Emily had stopped by early this morning to discuss the concert. To Laney’s irritation, her adopted sister was mesmerized by the singer’s “charm and beauty” and raved until Laney wanted to throw her out of the house—but to do so would be an admission of jealousy, and Laney Jenkins wasn’t jealous of anyone.
So she sat pushing her needle through the fabric while Granny finished up the red silk and Emily sipped tea—for coffee was now simply too crude a drink for a lady—and talked nonstop about the lovely and wonderful Miss Vivienne DuPres.
“If only I didn’t have this horrible red hair and freckles,” Emily lamented for what seemed like the twentieth time in as many minutes. “Miss DuPres says all the really famous singers have perfectly white skin and hair as soft as silk.”
Laney gave a loud snort but continued to work, hemming Louisa Kirkpatrick’s latest gown, a replica of a gown she saw in Godey’s Lady’s Book and designed specifically to keep Louisa firmly in the seat of fashion superiority, regardless of the newest woman in town.
“Did you say something, Laney?” Emily asked.
“Nah.”
Granny cackled. “What have you got against Miss DuPres?”
Laney turned and stared hard at Granny. How did the old woman always seem to know what she was thinking? “I don’t have anything against Vivienne. I don’t even know her. I just think Emily should be happy with the looks God gave her and stop trying to look like some floozy saloon girl.”
Emily gasped. Laney cut her a glance and noted with concern that, between the freckles, her face was every bit as pale as Vivienne’s.
“Laney Jenkins, you take that back,” Emily declared hotly, the color returning to her face and going beyond natural to an angry pink. “Miss DuPres is as decent a woman as you or I. And she is not a s–saloon girl. You know very well she is a wonderful singer using her talent to support herself. Furthermore, if Pa and the rest of the town council, including our preacher, think there’s nothing improper with her singing in town, then I don’t see how you have the right to call her names. So there!”
Laney blinked in surprise at the outburst. She shrugged and tried to pretend she didn’t care that Emily was defending an interloper. “Honestly. Don’t get in a snit about it. I’m sorry I said anything.” She glanced back at her sewing. “But I got a right to my opinion,” she mumbled.
A coughing laugh sounded from the bed. “Yer just jealous, girlie. What’s a matter? That man of yourn cast sheep eyes at a woman pertier and softer than you?”
Laney eyed the shears and debated the consequences, then decided to stab him with the truth instead. “Luke doesn’t cast ‘sheep eyes,’” she declared through gritted teeth. “And especially not at some floo—” She cast a cautious glance at Emily. “Especially not at another woman. Not all men are like some men.” She gave him a pointed look.
Rising on his elbow, he pointed a shaky finger and gave her a squinty-eyed glare. “One man’s just like another, and you best find that out sooner than later, girl. Yer precious ‘Lukey’ would leave for greener pastures if he could, and you know it. Yer gonna be mighty lucky if he sticks around after yer all fat and have two or three young’uns hanging off yer dress.”
“Oh, hush up and lay back down, you old fool,” Granny commanded. “Don’t compare my grandson with the likes of you.”
“You tryin’ to tell me he didn’t give up his plans to go west because his pa had an amputation? You don’t think he’ll hightail it to Oregon just as soon as that ranch is off his neck?”
Now how did he know all about Luke’s plans? The old eavesdropper! Still, his words rang with a smidgen of truth, bringing Laney’s fears back to the surface.
As Granny launched into a list of Luke’s attributes, thereby proving his superior character, Laney pondered her pa’s words.
What if Luke did decide he couldn’t go through with the marriage?
The sun filtered in through the window, causing the ring on Laney’s left hand to glimmer. She didn’t need the garnet ring, which Luke had presented to her on her birthday the day after Christmas. A wedding band on the day they said their vows would have been enough, but Luke had insisted. He loved her that much, she thought with a sense of satisfaction. “No, Luke wouldn’t leave. He gave me his word.” She jerked her head in surprise. She hadn’t meant to speak. Heat flooded her face as Pa gave her a knowing grin, which clearly asked the same question she’d been pondering for the past few weeks: Did she want to keep Luke here because of a promise? If she held him to it, would he resent her forever and wish they’d never married? Laney knew she couldn’t live with that, but could she live without Luke if she released him from his promise?
