by Annie Boone
“There’s no chance she’ll take it easily. Or quietly,” she murmured to herself as she opened the door.
Her mother called out a welcome, but she focused on trying to wipe the mud from her clothes and clean up her book, as well. As she looked at it, she recalled what had happened to her last book. June glanced around and without anyone’s eyes on her, she hurriedly hid it in her large coat pocket.
“June?” her mother called.
Mildred was inside the kitchen baking, cleaning up the table as she went. Mary was there as well, sleeves rolled up and humming cheerfully. Her sister looked very happy, and June knew it was now or never. If she waited too long to tell, then it would make her sister more than furious when she found out. And it had to be better to tell her when she was like this than when she was already upset, right?
She waved softly. “Hello, I’m back. What are you two baking?”
Mary smirked. “You missed out. We’re making French bread. Some of the traders finally brought along some recipes, and Father brought them over during his lunch break. Apparently Uncle Jack has highly recommended we try to make some of these loaves. He says it’s the most delicious bread he’s ever tasted.”
“That’s nice,” June nodded carefully and glanced around, trying to find something to tug Mary away from their mother. “Um, Mary, could I… would you… which bonnet should I wear tomorrow? To church, do you think?”
Fortunately, that did the trick. Her sister perked up and wiped her hands on her apron as she headed over. She went around June and started down the hall to their room.
“Obviously the one with red trim, what are you thinking? It works wonders for your complexion, and you’ll need to make sure you don’t wear any blue ribbons. I’m wearing blue tomorrow, and I don’t want anyone thinking we’re trying to match. That was adorable when we were children, but no longer. Goodness, what happened to your skirt? It’s covered in mud.”
“What?” June glanced down as they arrived in their room. She thought she’d gotten most of the dirt cleaned away.
Mary had marched over to their wardrobe to start pulling out pieces only to look over and point at her skirt.
June shook her head, determined not to get diverted. “It’s not important. What is important is that I need to tell you something. When I went into town, I stepped in the general store and—and while I was there, I ran into Zeke Miller.”
Her sister’s face began to light up and June realized she had started this all wrong. Of course Mary was going to think this was about her. So instead of taking her time to lay everything out, June clasped her hands together prayerfully and rushed to the end of her story.
“After we spoke for a while, he invited me to the spring social. Now I know you wanted to go with him yourself, but he’s very kind and he listens to what I say and so I told him yes. I’m so sorry, but I really like—”
Mary screeched. “You did what?”
Before June could find anything else to say, Mary stamped the ground, clenching her fists at her sides. June hadn’t seen her this furious in a long time.
“How could you?” Mary cried out, banging the wardrobe door closed. “How dare you do that to me? June! I’m the older sister! I deserve him! What were you thinking? You’re just trying to make me mad because you can’t handle going to the spring social on your own. Is that what it is? It’s not my fault things didn’t work out with Josh. I tried for him myself and then I gave him to you! I tried to help you. And this is how you’re repaying me? I can’t believe you would be so heartless!”
“I didn’t do it to spite you,” June objected. “Honestly! Mary, I really like him.”
“No, you don’t! You just want him because I do!” Mary moved towards her sister when the door opened behind her. It bumped her in the back and June backed up to give her room. Then her eyes flew open wide as she saw their mother standing there with a concerned expression.
Mary was about to talk as Mildred started. “What on earth is happening here, young ladies? What’s all the yelling about?”
“She took him from me!”
But the younger woman gave her mother a pained expression. “I didn’t—Zeke’s the one who asked me, I swear it. I didn’t force him to do anything. He asked me to the social. I accepted. I wasn’t going to say no to something I want very much.”
“You’re trying to get married before me and I won’t have it! Don’t be so cruel, June. You couldn’t keep a man like Zeke Miller, anyway. No matter what you do, you’ll never be—”
Their mother tutted and shook her head, stepping into the room as she gave them severe looks. June looked away, feeling like she was ten years old again. Dread overwhelmed her and she wondered how this had happened. Swallowing, she allowed her mother to lecture them.
“Girls, girls, please. It’s best that you calm down. Mary, he wasn’t asking for her hand in marriage but for the dance. And I’m sure he’ll still save one for you.” Then she shook her head. “Besides, Zeke Miller isn’t a man whom either of you should be setting your cap for. Remember what your father and I said?”
She had the ability to quiet Mary as well, who now whined more softly. “But Mother, I was going to go with him. And she knew it! How would it look after all my talk, that he doesn’t take me?”
“Then maybe you should talk less,” June muttered.
“June,” her mother raised her eyebrow, “you know better than that. Both of you do, in fact. Now, as I was saying, he’s not the kind of man either of you should be considering. I insist that both of you move on and forget him. If you want to waste your time with him at the dance, June, so be it. But only for this one time and don’t expect anything more. Most importantly, do not encourage him about a future with either of you. That man may be handsome, but he has no prospects and no future and no business with my daughters.”
