"What are you talking about? How could you ruin my mood? Why would you even think you could ruin my mood?"
"Victoria and I got some news at dinner, last night. Jake rode back into town just to tell us. It seems that Miranda overheard some strange woman in the mercantile, pontificating on everything that's wrong with this town."
"So, if she's so unhappy, she'll probably leave. Why worry about it?"
"Because, and Jake didn't tell us this, it's only the impression I got, that she was talking like she intended on making changes," Neil told him.
"All right," Gus responded, sighing. "What's wrong with us all?"
"Well apparently, the sheriff is, at best, an incompetent because he claims it took months to find the brothel. The people of Manchester are sheep because they blindly accepted Victoria as their physician. Since clearly a woman doctor is... and this is a quote... 'an abomination'. She can't believe that they haven't chased the 'whores' out of town, especially since they're about to drop their 'bastards'. And finally, and this is the part that pertains to you, she's sure there's something not right about your secret marriage."
"Meaning what, exactly?"
"Of course, this is only a guess, but either you two didn't really get married. Or, there's something you've kept secret from everyone."
"Really?"
"From the way Jake was talking, Miranda was livid on the ride back to the house. He said it took most of the ride home to calm her down."
"And, we have no idea who this extremely vocal, paragon of virtue and knowledge is?"
"No. Not a clue."
"And, Victoria believes I should tell Margaret about this?" Gus asked.
"Yes. After all, you wouldn't want her to hear it on her own. Besides, I'd think if you tell her that the woman basically insulted the entire town, she'll take it a bit better. Don't you?"
"Yes, I suppose." He looked around, and added, "I think I'll go see if Frank has any idea about who this woman could be."
"Normally I wouldn't presume to advise you," Neil told his friend, "but maybe you should talk to Meg first."
"You're probably right. So, I'll go check on my lovely bride," Gus conceded. "Although, I hate to think I might ruin her day."
*****
"What!" Meg cried out, as Gus tugged her through the door from the workshop to the residence. "Why in heaven's name would anyone say we aren't married?"
"I don't know, Meg. We don't even know who the woman is who said these things. However, apparently Miranda felt she should let us all know what she overheard. So Jake spoke to Victoria and Neil, and Neil told me, so I could tell you.
"And once I'm sure you're all right, I suppose I'm going to have to try to find Frank, so I can talk to him."
"To tell him what, that we are really married?"
"Well, yes, among some other things."
"What other things?" she asked, suspiciously.
"Everything that—according to this unknown and mysterious woman—believes is wrong with Manchester and her people."
"Gus..."
"Don't worry about it, Meg. Clearly, the woman is delusional. Perhaps, she's escaped from some insane asylum. There are several in Chicago. I suppose she could have made it here."
"I'm being serious, Gus."
"I know you are. But, it's nothing to concern yourself with. People will always find someone or something to gossip about."
"Well, that's true enough," Meg agreed. "Even back in North Brookfield, there was always some story going around, usually about me. And, if nothing presented itself, people just made things up."
"Exactly," Gus said. Then, he kissed her, and left through the back.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The following Sunday, neither Meg nor Gus felt well, having been fighting colds. So, they decided to skip church and keep warm and quiet.
Neil drove Victoria out to an outlying farm where the wife had gone into premature labor. But after a long and tiring day, the doctor pulled both the mother and baby through their travail. Still, they didn't get back into town until late Sunday evening. But, they were back in town for work the next morning.
Victoria decided not to move into the new surgery right away since she wasn't being evicted from the current one anymore. She thought she’d wait until she and Neil married, later in the spring. Neil took advantage of the empty building and set up a workshop in one of the larger rooms on the first floor.
He made Victoria a huge desk as a wedding present. And was now finishing up the work on the pair of cradles he'd promised Kathy and Lynn, which was especially important now they were on the backside of March, and Kathy could have her baby any time.
