by Kit Morgan
Julian felt his jaw clench and had to force himself to relax. Good grief, why would he be jealous? He had no claim on Miss Sampson. “You have a point.”
“She as pretty as my pa says?”
“When did he see her?”
“How should I know? So … is she?”
“She’s … okay.”
“Bein’ a maid, she’ll know how to work and work hard. Might make a good wife.”
“You expect her to work in the smithy?”
“You out of your mind? But I can sure eat a lot, and that takes a lot of cookin’!”
Julian couldn’t help but laugh, and relaxed. Bernard was straightforward and guileless, and he really could eat a lot. He’d won the pie-eating contest at the town’s Fourth of July celebration every year except the last one – and that only because he was in Portland. “I don’t know what kind of cook she is yet. Maybe I’ll find out Sunday when I go have supper with Garrett and his new wife.”
“Sunday supper? Hmmm … maybe I’ll have to pay Garrett a visit …”
The stone was back, and Bernard’s words rankled. “There’s also talk of a Valentine’s dance.”
“Oh?”
“You should ask Bernice Caulder to go.”
“Bernice Caulder? Shoot, I thought you were my friend! No thanks.”
Julian almost sighed in defeat. “C’mon, Bernard, she’s not that bad.”
“She’s too skinny for my tastes.”
Julian’s face lit up. “Well if she’s too skinny for you, then the Vanders’ new maid will never suit. She’s even thinner than Bernice.”
“She is?” Bernard groaned. “Shucks, that figgers.”
“Can’t win them all,” Julian said with a shrug.
Bernard sighed. “Maybe I oughta get me a mail-order bride like I heard about.”
“Actually, that’s what Morgan and Garrett did.”
“Really?” Bernard said with a smile. “And it’s worked out for ‘em, I guess … yeah, I think that’s what I’ll do!”
“You do that,” Julian said as he patted Bernard on the shoulder, then tipped his hat. “Well, I must be off.”
“Nice seein’ ya, Jules. Say hello to your ma and pa for me, will ya?”
“I will,” he said. He watched as Bernard turned and went on his way. He nodded at Cecil Winters a few doors down as he waited for Betsy and Miss Sampson in front of the bookshop, then continued on.
Julian sighed in relief. Bernard wasn’t the sort of fellow one wanted to get in a fight with over a woman (or anything else), and he hoped he and Bernard wouldn’t come to blows over Miss Sampson.
Speaking of Miss Sampson … “Hello again,” he said as Betsy and Miss Sampson approached.
“You still here?” Betsy asked. “Land sakes, ain’t none of you men got anything better to do than to hang out at the café all day?”
“We do not hang out at the café all day,” Julian replied with a grin. “Cecil, for instance, is hanging out in front of the bookshop.”
Betsy glanced down the boardwalk and smiled. “Well, so he is.” She turned to Miss Sampson. “You entertain this one while I go see to the other.”
Miss Sampson blanched. “Betsy!”
“Now, girl, Mr. Julian won’t bite,” Betsy said as she sauntered toward Cecil.
Ellie was left glancing between Julian and Betsy as if looking for some kind of an escape route. What could be wrong? “Are you all right, Miss Sampson?” he asked. She looked up at him, and he belatedly noticed the packages in her hands. “May I take those for you?” She said nothing, and instead looked away. What was wrong with her? She almost acted as if she was afraid of him.
Making up his mind, he took the packages from her, then offered her his arm. “Let me help you home.”
She looked at him, her eyes moist. “I haven’t got a home.”
“What?” Julian asked.
Ellie wanted to kick herself for saying it. “That’s not what I meant. I mean … oh, never mind.”
“You mean, you have no place to call your own.”
She looked at him timidly. “Yes, that’s exactly right.”
He stared at her solemnly. Heavens, he was handsome … “Aren’t you happy here, Miss Sampson?”
“I really shouldn’t be here at all. I …” But instead of finishing the thought, she took his arm and allowed him to walk her to the bookshop and the others.
“Ah, there you are, my lad!” Cecil said with a happy smile. “Looks like we’ll be having Sunday supper together this week with Ammy and Garrett.”
“We will?” Julian asked.
