d be great at giving a sermon, he thought to himself. But as she talked, he glanced back at June who returned his wan smile.
She has a sweet smile, he thought. Much sweeter than that of her sister’s. Did Mary always talk this much? He remembered a similar occasion back in school when she just wouldn’t stop talking. Mr. Johnson, their teacher, was more than annoyed about it. He made her stand in the corner at recess.
At least her chatter gave him the time to consider June. He decided she was even more beautiful than her older sister. The color of her hair wasn’t any different from her sister’s, but there was something about the soft, unassuming way she pushed her curls back from her face that caught his eye. It wasn’t that she spoke more elegantly than any lady he’d ever met, but the considerate way in which she said it made him listen all the harder. At least, it did when she had the chance to say something.
The talk about a spring dance came back to mind, and he hadn’t been planning to give it much thought. But he knew that here in Cutter’s Creek, you always had a partner to attend those events. Smiling to himself, Zeke could picture himself dancing with
June. He’d already thought of that several times. Now, he told himself, he just had to find the right way to ask her to attend it with him before it was too late.
June, of course, not Mary. The trick would be how he was going to manage to get out of Mary’s clutches so he could take her sister to the dance.
Chapter 19
After the noonday meal, Mary wanted to take a stroll. This was surprising since she wasn’t planning a walk to town and she certainly didn’t take regular noon-day turns in the neighborhood. The only thing that really got Mary Pershing out enjoying the weather was if the activity involved some juicy gossip. If privacy seemed to be an issue, being outdoors was a desirable option.
June was reluctant to join her for this afternoon wander, mainly because she really didn’t want to hear what Mary had to say. Once her sister had pronounced her wishes for a walk, she found herself pulled down the hallway, and Mary shoved a bonnet on her head. Sighing, June gingerly tied the ribbons and wrapped herself up in her cape and scarf, straightening it all as they stepped outside.
“It’s a lovely day,” Mary cheered, scampering down the path. Her hands went up in the air and June instinctively stepped back, as though her sister might hit her. Instantly, she scolded herself for being so ridiculous, especially since they were at least two yards away by now. Not that her sister had ever hit her before, June reminded herself, but she felt on edge nonetheless.
Swallowing, she gave her older sister an uncertain smile. “Yes, I suppose. The sun is nice and warm. Before we know it, the birds will be singing in the trees.” Glancing up, she almost expected to see a robin in the nearby limbs. Hopefully, they would return in the next few weeks.
Mary suddenly reached out and grabbed her, forcing June to link arms with her. The sudden approach made the younger girl nervous, realizing that her suspicions would soon prove correct. There was no doubt her sister had something she felt was important to talk about. This was her way of doing it privately to avoid their parents.