He was carefully rubbing stain onto the second one, when the front door opened and a tall, thin man, with short, salt and pepper hair, and a long, horsey face entered. He wore no outer, winter coat, but merely a stark black Prince Albert coat.
"Good morning," Neil said. "How can I help you today?"
"I was told you make furniture. My wife and I have recently arrived in town and find the supplied furnishings below our standards. So, I'm looking for a dining room table and chairs, a complete bedroom set, and several small tables and side chairs." He walked over and examined the desk, before he added, "I hadn't thought about a desk, but this is very nice. So, I'll take this as well."
"Ah..." Neil began, not quite sure what to make of the man, "I think you must have misunderstood whoever told you I make furniture."
"But, you're working on furniture now. I can see you."
"Well, yes. I am working on some pieces now. But that's because I have some time and some friends need cradles." He swept his arm around the room in general, saying, "I'm still working on this building, but, several fixtures are back-ordered because of the bad weather we've been experiencing.
"You see, making furniture is only a part-time thing. It's something I do for the pleasure and satisfaction of it. Normally, I build buildings."
"All right, so you only make furniture part-time. I'll still take the desk, and you can make the other things after you finish this cradle. But..." the man paused. Then, after several moments, added, "Perhaps, you should come to the house, so my wife can tell you exactly what we want."
"First, I made that desk for my fiancée, and next—"
"You can make her another desk. Although, why a woman would need such a desk, is beyond me. Now, we'll expect you to—"
"I'm sorry, sir. But, the only place that desk is going is into that office," he said, pointing over his shoulder to an open doorway, "right there."
"But, I thought this was to be the new surgery. Are you saying you're planning on marrying that female claiming to be a doctor?"
"I assure you, Dr. Thorne is a fully trained and accredited doctor. In fact, her diploma from medical school is hanging in the old surgery, should you need proof."
"I see. Well, nevertheless, you can make her another desk, if you feel she needs one. But, she doesn't need it now, does she?"
"No, but I made that one for her. And, I'm not going to make another. I need to finish up this building, so that it's ready for us to move into as soon as we are married.
"I'm sure the mercantile has catalogs for you and your wife to look through and choose whatever furniture you need. And, I'm also sure it will be much cheaper than if I were to make it for you.
"Now, I really need to finish this cradle, because I'm expecting the fixtures later this week. And, I promised Mrs. Hendriksen the cradles would be ready by the end of the week, and—"
"The cradles are for Mrs. Hendriksen? You mean the woman who's harboring those two whores living with her?"
"Excuse me? Now, you're new in town, so you've probably gotten a hold of some misinformation. In fact, I'd say you've definitely gotten hold of the wrong end of the stick. It's true. Mrs. Hendriksen has taken in the two children. However, while the girls are living with her, all of us—the ones who actively searched for them—look after them."
"And you're making these bea
utiful cradles for those whores’ bastards?" he asked, scowling. Then, more to himself than to Neil, he added, "What is wrong with this town?"
"I really don't want to resort to physical violence, however, I've heard just about all I'm willing to. So, perhaps, you need to be going on your way."
"Oh, I'm leaving. But, I tell you, the best thing that could happen is for those two... Jezebels... to die in childbirth. And their brats along with them! It's these kinds of things—"
The stranger didn't finish his sentence because Neil punched him in the nose. Holding a handkerchief up to his bloody nose, the man staggered from the building and down the street.
And, as the door slammed after him, Neil muttered, "Good riddance!"
*****
"I wish to report an attack," the man blurted out through his bloodied handkerchief, before he was even fully inside the sheriff's office.
"An attack? Someone here in town attacked you?" Frank Dunkirk asked, incredulously.
"Yes, I've been attacked. Can't you see I've been injured? I think he broke my nose."
"Ah, you're the new minister, aren't you?"
"Yes, that's right." In a belated attempt at courtesy, the man held out a slightly bloodied hand, and said, "I'm the Reverend Harold Wright." But, apparently he couldn't resist a little barb and added, "We missed you at church, yesterday."
