Minnie’s brow wrinkled in confusion. “Where are we?”
“This is my parents’ house,” John David explained. “I’ve arranged a meal for us here.”
John David turned off the automobile and went around to the opposite side of the car to let Minnie out. He escorted her up the stone walkway to the lovely house.
“Wow, the house is so beautiful,” Minnie breathed. The handsome gentleman, the beautiful estate, and delicious food? It was like something out of a fairy tale!
“Thank you.” John David knocked on the door three times, and it was almost immediately opened by a man wearing a black suit.
“Welcome,” the man in the suit said. “Please follow me.” He led John David and Minnie into a formal dining room that was covered in flowers of all shapes and sizes. A long table was set up in the center of the room.
The man pulled out one of the chairs for Minnie and helped her get situated while John David took the seat directly opposite of Minnie.
“May I get you anything to drink?” the man asked.
“I would love a glass of water.” Minnie smiled. “Thank you.” The man spun on his heel and exited the dining room. Minnie looked around the lovely space. Although the house was a bit smaller than the Sanders’s home, this house had less furniture and decorations, making it appear cavernous. “Your parents’ home is lovely.”
“Thank you,” John David said, barely looking around the room. “We choose only the best in the Samuel family.”
Minnie felt herself get nervous. She didn’t know what John David was getting at, and she didn’t particularly care to find out. Suddenly, she wasn’t sure what she was doing there. She tried to think of a topic of conversation. “It’s so nice that you have an automobile. We’ve been trying to get Cletus to get one for the family, but he refuses to.”
“Oh, really?” John David smirked. “I don’t know why he wouldn’t want one. They’re so much faster than waiting around for silly horses.”
“And I suppose they don’t have the same temperament as horses,” Minnie added.
John David frowned. “No, of course not. An automobile doesn’t have a temperament!”
Minnie opened her mouth to explain that she was joking, but before she could, the man in the suit came back in with her glass of water. He set it down in front of her, and she eagerly took a few sips of it.
Behind the man came a woman in a black dress carrying a tray with two small bowls on it. She handed a bowl to each of them, then left the dining room along with the man.
Minnie felt a little strange. At the Sanders’s house, everyone chipped in and helped out with serving dinner. At the Samuel house, it seemed like these people were there only to serve John David and his family. Minnie had a weird feeling about the whole situation. She tried to shake it off and focus on John David.
“Oh no!” John David hissed as he took the first bite of his soup. “It’s cold!”
Minnie took a spoonful of food and put it in her mouth. “This is delicious. I don’t think it’s too cold.”
John David’s face grew red. “Please excuse me.” He carried his bowl with him out of the dining room. Minnie fidgeted nervously at the table, running her fingers along the ivory linen napkin she had placed in her lap.
When John David returned, he no longer had his bowl with him, but his face still wore an agitated expression. “I’m very sorry about that.”
“No need to apologize,” Minnie replied.
“I expect the best from my people,” John David continued. “It makes me very upset when something isn’t to my liking.”
Minnie felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. She couldn’t help it. She really had gotten her hopes up that her date with John David would go very well. She had even daydreamed about what it might be like to become his permanent passenger in his automobile. But now she saw the real John David, she realized he was nothing more than a spoiled brat.
Minnie wondered if there was a good way to excuse herself from the situation so she didn’t have to stay any longer, but that didn’t seem to be an option. Instead, she concentrated on eating the rest of her soup.
Next, the servers brought in salads on small plates.
John David took one look at the plates and erupted. “I asked you to put tomatoes in the salads!”
The woman began to apologize. The man in the suit tried to talk to John David, but John David wasn’t having any of it.
“I don’t mind,” Minnie told John David. She was embarrassed by how much of a fuss he was causing about the salads. She tried to calculate how long the walk home would be.
“That doesn’t matter. I asked them to put tomatoes in the salads, and they didn’t. I expect only the best from my staff.”
