*****
After their trip to town, Brody immediately rode out to work with his men. Esther and Coral worked together in the kitchen with Coral giving pointers wherever Esther needed them. Once everything was started, Coral turned to Esther.
"It's time for you to learn something new. Laundry."
Esther made a face. It was bad enough she was doing dishes, scraping off other people's leftover food. Laundry? Actually putting her hands on clothing that others had worn and soiled?
"Do I need to learn today?"
Coral frowned. "It can wait until tomorrow. We don't have time for everything to dry after going to town today anyway. Today we'll wash the windows."
"Windows? Doesn't the rain wash them?"
Coral shook her head at her sister. "Not well enough. You want your house to look pretty and well-kept, right?"
"I want a maid to do that part for me."
"You don't have one here." Coral's voice was free of emotion. "I know you thought you'd spend the rest of your life being pampered, but it's not happening. You need to learn to do for yourself."
"All right. Show me how to wash windows." Esther was resigned. If she couldn't have a maid, no one would know it by looking at her house. As much as she hated it, it was her responsibility, and she had never been one to shirk.
When Brody came in for supper two hours later, the windows shone brightly. There was a fresh bouquet of flowers in the center of the table in a new vase Esther had purchased with the little bit of money she had left from the sale of her engagement ring.
He looked around and smiled, walking to Esther and kissing her cheek. "You've worked hard today."
Esther nodded. "Coral's teaching me to do several things I never thought I'd need to do."
Brody looked at Coral grudgingly. "Thank you."
Coral nodded. "I'm happy to help in any way I can. I appreciate you allowing me to live here until my birthday."
The door opened again and a young man in his early twenties stepped into the house with a bouquet of flowers in his hands. He held them out for Coral, and she took them with a smile. "Thank you so much."
The young man removed his hat and nodded. "You're welcome, Miss Coral."
Obviously you know my name. Would you mind sharing yours?" Coral asked directly.
"I'm Adam." The blond-haired blue-eyed cowboy was very appealing to the eyes, but Esther wanted to cover her nose at his smell. Of course, he'd been out on the range all day.
"It's nice to meet you, Adam," Esther said with a smile.
"You as well, Mrs. Finnegan." He dipped his head to his boss's wife.
Coral smiled sweetly. "I made dessert tonight. I sure hope you'll save some room for it."
Adam nodded, pulling out a chair for Coral.
She just looked at him. "I'll be helping serve the meal, but thank you for your kind manners." She hurried off to help her sister. "Did he really think I'd just sit there and allow you to do all the work?" she asked in a whisper.
Esther shrugged. "Well, you are entertaining him. Why don't you sit? I certainly have the ability to serve the meal."
"I know, but I wouldn't ever leave you to do it all alone. That would make me seem lazy."
Once the food was on the table, and Brody had said a prayer to bless the meal, Adam looked at Coral, clearing his throat. "So you're from back East?"
Coral nodded. "Yes, I've lived in Massachusetts my entire life."
"Oh, that sounds nice. I grew up in Wisconsin, but moved West, because I've always wanted to work with cattle. In Wisconsin, we did nothing except milk cows, grow wheat, and make cheese."
"Milking cows and making cheese sound very interesting to me. Did you ever actually make cheese yourself? Can you explain the process?" Coral leaned toward the young man, her eyes lit with enthusiasm.
Esther hid a smile behind her napkin. Coral was always trying to learn new things.
Adam shook his head. "No, ma'am. I left Wisconsin before I was old enough to do much of the cheese making myself. I only assisted my father."
"Oh," Coral said, obviously disappointed. "So what do you do for Brody?"
"Whatever he tells me to do. I'm willing to do anything as long as it will help."
Esther knew Adam was losing her sister, so she jumped in with a question. "What kind of books do you like to read, Adam?"
Adam made a face. "Oh, where I grew up there wasn't a school near enough to go to, so I never learned. My ma could have taught me, I guess, but I just never was inclined in that direction."
Coral's eyes widened, obviously shocked at the notion of not wanting to read. "I love to read. You can learn so much from books!"
"I think experience is the best teacher," Adam said, obviously annoyed by the turn the conversation had taken.
Esther watched her sister's face close, and she knew that Adam had been crossed off her sister's mental list of possible husbands. It was a good thing there were three more men who were scheduled to come over that week.
Chapter Eight
Coral confirmed what Esther was thinking as they lay in bed together that night. "I can't marry a man who doesn't even have a desire to learn to read. What is wrong with him? Everyone should make the most of himself. Doesn't he know what country he lives in?"
Esther smiled. "You may have to get used to the idea that not everyone is like you. I think you need to maybe set your expectations a little lower where men are concerned around here."
"But you got a good man who can read!"
"If reading is your main requirement, I'll tell Brody. He can avoid bringing home any other men that can't read."
Coral thought about it for a moment before nodding. "Yes, I think that would be best."
*****
Coral taught Esther to do the laundry the next day. As they were hanging the last of the clothes on the line, Esther frowned. "I think I'm going to hate laundry day more than any other day of the week." Of course, she hated all the chores she’d been taught to do. Managing servants would be so much easier for her.
