“Are you crazy?”
“Not that I know of.”
“You’re my friend. I was supposed to marry Atticus.”
“Good thing he married someone else, or he’d have had a fight on his hands.”
“Atticus is not a fighter.”
“Neither am I. Not usually, anyway.” They turned and walked back the other way.
“This courting thing. How would it be any different than now?”
“Opal, please, just say yes and let’s go inside. I think they’re waiting for me to say grace.”
“Can’t they say grace on their own?”
“I’m sure they can, but I think they are waiting.”
“All right.”
“All right what?” He stopped midstep.
“All right, let’s go in.”
He groaned, but as he held the door open, she glanced up at him from the corner of her eye.
“And yes.”
She said yes. It was all he could do to not shout it for all to hear. Opal Torvald said I could court her!
Two days later at Pearl’s for her lessons, Opal rubbed her chin with one finger. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Of course.”
“This is rather personal.”
“I don’t mind.” Pearl set Joseph in the high chair and tied a dish towel around his middle, then handed him a hunk of hard bread to chew on.
“How did you know that you loved Mr. Hegland?”
“Well, I wanted to be with him all the time, and when he walked into the room, I felt like someone turned up the lamps—”
“Did you have a funny feeling in your middle, like all warm and mushy?”
“I guess that’s as good a description as any. I found myself thinking about him all the time, and when I’d see him again, why, my heart would about leap out of my chest. Why?”
Opal could feel her face flaming hot.
“I see. Is it Jacob Chandler?”
“I thought I loved Atticus, but this is as different as the moon and the sun. But…” Her pause grew long.
“But what?”
“I don’t think I’m ready to be a wife.”
“That’s what courting is all about. It gives you time to grow into the idea.”
“But how do you know when you’re ready?” Opal shook her head again. “Can you think of me as the pastor’s wife?”
Pearl rolled her lips together. “I’m thinking the women better start on a new quilt or two.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re going to need household things for your home someday, and the courting time is a good time to begin gathering what you will need.”
“Mary Robertson had a hope chest. She was making things for it all the time. I don’t really like to sew, and embroidery makes me bleed on whatever I’m making.”
“But do you want to be with Jacob?”
Opal nodded.
“Then don’t worry about the rest. Leave it all in God’s hands, and now let’s see the essay I asked you to write.”
“Just like that?”
“Just like that.”
“Rand said I can’t get married until after I turn sixteen in May.”
“That’s good. Where’s your paper?”
Opal handed it to her. “I won’t get all moony-eyed like Edith did, will I?”
“I seriously doubt it, but if you do, I’ll remind you, so you don’t look too silly.” Pearl began reading, and Opal returned to diagramming sentences. This courting thing gave her an awful lot to think about.
“So, Jacob, tell me what courting really means. I mean, like what do I do?” She almost said his name again just because it felt good on her tongue.
“Courting is when two people get to know each other—” “But we already know each other. Why would two strangers be courting?”
Jacob sighed. Sometimes Opal asked questions that pushed him to the limits. “Let me finish.”
“All right.”
“They get to know each other better so they can decide if they truly want to marry each other.”
“I see.” She pondered that. “So I’ve not really said I am going to marry you, then?”
“No, not really. But I sure hope you do—want to marry me, that is.”
“But if I already knew that, what would be the sense of courting?” She handed him the board he pointed at. They were working on his house, making shelves for the kitchen. They could hear Joel and Ada Mae arguing in the soddy section over who could spit the farthest. They were splitting shakes at the same time for the new addition to be put up as soon as spring came.
Jacob put a couple of nails in his mouth to have them handy.
“So then…”
He mentally shuddered. Here came another question.
“What is the difference between courting and being betrothed like the Bible says that Mary and Joseph were betrothed?”
He motioned to his mouth to say he couldn’t answer. When he’d pounded the three nails into the wood, one of which bent right over and had to be straightened, he turned to her.
“Betrothal is a promise to marry, much like an engagement, but legally binding in Biblical times. They didn’t court back then. If we were to announce that we planned to marry, then we would be betrothed.”
“I see.”
He picked up another board and took it to the sawhorses. “Hold that end, will you please?” He measured and marked the place to cut. Once he finished sawing, he glanced up to see her watching him. Warmth flooded from his head to his heels. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Look at me like that.”
“But I like to look at you.”
“Could you please add more wood to the fire?” Or open the door and let it cool off in here. Sometimes the urge to kiss her rose so strongly that he had to pray it gone. So pray he did.
He found himself praying a lot when they were together. But he also laughed more than ever in his life. And rejoiced for the gift he felt God was giving him.
With Christmas drawing near, Opal finally knew what she would give Jacob for a present. She and Pearl practiced together until they were both delighted with the idea and the way it was turning out.
Each day Opal prayed that the good weather would hold, that no blizzard would roar down and cancel the Christmas services. The Sunday before Christmas the congregation gathered for the regular worship service. With a tree in the corner, decorated by the schoolchildren, the schoolroom even smelled like Christmas.