Minnie wanted to point out that the staff were technically in service to his parents, not him, but she didn’t think that would go over well. She just wanted to get through the date as quickly as possible.
The woman took the plates away, still apologizing.
Minnie knew if Cletus or Edna Petunia were there, they would have had words with John David. Although they were wealthy, they did not approve of putting on airs or demeaning others. They would not have been impressed with the way John David ordered the staff around.
“That’s a lovely blouse you’re wearing.” John David smiled at Minnie. “Where did you buy it?”
“Oh, my sister sewed it for me,” Minnie explained.
John David frowned in disdain. “I didn’t realize something homemade could look like that. My mother prefers to go shopping in the city. You can’t get the best quality materials at the mercantile.”
Minnie had about had enough. “You know, Lewis, who runs the mercantile, is my brother-in-law, John David. I’d prefer we not speak rudely about the business of my relatives.”
John David looked taken aback. Just then, the woman server returned with two fresh salads topped with tomatoes. John David smiled and sighed. “Much better.”
Minnie busied herself with eating her salad. If she had food in her mouth, she didn’t have to talk. And that was good because she didn’t feel like she had anything to say to John David.
Fortunately, John David stayed mostly quiet as he picked at his salad. He held up a piece of lettuce with his fork and examined it. “This doesn’t taste as fresh as it should.”
The woman and the man in the suit brought out the main course next on little platters. They set the platters down in front of Minnie and John David and pulled the covers off. There were two prime ribs on the dishes.
Minnie wasn’t feeling very hungry. She thought about pretending to be sick so John David would have to take her home right away, but she didn’t feel comfortable lying, no matter how uncomfortable this date was.
Instead, she used her fork and knife to cut off tiny pieces of the prime rib. She ate a few of them, already feeling full by the heavy meal after the soup and salad.
John David ate his prime rib vigorously. “Thank goodness they didn’t make any mistakes with this. I love prime rib. It’s my favorite meal.” John David didn’t ask Minnie if she liked it or what her favorite meal was. In fact, Minnie felt like she was practically invisible.
After they had finished with the main course, the woman server brought in two small dishes filled with vanilla ice cream and cherries on top. Minnie was relieved. Dessert meant the date was almost over.
Minnie ate her ice cream as quickly as she could, but John David was savoring every last bite.
He frowned as he neared the end of his dish. “I do wish they had used a bigger serving dish. This wasn’t enough.”
“Oh, I’m full. I couldn’t eat a stitch more. Thank you again for a wonderful meal.” Minnie hoped that by complimenting John David, he would act like he was in a better mood.
“It was so-so. I hope you won’t hold this against me. I would like to see you again. You’re the prettiest young woman in town.” John David tried to rub his foot against Minnie’s shoe under the table. Minnie moved her fe
et so he couldn’t reach.
“I wouldn’t dream of holding it against you.” Minnie’s words were honest, but there were a few parts she wasn’t saying out loud. What she wanted to say was that he couldn’t pay her to go on another date with him!
The man in the suit came back to the table one last time and placed two small mints on the table. The woman came and cleared away the ice cream dishes.
John David popped one of the mints into his mouth and sucked on it loudly. “I suggest you do the same.” He grinned at Minnie, and Minnie knew what he was implying.
“I’ll save mine for later.” Minnie slipped the mint into the small pocket Penny had sewn into her blouse. John David frowned. “If you don’t mind, I think it’s time I get home. I don’t want to keep my parents up worrying.”
John David seemed confused. “But they know you’re with me!”
“Yes, they do. And they still expect me to be home at a reasonable hour while I’m living under their roof.” Minnie couldn’t believe she had to explain this all to John David. It was clear that he thought that the rules didn’t apply to himself.
“But I won’t get to show you the entire property.” John David crossed his arms and sulked. Minnie thought he was acting more childish than one of her nieces or nephews.