Returning her attention to her sewing, she tried to push the thoughts aside but found she kept returning to the troublesome issue. Luke was doing a fine job of running the ranch, and they all looked forward to the four expected foals and many calves due this spring.
Papa Dell still struggled to walk with the use of crutches he had carved for himself while sitting before the fire day after day. Though all were thrilled with his progress and he seemed in better spirits since he could get around on his own, everyone knew that hobbling with crutches was a far cry from sitting a horse and running a ranch.
So, for now, Luke seemed to have resigned himself to the task at hand, which allowed Laney to push aside her fears. But she knew sooner or later, Papa Dell would be fully healed, learn to ride again with a missing leg, and take over. The question was, would Luke be content to stay in Harper, or would he keep his promise, marry her, and regret it for the rest of his life?
Laney pulled on the reins to make Colby walk calmly next to the wagon. On the wagon seat, Luke held the reins while Granny sat primly next to him, her back straight, gaze forward, hands folded in her lap. Anticipation shone in her faded gray eyes. Laney grinned. Mr. Tucker would be happy to see her as well.
She cast her glance to the back of the wagon. Pa sat up, determined he would not ride to his court hearing lying in the back of a wagon like some invalid. Jane sat next to him.
Luke reined in the team in front of Tucker’s and hopped down to help Granny from the wagon. Laney dismounted Colby and tethered him to the hitching post. She glanced in the back of the wagon. “Jane honey, can you please stay here and keep Pa company while we go inside and attend to business?”
The child smiled her missing-tooth smile and nodded. “We’ll play a game. Won’t we, Pa?”
“A game?” He scowled, but after seeing the child’s sudden pout, the harsh lines in his face softened. “What sorta game?”
Laney and Luke exchanged a smile at Pa’s expense while Luke grabbed the crate containing the finished gowns. Granny preceded them up the steps to the mercantile. Laney nudged Luke when the older woman stopped at the door and patted her bonnet in the window reflection, as though patting her bonnet would straighten any mussed hair beneath its cloth folds. She touched the cameo clasped at her collar before opening the door and stepping inside.
“Think those two will ever tie the knot?” Luke asked.
Laney gave a short laugh. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they make it to the altar before we do.”
“Don’t count on it,” he said, capturing her gaze. Laney gulped at the hunger burning in his eyes. She thought he might kiss her right in front of the whole town of Harper, but a honey-toned call from the road caught their attention.
“Oh my goodness. Hold the door, please.”
Laney turned to see who had ruined her moment and fought back a biting comment as Miss DuPres joined them—out of breath from running ten feet in a dress pulled so tight in the middle that Laney was surprised she was conscious, let alone walking and talking.
Luke stood before the door, holding the crate and, to Laney’s chagrin, gaping at Vivienne like an imbecile.
“Move out of the way so I can open the door, Luke,” she grumped, pushing him aside as roughly as she could and wishing she could just flatten him right then and there.
“Seems pretty calm to me,” Laney observed just as a gust of wind nearly knocked her off her feet. “Maybe you oughtta use more pins in your hair if you need to have it in all sorts of twists and curls.” Laney thought it was just about the dumbest hairstyle she’d ever seen—much too loose for a March day in Kansas. A long braid down the back was the only way to keep hair from flying and falling during spring weather. Some women just plain weren’t as smart as they were pretty—not that she thought Vivienne pretty.
“Why, thank you. What a wonderful suggestion,” Miss DuPres replied, beaming at Laney as though she had just elected her president. “I’ll just pick up some more pins while I’m here.”
Stunned into silence, Laney stepped aside while Miss DuPres glided between Luke—who still couldn’t seem to find his tongue—and Laney, who was just about to suggest he go wait in the wagon. Miss DuPres’s lavender scent drifted between them. Laney noticed Luke swallow and raise his brow to Laney. “She’s something, isn’t she?”