Ellie shuddered. Julian Smythe was coming to Sunday supper? She knew he’d been at the Vanders’ the Sunday before, but …
“Yes, Betsy just invited me,” Cecil said.
“How nice,” Julian said. “I’ll look forward to seeing you there.”
“Miss Sampson here is working for Mrs. Vander this Sunday. She’ll be cooking.”
“I will?” Ellie squeaked.
“Well, of course you will!” Betsy chastised her. “You work there, don’tcha?”
“Oh yes, of course …” Ellie said, flustered. Any time spent with Julian Smythe was dangerous as far as she was concerned. It was all she could do not to stare at him while having pie and coffee at the café, and now she was to cook and serve him Sunday supper? Part of her was thrilled at the thought, part of her wondered if he’d like her cooking … and all of her was downright terrified! He was too handsome, too nice, too much of everything she wanted. And yet she knew he’d never want her. Men didn’t take to a woman with a child … they wanted their own, by a woman who was untouched …
“I look forward to sampling your cooking, Miss Sampson,” he said.
“Oh, Mr. Julian, you don’t have to be so formal,” Betsy said. “You can call her Ellie.”
Ellie’s head snapped up. “He can?”
“Sure! Everyone calls me Betsy.”
Ellie swallowed. “I see. And what am I to call him?”
“Mr. Julian, of course,” Betsy said. “Ain’t you been listening?”
“Just Julian would be fine,” he corrected. His arm flexed with the remark, as if to drive his point home.
Something in her responded, and she had to fight the urge to press herself against him. “All right … Julian.”
He smiled. “I’ve offered to carry Ellie’s packages for her. Cecil, why don’t you help Betsy and we’ll escort them back to the Vanders’?”
“Why, I had the same idea!” Cecil said as he winked at Betsy.
Betsy blushed. “Mm-hmm, I just bet you did.”
Ellie had to smile despite her nervousness at being so close to Julian. Betsy and Cecil Winters clearly had affection for each other, and she was happy for her new co-worker. But Ellie could ill afford any such affection toward Julian, even if she was his mail-order bride. Besides, he didn’t know that.
The four strolled through town toward the Vanders’, and were just approaching the house when Bernice came out of nowhere to join them. “What’s everyone doing? Where are you all going?”
Betsy and Cecil both glanced at her, then at Julian. Ellie watched as Betsy bit her lip. “To the Vanders’, of course,” Cecil said with a smile. “Where else would we be going with these fine ladies?”
Julian glanced down the street, then back at Bernice. Betsy had told Ellie that the Caulders lived a few houses down. Like the others, she’d concluded that Bernice must have seen them pass, donned her coat and run after them.
“Oh,” Bernice replied with a pout that made her look like an overgrown toddler. “I suppose you would be, huh?”
Betsy sighed. “I was going to invite the gentlemen in for tea. I’m sure Mrs. Vander would be more than happy to have them. Besides, if my guess is right, your ma is in there right now, ain’t she?”
Bernice nodded. “Someone has to get things going for the Valentine dance. If my mother doesn’t, who will?”
“Who indeed,” muttered Ceci
l. “Well, let’s not dawdle – it’s cold out here.”
Ellie noted Julian was still silent, and wondered what he was thinking. It was obvious at the café that Bernice had her cap set for him. It was also obvious he didn’t feel the same way about her. But what did any of it matter? She wasn’t going to be around to see what developed. She had to go back to Oregon City and try to survive somehow. She had to, for the sake of her son …
“Tea sounds lovely!” Bernice said as she sidled up to Julian’s free arm and grabbed it.
Ellie felt him stiffen, and felt nervous for him. A woman on each arm – what would he do? Well, she knew what she would do. She nonchalantly slid her arm from his, and hurried a few steps forward to catch up with Betsy and Cecil.
She knew he was watching her, and wondered what he was thinking. But what else was she to do? She was just a maid, after all, and it was obvious that Bernice Caulder belonged to a family of some means. They might not be like the Vanders, but certainly they were above her station.
Betsy led them down the path to the Vanders’ kitchen door. “C’mon in, everybody, and head into the parlor. Ellie and I will get the tea ready.”
Cecil didn’t hesitate. Ellie watched as he went through the kitchen into the dining room, then crossed the foyer into the parlor. “Mrs. Vander!” she heard him call in greeting.
