by Barbara Goss
Miles sat on a bench in the small park near the river where he sometimes went to think. It was a lovely spring day, and he sat with a book he’d tried to read several times already, but his mind kept creeping back to Violet and Mr. McKenzie.
The park was nothing more than a shady, green area, with a few benches, and a great view of the Smoky Hill River.
“Miles?” Peggy Iverson called out.
“Yes?” Miles said. He stood, greeted her warmly, and made room for her on the bench by moving his book and lunch bag.
“I’m sorry to hear about your split up with Violet. You must be crushed.” Peggy sat down beside him.
“Crushed doesn’t begin to describe what I feel, but thanks, Peggy,” Miles said, taking his seat again on the bench.
“I’m kinda being courted by a man named Henry Bannister, but he’s away at college. He’s studying to be an attorney,” she said. “He was just home for a visit, but he’s back in Leavenworth now. He’ll be studying all summer.”
“I’m happy for you, Peggy, honestly, I am,” Miles said. “I hope things work out for the two of you.”
“We write to each other nearly every day,” she said. “With him away, I’m sure I feel as lonely as I know you must feel.”
Miles shrugged. “What can I do?”
“Oh, Miles,” she said, with sympathy in her voice. “I hate seeing you like this. I’m so used to seeing you smile and laugh.”
Miles nodded.
“I know Violet almost as well as I know my best friend, Ivy. I think Violet’s making a big mistake, but hasn’t realized it yet. She’ll never find anyone who loves her as much as you seem to.”
“Seem to?” Miles said. “No. I love her and no other woman can ever take her place.”
After several silent moments, Peggy said, “I have an idea—but it’s kinda wild—are you game?”
“What?” Miles asked. He knew Peggy well enough to know she could be rather outspoken and undisciplined sometimes.
“Let’s pretend to be a couple. Maybe, if Violet thinks you and I are seeing each other, it'll knock some sense into her.”
“I think her involvement with Mr. McKenzie is beyond your scheme, Peggy, but thanks, anyway.”
“Why do you think that?”
“I saw them going into the church together to meet with the minister after McKenzie mentioned they were working on an event. I’m sure they’re planning a wedding.”
“No, they aren’t. They’re planning a camp for kids.” Peggy laughed. “I don’t even know if they are romantically involved or not. Whenever I see them they appear to be nothing more than two friends planning an event.”
“Really?” Miles felt a bit hopeful. “That’s a relief.” He felt as if a burden had just been lifted from his shoulders. He didn’t have Violet back, but at least he knew she wasn’t planning to marry McKenzie anytime soon; he may still have a chance.
“So? Will you court me? I’ll clear it with Henry, but I’m sure he won’t mind as long as it’s pretend.”
Miles thought about her idea. What harm could it do? Maybe it would work. Obviously it couldn’t hurt. At the very least, it would help to curb the loneliness he felt.
“Does Violet know about Henry?” he asked.
“No. I very much doubt it. She was in Salina, most of the past year. She may have seen me with him, but no one knows that we’re serious about one another. Even my parents don’t know. We wanted to wait and see how things went.”
“All right,” he said. “Let’s do this. How do we start?”
“Well, we’ll sit together in church, and there’s always dinner at Pete’s, and if our arrangement is still needed, there’s the church picnic in June.”
“Sounds good. I’ll welcome your company, Peggy, as long as you know it’s pretend. I wouldn’t ever want to lead someone into thinking they could ever take Violet’s place in my heart,” he said.
“We’re straight on that. Henry’s my guy,” Peggy said. “Hey, I saw McKenzie visiting Reverend Martin this afternoon, so that means he and Violet will be at Pete’s again tonight. Are you ready?”
“You bet,” Miles said, feeling a bit more hopeful. “I’ll pick you up at six.”
Miles escorted Peggy to a table at Pete’s. “Shall I order the daily special for you, Peggy? It’s spaghetti tonight, and it’s usually very good.”