“Yeah, she is.” A fancy-pants, powder-wearing, toilet water-drenched, man-stealing floozy. And Laney wasn’t going to put up with it. She’d rather lose Luke to the westward fever than have him trapped by dangly eardrops and low-cut gowns.
With purpose, she punched Luke’s arm—a little harder than necessary—to gain his attention.
“What was that for?”
“Stop gawking at the singer. You’re holding up the door. We’re going to be late for Pa’s hearing.”
“Who’s gawking?” Luke turned red and maneuvered the large crate through the doorway.
“You are,” she replied with a huff.
“Well, it ain’t like that. So stop being all green-eyed. I just haven’t ever seen anyone so…I don’t know…like her.”
Laney knew what he meant, even if he didn’t. Miss DuPres was exactly the “ideal woman” Luke had described right before that fateful kiss. But there was no way she was going to bring that up and remind him that she would never be the type of woman he truly wanted.
When they reached the counter, Vivienne took her red gown and held it up against herself. She glowed with excitement. “It’s just the most beautiful thing I’ve ever laid eyes on.” Her eyes shone with admiration as she regarded Laney. “And you make gowns like this all the time? Why, you’d make a fortune in the city.”
Maybe the lady isn’t quite so bad, Laney conceded.
“Whoa now, little lady,” Tucker growled. “We got us a deal. Don’t be puttin’ ideas in that girl’s head. If she thought she could make a dime, she’d ride four days on a half-dead pony and scoop up cow patties.”
Miss DuPres giggled. “Well, I suppose I would, too, Mr. Tucker. A lady has to make a living somehow. We can teach, sing, or find work as a seamstress if we have the gift for it. And my, oh my, miss, you have the touch.”
Laney cleared her throat. “Thanks,” she mumbled. “It’s nothing.”
“Nothing? Oh Miss…what is your name?”
“Laney.”
“Well, Miss Laney. This is absolutely the best seamstress work I’ve ever seen in my life. Oh, if only I…”
Her face suddenly turned just about as red as the gown, and she turned to Mr. Tucker. “I—I don’t know how to tell you this, sir, but…Well, it’s just that my manager, you know the man I traveled with? He…” Her face crumbled, and she burst into tears—not the delicate tears one would expect from a dainty woman of refinement.
Tucker’s gaze swept Granny, Laney, and Luke, horror smoothing the age lines extending from the corners of his eyes to his cheeks. “There, there, miss,” he said awkwardly, his expression going from horror to horrified pleading.
Granny came to his rescue and stepped forward. Tucker gladly moved aside, faster than Laney ever would have thought him capable of moving.
“Now, honey, tell us what’s wrong.”
Vivienne swiped the back of her hand across her nose.
“Luke,” Granny said, “give the poor girl your hanky.”
Luke cleared his throat and fished his hanky out of his pocket. “Here, Miss DuPres,” he said, extending the handkerchief.
“Thank you,” she gulped out. Rather than patting the cloth daintily against her nose, Miss DuPres gave several hearty blows while the onlookers waited for her explanation.
Finally she gave a nervous little laugh and glanced around. “Goodness, I’ve certainly made a spectacle of myself, haven’t I?”
Laney had to agree, but she also had to admit it made her like the singer a little more. A little, but not much.
“Why don’t you tell us what’s wrong?” she said impatiently.
Miss DuPres chewed her lip. “I really…well, you’re strangers; I don’t know if I should…”
“Well, that’s about the end of it, then,” Laney said. She turned to Tucker. “How’s about settling up so we can get to the schoolhouse? The judge is meeting us there for Pa’s hearing today.”
“Well—well, wait just a minute.”
Laney cast a glance at Miss DuPres. “Something wrong?”
“Well, it’s just that…I didn’t say I wouldn’t tell you what was wrong. I just didn’t know if I should or not.”
