Yet, even after she changed her clothes and went about her evening chores, her thoughts kept returning to the tall, handsome farmer. She felt rather disloyal even thinking of him. She had lost her Matthew only seven months ago. Surely that wasn’t long enough for her to be thinking about another man in this way.
Dear Lord, please forgive me. I know I’m lonely, but it’s not time to think of someone else, is it?
She struggled to put Calvin McAllister out of her mind and began by planning what cooking project she would first attempt with the girls. A good stew might be nice. And biscuits. Those should be easy enough. The art of baking bread would come later.
Liddy busied herself until bedtime and, as she settled down with her Bible once more, she thanked the Lord again for taking such good care of her. But as she closed her eyes for sleep, she couldn’t keep her heart from beating a little faster at the thought of seeing Calvin McAllister the next day.
Chapter 6
Liddy watched the clock the next afternoon as she waited for Cal to bring the girls out to her. Early that morning, she had baked several cakes and pies and delivered them to Emma. After that, she’d shopped for the material she’d promised herself. Today had been a good day, and a much easier one without the laundry to do for the hotel.
She heard the sound of horse hooves outside and went to the door with a smile on her face.
Cal helped the girls down from the wagon and turned to Liddy. “Don’t let them tire you, all right? They don’t need to learn everything at once.”
Liddy shielded her eyes against the sun. “We’ll be fine. How long do we have?”
“I’ll pick them up at sunset, if that’s all right with you?”
“That will be fine. We’ll have plenty of time that way.”
Cal tipped his hat to her. “I’ll see you then. Girls, mind your manners now.”
“We will, Papa,” they chimed together.
Liddy led them inside and found a couple of aprons for them to put on. “How does a menu of stew and biscuits sound to you, girls?”
“Mmm, sounds wonderful to me,” Amy answered.
“Me, too,” Grace said. “It’ll sure beat those old beans we eat all the time.”
Liddy chuckled and set the girls to work. Grace scrubbed the vegetables and Liddy showed Amy how to cut them in uniform pieces. Then, Liddy showed them how to cut up a chunk of pork by doing it herself.
She cautioned them about the use of the cookstove, and how they had to be really careful with the fire.
Amy looked over Liddy’s shoulder as she browned the meat and then she pulled up a stool for Grace so that she could watch as they added the chopped vegetables to the pot. Liddy added some water last, and they watched and waited until it came to a boil. Then she covered the pan and slid it into the oven.
“Oh, the stew already smells so good,” Grace said, as she helped with cleaning up the table so they could use it once more to learn how to make biscuits.
“It really does.” Amy agreed. “Won’t Papa be happy to smell that when he comes to get us?”
Liddy smiled, listening to their chatter as she got out the ingredients for the biscuits. “We don’t need to start these just yet. Let’s see. We have the stew and there will be biscuits. You have the pie for dessert.”
At their downcast faces and the shaking of their heads, Liddy chuckled. “You finished the pie already?”
Amy nodded. “It was just so good. Papa let us have some after supper last night.”
Grace shook her head up and down. “And we had the rest for breakfast and our lunch. Papa put a piece for each of us in our lunch pails. He didn’t even save a piece for himself.”
Liddy smiled. “Well, maybe we can think of something else for dessert.” Both girls smiled and nodded.
“We’ll make a quick peach cobbler. That will be easy, and we can use some of the biscuit dough for that.”
She led the girls down into the cellar and picked a jar of peaches she’d put up the year before. She pointed out where things were located, in case she sent either of them down for something. She was proud of her cellar. She’d canned everything she could get her hands on last year and would do the same in the coming months. She wanted to be sure that she’d have enough to take her through the winter so she wouldn’t have to spend quite so much at Jaffa-Prager Company. Or, if she was snowed in, she wouldn’t have to make the trip with a new baby.
The sun was lowering by the time they climbed the stairs once more. She showed them how to check the stew and prick the meat to see if it was done. Then they started the biscuits.