“I’d love that,” she said, gazing around.
“They aren’t here yet. I checked,” Miles said. “We’ll eat slowly.”
Miles put the order in and turned to Peggy. “Thankfully, it isn’t crowded tonight, so they are sure to see us.”
“So far I only see us and that table of cowboys near the door,” Peggy said, moving her chair closer to Miles. “I think we should look a bit more cozy. Do you mind?”
Miles shook his head. “No, not at all.”
“Just in time too. Don’t look up, but they’re here,” Peggy whispered.
Miles had chosen a seat with his back to the restaurant entrance, and Peggy had sat across from him, but now that she’d moved closer, she also had to back to the entrance.
They watched Violet and McKenzie pick the table right next to theirs. Peggy raised her eyebrows at Miles when she realized they both faced Violet’s table.
Miles knew Violet would see them sooner or later, but he kept his eyes on Peggy. For some reason, he didn’t want to look at Violet. Maybe because if she saw his eyes she’d know his being with Peggy was a ruse.
“We should be talking softly,” he said.
“Yes,” she whispered, “intimately.”
Miles heard Violet’s gasp, but he didn’t look away from Peggy’s face. Peggy however, turned her head.
“Violet!” she greeted. “Nice to see you.”
“What’s she doing?” Miles whispered.
Peggy turned back to Miles and whispered, “Before or after she shut her gaping mouth?” Peggy let loose a loud laugh. Miles had no choice but to laugh as well.
“Seriously, Miles, she looked shocked, but simply nodded after my greeting,” she whispered.
“I wish,” Miles said softly, “that I was facing the door. I don’t know where to look.”
“Should we move to the other side of the table?” Peggy asked.
“No. I think we should move to another table,” Miles said.
“A great idea. They’ll think we want more privacy,” Peggy said. “I’ll move to that dark table in the corner, while you let the waiter know.”
They both stood, and Peggy went to the other table, and Miles told the waiter where they’d be sitting.
When they sat back down, they were facing Violet and McKenzie’s profiles. “There,” Peggy said. “Now, let’s get cozy again.” She slid her chair as close as she could to Miles's and put her hand over his.
“They really don’t look like romantic partners, do they?” Miles said.
“No, they don’t. He takes her to dinner every time he’s in town, though, so something must be going on,” Peggy said.
Chapter 5
Violet could not believe her eyes. Miles was courting Peggy? She nodded at Peggy, but Miles never even gave her a glance. He’d told her they’d remain friends, yet he wouldn’t greet her? When they’d changed tables, Violet felt angry. Why had they purposely moved away? She tried to hide her hurt feelings from Gavin, but he’d already sensed them.
“Is something amiss, Violet?” he asked.
“No. She sighed. “I just can’t decide if I want the spaghetti or the stew,” she said, as she peeked over at Peggy and Miles’s table and saw them holding hands. It bothered her for some reason, but she couldn’t think of why. She should be happy that Miles was getting on with his life. Certainly she didn't expect him to brood over her forever? Even so, it didn’t seem to take him long to get over her. She thought that perhaps the reason it bothered her so much was because she wasn’t used to seeing Miles with anyone else. She’d have to get used to it, because it was a small town, and they were boun
d to run into each other from time to time.
On the ride home, Violet decided it was time to find out if Gavin had just wanted to be friends or if he had romantic intentions in mind. She sat close to him and said, “I should have worn a sweater. I’m cold.”
She expected that he’d put his arm around her, but he didn’t. He stopped the buggy, took his jacket off, and wrapped it around her shoulders. “How’s that?” he said, and started the buggy again.
“Perfect,” she murmured. “Thank you.” She supposed he might not be interested in romance.
When they reached her house, she asked, “Would you like to come in for tea or something?”
“No, I have some reading to do. I’m going back to the hotel. I’ll pick you up at noon tomorrow. Everyone on the team will be at the campsite. We’ll have a short meeting, and stake out the placement of the tents.”
