Greta, glad that Agnes’s dress was finished, began cutting out the pieces of Cora’s gown. Since Cora was gone, it was a good time to work on it between helping out with the customers. Sewing was a balm to her cluttered thoughts. She enjoyed taking the pieces to form something beautiful and wearable, and she rather liked the smell of new fabric. Maybe she’d found her niche. If Agnes liked what she’d made, then through word of mouth, others might want her to make something.
Caleb and Zach were unloading the latest shipment of saddles, tack, and blankets while Jess waited on customers. Later Greta would organize the odd assortment of tack and blankets with Caleb. She heard Jess greet Agnes the moment she stepped through the threshold, so she quickly put away the brocade and went to meet Agnes.
“Hi, Agnes.” Greta walked over to where they stood chatting. “I’ve finished your dress and pressed it this morning. Why don’t you come back behind the curtain and try it on?”
“I’m ready. Excuse me, Jess.”
“I’m sure Greta has fixed the dress to your satisfaction. She’s a perfectionist,” Jess declared, shooting Greta a half-smile. Greta merely turned and motioned for Agnes to follow her to the dressing and sewing area.
“You seem awfully grim this morning, Greta,” Agnes commented, removing her dress while Greta stood waiting to slip the new dress over her head. “Is something wrong?”
Greta smoothed the dress over Agnes’s hips, admiring the now perfect fit. “No, I’ve just been busy and have a lot on my mind.” She turned Agnes around to face the mirror. “What do you think?”
A smile stretched across Agnes’s face, and she clasped her hands together. “It’s perfect now! You have done a wonderful job. I’m sure when people see it they’ll want to know who made it for me.”
“Good! I was hoping you’d say that. I’m happy that you’re happy with it.”
Agnes snickered. “The entire episode has made me rethink what I’ve been eating. So I hope you’ll see me in here to tighten the waist back up again.”
Greta surely hoped not—one time of ripping out the top from the skirt was enough—but she smiled at Agnes’s admission. It seemed Cole’s truth had pricked her conscience.
“You look very nice in the dress, Agnes.” Greta unbuttoned the back of the dress and Agnes stepped out of it, then donned hers again.
“I did look good, didn’t I?” she answered smugly. “Maybe it will turn a few heads for me this time.”
“No doubt it will. I’ll wrap the dress up for you, if you’ll follow me up to the counter.”
Moments later, after the dress had been wrapped and paid for, Cora returned. As Agnes chattered on about her party, Greta spied Cora talking with Jess through the front glass. He motioned for her to get in the wagon.
“Are you listening to me, Greta?” Agnes turned to see what she was looking at just as Cora and Jess took off. “Oh, I see . . . You’re jealous of them. I know you deny any feelings for Jess, but from the look on your face, I believe otherwise.” Agnes tapped her on the sleeve with her gloves. “What did I tell you? You simply cannot trust the opposite sex!”
“Alstublieft! Please, it’s hardly that. I was wishing for a ride in the countryside myself, is all.” Greta tried to hide her feelings.
“It’s okay, Greta. I won’t breathe a word of how you feel. You can trust me. Besides, Zach is going to make a fine husband and rancher.”
Trust her? Ha! Greta doubted that would ever happen.
Agnes pulled on her gloves and opened the door, and Greta handed her the package. “See you at church. I better hurry. Cole and I are going back to the ranch.”
Greta waved goodbye and wondered just where Jess and Cora were off to again. She had a good mind to follow them . . . but her conscience wouldn’t let her.
32
Cora hopped down from the buckboard and rang the bell at Granny’s. Moments later Granny came to the door. “Do come in . . . and tell me why my grandson is avoiding me.”
Cora laughed. “Granny, he’s not avoiding you, he’s just doing me a favor. Is it okay if I go on up to the attic? I’ve been gone most of the day, but I think there’s enough light left to search some more.”
“Goodness, where have you been?” Granny asked, walking her down the hallway.
“Horace Carey is in the hospital with pneumonia, and I was seeing to Martha’s five children.”