When she glanced around, she found Mary looking slightly mollified, fiddling with her skirts. Though Zeke was the sort that she knew she shouldn’t be with based on their mother’s assessment, June knew her sister liked a challenge just for the sake of the game. Perhaps if Mary thought lowly of Zeke, then she wouldn’t mind her sister dancing with him.
“Fine,” Mary muttered and shot her sister a dark look. “But don’t come to me worried about your dress or your ribbons.” And she stomped out of the room.
Sighing, June’s shoulders drooped and she turned to her mother to thank her. But the woman raised a hand. “Don’t. I’m not particularly proud of you for accepting his invitation, but I’ll allow it once. Now do try to get along with your sister, would you? She’s more important than any man. Especially one who has so little to offer.”
Then she sunk low on her bed, wondering about what she had done. June had been so focused on her own happiness, she hadn’t considered the possibility of it doing any harm. Closing her eyes, she thought of her mother. What if she never liked the young man? If no one in her family ever approved of Zeke, June couldn’t imagine ever being with him. She swallowed, and couldn’t imagine fighting for anything that her family opposed. She wasn’t strong enough for that.
Chapter 23
For the entirety of Saturday, Zeke couldn’t stop whistling. Granted, he was pretty good at it, and for another, he was just too happy to stop. Back to the shop, while he worked, and at home. Mr. Prater asked about it, but Zeke ignored him. The man had been chatty lately, as though they were friends. It annoyed him, but not that much when he was whistling.
For once he worked hard to be ready early for church the following morning, having his clothes prepared the evening before. Then he took his time shaving and combed his hair over and over until he was certain not one hair was out of place. Once satisfied, he went out to the front room where Mr. Prater was already there with his mother.
The whistling quieted, as he watched them. The older man was rubbing his bald head and saying something quietly to her, and though he didn’t look that merry, Mrs. Miller was laughing with a hand clapped over her mouth.
His eyes searched for that pretty little head, framed in soft red already sitting there patiently. Her head turned a few times, and he wondered whom she was looking for. Him, perhaps? Zeke pulled his hands out of his pockets and wiped them on his pants, making his way over.
Hardly noticing the rest of the family, Zeke leaned over the pew to greet June Pershing. “Good morning,” he offered. “How are you today?”
“Good morning,” she responded, smiling widely at him. It did his heart good, seeing her all dressed up and happy. “Won’t you come sit with us?” She motioned to the empty spot beside her, separating her from Mary.
Nodding eagerly, Zeke moved in. It pleased him more than anything to sit close to her, nearly touching. They exchanged side glances over and over, and she even shared her hymnal with him. The only problem he faced was that every time either of them tried to say something, Mary was on his other side jostling him.
The first brush against his elbow seemed innocent enough, but then her hand settled on his leg and he jumped, bumping into June. Glancing around, he carefully brushed the hand away and hoped no one had seen that.
“What’s the matter?” She looked at him innocently and batted her eyes.
The way she shaped her pout only confused him. “Um, nothing, I suppose.” Zeke tried to settle back down in his seat, fixing his coat and brushing his hair back into place.
Still, it happened a few more times over the next hour. “I’m trying to sing,” he would murmur when she would try to whisper in his ear.
Towards the end, June noticed and threw a look at her sister, but she didn’t seem able to do anything else, either. She gave him worried glances until church had ended.
To his relief, Mayor Pershing and his wife ignored him and wandered off to meet with friends. Mary shot him one final look, one he didn’t understand, and then went in another direction. Zeke felt his muscles loosen up and he turned back to June with a broad smile.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured close to him, her breath warm on his cheek. “I don’t know what’s going on with her.” June swallowed and stepped back with a shy smile. “But I’m still glad you joined us. Me.”
He nodded, fiddling with his hat in his hands. “Yes, me too.” He glanced around and carefully stepped out of the aisle, allowing her to do the same. “Have you started reading your new book?”
That made her beam with joy the moment he spoke. “Yes! It’s engrossing! A little more difficult than I had anticipated, I’ll admit, but I’m working on it. My grandfather lets me borrow his dictionary, so that’s been helpful.”
Chuckling, he put his hat back on. “I’m mighty glad of that, then. I’m eager to hear the details about it.” She blushed, and he smiled. “And it looks like the sun is going to be shining for it.”
June glanced out the window and replied, “I would definitely say that, yes.”
He watched her lips part to say something else, but a loud shout took his attention away. He looked at her with surprise.
Then they heard a horse’s whinny and then several more shouts. Immediately they turned to the open doors. Zeke took her elbow, keeping her close as they made their way through the curious crowd. He was certain he knew at least one of the voices that had yelled, and needed to know if he was correct. Then his throat constricted as he looked around, breaking through the crowd.
“Mother!”
Zeke left June behind to hurry to his mother who was kneeling beside Nancy, and there he found them hovering over Mr. Prater. The man was groaning, trying to sit up. Right away, he saw the blood seeping from the man’s twisted leg and winced before tugging the women away.
“Are you both all right?” he asked them as he helped them to their feet.