She let Amy cut the lard into the flour, baking powder, and salt, and showed Grace how to make a well and add the milk. Liddy cautioned them not to overwork the dough as she kneaded it lightly and turned it out onto a floured board. She let Grace roll out the dough and Amy cut out the rounds.
They both helped to put them in the baking pan. Liddy slid the stew out of the oven and put it to the back of the stovetop. The biscuits were slid into the oven. She talked the girls through opening the jar of peaches, adding a little sugar, cinnamon, and flour to thicken the juice, then mixing it well in a baking dish. Next, they rolled out the biscuit dough and cut it into strips to place over the peaches. The pan was added to the oven and they started cleaning up.
The smells wafting around them made Grace’s stomach start to growl, and they were all laughing when Cal knocked on the door.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Mr.—Cal. Time got away from us. This will all be ready in just a few minutes. Let me dip up some stew for my supper, and you can go ahead and load it into your wagon.”
“Papa, we made stew and biscuits and a cobbler from the leftover biscuit dough and, oh, I know it’s going to be so good,” Grace rambled.
“From the way my stomach is growling at those smells, I can tell it’s going to be great,” Cal said as he tweaked Grace’s nose.
He looked at Liddy as she dipped up a bowl of the stew for her own supper. “They did all right?”
Liddy smiled. “Why, they did more than all right. They are naturals. They’re going to learn very quickly.”
Both Amy and Grace beamed at her compliment.
Liddy handed Amy a pot holder. “Amy, would you like to check the biscuits and the cobbler and tell me what color they are?”
Anxious to show off some of her newly learned skill for her father, Amy took the pot holder and eased the oven door open. “They’re a beautiful golden brown, Mrs. Evans.”
“Then it’s time to take them out. Do you need some help?”
Amy shook her head and carefully lifted the pan of biscuits out of the oven. She placed them on the worktable and went back for the cobbler.
Cal sniffed appreciatively. “Oh, peach cobbler. That’s one of my favorites. You’ve outdone yourselves, ladies.”
Liddy took a biscuit for her meal and used clean dish towels to cover the rest and the cobbler. “There you go. A meal fit for a king. I hope you all enjoy it.” She smiled as she handed a pot holder over to Cal and then handed him the pot of stew. “Let’s get this to your wagon so that you can get home and enjoy it while it’s hot.”
They took the meal out to the wagon and carefully placed the pans so they would travel safely. Cal turned to Liddy. “Thank you. The girls look so proud of themselves, but I’m sure you did most of it,” he said in an undertone.
Liddy shook her head. “No, I didn’t. They had a hand in it all. I mostly talked them through the steps. I’ve found it’s much easier to remember if one does instead of watches.”
Cal helped the girls into the wagon, and they took turns in thanking Liddy for teaching them.
“What will we make tomorrow?” Amy asked.
“Yes, what?” Grace echoed her sister.
Liddy laughed. “I’m not sure. I’ll give it some thought tonight.”
Cal turned to her once more. “Oh, I forgot to give you extra money for the food. I’m so sorry. I’ll get it to you tomorrow.”
&
nbsp; “Don’t worry about it. I—”
“I’ll get it to you tomorrow. You plan whatever you want,” Cal interrupted her.
Liddy nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
She waved good-bye to them and went to catch up on her chores before she ate supper. The cow wasn’t too happy that she was late with her milking. Liddy promised Bessie that she’d do better the next day.
She went inside, pleased with the accomplishments.
As she ate her meal, she wondered how the McAllisters were enjoying theirs. She knew Cal would make his daughters feel wonderful about the meal they’d helped prepare. She could just imagine the proud and happy looks on their faces that they’d made their father a good supper. Liddy chuckled. A meal that didn’t include beans.
After cleaning up the kitchen, she lit the oil lamp and pored over her old cookbook. Luckily, she could teach the girls how to prepare many recipes before they had to learn how to cook those old beans and bacon.