“I’m sure they were a handful.”
“Not at all, which surprised me. They’re well-versed in vocabulary and good manners.”
“I’m glad you were able to help them out.”
“Me too,” Cora said, mounting the stairs to the attic. “I enjoyed them so much, and I believe I might have found my true mission in life—helping others.”
Granny’s face took on a softer look. “Is that so? Well, how wonderful. Each person has their own spiritual gift, you know.”
“I hadn’t even known there was such a thing as spiritual gifts, but I’m learning that the more I study Scripture. But now I’d better get started. The daylight is wasting away.”
“Help yourself to my clutter.” Granny chuckled. “When you’re done we can have a little snack.” Then she scooted on about her business, leaving Cora alone.
The same musty breeze greeted her when Cora shoved open the attic door. Since she’d already looked through the boxes nearest the door, she wandered further back by the window and realized that she’d left it open. At least it wasn’t as stuffy today. After going through a stack of boxes and feeling disheartened, she opened the next box to find the treasure she’d been looking for. Nestled in heavy tissue paper lay the Blue Willow dishes. She knew it by the pattern similar to Greta’s cake knife. She clapped her hands, then gently removed several pieces to find that the box seemed to hold an entire set. Perfect! Now she wouldn’t have to order the dishes. It would be a useful gift but sentimental as well for Greta.
She hurried over to close the window and dragged the box to the door, then decided to take a box of scraps she wanted to ask Granny about. When Jess returned after he closed up shop, she would have him load them in the buckboard. Now, for some of Granny’s coffee and pie.
Greta stood back, admiring the window display. She’d placed some pumpkins and gourds together that she’d picked up at the market. Since the leaves hadn’t changed yet, she drew and cut leaf shapes from various-colored papers in hues of gold, red, and brown to scatter on the floor and around the window casing. In the center, she’d hung an orange and brown plaid wool dress with matching cape on a mannequin and topped it with a brown velvet hat. In one corner, she placed a new rake with the price tag still on it. But something was missing. Suddenly the idea came to her. She needed a wheelbarrow.
“Caleb? Can you stop stocking shelves for a few minutes and help me?”
“Sure.” Caleb hustled over. “What do you need?”
“Don’t laugh, but I need a wheelbarrow for my window display.”
Caleb gave her an odd look, then shrugged. “Okay . . . we have a few in the back.”
“Would you please haul one up here?”
He nodded and went to the back, then returned pushing a wooden wheelbarrow. “Here you go. Want me to set it in the window for you?”
“Please.”
He lifted the wheelbarrow up into the raised window. “Is that about where you want it?”
“Yes. Perfect. Thanks for your help.”
Caleb stood back, admiring the display. “It looks right nice, Greta. I’ll bet that dress catches some lady’s eye before the week is out.”
Greta smiled at his appraising words. “That’s the point, Caleb.”
“I agree, mighty nice.” They turned around at the voice as Jess walked over. “A letter came for you, Caleb,” he said, handing him the envelope. “I think it’s from the dean of Agricultural College of Colorado in Fort Collins.” Jess winked at Greta.
Caleb snatched up the letter, ripped it open, and read it, and a big smile lit up his entire face. “Wow! I�
�ve been accepted! Me!” he exclaimed.
“I knew they’d take you, son. Your folks would be proud to know you’ll be going to school,” Jess said, giving him a thump on the back.
“Caleb, this is wonderful. You get a chance to make something of yourself,” Greta added.
“I have Jess to thank for this. I’d never dreamed of going.” Caleb’s face was serious. “It says classes start in September. But I’ve decided that I need to go home and see my father first. I have to clear things up with him since I left.”
“Good idea. I know he’ll appreciate that.” Jess stepped back to Greta’s side. “And I really like the display. It’s something I never thought about doing. I guess now is a good time to tell you thanks for the way you handled Agnes. I know she’s not easy to work with.” He turned to look her in the eye.
“You’re welcome, Jess.” She studied his brown eyes, looking for some evidence of how he felt, but there was none. Still, she appreciated that he’d acknowledged her creative window display.