“No, you won’t.” Minnie held her gaze steady so John David knew she meant business. After a few more minutes of complaining, John David opened the door for her and walked her outside.
As Minnie climbed into John David’s automobile, she knew one thing for certain: John David Samuel was certainly not the love of her life.
Chapter 8
The evening after Minnie’s date with John David, she was unusually quiet at dinner. When anyone asked her a question, she responded with a single-word answer or a heavy sigh.
Finally, Edna Petunia had had enough. “What’s on your mind, Minnie? There’s clearly something bothering you.”
Minnie frowned and looked at the floor. “No, it’s nothing, Edna Petunia.”
“You’ve been sulking around this place for days!” Edna Petunia cried.
“I don’t want to trouble anyone,” Minnie explained.
“If you don’t want to trouble anyone, you have no business living in this household. We’re family, and family helps each other. Got it?” Edna Petunia loved to talk about how different members of the family helped each other out. Chances were, whatever the problem was, one of the members of the huge and talented family could solve it.
Katie and Hattie looked at each other and giggled. They loved their adoptive mother, but she did have a tendency to go overboard at times.
Minnie cleared her throat, and everyone looked at her. “I’m starting to think that I’m destined to end up all alone.” She hung her head forlornly.
Cletus hated to see Minnie so broken up. He stood up and walked over to her, patting her shoulders. “There, there, sweetheart.”
“Why would you say a thing like that?” Edna Petunia wondered out loud as Cletus sat back down at his place at the head of the table. “You’ve had more men parading into your father’s office, asking for your hand in courtship, than any of our previous girls! Of course you’ll find a suitable match!”
Minnie appreciated that Edna Petunia sounded so sure that Minnie would end up happy, but she didn’t think Edna Petunia understood how hard it was to be a young woman in a small town. “But the only men who have asked me on a date are not people I want to spend time with, let alone marry!” Minnie was on the verge of tears.
“Oh, please don’t cry, Minnie!” Alice said softly. She put her hand over Minnie’s.
“I’m sure there are other men in Nowhere who would love to court you, too, Minnie.” Theresa added. Minnie smiled gratefully at her sisters. She knew she was lucky to have such a supportive family.
“What about that man who works for you, Cletus? He’s unmarried, isn’t he?” Hattie asked. “He’s quite handsome.”
Minnie’s face turned a bright shade of red.
Cletus shook his head vehemently. “No, no. Well, yes, Timothy is single. But he’s my employee. He knows better than to chase after one of my girls.”
“What if he falls in love with one of us, though?” Alice asked innocently. Katie and Hattie began to laugh again.
“Absolutely not! I do not plan on mixing my business and my family, and that’s final. Is that understood?” Cletus looked around at each of his unmarried daughters. They all nodded their heads in agreement.
“It is a shame, though,” Edna Petunia remarked. “That young man sure is something to look at! If I weren’t already a married woman . . .”
“But you are a married woman.” Cletus grinned and squeezed his wife’s chin. He kissed her on the lips. “Luckily for me.”
The girls all smiled. They were used to at least one display of affection per meal.
Later that evening, once the dishes were done and everyone had gone upstairs to bed, Hattie and Katie stayed up whispering and laughing.
“Did you see Minnie’s face when I mentioned Timothy?” Hattie asked.
Katie nodded. “She was redder than a tomato!”
“What do you think that means? Do you think she has a secret crush?” Hattie thought about her sister and Timothy. It all seemed very romantic, the idea of Minnie and the new gentleman in town.
“I think she really does. And that gives me an idea...” Katie began to explain her plan to Hattie. She whispered the rest of the details. “What do you think? Will you help me?”
Hattie grinned in the dark room. “Absolutely.”
In the morning, Minnie accepted a ride from Cletus into town. As he chattered about his plans for the day, Minnie glumly stared at the horses. Just a few days ago, she had been so excited about all the possibilities for her future. Now it seemed most likely that she’d end up all alone. She was thankful for her family, but she had always pictured herself getting married and having children. She felt like her dream had been taken away from her.