A shrug lifted Laney’s shoulders. “We don’t have to know your private business. But if you’re done crying, don’t forget to give Luke back his handkerchief. I made that for him. He’s my fiancé,” she said.
“Oh, well, I had a fiancé, too.”
Oh, great. Laney could have kicked herself as fat tears once more began to roll down flawless cheeks.
“Is that what has you all upset, honey?” Granny asked.
Miss DuPres nodded.
Granny glanced at Tucker. “She needs another hanky.”
The old man pulled a handkerchief from his pocket.
“Not a used one!”
Tucker looked helplessly around, then heaved a sigh and pulled one off the shelf. He mumbled something about folks thinking he was made of money, until a glare from Granny silenced him. “No charge.”
“How kind!” Vivienne’s splotchy face brightened for a second, then fell again.
“Now, about this fiancé…” Laney had just about had all the delays she could handle, and if this Miss DuPres didn’t share her troubles soon, she could just forget all about it.
“Are you sure you don’t mind listening?”
“Of course we don’t mind,” Luke soothed, much to Laney’s irritation.
“Why else would we have asked?” she said roughly.
Vivienne heaved a great sigh and finally launched her tale of woe. “My Randy heard me singing through the door of my room at his mother’s boardinghouse back in Chicago. I declare, the moment I saw him, I fell head over heels in love. Imagine my joy when he proposed. I would have married him right away, but he said he wanted me to have the wedding of my dreams, and we would get married as soon as we saved enough money for a silk gown and a big fat diamond for my finger. Before long, we started traveling to other towns. I sang everywhere.” She glanced at Granny a little fearfully. “Some of the places we went weren’t very Christian, ma’am.”
“That’s in the past now,” Granny assured her with a comforting pat on her arm.
She sniffed and covered Granny’s veined hand with her own. “Thank you.”
Laney tossed a glance at the ceiling and sighed heavily. “Then what?”
“Excuse me?” A blank gaze captured Laney’s. “Oh. You mean, then what happened with Randy. Well, we finally came here to wonderful Harper, where everyone has been so amazingly kind, coming to hear me sing. We collected more money than ever, and I just knew we had finally saved enough to get married properly. B–but last night I brought it up, and Randy grew quite angry and said we had to wait until we got back to Chicago because his mother would be very hurt unless she could attend her only child’s wedding. And truly, I understood. So I told him that was just fine. B–but th
is morning when I walked downstairs, the hotel clerk told me…that is, he said that Randy…” She let out a pitiful wail and covered her face with her hands. “I’m so humiliated! How on earth could he do this to me?”
“What is it?” Granny asked, and even Laney had to admit she was a mite curious herself.
“Randy ran off with all the money!” Great sobs engulfed her body, and she clung to Granny. “He didn’t even pay the hotel bill, and now the owner is threatening to call in the sheriff. I—I can’t buy the gowns I ordered, Mr. Tucker. But if you’ll please just not press charges, I’ll try to find work here in Harper, and I’ll pay you every red cent.”
“Well now, how am I supposed to stay in business if people don’t pay for what they order?”
“Honestly, Tuck,” Laney heard herself say. “It’s not like she did it on purpose. You heard her promise to pay you. Don’t you think she’s been through enough?”
“Leave the poor girl alone,” Luke said. “Miss DuPres didn’t steal from you. She can’t help what happened.”
“Of course Mr. Tucker will wait for the money,” Granny soothed. “And if the gowns sell before you pay him back, of course you won’t owe him anything.”
Tucker gave Granny a look that clearly said he thought she’d lost her mind, but like a man in love, he smiled and nodded. “That’s right, miss. You just don’t worry about it. I can hardly keep ready-made dresses in stock. Them three dresses you ordered’ll sell lickety-split.”
“Two dresses,” Granny corrected. “The red dress would never suit another woman. Wrap it up, Tucker. You can take our commission off, and Miss DuPres will owe you only for the material.”
“What?” Now it was Laney’s turn to stare. “Granny!”
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