Clarence turned them and headed back to the hotel. “I’m afraid the fight is not the worst of it, my dear.”
Her heart fluttered at his solemn expression. “What else?”
“You understand, I would never speak of such things to a lady, but I must impress upon you how dangerous to your virtue an association with Mr. Henderson can be.”
She stopped walking and stared at him. “This conversation is ridiculous. I’m heading back to the hotel.” When she turned to move away, he grasped her upper arm to stop her.
“Your Mr. Henderson paid one of the whores in The Blue Belle Saloon to leave town.”
Heidi’s eyes grew wide. “What? I mean, why−I don’t understand.”
“As a lady you would not understand, dearest, but there is usually only one reason why a man pays a woman to leave town.”
She shook her head in confusion. “I still don’t understand.”
“Of course you don’t, and please remember I’m only relating the story to you for your own good.” He started forward again. “Oftentimes a man will pay a woman to leave town because she is carrying his child, and he wishes her out of the way.”
Chapter Eleven
The next morning, Heidi remained silent throughout the breakfast of corn bread with butter and honey she’d brought from home. Her stomach churned as she ate, but pretending normalcy could get her through the day.
“Is everything all right?” Michael wiped his mouth with a napkin and sat back.
“Fine.” She barely got the word out with crumbs from the corn bread stuck in her throat. All the moisture in her mouth had dried up. Every time she looked at the bruise on Michael’s chin, she thought of Clarence’s revelations the day before. It seemed unbelievable Michael would be involved in a bar brawl, and then pay some woman of ill repute to leave town. She shook her head. Obviously, her lack of social interaction had left her with poor judgment of peoples’ character.
“You seem to be doing some pretty heavy thinking this morning.” He grinned as he removed the plates and cups, and deposited them into the sink. Then he turned and leaned against the counter with his arms crossed. “How was the day with your family?”
“Fine.” She glanced briefly at him, then with her head down, pleated the skirt of her dress with stiff fingers.
He sighed and walked to the curtain separating them from the store. “I’ll open up.”
Although he wasn’t there to see it, she nodded. Clarence’s words had repeated in her mind all night, preventing her from getting much sleep. With rigid movements, she rose and pulled her apron off the hook and tied the lengthy strings around her waist. Unbidden tears rose to her eyes. Her knight in shining armor was no more. Maybe she should admit her failure, and return to Oklahoma City. She pushed the thought from her mind as the tinkling of the front doorbell announced the arrival of a customer.
Heidi managed to avoid Michael most of the day, and even made up an excuse about meeting someone for lunch in the little restaurant around the corner, so she wouldn’t have to eat with him. His raised eyebrows indicated he didn’t believe her, since he knew she had no friends here except Ellie.
By six o’clock she had a pounding headache, and fought the exhaustion of avoiding Michael every time they were left alone in the store. She’d kept her eyes downcast, and her hands busy. A few times she caught him looking at her with a frown, but he never again asked if everything was all right. She sighed with relief when he locked the front door and wished her good evening.
“Are you sure you don’t want a ride home?” He pulled on his brown leather driving gloves.
“No. Thank you, though.” She turned and hurried away.
****
Michael watched Heidi as she weaved in and out, dodging workers leaving offices and stores for the evening. He walked in the opposite direction to retrieve his buggy from the livery. Something bothered her, and with a sinking feeling in his stomach, he admitted it must have been the kiss Saturday.
As usual, he didn’t see her on Sunday since they attended different churches. After services, he’d spent the rest of the day quietly at home. He read, fixed something to eat, and took a long walk. The entire time a sense of emptiness tugged at him. Generally, he enjoyed the peace of Sunday after a busy week at the store, but for some reason his house seemed too quiet.
He’d spent hours thinking about Heidi. How much longer could he deny the growing feelings? His attraction to her would once again expose his heart to pain if he wasn’t careful. Her huge blue eyes, the riot of blonde curls, her slender neck, the way she felt in his arms, her lips. All these things scared him.