Jess slapped his thigh, glancing up at the clock on the wall. “Gotta run out for a bit. Watch the store while I’m gone, would you? Zach’s outside jawing with Silas.”
Greta nodded, her spirits suddenly deflated.
“Let me get back to work before Jess decides to keep my pay,” Caleb joked, then returned to his chores.
Greta numbly walked back to the sewing area to continue her work while the store was free of customers for the time being. She picked up the dress she was making for Cora. She’d had time to put the pieces together, and it was starting to resemble a wedding gown. Since Cora was close to her own size and stature, Greta had guessed on the measurements. It could always be tweaked a bit here and there if the fit wasn’t exact. She could hardly wait to see Cora’s face. Greta knew Cora was used to nicer clothing, but this was made from the heart.
She ran her hand over the fabric, feeling the rises that gave brocade its stiff appearance. A bit of lace affixed down the sweetheart neckline presented a feminine, delicate appeal.
It suddenly occurred to Greta that she had no wedding gown of her own to wear. When she left Cheyenne, she’d planned on wearing her pale blue church dress since she assumed she would be having a quick ceremony the day she arrived. Well . . . all that had changed. She’d like to wear a pretty gown such as this, if she indeed would be married at all. But for now, it was Cora and Jess who would be celebrating their nuptials. Greta wanted to hear “I love you” before she was ever married to anyone someday.
When Jess stopped the wagon, Granny and Cora were sitting on the porch, waiting for him. Cora waved cheerily, causing a guilty feeling in his chest. She would make a man a good wife, no doubt about it—just not him. He hopped down and strode up the steps.
Granny gave him a hug and pinched his cheek playfully. “I’m always happy to see your dear face. How about a slice of apple pie and coffee?” she asked, sitting back down in her rocker.
“How can I refuse?” he answered. He glanced down at the two boxes by the steps. “I take it you found Mother’s china?”
Cora nodded. “Yes. It took some searching, but I did. The other box is full of scraps that I thought would make a nice quilt. It’s the one thing about sewing that I did learn how to do.” She rose from her chair. “I’ll go get you some pie. Granny, why don’t you sit here with your grandson and chat?” Quietly she slipped through the screen door.
Jess took a seat next to Granny. “How have you been? You look wonderful.”
“I feel wonderful! Not many can say that at my age. I’m glad you and Cora thought of the Blue Willow dishes for Greta.”
“It was Cora’s idea. She saw them in one of our catalogs and thought it’d make a good wedding gift for Greta and Zach.”
Granny’s eyes narrowed and she leaned forward. “Jess, why haven’t you told Cora that you’re in love with Greta?”
He was so stunned by the question that it left him speechless, but Granny continued. “Greta told me how she felt about you when she stayed here, and she thought the feeling was mutual.”
“It is . . . it was . . . until yesterday when she became distant toward me.”
“What happened? What did you do to deserve this?” Granny pressed.
“Nothing, honest! She seemed like a different person a couple of days ago, I tell you.” Jess had thought this over many times while lying in bed, and he couldn’t think of one single thing he’d done to upset her. “You know, Granny, maybe she’s not ready to love after Bryan.”
Granny humphed. “That’s not true and you know it. The entire time she was here, she had stars in her eyes when she mentioned your name. You listen to me, young man. Greta wouldn’t have acted that way and she wouldn’t have given me Bryan’s locket if she were still in love with him. No one can have a future with the dead. It’s the living who must go on.”
Jess was used to getting a lecture from Granny, and he knew better than to interrupt. When she was through he said, “Then why would she act that way toward me—almost like a stranger?”
“I don’t know,” she said, her voice low. “But I do know you have to find out and fix this before you let Cora continue believing you will marry her.” Granny paused, smoothing down her apron. “I wouldn’t be too sure Cora’s in love with you either. Let the Lord guide you, but don’t use excuses not to speak up. Time’s a-wasting . . . and I’m not getting any younger.”
