Fastening his trousers, he grabbed his belt to pull it through the loops. He reached for his suit coat. Reality settled inside him. He would miss that high-strung gal. It took time to admit his love. However, love her he did, and this would add to his determination to get out of marrying Maybell. But how would he do this? Shaking his head, he slipped his arms into his wool coat sleeves, glanced at the bed, then opened the bedroom door to step down the hallway toward the stairs.
Voices drifted up from the dining room. Would Winifred be there? He hoped so since he wished to say good-bye. He climbed down the steps. Dishes clanged as he entered the room. He settled into a seat beside Teddy then scanned the table for Winifred. She sat opposite him and glanced his way before redirecting her attention to her sister.
With a large piece of biscuit in his mouth, Theodore spoke to Hugh. “You going home today?”
“Now, Theodore, you swallow that piece of bread. Don’t speak with your mouth full,” Opal scolded.
“Aw, Ma!”
“You heard me. Now, you chew that piece up before addressing Mr. Warren.”
“You do what your ma said,” chimed in Alex.
Teddy stared at his plate a moment then ate the food. Facing Hugh, Theodore again asked, “You leaving today?”
“Yes, I can’t stay here forever.” He glimpsed toward Winifred. Her gaze met his. She pulled her strands behind her ear before she gave him a small smile. His heart rate sped up a beat. He could not help it. Her sea-blue eyes and bobbing hair captured him.
Glancing at his dish of food, he took a bite of his egg. The crisp-morning breeze flowed in from the cracked-open window. He must see her before the square dance. It would be difficult with the harvest, but somehow he must find a way.
***
Winifred glanced at Hugh. After swallowing some of his coffee, he set the white china cup on the table. Her eyes filled with tears. She liked this impertinent man. Her racing heart told her that, however, duty called her home. With all her heart, she wanted to wish him well, but she knew the more she was around him the more difficult returning home would become. I can’t disappoint my father once more. She snuck toward the hallway to escape upstairs.
“Winifred, stop!” Hugh called from the dining room. His gaze pleaded with her to wait for him. He rushed toward her.
She paused and turned to him. “I need to go upstairs.”
“Winifred,” her sister yelled, her brow furrowing. Opal hurried toward her sister and stood in front of her. “You can’t go until you say good-bye to our guest. Nothing is that important which can’t wait.”
Winifred’s mouth opened to protest, but her proper upbringing would not allow her to disobey. She stood there like a historical statue, not moving and still. Then, she forced her gaze to meet Hugh’s. Standing in front of her, his tall and broad frame overpowered her, almost sucking the air from her lungs. He wore a strained smile.
“I – I can’t leave without talking with you.” He shifted his attention from her to the hallway’s grandfather clock, which read three minutes to seven o’clock. He returned his gaze to her. “I only have a few minutes since Alex needs to get to work. Could we go into the formal parlor?”
Oh, how can I refuse you? She nodded and stepped into the room. He faced her.
“Winifred, if I have your permission, I would like to come and see you before the dance.” The lines in his countenance relaxed, and the corners of his lips curved up into a grin.
As she debated whether she should grant his request, she clutched her hands together. She should say no. She knew she should. However, her loud pounding heart betrayed her. “That would be fine but,” she said, stalling a moment to gather confidence in informing him of her need to return home, “I must, though-”
“Hugh, I’ve got to go,” shouted Alex from the entryway, interrupting the rest of her sentence.
Hugh squeezed her hand. “I must leave but look forward to seeing you.” Taking a deep breath, he whispered, “I’m quite fond of you. I hope you know that.” His firm grip brought tingles of warmth inside her. He released his hand from hers, spun around, then dashed from the room.
Winifred stood there. She placed her hand over her heart, the pulsating beat spreading through her like a bumblebee swarming around a marigold’s nectar. She sniffed. I’ve got to tell him. I must. I must. But could she muster the strength when he affected her like this? She hoped so. Or, did she?
***
Hugh jumped down from the parked buckboard to follow Alex to the bank. Unlocking the door, Alex stepped inside. As Hugh entered the room, the long, tan curtains blew softly in the air through the narrowly opened windows. He brushed passed them while he tailed his former host into an office stacked high with accounting books of various styles and sizes. Alex pushed some of the ledgers on his desk aside and sat down before he peeked over the top of a still tall stack. Shaking his head, he took a few more of the books off the pile and placed them underneath the just moved ledgers. He smiled. “I’m sorry about the mess. I’ve been meaning to clean up around here, but with Vivian’s birth it has put me even further behind.” Pointing to a chair in front of his scratched walnut desk, he said, “Have a seat.”
Hugh sat on the wooden seat, wishing he could pull out his pipe and take a puff. This always helped him relax. A potbelly stove and a large cash register stood to Alex’s left. It reminded him of his father’s back home. At least, they have some of the same equipment as in Charles City. To his surprise, Alex pulled out a clay pipe from his breast pocket of his tweed suit. “You a pipe smoker?”
Hugh nodded.
“Do you have one of your own, or would you like to choose from my selection?” He gestured to a table to his right.
“I have one,” Hugh said as he observed the array of pipes. “Where did you get the Indian peace pipe?” Hugh asked in surprise.