"Yes, well, I was busy working yesterday morning. But, my wife and I usually make it to church.
"Now, who attacked you?"
"I'm not sure... the carpenter... working in that so-called doctor's new building." And, even Frank could hear the contempt in his voice.
"Neil Stratton? Neil Stratton attacked you?"
"Can't you see that for yourself, man? I—"
"I'm not sure I can," Frank interrupted. "After all, you know how incompetent my deputies and I are."
"Oh, you heard that. Ah... ah, yes... sometimes Mrs. Wright gets overzealous. But, I'm sure—"
"Why don't we just leave it, before you say something that I can repeat to your wife?"
Wright ignored the inference, and repeated, "I came in here to file a complaint against that man. And, I insist you arrest him and throw him in—"
Frank held up a hand and told him, "Not so fast. Am I correct in assuming you made some disparaging remark about Dr. Thorne?"
"Well, yes... I suppose so. But, surely that doesn't give the man the right to—"
"Why don't you tell me what it was you said?"
"What? I... I'm not sure—"
But Frank cut him off again, telling him, "The sooner you tell me exactly what you said, the sooner you'll be able to go get that nose of yours looked at. Of course, I'm not sure when the next train is."
"Train? What train? Why would I need a train? What are you talking about?"
"Well, I'm sure you wouldn't want to go to Dr. Thorne. So, the nearest doctor is in the next town, about fifteen miles away. I'd suggest the train, unless you have a good team of horses."
"I don't need a doctor. What I need is for that hooligan to be arrested and thrown in jail."
"I'll decide when and if Neil will be arrested, just as soon as you tell me what else you said to him."
"I believe I might have made a comment about those females staying at the Hendriksen place... and their babies. But, I'm not sure what it was... exactly."
"Really? It's all right. I can pretty much figure what it was. And, was there anything else? That you can remember that is?"
"Well... I think I did say something about the best thing that could happen, would be for both those whores and their bastards to die during childbirth."
"I see." The sheriff stood up and said, "Well, it was interesting meeting you, Reverend Wright," while he purposefully put both hands behind his back. "I'm sure my wife and I will make it to church, eventually."
"What? Wait! What are you going to do? You haven't told me what you're going to do about arresting the man."
"Not a thing."
"What? No, I demand you arrest the man. He attacked me. I insist you take him into custody, immediately. It was an unprovoked attack and I want an example made—"
"It's interesting you chose that word 'unprovoked'. You see that's your problem. You most certainly did provoke the man.
"I'm sure you made some uncalled for remarks about both Dr. Thorne and Mrs. Hendriksen. And, you admitted you referred to the girls as 'whores' and their children 'bastards'. And Neil didn't retaliate."
"But he did—"
"And he did nothing, did he?"
"Well, no. Not right then."
"And you just kept talking, didn't you?"
"Yes, I suppose so. But what does that have anything to do with anything? Can't you see I'm bleeding?"
"Yes, I see it. And, since you're still bleeding I won't ask you to mop your blood up off my floor."
"I want you to take that man into custody. Now!"
"I've already told you that will not happen."
"Well, I see my wife was correct about the inadequate constabulary in this town. I did nothing wrong."
"Wright, as I've implied, at least, I hope I have, I would have probably punched you much earlier. But, what you said to Neil about hoping the girls both died in childbirth along with their babies... I'm not even sure I'd arrest him even if he'd shot you."
"What kind of law man are you? What kind of man are you?"
"The kind who won't arrest a decent, hard-working man for striking a verbose, self-important stranger for saying what he did."
"What? But, why?"
"His first wife died about a year ago, while giving birth to their child, a son who also died."
"Oh..." he said, a bit nonplussed. But, after a moment added, "Still, I'm not sure—"
"Goodbye, Wright!" Then Frank got up and went into a back room, clearly dismissing the unpleasant man.