Jess could hear Cora moving toward the door with the pie and coffee, so he leaned close to Granny and whispered, “Then I have to talk to Zach first. I don’t want to hurt anybody.”
“Then do it, or someone will get hurt,” Granny said.
“I promise I’ll try to straighten all this out soon. Very soon.”
Cora came out carrying Jess’s pie and coffee. “Here you are. Do you think you could drive me to the hotel? I’d like to take the china up to my room before Greta gets there, if you don’t mind.” She leaned against the porch railing as he dug into the warm pie.
“It’s no trouble to do that. When we return, it’ll be time to close the store anyway. We’ve had a slow day today, for some reason.” He wolfed down the rest of the pie and slugged down the hot liquid. “I’m ready if you are. Sorry, Granny, but we have things to do. See you later.” He handed her his plate and gave her a peck on the forehead, making the old lady smile.
He waited for Cora to say goodbye, then he hoisted the box of china and scraps into the back of the wagon. After assisting Cora into the wagon seat, he set off toward Central City again, the cool mountain air descending on them.
Greta completed the dress with the exception of turning the hem. She’d do that after Cora tried it on just to be sure the length was where she wanted it to be. Not knowing when Jess or Cora would be back, she wrapped the dress and grabbed her coat. Caleb said he’d wait until Jess or Zach returned and could lock up—whoever came back first.
As she left, she took time to admire the window dressing and was pleased with it. Several ladies had slowed in their passing to peer in the window earlier, likely surprised because Jess had never taken the time to do any kind of display.
Hurrying down the walk, she planned on waiting until Cora got back to ask if she’d want to have dinner together. When she put her key in the door, it was unlocked and Cora was already there.
“I was hoping you’d come in soon. I had a very busy day with Martha’s children, but they were pleasant enough,” Cora commented from where she lounged in the chair with her feet up.
“That’s good. How is Horace?”
“He turned a corner, and Martha should bring him home tomorrow. They’re such sweet people.”
“And you’re so nice and good to them. What a compassionate heart you have when it comes to others, Cora.” Greta laid her package on the bed and removed her coat. “You look comfortable. These new shoes feel tight after wearing them all day.” She plopped down on the bed and leaned against the headboard to remove her shoes and rub her feet. “Ahh . . . it feels go
od to sit down for a change.”
“I’m surprised you aren’t off having dinner with Zach,” Cora said.
“I was about to ask you the same thing since I saw you leave again with Jess,” Greta replied.
Cora grinned. “Oh, that. We had something we needed to do.” Then her smile faded and she quirked an eyebrow. “But you seem upset about it.”
Greta rubbed her foot a little harder than she meant to and winced. “No . . .” She eyed her friend. “Anyway, I have something for you.”
“Oh? I like surprises.” Cora sat up with an eager expression.
Greta got up and handed her the package. “It’s not totally finished yet, but I hope you like it.”
“Ooh . . . what is it?” Cora tore the brown paper wrapping off to reveal the gown. “My goodness! How exquisite. Where did you get this?” She stared up at Greta.
“I made it for you. For your ceremony with Jess.” Greta stood waiting for Cora to say something.
Cora looked speechless. Tears welled up in her eyes as she stood up. “It’s very beautiful. I can’t believe you made it for me.”
“I thought you’d like it. You’ll look lovely, and I know Jess will agree.”
Cora put her arms around Greta and gave her a tight hug, then stepped back and ran her hand over the gown almost reverently.
“Cora?”
“Hmm?” she answered, holding the dress up to herself in front of the mirror. Somehow her countenance didn’t seem to fit a bride-to-be.
“I . . . I need to confess something to you. I love you and I hope you feel the same about me. I’m sorry about how I’ve acted lately toward you and Jess, but the truth is I’ve found myself caring deeply for the man you are to marry, and not the one who’s promised to marry me . . . and I’m sorry. I actually thought he felt the same, but I was wrong. I think once you and Jess are married, I’ll go back to Cheyenne. But I must admit my confusion, since I saw you kissing Zach before I twisted my ankle.”
There! She had finally been honest with her friend.
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