“Minnie, are you even paying attention to me?” Cletus asked crossly as he flicked the reins.
Minnie turned to Cletus. “I’m sorry. I suppose I am a little upset.”
Cletus wasn’t having any of Minnie’s attitude. The young woman had her health, her beauty, and a family that loved her. “Nothing to be upset about, Min. You keep working hard and being kind to others. That’s the only thing you can do. Moping doesn’t solve anyone’s problems.”
Minnie sighed. She knew Cletus was right, but she felt so sad and broken up inside. Cletus pulled the wagon to a stop in front of the mayor’s office, and Minnie got out, still pouting.
“Chin up, Minnie!” Cletus waved goodbye as he took off to park the wagon and tie the horses to a post. Minnie trudged into the mayor’s office, not looking forward to a long day of tasks. Usually, she enjoyed her work, but she was in no mood for errands or small talk today.
Meanwhile, back at the Sanders’s house, Hattie and Katie were racing through their daily chores. They had woken up extra early to get a head start on the day.
“What are you two up to?” Edna Petunia called from the kitchen as she heard them dusting in the formal parlor.
Hattie poked her head into the kitchen. “Nothing!”
Edna Petunia frowned. “You want to go all the way into town just for lunch? What’s the occasion?”
Hattie and Katie stared at each other.
“His birthday!” Hattie exclaimed.
Edna Petunia looked sternly at each daughter. “You know very well that Cletus’s birthday was one month ago. If I have my math right, that means you’re about eleven months early for his birthday.”
Katie thought quickly. “Yes, that’s exactly right!” She and Hattie quickly returned to their chore of cleaning the formal parlor.
Edna Petunia shook her head. She knew her two daughters were up to something. It was only a matter of time before she figured out what it was.
Once they had finished all of their chores, Kat
ie and Hattie set off for Cletus’s office. When they arrived, Cletus greeted them at the door with a huge smile. “What a surprise! What brings you two here to my little office?”
Timothy watched curiously from his desk. He was still amazed at how many adopted daughters Cletus had, and he had trouble keeping track of them.
Katie smiled. “We just wanted to visit you at work in honor of your birthday!”
“Happy early birthday!” Hattie shouted.
“We brought you some extra food for lunch,” Katie explained, holding up a tin pail.
“To celebrate,” Hattie added.
Cletus frowned. He knew his daughters, and if he were a betting man, he’d wager that there was something they weren’t telling him. But for the moment, he was content to open the pail and see what they’d brought him. He peeked inside and saw freshly baked biscuits. “Oh my, girls. Thank you!”
Cletus took the pail over to the small table. “There are some plates in that cabinet.” Katie and Hattie got out a few plates. Cletus broke off a piece of one of the biscuits and placed it in his mouth. He sighed with pleasure as he tasted its soft, buttery consistency. “You have to try one of these.” Cletus held one out to Timothy. Timothy walked over to the small table and accepted the biscuit from Cletus. Both men began eating, and Katie and Hattie watched, pleased with their work.
“Wait a minute!” Cletus cried, and the girls froze. “My birthday’s not for another eleven months! What are you up to, girls?”
“The truth is—” Hattie began.
“It’s a surprise!” Katie interrupted her sister.
Cletus frowned. “You girls can be so odd at times. To tell the truth, I was about to take a stroll down Main Street to check on Minnie. She seemed a bit down this morning.”
“Oh, yes, that would be great,” Katie said happily.
“But didn’t you want to eat lunch with me?” Now Cletus knew something was up. The girls’ story didn’t make sense.
“We do!” Hattie exclaimed. “But we are worried about Minnie, too.”
Timothy’s ears perked up at the mention of Minnie. He still thought about her lovely face and kind, generous spirit. Although she would never go for a man like him, he still wished her all the best and hoped she was doing well. “What’s wrong with Minnie?”
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