Coral laughed. "Make Monday laundry day then. You'll get it out of the way, and you won't have to worry about it again for another week."
"I suppose I could do that. When Mondays aren't rainy. What do we do with the clothes on rainy days? Or when it's snowy? If we hang clothes on the line in the winter, they'll just freeze!" Esther had never paid attention to how things like laundry were accomplished, because she had always expected to have someone to do it for her, but she knew Coral would know. Coral knew everything.
"You hang them in the cellar."
"The cellar? All right. We'll pray for warm temperatures all winter, because that would be even worse than hanging them outside."
"We need to bake some bread today," Coral said. "Cornbread was fine for supper last night, but most men want real bread most of the time."
Esther nodded. That at least was something she felt like she could do.
Joseph came to supper that night. He had dark hair and brown eyes, and he was at least forty. Much too old to marry her sister. Esther wanted to tell him to go away.
He was quiet through the meal, carefully watching the two sisters and listening to the conversation. After supper, he asked Coral to walk with him. "I thought it would be nice if we had a chance to get to know one another."
Coral nodded, and Esther watched the two of them leave. Esther wished her sister would learn the feminine art of blushing and acting shy, but she knew her sister would tell her it was a waste of her time. She thought everything that didn't 'accomplish' something was a waste of her time.
Brody came around the table and drew her to her feet. "Do you think she likes him?"
Esther shrugged. "You can never tell with Coral. You don't think he's a little too old for her?"
Brody sighed. "I know he's too old for her, but he's my only man who can read and who is looking for a wife." Jasper could read, but he had made it clear he wasn’t going near Coral.
Esther frowned. "Well, w
e'll see what she says. We may have to have a small party so people can come and meet her."
He contemplated that for a moment before nodding. “We could do that. There are other ranchers in the area, and even a new schoolmaster.” He didn’t want her to have to go through the trouble of preparing for a party if he could do it more easily.
“A new schoolmaster? Is he young?”
Brody shrugged. “I haven’t met him yet, but I believe so. The school is on a small portion of our land that I donated for it. There are only five students. Jackson is his name. Jackson Smythe. He’s supposed to start doing church services in October as well. We don’t have a preacher close enough to take on that duty.”
She nodded. “Could we just invite him to supper? And skip the party? I would hope that a schoolteacher would be smart enough for my sister.” She rolled her eyes. “I know it seems like she’s never going to find anyone, but I agree that neither of the men she’s met so far are suitable.”
The door slammed open and closed, and the couple, who had been standing close, jerked away from one another to look at Coral. “That man! He told me that I should let him touch me in very inappropriate places so that he could be sure that what I had was all me and not cotton!”
Esther’s eyes widened, her hand going to her mouth. “I hope you didn’t let him!”
“Of course not!” Coral looked at Brody. “I’m not impressed with the men who work for you!”
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m sorry. Esther and I thought he was too old for you anyway.”
“Well, of course he was. I thought you were so desperate to be rid of me, you’d dump me off on anyone, or I never would have stepped out with him!” Coral rolled up the sleeves to her dress with jerky angry movements. “I’ll wash while you dry, Esther. I need to do some scrubbing to get rid of this anger!”
Esther hurried to her sister's side to dry the dishes as soon as she washed them. She'd seen Coral in a fit of anger, and it wasn't something she ever cared to see again. She was a good, caring woman, but if you made her angry, the world might just come crashing down on your head.
While they worked, Coral grumbled under her breath, and Esther carefully dried each dish, putting it away. "Why are men so ridiculous? Why can't they understand women need to be treated with kindness if they want to—to—do that to them?"
Esther grinned as her sister's enormous vocabulary failed her. "Probably because they don't need the tender feelings that go with marital relations that ladies do. A woman wants to know she's loved before she allows a man to touch her that way. A man will touch any willing woman."
"That's what I mean! Why aren't they more discerning? If word got around that I allowed him to touch me, all the other men would expect the same, but then they wouldn't marry me, because I was tainted. Men are stupid!"
Esther nodded, willing to agree with anything at that moment to appease her sister's anger. "They can be."
Coral sighed. "Are there no educated men with manners around here?"
"We talked while you were out with Joseph. We decided to invite the new schoolmaster over for supper. Brody hasn't met him yet, but he's heard good things. If he's the schoolmaster, he must be smart. And presumably, he's not a lecherous old goat. Hopefully, he'll be just perfect for you."
"You'd do anything to marry me off, wouldn't you? You're choosing him over me."
"Coral, you're being ridiculous, and you know it. He's my husband. There's no question of who I'll choose. It's my duty to choose his wants and needs over everyone's."
Coral nodded, her eyes filled with tears. "I know. I just—it's so hard to know I have to marry, and I'm not wanted."
"You know I want you here! The house is just too small. Maybe we could build a small cabin near the house, and you can come here for meals but have a different place to stay at night."
Coral sniffed, wiping her nose with her apron. "It wouldn't be safe. There are too many unmarried men here, and it wouldn't look right. But thank you for thinking of me."