The young girl was in tears, and his mother looked as though she might be in shock. She held a hand on Nancy’s shoulder but kept turning to look at Mr. Prater. “Poor John, my goodness gracious. I think his leg is badly hurt,” Mrs. Miller said even though she seemed to be in a fog.
“Stay here,” he instructed. Zeke felt obligated to be of service, but as he glanced at the injured man, he knew there was little he could do. His stomach grew uneasy, but he started forward again.
Fortunately, there were already others offering their services. Doc Benson was there inspecting the limb, and there was the familiar face of Caleb Jefferson. He ran the blacksmith shop and had likely seen a few serious injuries.
“Doctor?” Caleb was asking the other man. Glancing around, some folks watched while the rest tried to leave without the children and women seeing anything.
John was conscious, at least. “Is Nancy all right? Where’s the horse? I don’t know what happened, I…”
The doctor pushed him back down, keeping him from getting up. “Don’t let him move,” he told the two of them. “John, try to stay still. Your leg is broken and I need to set it immediately. You were a fool, trying to help with that creature. This is what you get when people bring their unbroken horses to public places. What was Jack thinking?”
Caleb started. “It was Jack Pershing?” he scoffed. “Of course it was Jack. Him and those horses.”
Groaning, John shook his head. “As long as everyone else is all right.” He received a pat on the shoulder and then the men worked together to help him. Within the hour, his leg was straightened and tied to a splint, and then a wagon carried him home.
Nancy and Adele rode in the wagon, but Zeke stayed behind since someone needed to take John’s buggy home. He said farewell to June and the others before heading home and tended to the kitchen until his mother and Doc Benson got John settled.
She came in, exhausted. Fortunately, he had left a pot of tea going and poured her a cup, watching her curiously. She concentrated on the drink before finally turning to him. Zeke expected her to express gratitude, but her next words surprised him. “I know you’re still not comfortable with John, Zeke, but he means a lot to me. Losing your father was devastating. Then when you left, I had no one.”
Dropping his gaze, Zeke stared at the table. “I’m sorry, Mother, but I just…” except he knew he had no explanation for his actions. He felt useless and now, guilty.
Her mug slammed into the table, and he jumped, startled. “I’m happy and I expect you to support that. Grow up. It’s past time. And furthermore, you need to find happiness for yourself,” the woman said. There was a determined look in her eyes that he hadn’t seen before and it made Zeke think. She was still young, and always beautiful, but there was a definite weariness that had settled on her shoulders in the last few years. “Zeke, our time here is short. Losing your father should have taught you that. We have to value love. All are worthy. All.”
It was clear what she was saying. She knew what she wanted, and she didn’t have to answer to him. The woman had developed a new strength and clearly cared for the man deeply.
Swallowing, Zeke nodded and quietly stood. “Yes, ma’am. You’re right. I’m sorry,” he apologized, considering her words as he thought of June.
Chapter 24
She hadn’t been this angry in a long time. At first, she had dealt with the disbelief and shock. It sounded impossible, but now her traitor sister was acting as though she was innocent and Mary was all to blame. Mary had watched them cozy up during church and was deeply wounded by their actions.
Her throat closed and she couldn’t stop frowning. She wanted to cry, but that would be embarrassing. Why would he do that to her? And why would her own sister betray her in such a cold manner?
It was impossible. It just couldn’t be happening. She was the elder daughter—she had every right. And yet June thought she could all take it away. Well, she would show her little sister how much
she didn’t need her or her irrelevant beau.
If Mary wasn’t going to show up at the spring social with Zeke Miller, then by golly she would find someone else. Someone better. There were three weeks until the social. Monday afternoon brought her right into the midst of town, looking around for an eligible suitor. He didn’t need to be perfect, she granted this to herself, and he just needed to be there for the social.
If her sister was going to spend the time with a man who would never be a proper husband, then she could do the same.
The weather was warmer today and the sun was shining. This realization hit her with full force as she saw several strange men carrying bundles of tanned hides and thick furs across to the general store. They walked several horses and pack mules behind them and she grinned. Trappers and traders who were already heading back north to get more skins. Surely they weren’t in a hurry, right?
As she skipped across the street, Mary plotted her plan of attack, trying to decide which tactic would work best. She would need to move fast to wind at least one or two of them around her little finger. Men were susceptible to charm, and trappers were no different. If anything, she wouldn’t have to work as hard to keep their attention since they didn’t get to see women too often out in the wild.
She just hoped her Uncle Jack wouldn’t show up unexpectedly and mess things up. She’d keep her fingers crossed that he was already moving on to his next endeavor. If she was lucky, he was part of another group if he had yet to change vocations.
Holding her head high, Mary strutted right into the shop, bosom out and sashaying as she walked about. That was only the first step, of course, just to get them to notice her. And when she glanced back, she gave a small smile when one of them shyly met her eye. He would do.
As Mary snatched the first thing off the shelf she saw, a bundle of pencils, she was about to head over to him but there was another in her aisle who glanced at her as well. Perfect, she told herself and decided to start with him instead.