Cal and his girls enjoyed the supper they’d cooked for him. The girls took turns telling him just how they’d done it, and he felt beholden to Liddy, for she’d helped them in a way that made them feel they could repeat the meal on their own.
Amy decided that she wanted a record of the recipes, so she hunted down a piece of brown paper and wrote down the directions Liddy had given them.
Cal helped Grace with the cleanup, while Amy made notes of what she could remember. Then, he gathered all of Liddy’s pans together to return them to her the next day.
He lit the lamp and put it on the kitchen table so that the girls could do the schoolwork they usually did while he was cooking supper. They didn’t grumble about getting to their lessons late. It seemed as though the cooking classes were worth the delay to them.
Cal settled in his chair by the fire and let peaceful contentment settle over him. He’d had a wonderful meal, and his girls were happy, excited, and looking forward to the next day. The only thing that could make this evening better was a wife to share it all.
Now, where did that thought come from?
He knew. It came from the empty spot deep in his heart that had been there since the death of his Mary. She’d been carrying their third child, and it had been a difficult time for her. The baby had come too early. Roswell did have a good doctor, and Cal had rushed to get him. But even he hadn’t been able to save either one of them.
The pain had eased through the years, but the loneliness he felt never quite went away. Cal usually just brushed it aside and got on with taking care of his girls.
And that’s what he did this time, as he checked their lesson and sent them to get ready for bed. He listened to their prayers and locked up the house before heading to his room. But, as he lay awake in the dark, he couldn’t help but wonder if Liddy Evans was as lonely as he was. Was it possible the Lord had brought them together for more than just to help her keep her land?
Cal remembered how pretty she had looked with her face flushed from the warmth of her kitchen, and those little tendrils of hair escaping around her face. Her green eyes sparkled as she’d watched Amy and Grace tell him about their afternoon. The girls liked her a lot, he could tell. And so did he. So did he.
The next few weeks sped by for Liddy. Cal dropped his daughters off right after school and picked them back up as the sun was going down. The girls were easy to teach and fun to be around, and while the evenings and nights were still lonely, Liddy kept herself busy.
She’d made herself one more dress, in a style that could be taken up easily after the baby arrived. Now she kept herself busy at night by sewing for the baby, baking for Emma’s restaurant, and planning the next cooking class for the girls.
School had been dismissed for summer on Friday, and she and Cal had decided that he would bring the girls over right after lunch each day. Liddy was going to teach them a little more about housekeeping than she’d had time for with school in session.
Cal would work his land in the mornings and hers in the afternoons. He had checked out the alfalfa and told her he’d start the first cut in a couple of weeks. It looked to be a good crop. If the next few cuttings over the summer were of the same quality, Liddy wouldn’t have to worry about making the rest of the year’s payments to Harper.
She was feeling pretty good, except for a few twinges in her back now and again. But it was getting a little more difficult to do the normal daily chores. Gathering eggs was no problem, but she was beginning to wish old Bessie didn’t need milking quite so often. Some of the items in her garden would be ready for picking soon, but keeping it clear of weeds was becoming quite a challenge. She was just finishing her weeding chores when she heard a noise. Thinking it was Calvin and the girls, she struggled to her feet and turned to find Douglas Harper standing in the middle of her yard watching her.
Liddy’s hand flew to her throat. “Mr. Harper. What are you doing here?”
Chapter 7
I thought I’d come out and see how you are doing, Liddy. I haven’t seen you in town lately.”
“Since I was able to pay the note ahead by several months, there’s been no need for me to come to the bank, Mr. Harper.”
He nodded his head and looked around at the alfalfa ripening in the fields. “You’ve got some good land here, Liddy. But it’s too much for a woman to take care of. Farming is a hard, unpredictable life for a man, much less for a woman on her own. It’s a struggle you don’t need, my dear. My offer still stands.”
Liddy felt nauseous at the very thought of his offer. “You know that I’m leasing my land to Mr. McAllister. You’ll be getting your money on time from now on. There’s no need to worry.”