Alex smiled. “A customer gave it to me and wanted me to have it since he wasn’t a pipe smoker.”
“But how did he get it?” Hugh pulled out his pipe and tobacco packet before he tapped down some of the tobacco.
“His father was a Cavalry man. He was a half-breed guide who worked for the Cavalry. The guide endured some taunting from some of the soldiers for being … um, for being part Indian. But my customer’s pa would have none of that, and he stood up to them. In gratitude, the Indian gave him the pipe.” Reaching over his desk, Alex lit Hugh’s pipe before lighting his own.
“That’s quite a story.”
“Sure is, and I’m honored to have this peace pipe,” he said, motioning to the pipe on the table as he spoke. They sat there quite awhile enjoying the spirals of smoke floating in the air.
Then Alex placed his pipe in his ashtray. “Well, I guess it’s time to get to work. However, you don’t have to stop smoking. I like starting my day with a few puffs. Opal doesn’t like it much, but she accepts it. She says it really isn’t a proper way to begin a day.” A twinkle in his eye appeared. He chuckled. “You infatuated with that pretty redhead we both know?”
Hugh dropped his pipe onto his lap. Luckily, none of the ashes spilled.
Alex’s jaw clenched. “I’m sorry. I should’ve held my tongue, but I saw you two together and you two looked smitten with each other.”
“You’re fine.” He picked up his pipe and held it in his hand. “I didn’t know it showed. She’s a little difficult, to put it mildly, but I’ve grown attached to her.”
Alex stared at him before the corners of his lips curved up into a grin. “I know. I know. I’ve been there. They’re sisters, and their ways end up captivating you, don’t they?”
“Yes,” Hugh gulped, wondering how much more he should reveal of his feelings. After all, he still had to contend with that matter of Maybell.
Chapter Eight
As he jumped down from the rig, Hugh said his good-bye to Alex’s clerk. Doug turned it around and headed back to town. Stepping toward Archie’s house, he stood in front of the back door, opened it, and strode in the dire
ction of the parlor. Maybell met him at the room’s entrance.
“It’s good to see you.” Wiping her hands on her apron, she smiled. “Pa and I were so worried about you. It’s nice to have you back. I know Jack really missed you.”
“I’ve missed being here. I’ve already felt like this is home and, of course, there’s nothing like those good meals you serve.”
She laughed. “I enjoy making them just as much as watching you and Jack devour them.”
He hated to break up their conversation, but he needed to talk with Archie. “Where’s your father? I need to discuss a matter with him.”
“Oh, he’s outside somewhere with Jack, but I would think he’d be returning mighty soon. Why don’t you take a seat in the parlor? By the way, your brother has been a great help to Pa while you’ve been gone. He’s quite a pleasant young man if you can ever get him to speak up.” She bit her lip a second. “I hope you don’t mind me asking, but has he always been that shy?”
“No, when he was real young, he spoke normally.” Her question jolted Hugh’s memory. He smiled. Visions of his ma and her wearing a light gold ruffled skirt spread out on the floor came to the forefront of his mind. He and his brother sat next to her skirt’s hem as they listened to their mother’s warm voice reading the biblical story, David and Goliath. When she finished, she would cock her head and rumple the boys’ hair. Tears formed in Hugh’s eyes. He shifted his head to the side to avoid Maybell seeing them. Several seconds passed before Maybell’s words reached his consciousness. He turned to her.
“May I ask what happened to your mother?”
Hugh swallowed the lump in his throat, hesitated, then said, “She contracted tuberculosis. Pa placed her in a sanatorium, but she never recovered. She passed away a year later.” His voice broke before adding, “We never saw our beloved mother again.” And what a difference it could have made. Our father might not have been so harsh if her love had been there.
“It’s difficult to lose your mother. I lost mine, you know; however, her death came just a few years ago. I miss her a lot,” she said then stuffed her hand into her apron pocket. “Well, I’d better get some things done around here, especially cutting some blooms. It won’t be long before they’ll be all gone, and I won’t have a beautiful bouquet to decorate the dining-room table. It’s what Ma used to do to make the house pretty.”
“Alright. See you later.”
Maybell nodded and strode toward the back door.
He stood there and watched her. With her round face and plump figure, she was not a beautiful woman like Winifred but a kind lady who really would make the perfect match for his brother. At least, he hoped he examined the situation without prejudice since he wanted it that way. A door creaked open, and a swoop of air drifted inside. Archie approached.
***
The corner of Archie’s wrinkled lips turned up in a broad smile. He strode toward Hugh. “Well, I’ll be. You’re back, and it’s great to see you.”
Hugh returned the smile. “I’m glad to be here. There were days I wondered if I would get over that sickness, but God enabled me to get the best care with Mrs. Graham and Alex’s sister-in-law. I’m quite grateful to them.”
“Alex and Opal are wonderful people, for sure, and it looks like her sister comes from that same stock. I met Mrs. Graham and could tell she was a good woman.”
Hugh nodded then cleared his throat. “I had a chance to discuss the loan with Mr. Boyer earlier today. Do you have time to talk?”