“I’ll be ready. Thank you for the lovely dinner,” Violet said. She handed back his jacket.
“Thank you for keeping me company,” Gavin said.
Ivy and Jonas noted that Zoe was thrilled having Alfie for a live-in playmate. They played well together, and there were no more arguments. Jonas thought that perhaps Alfie’s concern for his aunt, and perhaps even hunger, might have caused him to be a bit edgy that day.
After Alfie had been with them for a week, Norma and Ellie returned on foot to tell them that Miss Hammond had passed away that morning. The doctor was in attendance at the time.
Jonas and Ivy had to break the news to Alfie. When they told him he ran to his room and cried.
Zoe knocked on his bedroom door, but Alfie didn’t answer.
“I’m coming in,” she warned as she turned the doorknob and walked in. She found him sitting on a chair staring out of his window.
“I’m sorry,” Zoe said. “What can I do to make you feel better, Alfie?”
Alfie turned from the window and held out his arms. “A hug, Zoe.”
Zoe moved into his arms and hugged him. Then she stepped back. “I’ll always be your friend, Alfie.”
“Thank you, Zoe. I wonder what will happen to me now that I have no family,” he said.
“Yes, you do. I’ll share my family with you, Alfie.”
Alfie didn’t come down for dinner so a maid took a tray up for him. Zoe sat on Jonas’s lap while he drank his after dinner tea.
“How’s Alfie coping, Zoe?” he asked.
“He’s sad because he doesn’t have a family. I told him I’d share my family with him. I can, can’t I, Papa?”
Jonas contemplated her question. “I don’t know, Zoe. I hadn’t given it any thought. He’s welcome to stay with us as long as he wants to, so I guess, yes, you may share your family with him.”
“Thank you, Papa,” she said, kissing his cheek. “He’s going to be my best friend, forever.”
Violet was shocked when Peggy showed up at the campsite as a team member. They smiled at one another and nodded. After the meeting she saw Miles drive to the campsite, presumably to drive Peggy home, but Peggy was busy talking to Gavin. Violet couldn’t have been more surprised when Gavin and Peggy walked over to Miles’s buggy, and all three huddled together, engaged in serious conversation. Then she saw Gavin shake hands with Miles. Peggy climbed up beside Miles and they drove off.
What could they be up to?
Violet approached Gavin. “I see you’ve met Miles Croft, again.”
“Yes. He’s joining the team. He’s to be our treasurer, since he works at the bank. Peggy suggested it. We have such an enthusiastic team! Don’t you think so, Violet?” he asked.
“His joining may be a bit uncomfortable for me, Gavin. I was engaged to him for over a year. In fact, we’ve just recently broken it off,” she said.
“He seems to have moved on, and I thought you had as well. Am I wrong?” he asked.
“No, no. I’ve moved on,” she said. “I’ll do my best to not let it affect the team effort.”
“Good. Let me finish up here and I’ll take you to dinner. Then I’m off to Salina for a few days. I’ll be back next week to work on advertising and signup for the event, and you are in charge of that, so we’ll be working together,” he said.
That night at dinner, Violet decided that with Miles and Peggy joining the team, it was time to find out what Gavin’s intentions were.
“Gavin,” she began. “Have you ever thought about marrying again?”
“Not until recently,” he said. “I’ve been quite content teaching and keeping busy.”
“Have you courted anyone since your wife died?” she dared ask.
“Truth be told, no, although I may, someday,” he said. “Right now I’m concentrating on so many other things…maybe someday soon. I’ll know when the time’s right. The Bible says there is a time for reaping and a time for sowing. I’ll know when the time is right.”
Then, Gavin shocked her by putting his hand over hers. “When the time is right, Violet.”
She smiled at him. “I enjoy being with you,” she said. She wasn’t sure how much of a push she should give such a serious-minded man.