Michael unhitched the horse from his buggy and groomed him before entering his cold, dark house. He lit a few lamps on his way to the kitchen where he buttered a chunk of bread to eat with the vegetable soup his housekeeper had left on Friday. After cleaning up the few dishes, he lit a fire in the parlor fireplace and settled in front of the warmth with a book. Which he didn’t open.
What in heaven’s name troubled Heidi? Distinctly skittish today, every time he looked in her direction, she turned her head. If he stood near her, she moved away. She answered all his questions with either a nod, or one word. Yet, her demeanor hadn’t changed with the customers, so whatever the trouble, it had something to do with him.
The kiss.
****
The chatter of numerous women’s voices led Heidi from the front door of the Guthrie Library to the Women’s Rights meeting. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she surveyed the crowd. Women of all ages, in colorful dresses, and elaborate hats, sat in rows, talking and laughing with each other. Some looked younger than her, and others could be her grandmother. She was somewhat surprised to see several men scattered throughout the group.
Suddenly nervous about approaching the group, she licked her dry lips, and backed out the door.
“Heidi, there you are!” Ellie rose from a seat in the second row and scooted past two well-dressed women engaged in a lively debate. “I hoped you would come.”
Ellie tucked Heidi’s arm in hers, and tugged her forward. “Come on. I want you to meet some of the ladies.” Within minutes, Ellie had dragged her to the second row, and settled them side by side. Several women turned in their direction, and Ellie made the introductions.
“You work in the pharmacy?” A sweet-faced woman with rosy cheeks and dimples, who Ellie had introduced as Grace Norton, leaned over Ellie.
“Yes. I’ve been there for about two weeks now.” Heidi smiled at the cheerful woman.
She sat forward, and touched Heidi’s hand. “I must stop in some time and visit with you.”
Ellie laughed and turned to Heidi. “The only reason Grace wants to visit the pharmacy is to see Michael.”
The woman blushed a bright red, and stuck her nose in the air. “Ellie Henderson, why would you say such a thing?”
Michael. For a moment she’d forgotten the horrible things Clarence had told her about him. She glanced at Ellie under lowered eyelids. Did she know the type of person her brother was? Ellie’s expression and voice held definite surprise when she’d examined his injuries at the family dinner Saturday. Heidi’s stomach knotted when she tried to sort it all out. She’d known Clarence all her life, and her parents liked and trusted him. Surely he wouldn’t lie to her about something so serious.
A tall, thin woman in a dark blue wool skirt and white shirtwaist walked to the front of the room, and climbed a small platform. Her dark hair had been pulled into a loose bun at the back of her neck. She wore spectacles, which she pushed up on her nose as she consulted the papers in front of her.
She rapped twice with a gavel on the podium. “Ladies, and gentlemen, I would like to have your attention so we can begin our meeting.”
The chattering lowered to whispers, and then silence, as the audience faced forward. Ellie leaned over, close to Heidi’s ear. “Martha Walters. She’s the President of Women for Equal Rights of Guthrie.”
Heidi nodded and sat
back to listen. The woman spoke for a few minutes, and then asked various others in the group to come up and present their reports. Then she introduced the speaker of the evening, a lady from Oklahoma City who dedicated her life to getting the vote for women once Oklahoma Territory became a state. She assured the group women’s right to vote would happen in the next few years.
The woman held Heidi enthralled. Never had she thought about being able to vote. Miss Walters also talked about women in the work place and better opportunities for those who needed to earn a living. Not every woman needed, or for that matter, wanted, a husband, she stated, her chin raised. Heidi smiled when Ellie vigorously nodded in agreement. Ellie and her sister, Rachel, had quite a discussion on marriage Saturday. Ellie, adamant she would never marry and intended to look after herself, and Rachel, a widow with a son to raise, agreed she’d never marry again, either.
Heidi still couldn’t believe a woman would decide to not marry, and instead support herself. Such an unusual idea excited her. Papa had always taken care of her and Mother, and would have been scandalized if his wife had attempted to seek employment. He would surely feel it reflected badly on his ability to provide for his family. For the first time she realized taking a job may have also shamed him. In her desire for independence, she’d never given a thought to how her papa would view her actions.