They finished the dishes in silence. Esther glanced over her shoulder at Brody, who looked upset by the whole conversation. She wished she knew what to tell him. He had every right not to want her sister there, but her sister had a right to not want to marry just anyone. She felt as if she was caught between a rock and a hard place.
Immediately after the dishes were done, Coral flounced away to her room, shutting the door with a distinct snap. Esther walked to sit beside Brody at the table, taking his hand to hold in hers. "I'm sorry she was so upset. I don't know what to say to her."
Brody sighed. "I understand. It's got to be hard for her, but it's hard for us as well. I'm not going to force her to marry, but I do wish she could live at the boarding house in Morgan's Crossing or even live as a maid to someone in Sweetwater Springs. I don't know how to make it happen, though."
"I don't either. I really don't know what to do, but I don't want to hurt her feelings, and I don't want to upset you. I feel trapped."
"I can see that. Hopefully Jackson Smythe is everything she's looking for in a man. He's gotten good reports from the people who send their children to his school."
"Coral would make a good schoolteacher. It's too bad there's already one here."
"She wouldn't be able to live alone though. She'd still need to board with someone."
Esther frowned. "Where does Mr. Smythe live?"
"He's got a small teacher's house right behind the school house. A man can live alone out here, but a woman really can't."
"I suppose that's true. I just wish I knew how to make things better for my sister."
He brought her hand to his lips, kissing the back of it softly. "There are no quick answers. We'll find someone who will suit her perfectly. Someone that she will suit as well. She's a good, capable young lady. There's no reason she can't get married quickly with the number of men we have out here."
Esther nodded. "Of course not. Are you going to send a message to the teacher? And when will you invite him for?"
"I'll go first thing in the morning. School starts at nine, so I'll be at the schoolhouse at quarter ‘til nine, and he and I will talk. I'm sure he's going to want to meet her."
Esther hoped so. She wasn't sure how much longer things could go on as they were. Brody seemed more tense and upset by the day, and Coral was at the end of her rope as well.
*****
Brody had a quick talk with Joseph first thing the following morning, before heading to the schoolhouse. Surely the man would understand his predicament and marry his sister-in-law. He briefly considered settling a dowry on her, but that would be ridiculous. That was done with the upper class in England, but it sure wasn't done out West where there weren't enough women!
He rode up to the schoolhouse, seeing the smoke coming out of the small building's chimney.
Striding into the building, he called the man's name. "Smythe? You in here?"
The teacher was sitting at his desk. "I'm right here. How can I help you?"
"I'm Brody Finnegan. I want you to come for dinner tonight."
Jackson Smythe's eyes widened with understanding. "You're the one who donated the property for the school and my home. I thank you for that."
"And you'll come to dinner?" Brody pressed.
"Why?"
Brody sighed. "I sent off for a mail order bride, but she brought her younger sister. My house is too small for a wife and a sister. I need to find a husband for the sister."
"Oh?"
Brody studied the other man. He seemed like someone Coral would like. "She's real smart, and she knows it. I haven't seen anything she can't do. Her cooking is so good you'll be willing to do anything to marry her once you taste it."
Jackson looked at him for a long moment, his dark eyes narrowed in thought. "I suppose it won't hurt to meet her. What time?"
"Six. I'll see you then!" Brody left the building before the man had time to change his mind.
Chapter Nine
Est
her and Coral worked side by side throughout the following day. Coral was obviously distracted.
"How can I make you feel better?" Esther asked.
Coral shrugged. "I don't think there's any way. I'm doing my best to find someone, and I don't want you to think that I'm not. I just wish there was an easier way."
"Like having them send you letters, so you can choose from them? Like the mail order bride process?"
Coral laughed. "I wonder how men would feel about being chosen that way!"
"I have no idea, but I don't think you'll get anyone to agree to it."
"Oh, I know. I just wish I could."
They had supper in the oven, a cake cooling on the work table, and were sitting at the table darning socks. "I hate darning socks," Esther said staring down at the object in her hand.
"You hate all housework. How did you expect to be a wife and never do any housework?"
"Have you seen Jeremiah's house? And Mother never did any housework. She was too busy sitting around staring out the window." Esther looked at Coral. "Do you know why she did that?"
Coral made a face. "I have an idea, but I'm not sure you really want to know."
Esther frowned. "Tell me!"
"You know we're only nine months apart."
"Well, of course. Mother told me you were born early."
"Father had an affair while Mother was pregnant with you. When his mistress became pregnant, he talked Mother into pretending the baby was hers. She refused to leave the house during the entire time, not wanting to pretend to be pregnant. When I was born, she accepted me, and truly seemed to love me just as she loved you, but she never wanted to leave the house after that."
"I can see that." Esther looked at her sister. "I always wondered why we look nothing alike."
"That's why. According to Mother, I look just like the mistress. She was a short, stout, red-head, and she was full of vinegar. She said every time she saw me, she was reminded that Father had strayed."
"And she still loved you?"
Coral laughed. "Oh yes. Because she never liked Father to begin with. It was a marriage that her parents insisted on, but then they were unhappy with him after they found out about me."
Montana Sky: Mail Order Machinations (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 6