Julian set the packages in his arms down on the worktable, Bernice still on his arm. “Can I help you with any of this?”
“You heard Betsy,” Bernice insisted. “Let’s go into the parlor.”
Julian closed his eyes and pressed his lips together. To Ellie’s eye, it looked like he was holding off from giving Bernice a good tongue-lashing. “No, that’s all right – go ahead,” she said to keep the peace. “I’ll bring your tea in a few minutes.”
Bernice pulled him away from the worktable. “Come on, Julian. Let’s go see what they’ve decided to do about the dance.”
Julian gave Ellie a single nod as Bernice tried to drag him out of the kitchen. For the smallest of seconds, his eyes changed, and Ellie felt something warm deep within her. What kind of look was that?
She quickly turned and went to the stove. Betsy was just setting the kettle on it. “Mm-hmm. I saw that.”
“Saw what?” Ellie asked, her voice raspy.
“I think Mister Julian likes what he sees.”
“Oh?” she said and shrugged. “Well, there’s nothing to do about it.”
Betsy put a hand on her hip. “What are you talking about? It’s the reason you’re here in the first place!”
Ellie gave her an imploring look. “Betsy, I … well, there’s a problem with that …”
“What kind of problem?”
“I appreciate all you’re doing, you and the rest of your friends, but you see, I think …”
“Yeah, you think,” she interjected. “The problem with thinking is you can think yourself right out of a good situation. Stop thinking and let the man admire you!”
“Admire me?”
“Yes, admire you! Now as soon as I have this here tea tray ready, you go on in there and serve it. You’ll see what I’m talking about. I can guarantee you, you won’t find Julian Smythe looking at Bernice the way he just looked at you!”
Ellie glanced quickly around. “Betsy, please keep your voice down!” she whispered.
“What for? Pretty soon the whole town’s gonna know it!”
Ellie put her face in her hands. “No! They can’t!”
“Why not? You came here to marry the man – now let him do his part, fall in love with you and get it done.”
Ellie let her hands drop and stared at the kettle. “If only it were that easy.”
Betsy grabbed Ellie by the shoulders and turned her to face her. “Look, I don’t know what’s bothering you, but you came here for a purpose. Now Mrs. Vander and her friends are more than happy to help you with it – me too, for that matter. But you gotta be willing to do your part. You can’t go getting cold feet!”
“It’s not cold feet.”
“Well, then what is it?”
Ellie swallowed hard. “It’s …” Little Davey’s bright blue eyes flashed before her. “It’s nothing …”
Betsy eyed her a moment. “Mm-hmm. Well, if it’s nothing, then you won’t mind serving the tea, now will you?”
Seven
Ellie tried to keep her hands from shaking as she lifted the tea tray from the worktable and turned to the kitchen door. An odd fluttering began in her stomach, and she knew it was because of Julian Smythe. Great – this was all she needed while she had to serve the man cookies, as he sat next to Bernice Caulder. It was bad enough, the effect he was having on her, but watching Bernice fall all over him was more than she could bear.
But then, why shouldn’t Bernice strive for his attentions? They were both single and the same age. Everyone seemed to assume they would court. Besides, Ellie was going to leave Independence – she had no right to seek the affections of Julian Smythe or any other man in town.
The thought bolstered her courage as she entered the parlor.
“And here’s our lovely Ellie,” Mrs. Vander said as Ellie set the tray on a low table. “We just love her – she’s such a dear!”
Garrett smiled at her as she began to pour. “That she is, Mother. But you can’t possibly need two maids. Ammy and I were thinking that perhaps Ellie could come with us when we move.”
“Move?” squeaked Mrs. Vander. “You’ll do no such thing!”
“Mother,” Garrett said in a firm tone. “Ammy and I have decided to look at the house on Chestnut Street.”
“That old shack? Out of the question.”
Cecil chuckled. “On the contrary, Mrs. Vander – the house is quite sound and not very old. It would suit them fine.”
“You stay out of this, Cecil Winters!” Mrs. Vander chided. “Garrett and Ammy are going to stay right here!”
Ammy stifled a giggle and looked at Garrett. “Good luck.”