“A few of us stop for coffee on the way home, after the meetings. I would love for you to join us.” Ellie took Heidi’s hand as they stood once the meeting finished.
“I’d like to come along.” She’d promised herself she would make friends. All the women Ellie had introduced, welcomed her into their circle. She found their zeal for women’s rights a bit scary. Her whole life had been isolated, with only Mother and Papa for company. There wouldn’t have been any way for her to know these types of women. They were exciting, interesting, and took care of themselves.
Surprisingly, many of them had husbands. But they embraced the cause wholeheartedly. She noted again the few men who had accompanied their wives, which she found even more astounding. The thought of Papa attending a women’s rights meeting had her shaking her head.
Ellie, and two of her friends, Mildred and Susan, chatted about the speaker as they walked to the coffee shop a few blocks from the library. Heidi kept her scarf up against the cold. The street lights guided their way past tidy houses with brightly lit lamps glowing from within. Occasionally, she glimpsed a family gathered together in the parlor, and at one house, she heard a lovely melody coming from a piano.
A sense of peace flowed over her. She liked her adopted town. Even if Michael Henderson was not the man she thought, that disappointment wouldn’t spoil her enjoyment of being on her own. Maybe she would look for a different job so she wouldn’t have to suffer his presence every day.
Why did that thought depress her so? He was a cad, and not a gentleman. She sighed at her confusion.
After the ladies finished their coffee and pie, Susan and Mildred parted ways with her and Ellie. They extracted promises from each other to return for the meeting next week. For the first time in her life, she had friends her own age who seemed to like her. They wanted her to join their group. A burst of joy made her face flush.
After saying their goodbyes, Ellie linked her arm with Heidi’s, as they strolled along. “How did you like the meeting?”
“Very interesting. I’d never thought of all the things the women spoke of tonight.” The wool scarf muffled her chuckle. “It made me feel proud of myself for what I did in breaking away from my old life.”
Ellie paused and regarded her. “Where do you rent your room? We’re so busy talking, we could be going in the opposite direction.”
“I’m in Mrs. Wilson’s home on Sixteenth and Dover.”
“Wonderful. I can detour a bit and walk right by there.”
They continued on in silence while Heidi worked up the nerve to ask Ellie what had been troubling her all day. “What is Michael like?”
Ellie looked at her with raised brows. “What? You’ve been working with him every day for over two weeks.”
“I know.” She sighed and shook her head. “I thought I knew him, but I heard some unflattering things lately.”
“What kind of things?” Ellie’s drew in a breath, and her eyes flashed.
Heidi hurried on. “How often is Michael involved in bar brawls?”
Heat rose from her middle to her hairline when Ellie threw her head back and laughed. “Michael? My brother, Michael? Are you serious?”
Heidi stiffened. “Yes.”
“Oh, Heidi, Michael Henderson would not be caught dead in a bar brawl. Why, our brother, Hunter, got into a fight one time in a bar, and got himself tossed into jail. Michael bailed him out, but after he lectured him for days, Hunter said he would have rather stayed locked up. Afterward he joined the Texas Rangers and we haven’t seen him since.”
Her heart thumped at Ellie’s words. Did she know her brother as well as she thought? “But what about the bruises on his face?”
Ellie shrugged. “I don’t know, but since he wouldn’t talk about it, I can’t comment.” They stopped to allow a horse and buggy to pass before they crossed the street. “But I can assure you on one point. If Michael had been in any kind of a fight, it would have been for a very good reason.”
Heidi chewed on her lower lip, working up the courage to ask the question she really wanted an answer to. “Um. Do you think Michael would ever pay a woman he got in a family way to leave town?” She thought the heat in her face would ignite her flesh.
