KeepingFaithCole

by Christina Cole

  She didn’t sleep well. Maybe it was because she was at the shop, surrounded by frilly laces and glistening satins and silks, or maybe it had something to do with Bessie Morrow stopping by late Thursday afternoon for her first fitting, but for whatever reason, Lucille’s dreams were filled with blushing brides who gathered around to point fingers and call her that awful name no girl ever wanted to hear.

  Old maid.

  She did her best to put the troubling dreams out of her mind, but the memory of those taunting voices returned later that morning as she thumbed through a pattern book searching for clever new ideas she could incorporate into Bessie’s wedding gown.

  Pushing aside the book with its dog-eared pages, she wondered if she’d ever have a wedding of her own to plan. She’d always thought she’d be among the first of her friends to walk down the aisle. Instead, it looked as though, more likely, she would be the last…if she married at all.

  She wanted to get married. Heaven forbid she turn into some shriveled-up old spinster, feared by children and pitied by the townspeople. Now that Maddie Marlowe had taken up with that crazy recluse, Cody Bradford, the position had become vacant.

  The tinkling of the bell above the door drew her from her thoughts. Lucille looked up and smiled as Kat Barron stepped in. Her red-headed daughter, Kitty, stood close at her side, and in her arms, Kat held Joel, a rambunctious one-year-old, the spitting image of his handsome father.

  “Good afternoon, Kat.” Lucille rose and went to greet the young woman. Even now, she marveled at how much Kat had changed since her marriage. She’d once been an incorrigible tomboy, dressed in pants and work shirts and working alongside the ranch hands. Now, she’d discovered the pleasures of being a lady. “I’ve got your dress finished. It’s in the back.” She hurried to retrieve it.

  Moments later, dress in hand, she returned.

  “It’s beautiful, Lucille.” Kat’s eyes gleamed as she reached out to touch the elegant ivory silk. Little Kitty’s fingers grabbed the rich maroon ribbons that trimmed the sleeves. “Careful, darling, don’t spoil Mommy’s new dress.”

  “I’ll have it wrapped for you,” Lucille offered. “Charlotte,” she called, retreating to the rear of the store again where the woman stood swiping a feather duster over a row of shelves. Wrapping garments had been another task added to her list of responsibilities. “Make sure you tie the strings carefully, all right?”

  She hurried back to the sales counter.

  “You are going to the statehood celebration, aren’t you?” Kat asked. She shifted Joel from one hip to the other, then fished a handful of bills from her reticule and dropped them onto the surface.

  “No, I’m not.” She shook her head. “From what I’ve heard, the town is going all out.” Lucille slipped the money into the cash drawer. Sunset had planned quite a celebration. First, the official statehood proclamation would be read by the mayor. Later, copies of it would be pasted on every wall of every shop in town. Lucille smiled and glanced toward the place of honor where she intended to hang a copy of the document once it arrived from the printer.

  “You should go.” Kat replied. “It’s the most exciting thing that’s happened around here in years. There will be music, you know, and dancing.”

  Lucille had once loved both.

  Kat bent forward and lowered her voice to a whisper as she said, “The moon’s going to be full, too. It’s going to be very romantic.”

  “I’m not going.” Lucille repeated, casting her gaze downward.

  “Why not?”

  “It wouldn’t be right. Not while Mama and I are still in—”

  “Please, don’t talk to me about mourning.” Kat bounced Joel in her arms, an interesting counterpoint to the words she spoke. “I understand the rules and all the conventions people put around death and dying, and I think it’s wrong. Your father is the one who’s dead, not you, and this is an historic event. It would be downright shameful to miss it.”

  Lucille looked away. “Even if I agreed with you, and I’m not saying I do…” She turned her gaze toward the rear of the store, then looked back at Kat. “I don’t have anyone to go with. Nobody has asked me.”

  Nobody except Tom Henderson. She kept that fact to herself.

  “There’s something you’re not telling me. What is it? What’s wrong?” Kat’s gentle blue eyes filled with worry. Concern laced her voice.