What if I can’t do this? Opal swallowed and fought back the butterflies rampaging in her middle. Before the sermon she felt like leaping up and running back out the door. Jacob, I do hope you like my present. Father in heaven, please let this go right.
After the sermon Pearl smiled at Opal, and the two made their way to the piano.
“Ah…” Jacob started to say something, but when Pearl nodded, he sat back down.
Opal turned to face the people she knew and loved so well, especially the man in the front row. “This is my Christmas present to all of you.” She stared right at him.
Pearl let her fingers wander over the keyboard, and when Opal had taken a deep breath and nodded, she smiled back and played the introduction they had composed. Opal sang for Jacob, her voice richer than it had ever been. It soared on the high notes, dropping beauty into the ears of those she loved, drawing forth tears as she sang of God’s great gift of love—love so compelling, love divine, a baby in a manger, love for all time. When she finished, Jacob sat with tears in his eyes. He nodded.
She wanted to run to him and throw herself into his arms, but she smiled instead and returned to her seat.
“Opa, sing mo.” Per reached for her, and she hugged him as she sat him on her lap.
Ruby reached over and clutched her hand, then wiped the tears from her eyes.
Jacob stood and turned to the congregation. “And with that gift to us all…” He paused and raised his arms. “The Lord bless you and kee
p you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and give you His peace. Amen.”
As everyone stood and made ready to leave, he moved to her side. “I’ve never heard that song before.”
“I know. Pearl and I made it up.” She touched his hand. “I wanted to give you something special.”
“You did. I was afraid you would never sing again.”
“You know the verse you read, about the light?”
He nodded.
“Well, I think now the darkness is gone, and the sadness. And I can sing again.” She leaned closer. “I think I’ll sing for our wedding. What do you think?”
As if there was no one else around, he nodded and took her hand. “When?”
“Oh, I was thinking that May would be a good month for a wedding.”
“I agree.” His eyes held hers.
“And then I thought when the new church is finished, I would love to be married in it.”
“Lord, help us build it quickly.”
Opal watched as he turned and greeted the others who were waiting. He might be Reverend or Pastor Chandler, but he was her Jacob. And from the way she was feeling, being married might be just as exciting as training horses or rounding up cattle.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
“All right, time for confession.” Mrs. Grant laid her hand over the pages of the record book.
Amethyst looked up. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that ever since Mr. McHenry left, you’ve been like a flower without water, wilting.”
“I…I thought…” Amethyst brushed a tendril of hair back from her cheek. Even her hair no longer stayed up where it belonged, let alone her thoughts. They kept escaping, running west, screaming, Why, why? What went wrong? She started again. “Did you notice the way he signed those drawings he’d framed for me?”
“First thing. Love, JM.”
“When I said I was sorry we had nothing stronger to put in his coffee, he said he no longer drank anything stronger.”
Mrs. Grant raised her eyebrows, eyes wide open. “That is good news. No longer shades of your father.”
“True, but when we were out in the mixing room and he tried both the pine and mint lotions, one on each hand, all of a sudden it was like a heavy shade blotting out the sun. Oh, he was charming and pleasant from then on, but I no longer saw what I thought might be love shining in his eyes. We were never alone for another moment before he left.” She rose and went to stand at the window.
“I don’t understand.”
“Neither do I.”
“Do you love the man?”
“I do. It all started because he was nice to me. I know Mr. Hegland and Mr. Harrison were nice to me also, but they are already married, and that makes it different. At first I thought I wasn’t good enough for him, but that never stopped the love from growing. I…I’ve never felt this way about a man before. But I guess it is over. I’ve not had a letter from him since he returned home.”
“It’s only been about ten days.”
“I know. But last time I had a letter right away.” Amethyst took in a deep breath and let it all out. “I sent him a thank-you letter for the pictures. We’ll see if he answers.”
“Let’s back up to something you said. You didn’t feel you were good enough for him?”
Amethyst nodded. “You know what I came from, what a sorry sight I was.”
“But that has nothing to do with how good you are, how valuable you are. According to God’s Word, we are all of immeasurable value.”
“You know what I mean—different class of folks, education, experience.”
“But now?”
“But now, thanks to you, I am no longer a poor ragamuffin who’s afraid to say two words in a row. And I thank God for you every day.”
“That is wise, because He is the one who orchestrated all of this. You mentioned going back to Medora to visit for Christmas so you could see Joel in the pageant.”
“Yes. I would like to do that.”
“I think that would be a very good idea. And if McHenry has any intelligence at all, he will make you very welcome. Write and let him know you are coming.”
“No. I want it to be a surprise. If he really doesn’t care, then I will know.” And go on with my life.
“Just remember, he’s not the only fish in the sea.”
Amethyst smiled and then grinned. The two chuckled together.