He patted her hand before removing his hand from hers. “I enjoy being with you as well, but—a good relationship takes time to build, don’t you agree?”
“Yes, I suppose.”
“But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. That’s from the Bible.”
“So you understand what I’m hinting at?” she asked, feeling herself blush.
“Yes. And endurance produces character, and character produces hope,” he said.
“We’d make a good team, you and I,” she said, feeling bolder.
“I couldn’t agree more. Now, if you’re ready to leave, I have an early appointment in the morning.”
When Gavin’s buggy stopped in front of the side door of Violet’s house, she thanked him for the dinner and leaned over and kissed his cheek.
“Violet, you shouldn’t do that,” he said, calmly.
“I wanted to show my appreciation for all the dinners and for allowing me to be on your team,” she said.
“I never thought about kissing someone’s cheek as being a sin, Gavin,” she said.
“Some men may not be able to handle kissing without going further, especially a man’s who’s been married, and without a woman for some time,” he said.
Violet didn’t care for the malevolent gleam in his eyes when he said that last part. Or had she imagined it, owing to the moon shining on his face? “I apologize, Gavin. It won’t happen again.”
“Oh, it might. I’ve been thinking seriously of asking you to marry me. Then you may kiss me all you’d like and I’ll not complain,” he winked.
Violet was stunned. Marriage without so much as a kiss first? This was just crazy. She didn’t know how to answer him.
“Well, Violet, will you consider marrying me? Like you said, we are a good team, you and I.” He patted her hand.
“I think maybe it’s too soon, but I’ll surely keep your proposal in mind,” she said.
“You do that. We have a time yet,” he said.
His words puzzled Violet, but she was tired of trying to think, and it was late. She needed to be alone to digest all of this.
“I’ll give it some thought, Gavin,” she said as she slipped down to the ground from the buggy.
“I’ll see you next week, then,” he said, and turned the buggy around and rode down the lane.
Chapter 6
Zoe and Alfie played catch in the front yard by the stables, but Zoe missed her catch, and she had to chase the ball into the woods a few feet. It was sure hard to run in pantaloons and a dress. She envied Alfie his trousers.
She returned, and purposely threw the ball to Alfie so that it would go over his head. It landed in some shrubs on the far side of the house. Alfie was so much better at this game—he never missed a catch—so she knew it would make her feel better if he missed one too. It would give her a chance to catch her breath, besides.
Alfie yelled as he ran for the ball, “You did that on purpose, Zoe!” He grabbed the ball, but when he turned around, she was gone. “Zoe?”
He looked everywhere but Zoe had disappeared. He ran into the stable and found Jonas. “I can’t find Zoe,” he cried.
“She’s probably hiding from you,” he said with a laugh. “I’ll find her.” Jonas came from the stable and yelled, “Zoe! Lemonade!” but no Zoe came rushing out of a hiding place for the treat.
Jonas began to worry. This wasn’t at all like Zoe. “Zoe, you come here this instant!” he said making sure his voice was harsh and loud, but no Zoe. Now Jonas began to panic.
“What happened? Tell me exactly how it happened, Alfie?”
“We were playing catch, and she threw the ball too high, and it flew way over there,” he pointed to the side of the house. “I ran, picked up the ball, and when I turned around, she wasn’t there anymore.”
Zoe was taken by surprise when the man swiftly covered her mouth and sprinted into the nearby woods, quick as lightning, with her under his arm. He ran with her for quite a while. She wiggled to get loose and even tried to bite his hand. Finally, he lifted his hand from her mouth and said, “I’m not going to hurt you, Zoe.” He kissed her cheek. “I’m your real father, and I love you. You are my little girl, and I’m going to care for you. You’ll be happy with me, you’ll see.”
“You aren’t my Papa! I want to go home. Take me home, now,” she cried.
“No, I can’t. Please, just give me a chance,” he pleaded with her.
“Take me home! I want to go home!” she cried, kicking him.
“I’m going to take you home right now,” he said.