  That Kat should truly care affected Lucille too much to deny. She broke down, unable to stop tears from falling.

  “It just seems so unfair, that’s all.”

  “What are you talking about? You don’t think we deserve statehood?”

  “It’s not about that.” Lucille almost laughed. “It’s about me, don’t you see? I mean, why can’t I find somebody to love? You’re married. All our friends have husbands. Victoria, Nellie, Sophie…” She ticked the names off on her fingers. “And guess who else just ordered a wedding dress! Bessie Morrow.” Lucille folded her arms over her chest and thrust out her chin. “What about me, Kat? I want to fall in love. I want to get married, too. Why did I get passed by?”

  “Lucille, I’m sure—”

  “Never mind. You don’t have to answer the question.” Embarrassed by her own outburst, Lucille now sought to regain control of her emotions. “I already know why I’m not married, why I don’t have any man courting me.”

  “You do?”

  Lucille nodded. She glanced up at Kat with a smile. “Why, there just aren’t any good prospects. Seriously, the men here in Sunset have nothing to offer, so what am I supposed to do?”

  “They don’t measure up to your expectations. Is that what you mean?” Still juggling Joel in her arms, Kat came around, pulled up a cushioned chair, and plopped down into it. She gathered her daughter close. “Are you sure that’s the problem? Or is it, perhaps, that your expectations are a bit too high?”

  “Too high? Of course not. That’s a ridiculous thing to say.” A memory played through her mind. Her thoughts went back to a summer’s day several years before, to the time when Kat first fell in love with Joshua Barron, the man she went on to marry. Don’t set your sights too high. That’s what Lucille had said. She warned Kat about getting hurt and having her heart broken.

  Kat hadn’t listened to Lucille. Instead, she’d listened to her heart, she’d fallen in love, and despite a few obstacles along the way, she’d pursued her dreams. They’d all come true.

  “What about Tom?”

  “Tom Henderson?” Lucille’s heartbeat quickened. She glanced again toward the back of the store. Charlotte was still busy. “What about him?”

  “He’s clearly got eyes for you. And don’t tell me you haven’t noticed the way he looks at you.”

  “Well, yes, but…”

  “But nothing! He’s a fine man, Lucille. And a damned handsome one, too.”

  Lucille laughed. “I see your husband hasn’t stopped you from cursing yet.”

  “Why should he? Joshua accepts me as I am, and I accept him completely. That’s what love is all about. That’s what makes marriage work.”

  Running a hand over her brow, Lucille closed her eyes. How bothersome to have Kat Barron giving her advice about love and marriage. Even more irksome that Kat would bring up Tom Henderson. Her cheeks burned. Tom had kissed Kat once, and Lucille had made light of it.

  He’s not a real man, she’d said.

  Now that she’d gotten better acquainted with the tall, soft-spoken cowboy, Lucille had no doubts whatsoever about his manliness. She hated to admit it, but she’d give anything to be the one kissing him now.

  A tap on her shoulder brought her back to the present moment.

  “Sorry, I guess I got lost in my thoughts.”

  “Yes, you did. And I can probably guess what those thoughts were all about.” Kat’s playful grin seemed to light up the air around her. “Tom Henderson is a good man, and maybe you should at least give him a chance. I mean, if it doesn’t work out, if he doesn’t measure up…” Suddenly K
at leaned close. “How big are his feet, Lucille? You do know what they say…”

  Both girls convulsed in giggles.

  “I’ll have to check out his boots.” Lucille’s imagination went wild, conjuring up images of the rugged cowboy holding her in his arms, his big hands caressing her, his hard body pressing against her. She was too old for silly schoolgirl fantasies. Now a woman, she needed more. She needed real love, not fanciful daydreams.

  In short, she needed a man.

  Not any man.

  Despite her sentiments to the contrary, Tom Henderson was definitely the man she wanted.

  “Hush,” she whispered. “We can’t talk about him. Charlotte is his mother,” she explained, pointing to the woman now walking toward them.