“Something else to contemplate. If you are thinking you cannot be married to the man because you will let me down, think again. We could move the whole business to Medora if we wanted. The train goes right through there, and I know how to travel on it. After all, what’s a couple of days either way? If Marquis de Mores could build a meat-shipping enterprise there, we could certainly do the same with lotions and soaps.”
Three weeks later Amethyst stepped off the train and thanked the conductor for his care for her.
“You are welcome, Miss O’Shaunasy. I hope I am working the car on your return.”
She nodded, her hair securely fastened under a bird’s-nest hat with a curved feather flipping in the breeze. At least it wasn’t as cold as the last time she had arrived in Medora. It was hard to believe an entire year had passed. And such changes had happened.
She glanced down at her rich wool coat, trimmed with a fur collar. The seamstress had chosen the material for her traveling outfit to match her name. Her fitted vest was fashioned of rich purple and amethyst plaid with a matching dark purple skirt and fitted jacket. A fur muff matched the collar of her coat, and the rest of her things filled the two trunks that were being unloaded onto the platform.
“Aunt Colleen!” Joel called from the back of his horse. He flipped the reins over the hitching rail, slid to the ground, and came running to throw his arms around her. “Sorry I’m late.”
She hugged him back. “My, I think you’ve grown a full foot since I left.”
“Four inches. Me and Ada Mae are racing. Isn’t Big Red a fine horse?”
“He is handsome. A horse of your own—now, that is a wonder.” She nodded to the luggage handler. “Yes, someone will come to pick them up. Thank you.”
Joel looked nearly straight into her eyes. “You look different.”
“I do?”
“You’re all dressed up fancy.”
“I surely am warmer than when I came last year about this time.”
“Our pageant is tomorrow night.”
“I know. That is why I came today. Is someone coming to pick me up?”
“Mr. Hegland, but I rode ahead. The train is early. He said that never happens. But when I heard the whistle, I told Big Red he could run. So we did.” He stopped talking long enough to look into her eyes, searching for a true answer. “Do you really like living in Chicago?”
“There are many good things about Chicago, and I really enjoy the work that I am doing. Mrs. Grant is so good to me. I owe her a great deal.”
“Hmm.”
“I really appreciate your letters. Thank you for writing to me.”
“I have to tell you that I want you to come back.”
“Miss O’Shaunasy.” Carl Hegland waved as he stopped his team. “Sorry I’m late.”
“No, I think we were early.”
“All aboard!” the conductor called as the train blasted a whistle and steam poured from around the wheels. Inch by inch the mighty wheels turned, and the train picked up speed.
“I’ll get the dolly so I can load your trunks. Both of those are yours?”
“Yes.” One is full of presents. I couldn’t bring presents before, but now I could. Such fun she had had buying gifts for her friends here in Medora. She had quickly found the perfect gift for everyone but Jeremiah McHenry. That had not been easy. But when she found the book of nature drawings, she’d known it was just right for him.
Last time a carpetbag, this time two trunks and her valise. She brought all the women samples of her soap and lotions.
“Ah, Mr. Hegland, it is good to be back here.
There’s not as much snow this time.”
“Nor is it as cold. We won’t have you nearly dying on our doorstep.” Carl clucked his team into a fast trot, and the jingle of harness bells sparkled across the prairie. The big white house wore a snow hat and drifts around its banked sides, and the front door had a big red bow on a cedar swag.
“Oh, it is so beautiful.” Amethyst clasped her hands inside her fur muff. There would be no sleeping in the snow this time.
“I’ll bring your trunks in the back door. You go in the front. Pearl’s orders.”
“If you insist.” She allowed him to help her from the sleigh and climbed the steps to the front door.
“Bye,” Joel called with a wave. “See you at the pageant.”
She waved back. “Don’t tell anyone.”
“I won’t.” His answer blew over his shoulder as he, on Big Red, loped toward home.
“You are here!” Pearl pulled open the door and threw her arms around Amethyst. “Carly, see who is here.” Wearing a red pinafore, Carly peeked out around her mother. She grinned and ducked her head.
“My, just look at you. A fashion plate direct from Godey’s Lady’s Book.” Pearl hugged her again.
“Has anyone told Mr. McHenry?”
“No one else knows. That way your secret could be kept.” Arm in arm the two women closed the door behind them, and Pearl helped Amethyst out of her coat. “Isn’t this lovely?” Pearl stroked the fur collar. “You have done so well. The move has been a good one.” She searched Amethyst’s face for an answer.
“Our company is doing well. I have learned so much from Mrs. Grant that I cannot begin to tell you, but I have a favor to ask.”
“Ask away.”
“Could I please help cook in your kitchen? There are so many servants at Mrs. Grant’s that I feel as if I am taking their job if I go into the kitchen.”
Pearl covered her giggle with one hand. “I remember at my father’s house that was the way it was, but back then I had no interest in cooking. My mother and father are still shocked that their daughter is running a boardinghouse.”
“Has business picked up any?”
“Not much, but your room is waiting for you. Your first room.” She put her arm through Amethyst’s, and together they walked up the stairs.
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