“Why yes, let’s go into the parlor. Jack stayed in the field to repair a fence.” Archie smiled. “He’s quite handy and a good man to have around.”
Hugh followed his boss.
Archie settled in a chair behind the mahogany table. If Hugh’s financial request was approved, which he believed it was, Archie could relax. He wanted Maybell to be financially secure after his death, and with a man like Hugh, he could be at peace. He turned to his hired help and pointed to a straight chair in the corner. “Bring that up, and we’ll get to work.”
Hugh leaned forward, his palms pressed on his legs. Face strained, he stared at Archie.
Studying Hugh’s countenance, he wondered if he had misjudged the situation. He scratched his beard before he blurted out, “Did you, uh, get the funds?”
“Yes, Alex was happy to loan me the fifteen dollars, so this enables me to pay you the fifty we agreed upon.”
Archie exhaled a long breath. “That’s wonderful.” He tapped his fingers on the table. “You got the money with you?”
“I do. I do.” Archie dug into his pocket and pulled out a brown oak-leafed leather wallet. Opening it, he set the wad of bills on the table.
Archie gazed at it a minute before he opened the drawer to the small table behind him. He placed the money inside. Pans clamored in the distance.
“You’re not going to count it?” Hugh asked in surprise
“Nope, I trust you.”
“You do?”
“Of course.” Archie’s brow furrowed.
“In Virginia, we would have counted it.”
Archie chuckled. “Here we depend on each other. We build our homes together, we share our food when someone we know is without, and do whatever else we can to assist one another.” He pulled out his handkerchief and wiped his forehead. “This is rough country, Hugh. You’ll learn that once you build your own home, plant your own crops, and harvest your own produce in weather which is much like most women’s temperaments.”
Hugh laughed. “Yes, women are difficult at times.”
“That might be true of other women, but it’s not true about my Maybell. She’s as easy as they come.” He inhaled the smell of the potent onions. “See what I mean? She knows how to satisfy a grown man’s stomach.”
“True.” Hugh slipped his wallet into his pocket.
“Oh, that reminds me. I haven’t told Maybell about our agreement.” He glanced down at the table, wondering how he would approach the subject. Peeling his gaze from the polished wooden grains, he jerked his head up and faced his soon to be son-in-law. “Would you pursue her as a normal beau? You could start with giving her a bouquet of flowers. She loves those as my dear wife, Kitty, did.”
A long silence ensued. Hugh shifted in his seat. He studied his brawny hands. “I’ve got something to tell you.”
The dinner bell rang. “Later.” Archie jumped to his feet then rushed from the room.
***
Hugh sat there for several minutes. He could not marry Maybell. He loved Winifred, but how was he going to tell Archie? A pain pierced his stomach. Somehow he had to. He needed to get this matter settled before he visited Winifred next week and, hopefully, took her to the barn dance in the next few weeks. Where all eyes would be upon them since they were new people in the community.
Voices drifted into the parlor, and he knew he must get into the dining room. It would be rude to do otherwise. He pushed himself up from the chair and lumbered forward. Flowers? How could he give Maybell those? It would cement their courtship if other people got to know about it. Dishes clamored. He sat in a dining room seat.
As Maybell poured coffee into the china teacups, some of the strands of her pinned up hair fell around the back of her neck. She stopped at Hugh’s chair then scooted to his brother with gusto.
For the second time, he noticed her zeal and the twinkle appearing in her light-blue eyes when she interacted with his brother. Hugh released a long breath. If only he could make her father see this, then he would not push Maybell toward him. Instead, he would know she loved his brother, not him. But what about Jack, did he care for her? He would find out after dinner.
Jack fumbled with opening his napkin. In the process, his elbow struck the table’s edge. His shallow, silver-edged bowl rattled.
Hugh gulped. Could she really put up with his awkwardness? He peeked over at Maybell. To his astonishment, she giggled.
“Oh Jack, you shouldn’t be that anxious to eat my Navy bean soup.” She turned to h
er father.
Jack stared at her a moment before a large smile creased his lips.
Archie bowed his head. “Lord, thank you for the food at hand and thank you for returning Hugh to us.” He unclasped his hands then winked at Hugh.
Hugh’s jaw clenched. Oh Lord, help me find some way to convince him that Jack is the one for Maybell. Hugh grasped the plate of corn muffins, set one on his small plate, and passed it to Jack. After biting into the sweet-tasting texture, he smiled to himself. And, she’s a good cook to boot. If only you, Jack, could care for her as she undoubtedly does for you.
***
Opal lifted the soft and warm body up as she placed a clean diaper underneath the infant. Inhaling the soiled diaper, Opal scooted the cloth aside then pulled the stiff-cotton gown over Vivian Louise’s head. Picking up the child, she turned to Winifred. “Well, she’s good and clean now.”
Winifred smiled. “She’s so adorable. Could I hold her awhile?”
“Of course.” The baby stared at her mother then the infant yawned before letting out a series of whimpers. “It looks like she’s ready for a nap. Would you mind rocking her?”
“Oh, I would love that.” The baby smiled. Winifred held out her hands.
Opal came over and presented her daughter to her sister.
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