  Kat looked at the package, then at her son and daughter. “Maybe I’d better send Benjamin by later to pick up the dress. He’ll be coming into town to see Emily Sue.” Young Ben Brooks worked at the Barron’s ranch, and his crush on Kat’s little sister was no secret. “By the way,” she said, stepping close and lowering her voice so that only Lucille could hear. “I know where Tom is. He’s at the saloon.”

  With a cheery wave, Kat shepherded her children out the door.

  Lucille stared after her for a moment, then whirled around. “Charlotte, is Tom going to the dance tomorrow night?”

  “Everyone in town is going. Except for you.” She shrugged. “But suit yourself.”

  “Are you really going with Abner Kellerman?”

  “Yes, I am, and I intend to have a good time.” For the first time since she’d come to work at Miss McIntyre’s Dressmaking Establishment, she smiled. She was really quite pretty, Lucille noted. “Everyone needs a chance to kick up their heels now and then,” Charlotte said. “Nothing wrong with having a little fun.”

  “Watch the shop for me for a few minutes,” Lucille ordered, pulling off the dowdy apron she wore. “I’ve got a quick errand to run.” Without looking back, she marched out the door, setting the bell tinkling wildly.

  Chapter Three

  Across the street she went, down the road a bit, her steps quick and determined. Lucille knew she was about to do the most foolish thing she’d ever done in her life, but she wasn’t about to stop.

  She was always too worried about too many things, always thinking about the worst possible consequences. For once, she was going to forget what other people thought.

  She pushed open the swinging doors and marched into the Red Mule saloon. For a moment she couldn’t see more than dark, shadowed figures. She nearly turned and fled, but then a voice called out.

  “Lucille? What in hell are you doing in here?”

  The voice belonged to Tom. Taking a deep breath, she lifted her chin and headed directly at him. “I could ask you the same thing, but I know what you’re doing. You’re getting drunk on Friday night, same as you always do.”

  “Something wrong with that?”

  “Well, yes, and no. I mean, well…” She had no idea what she meant. Looking at Tom left her both flustered and excited. “Is that invitation to the shindig tomorrow night still open?”

  His eyes narrowed. “You said you weren’t going.”

  “I know what I said, but it’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind.”

  “A woman’s…what?”

  “Prerogative,” she repeated. “Never mind.” She’d have to remember to use common words with Tom. No wonder it was so difficult to talk to him. “It just means that women have the right to say one thing and do another, that’s all.”

  “Sounds awful confusing.”

  She heard the guffaws of the men standing by Tom. Her cheeks blazed. The last thing she intended was to get into an argument with the blasted man.

  “Are you going to invite me to the dance or not?” She stepped closer and looked up. “I’m willing to go with you.”

  “You sure about that? Or are you going to use that prerogative thing and change your mind again?”

  Lucille stamped her foot. “Would you listen to me, please? I said I’ll go to the dance with you.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  A frantic urge seized her. Before she could stop herself, she threw herself against Tom, stretching up on her toes to plant a huge, wet kiss on his mouth. At once, his arms went around her. A thrill ran up her spine as he pulled her close. Oh, the kiss!

  When he finally drew away, she was breathless.

  “Now, does that convince you?” Acting as nonchalant as possible, she walked away, then stopped and looked over her shoulder. “You can pick me up tomorrow at six.”

  Her knees went weak, but somehow she managed to get out the door before she collapsed.

  What had she done? She’d kissed Tom Henderson!

  And she’d liked it. She’d liked it a lot.

  * * * *

  “What was that all about?” Caleb Bryant stood beside Tom. Both men stared at the swinging saloon door where Lucille McIntyre had just exited. “Looks like you’ve got yourself a date tomorrow night.”

  “Yeah, looks that way.” Tom scratched his head, trying to wrap his brain around what had just happened. Lucille had come in and had literally thrown herself at him.

  What in hell was going on? Suddenly he wasn’t sure he wanted to take the pretty brunette to the statehood celebration. Sure, he’d been sniffing around her for years, a horny dog wanting a little pleasure, but she’d never given him the time of day before.

  It had become a bit of a game. He chased, she ignored, and those were the rules. Now she’d made it clear she wanted to be caught, and he didn’t have a clue what he’d do with her.