Harper nodded. “Leasing might work, as long as you have a good harvest. Nevertheless, you have no control over the elements, my dear. A heavy rain or hailstorm could wipe you out, and take McAllister with you. He won’t be able to pay you the rest of what he owes you, if that happens. And you won’t be able to make your payments.”
Liddy hadn’t really thought of the risk Cal was taking. He’d already paid her a deposit. If something happened to both crops, he’d be the real loser, because she’d already paid much of it to the bank.
“She’ll make her payments, Harper.”
Liddy hadn’t heard the approach of Cal’s wagon, and the relief she felt as he walked up behind Harper was almost overwhelming.
Harper looked startled to find Cal standing there, but he recovered quickly. “You’re guaranteeing that, McAllister?”
“Look around you, man. She’s got a bumper crop this year.”
Harper nodded. “First cut looks good. But a lot can happen between now and the final cut. I wouldn’t count my chickens just yet.”
“No, we won’t. We’ll count on the Lord to get us through. And, unless I’m mistaken, Mrs. Evans paid several months ahead on her loan. She isn’t accountable to you until the next payment is due.”
Harper held up a hand. “McAllister, you have me all wrong. I’ve offered to pay off Liddy’s loan myself. Her well-being is of utmost importance to me.”
The arrogance of the man sickened Cal. When he’d spotted the man rounding the corner of Liddy’s house, he’d hurried his team as fast as he possibly could without alarming the girls.
Not wanting Harper to know how anxious he was that Liddy was here alone with him, Cal had rushed the girls inside and made it to the back of Liddy’s house as fast as his long stride could take him. The sight of her with both arms wrapped protectively around her growing middle told him how uncomfortable she was in Harper’s presence.
Cal slid a glance toward Liddy and his concern grew. Her eyes were huge and overly bright in a face that was much too pale. Hurrying to her side, he looked down at her. “I think you’ve been outside in this heat too long, Liddy. The girls are inside. Why don’t you go in and rest for a little while?”
Liddy looked from him to Harper and swallowed hard. She met Cal’s eyes again and took a deep breath. Then she nodded at him and headed for the hous
e.
“You take care of yourself, Liddy. If you need anything, you just let me know,” Harper called after her.
Liddy kept walking.
Cal clinched his fists to his side. Lord, help me stay in control. He took another step toward Harper.
“Oh, yes, I think I know how genuine your concern is, Harper. You try to force a woman into marriage just to get control of her land? That kind of concern, she can do without. You can take your leave anytime now, Mr. Harper,” Cal said.
“Who do you think you are, McAllister? I can call in this loan anytime I want to.”
“Mrs. Evans has paid ahead, Harper. It’d be unethical to call in that loan, and you know it.”
“Still and all, I can do it.”
“I wouldn’t, if I were you.” Cal took a step forward.
He wasn’t sure if he was relieved or disappointed when the banker turned and hightailed it out of the yard. Much as he’d have enjoyed the feeling of his fist meeting Harper’s chin, he knew it was better this way. No sense in making things harder on Liddy. She still had to pay off the loan. And the faster the better.
He unclenched his fists and watched as Harper drove his team away. He turned to find Amy running toward him.
“Papa! Something is wrong with Mrs. Evans. She’s in a lot of pain. Do you think the baby is coming now?”
Cal ran into the house and found Liddy in her rocker. From everything he remembered when the girls were born, he was pretty sure Liddy’s time had come. Her eyes tightly closed, she was gripping the arms of the chair, breathing in and out rapidly.
The pain seemed to ease, and her breathing slowed. She opened her eyes and looked at him.
“I think maybe—”
“It’s time?” he asked. Liddy nodded at him. “I’ll go for the doctor. Do you think you’ll be all right? Until I get back?”
Liddy eyes met his, and he could see the fear in them. “I think so. It’s a little early, though. Do you think it’s really time?”
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