*****
On Tuesday, Meg was busy consulting with a soon-to-be bride, when a strange, bone-thin, angular woman entered the workshop and looked around. Eva, who'd been at church service Sunday, recognized the woman. She rushed over from the weaving side of the room and greeted her. "Mrs. Wright, how may I help you today?"
"Well..."
"It's Eva, ma'am. I met you the other day at church. Eva Swenson."
"Oh, yes. I thought you looked familiar. I didn't realize you worked here. I thought you said something about marrying soon."
"Yes, ma'am. I did. That is... I will be marrying soon. But, not for several months. I'm waiting until Dr. Thorne and Mr. Stratton marry. And, of course, for the babies to arrive."
"Babies..." Mrs. Wright repeated in a shocked tone. "Whose babies? I certainly hope that neither the so-called doctor, nor you is currently expecting. Or think it better to give birth before your marriages than after."
Meg was trying to ignore the conversation. After all, her bride deserved her undivided attention. But, the woman was obviously distressing Eva.
"No! No, ma'am. That isn't what I meant, at all." Eva flushed bright red. "What I meant is Brian, my fiancé, and I are waiting to get married until after the doctor and Mr. Stratton marry. And, of course, after Miss Meg... I mean, Mrs. Gunderson... and Mr. Gus... have their wedding reception."
"That brings up something I've found confusing. Why didn't... ah... Mr. and Mrs. Gunderson have their reception when they wed? Is there something they're trying to hide?"
"What? No, ma'am. It's just... it's just..."
Meg murmured an excuse to her bride and went over to answer the nosey woman's question before Eva had to. "No, we had nothing to hide. Indeed, we still have nothing to hide.
"It was because we really wanted Reverend Cleary to perform the ceremony. And, when they said they were leaving town, Gus... my husband... arranged for us to be married quietly, after church."
"Yes, I believe I had heard some similar fairytale," the woman said. Then she sat down, as if she expected to be there for a while, before she continued, "Well, I would like to see some examples of you
r work. I find I need some clothes that are less... less formal than I would normally wear. Manchester is more countrified than I expected it to be. However, I can't just hire anyone. Not without evaluating their work, to make sure it's up to snuff."
"I see," Meg answered, frowning. She took a deep breath, pasted a smile on her face and continued, "I'd be happy to help you. However, I'm busy with a consultation for yet another bride, right now.
"Perhaps Eva can help you. If, of course, she has the spinning and weaving half of the workroom under control. But she can help with dressmaking as well.
"If she is unable to help, I'm sure she'll take the time to make an appointment for you. We are often too busy to help drop-ins. So we keep a list of appointments."
"I don't want to deal with an underling. I'm also not at all sure I wish to deal with someone I don't entirely believe is married. Or at least to know why they were so abruptly married.
"However, as I said, I need some less formal clothes. I've been told you are the best seamstress in town. And, my husband and I have already realized how we certainly have our work cut out for us, and how we will have to lower... our... our expectations."
"Really?"
"Yes, really," the woman answered, smugly.
"Mrs. Wright, I am the daughter of a minister. One, I very much fear is like your husband. And, it was precisely that reason why I wanted Reverend Cleary to marry us. He always preached of a loving God, and not the vengeful one I grew up with.
"So, I don't believe we'll be able to meet your needs, after all. However," she continued, with deliberate politeness, "there is a woman in the next town, who is supposed to do alterations fairly well. Perhaps, she can make time for you. If not, I'm sure there are many dressmakers in Chicago.
"Good day." Then Meg turned her back on the rude woman and returned to her bride.
The little bell on the workshop door tinkled, causing Meg to look up. She was worried that Mrs. Wright would come back. So, she was both pleased and surprised to see Gus.
He smiled at her, before he went over and talked in a low voice to Eva, probably about his part of the business. Meanwhile Meg finished with her bride-to-be, before sending her into the residence to change back into her street clothes.
Miranda Takes a Stand Page 18