  Not that it mattered much. She wasn’t serious. Even if she went to the dance with him…well, he could never measure up to Miss Lucille McIntyre and her high-and-mighty expectations.

  Or could he?

  Lately, his life had become filled with new possibilities. Good things had come flying his direction. Just that morning, Wes Randall had put him in charge of the horses at the ranch. He had a new colt for Tom to break and promised him a bonus if he succeeded.

  Now, Jake Walker thought he might have tracked Sally down, said he’d found a record of her marriage. Maybe she’d be coming home soon.

  His mother was still sober, still working, and even enjoying an unexpected courtship from Abner Kellerman. The thought made him laugh.

  Hell, yes! Life looked good, and with Lucille McIntyre, it was looking even better.

  * * * *

  In Tom’s estimation, the town of Sunset, Colorado, had never seen a more glorious dawn, a brighter sky, or a more golden morning. Nature itself seemed to sense the coming celebration and had dressed herself in her most brilliant colors. The air was sweet with the perfume of thousands of summer flowers that blossomed on the hillsides. Truly, this was a day unlike any other.

  As he strolled along the main street early that afternoon, there was a frenzy of activity around him. Everyone worked together, hanging streamers, painting signs, fixing tables of food, and as they worked, they laughed, they chatted, they hummed, they sang. The social hall opened at three that afternoon, but most folks planned to remain at home a little longer, resting up for the dancing that would begin at nine. First, of course, would be the huge banquet sponsored by the merchants of Sunset, then there would be speeches by the mayor, as if he personally had something to do with the cause for jubilation.

  Jake Walker, owner of the Red Mule, had ordered champagne, and from four to five that afternoon, he’d be serving drinks for half-price. A fine celebration, indeed.

  Tom had quite a busy day. He stopped by Oswalt’s Bath House to scrub the dirt and straw from his body and dab on a bit of spicy-smelling aftershave. After Lucille had thrown herself at him the night before, he’d tucked a few coins away in his pocket. Today he used them to buy some of that special shaving soap at the barber shop, along with the aftershave. He’d even paid Clyde Shepherd to give him a professional shave instead of doing it himself. Expensive, yes, but Lucill
e was worth every penny.

  With his hair slicked back, his boots polished, and the wrinkles pressed out of his best shirt and pants, Tom cut a dashing figure. When he called for Lucille at six that evening, he thought he caught a look of approval in her dark brown eyes.

  And, oh, how sweet she looked! He never paid much mind to women’s fashions, couldn’t tell you one style of dress from another, but he knew what he liked, and he definitely liked the pale lavender shade of Lucille’s fancy gown. He especially liked the neckline…not so low as to invite unwelcome stares from men or to suggest any indecent thoughts, but dipping enough to make a man yearn for more. Tempting, yet tasteful. Her long skirts rustled as she walked beside him and as he helped her into the wagon.

  “You look mighty fine tonight, Miss Lucille.”

  “Thank you.” She folded her hands in her lap.

  “Much better to see you wearing that color than that tiresome black.”

  She stiffened. “You know this is wrong, Tom. I should be wearing my mourning clothes.”

  “Right.” He clamped his mouth shut and figured he’d better keep quiet before he said something else wrong. Neither of them spoke again until after they’d reached Sunset and he’d parked the wagon. Not only the social hall, but the entire town was abuzz with laughter, music, drinking, and dining.

  “I’ve never seen so much excitement at one time and in one place before,” Lucille murmured, pressing close to Tom’s side as they approached the social hall.

  He slipped his arm around her, half expecting her to stiffen and pull away. To his surprise, she didn’t.

  “Tom! Lucille!” Caleb Bryant came to greet them, with sweet Molly Munroe on his arm.

  Tom saw his mother hanging onto Dr. Kellerman, could tell with one look that they were both already under the influence, but for tonight he wasn’t going to worry about how much his mother drank, what she did, or who she chose to do it with. Tonight, anything went.

  * * * *

  Overwhelmed by the noise and confusion, Lucille edged closer to Tom.