Julian laughed. “If you keep Garrett here long enough, maybe I’ll buy it.”
“You?” Mrs. Vander said in surprise. “Whatever for? You’re not married yet.”
“Oh, but he will be,” chimed in Bernice as she put her hand on his knee.
Ellie stiffened at the action and bit the inside of her cheek to keep from saying something she shouldn’t. She poured Bernice a cup of tea, and handed it to her.
“Why, thank you,” Bernice said with a smile. “Ellie …”
Ellie offered her the sugar. “Yes?”
“If you ever want to leave the Vanders’ employ, I’d love to have you as my ladies’ maid.”
Ellie’s eyes widened slightly, and she swallowed hard. “Why… thank you for the offer, but I think I’m fine where I am.” The thought of being a ladies’ maid to Bernice made her bile rise. Good grief, wouldn’t that be a fiasco? Besides, she didn’t know the first thing about being a ladies’ maid.
“I still have my bid,” Garrett said. “She can come with and me and Ammy.”
Ellie finished serving and blushed. She’d never had folks fight over her before, and it was kind of flattering. “Will there be anything else, Mrs. Vander?”
“Do pour yourself a cup and sit down, dear.”
“Oh, Mrs. Vander, I couldn’t do that!”
“Of course you can, dear. Didn’t you notice there’s an extra cup and saucer?”
Ellie look at the tray. Egad, there was! Betsy must’ve put them there on purpose. “But … I can’t.”
“Why not?” Mrs. Vander asked.
“Because it isn’t proper!” snapped Mrs. Caulder. “She’s a maid, for crying out loud, not a family member or a friend!”
“Betsy has become one of my best friends over the years,” Mrs. Vander said.
“That’s Betsy,” Mrs. Caulder said. “And if she’s such a good friend, why is she still a maid? But never mind that – this is a stranger in your home. You don’t know this woman and neither do I. I will not have te
a with the likes of her!” She looked Ellie up and down, made a show of putting her nose in the air, and turned away.
Ellie tried not to grimace. “I’ll go back to the kitchen now…”
“You’ll do no such thing,” Mrs. Vander said with steel in her voice. “Sit, pour yourself a cup and join the conversation… friend.”
Ellie didn’t know what to do. She took in Mrs. Caulder’s high and mighty expression and Bernice’s dumbfounded one, then looked at Julian … and their eyes locked again. Oh dear …
“Won’t you sit down, Ellie?” he asked gently.
For the first time, Ellie noticed an empty chair. They were seated around the low table – Cecil and Mrs. Vander in individual chairs, Garrett and Ammy on the loveseat, and Bernice, her mother and Julian on a matching sofa. The unoccupied chair was directly across from Julian. He nodded toward it and smiled at her. Ellie slowly approached the chair.
Mrs. Caulder’s mouth dropped open. “Mercy Vander! When are you going to learn the difference between one of us and one of them?”
“I beg your pardon?” said Mercy.
“She’s a servant, and has no business sitting with the likes of us!”
Mercy’s eyebrows rose in indignation. “Well, if you don’t like it,” she replied quietly, “then perhaps you shouldn’t sit here.”
Bernice gasped in shock, as did Ellie. Garrett, Ammy and Cecil did their best not to smile or laugh. And Julian… he didn’t look amused at all. In fact, he looked downright angry at Eunice Caulder’s remarks.
Eunice narrowed her eyes at Mercy. “Very well, then,” she hissed. “If you prefer the company of a mere servant to your neighbor’s, then I see where I stand with you. And here I thought we were friends!”
“For Heaven’s sake,” Mercy cried, “what is all your fussing about? Everyone in town knows I take tea with Betsy. Why not Ellie?”
“What you do in private is your own affair,” Eunice huffed. “I’ll have nothing to do with her. And neither will Bernice!”
“But Mother, I don’t want to go!” Bernice said, alarmed. “I’m enjoying myself.”
“Oh, go if you must,” Cecil told Eunice. “But let Bernice stay if she wishes.”
Eunice Caulder’s mouth dropped open in shock. “Well, I never!” She set her teacup down, thought better of it, took a long swallow, then set it down again. Mrs. Vander always had the best tea. “I’m leaving!” She got up and stormed toward the door.