Ellie stopped and turned toward her. “What in heaven’s name are you talking about? And where are you getting such crazy ideas?” When Heidi merely stared at her, her jaw working, but unable to form any more words, Ellie moved them forward and continued. “This is not my story to tell, but hopefully, my big brother would forgive me.”
She paused for a moment, closed her eyes briefly, and then spoke. “Years ago, Michael was engaged to be married. Three weeks before the wedding, his fiancée came to him in tears and told him she carried another man’s child.”
Heidi drew in a sharp breath, but nodded for her to continue.
“She told Michael the father of her child was married, and wanted nothing to do with her. She cried and begged him to proceed with the wedding anyway to provide the baby with a name.”
“Oh no.” Heidi breathed.
“Oh yes. And my fool headed brother agreed.” She shook her head in disgust. “Luckily, he came to his senses and talked to Uncle Jesse about it.” Ellie smiled at the memory. “Uncle Jesse asked him a few questions, and Michael left the house and broke the engagement.”
“What did he ask him?”
“We’ll never know, but whatever the questions were, I’m glad he did. His fiancée left Guthrie not too long afterward, and as far as I know he’s never heard from her since.”
They reached Heidi’s house. Just in time, she thought. Her head hurt from the tension of the day, and Ellie’s revelations.
“So you see, Heidi, I doubt very much he would ever pay a woman to leave town if she carried his baby. He intended at one time to raise another man’s child as his own.” Her mouth moved in a slight smile and she patted Heidi’s hand. “I don’t know where you heard your stories, but I can say with absolute certainty they’re lies.”
Heidi blew out a huge breath. “Thank you. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your sharing that story with me.”
Ellie thought for a minute. “My brother needs a life other than the one he’s carved for himself. My family knows he’s had his heart under lock and key for years. But he needs a wife and children.” Ellie shivered and pulled her coat collar closer. “I don’t know how you feel, but you would be very good for him.”
When Heidi looked up abruptly at Ellie’s words, she touched her arm briefly. “I hope I haven’t scared you, but the general consensus in my family is you may be the one to unlock his stubborn heart.”
“Me?” He
idi squeaked.
“Think about it.” With that statement, Ellie turned and walked away.
Heidi stumbled up the stairs, and entered the house. Mrs. Wilson greeted her, but she barely answered, her thoughts in turmoil. Excitement, happiness, fear, and longing all meshed together as she undressed for bed.
Michael’s family thought she−mousey little Heidi−might unlock Michael’s heart? Oh, if that could only be so. Her attraction to him had grown into something so close to deep caring it scared her.
Once she in bed, she burrowed beneath the comforter, tossed and turned for a while, then flipped onto her back and linked her fingers together over her stomach. What would her life be like married to Michael Henderson? Taking care of his house, cooking his meals, tending to his needs.
His needs.
Her heart sped up as it had when he’d kissed her. Tingles low in her belly made her feel restless, wanting. He was not the type of man who would scorn his wife and seek satisfaction with a mistress. She would be the one to share his bed, cuddle in the dark under the covers, and know the glorious feeling of joining her body with his.
Stop, Heidi. Get yourself under control.
Reining in her thoughts, she stared at the dark ceiling, newly awakened anger twisting her insides. Why had Clarence told her those horrible stories Ellie insisted were lies?
The next time she saw him, she would certainly find out.
Chapter Twelve
Michael’s shoulders slumped as he pulled the dust covers off the counters. Would today be another tension filled day? Heidi had treated him no better yesterday than Monday. Leaving her alone to work out whatever troubled her had sounded like a good idea in the beginning, but his confusion hadn’t lessened.
Monday she’d barely spoken to him, and yesterday she dripped aloofness. Yes, Mr. Henderson, no Mr. Henderson, until he thought he would throw up his hands and stalk from the building.
His thoughts were interrupted by the bell. Heidi entered the store hesitantly, a hint of a smile on her lips. She also looked him in the eye, which is something she hadn’t done for two days. Had she come to tell him she quit? She’d decided to return to Oklahoma City after all?
A Prescription For Love: An Oklahoma Lovers book Page 10