From his pocket, he took a slim box. “I ordered this in the hope that you would say yes. Your friend Josephine said you have your grandmother’s earrings and described them. I asked her to order a necklace she thought would match.” He presented the box to Ophelia.
Slowly, she opened the hinged lid to reveal the necklace within. “Oh, Elias, how thoughtful of you. I’ve never had anything so special.”
“I know you can’t tell much with only moonlight, but I hope you like this and that it matches your earrings.”
She closed the lid and threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you. You’ve proved over and over how kind and generous you are. No wonder I’ve fallen in love with you.”
Suddenly his pains dissolved and he could have soared over the town like a giant bird. “You’ve made me the happiest man in the world.”
The front door opened and Adam exited. “Evening.”
She pulled away. “I’d better go in. The sheriff gave us the fisheye.”
A deep laugh erupted from his inner depths. “The fisheye? I don’t think so, but you’re right. You need to go in. Start making arrangements for our wedding. Just let me know when and I’ll be there.”
He helped her from the buggy, sliding her down his front far closer and slower than necessary. Her eyes sparkled as if she knew what he’d done and didn’t mind. They walked to the door where he kissed her again. Would he ever get enough of her kisses? Never.
After she’d gone inside, he whistled as he jogged down the walk to the buggy. Nothing could go wrong now.
Chapter Eight
Ophelia walked into the house in a daze.
Cassandra waved a hand in front of her face. “Ophelia? No point asking if you enjoyed your evening. You appear kissed and happy.”
She gasped and touched her lips. “I look kissed?” She sank onto the sofa. “I guess that’s understandable. Elias gave me this necklace to go with my grandmother’s earrings.” She opened the case again and examined the jewelry in the light. Sure enough, the necklace appeared to have been made to match.
Cassandra sat beside her. “That’s lovely. He must have proposed because this is far too nice a gift otherwise.”
“He did.” She grabbed the other woman’s hand. “Oh, Cassandra, thank you so much for giving me this dress and the other gowns. You have no idea how regal I felt tonight. I believe he would have proposed anyway, but wearing this dress made everything perfect.”
“He hasn’t asked anyone out but you. I’d say that means he’d wed you if you were wearing a burlap bag.”
She thought of the limited wardrobe she’d had all her life. “What I wore before I met Lydia wasn’t that far above a burlap bag. Thanks to you, I have another beautiful dress Elias has never seen for the ceremony.”
Cassandra stood and pulled her up. “When will that be?”
Ophelia let her friend lead her to the stairs. “I’ll ask in the morning to see whose nuptials are pending so we don’t conflict. Soon, though.”
“Did you like tonight’s performance?”
“I wish you’d have come. It wasn’t on a par with Miss Chitwood, but entertaining. I did wonder at the magician’s assistant because she wore a short skirt and low top.” She marked on herself where the skirt came just below her knee. “I thought she was dressed too provocatively, but Elias said that was to distract people from the magician’s hands.”
Cassandra let out a hearty laugh. “I imagine it did, especially the men. Did you catch the magician in his magic tricks?”
“I tried, but kept losing focus.” She sketched circles in the air with her hands. “He made her appear and then disappear. I don’t understand how and Elias wouldn’t tell.”
“Maybe he didn’t know. After all, he has a saloon to run as well as the opera house. That man… Jim something, manages the opera house. I’ll bet he’s the one who knows all the secrets.”
“Perhaps you’re right. Although, Elias said magicians can’t afford for anyone to know how their tricks work. In addition, there was a tumbling act, two comedians, and a couple who sang. They were the best part and closed the show.”
Cassandra followed her to her room. “Let me undo your dress for you so you can hit the mattress. Are you wearing this to church tomorrow?”
“Oh, I’d love to. I’m sure people are tired of seeing my same old dress every time I leave the house.”
“Wait here.” Cassandra dashed off to her room.
Ophelia stepped out of her skirts and fluffed them on a chair. She removed her top and under things and pulled on her nightgown. She couldn’t abide a corset yet—she doubted she ever would. She had never worn one and noticed that not every woman out west wore one of the dreadful things.
Cassandra reappeared laden with a rainbow of gowns. “I have no need of so many dresses here, Ophelia, and separated these out this evening. Since you’ll be living in town, you’ll need several changes.”
The stack of fine dresses overwhelmed Ophelia, but not as much as her friend’s generosity. “You might need these. Cassandra, think about your future.”
“I have. If I can’t have Sam, then I don’t care what happens. I’ll become a mail-order bride and go further west and north. Wherever I end up, you know I’ll need sturdy dresses that are practical like I’ve seen wives of farmers and ranchers wear into town.”
Ophelia thought she should turn down the gift, but the dresses were too lovely to resist. One was lilac, one mauve, and one emerald green. Cassandra had already given her a turquoise gown in addition to the burgundy she’d worn tonight.”
Cassandra tapped a finger against her jaw. “I may find others tomorrow. I think there’re two black ones and a gray. Every woman needs a black dress for funerals, God forbid. I’ll give you one of the black dresses and we’ll look through the others. Really, Ophelia, the girl who threw all these away had worn most only once before she cast them aside.”
The pattern of excess stumped Ophelia. “I can’t imagine how anyone could be so foolishly extravagant. Even if I had a ton of money, I wouldn’t spend so wastefully.”
“Neither would I, but Arabella Heathington—that’s the name of the girl—was just selfish and a spendthrift. Sharing them with you gives me pleasure.”
Ophelia gave her friend a mischievous grin. “Well, I do want you to be happy.”
They laughed together.
“I’ll leave and let you get your beauty sleep for tomorrow. Goodnight.”
“Good night.” Ophelia gently closed the door then danced around the room. This was the perfect ending to a perfect day.
***
The next morning at breakfast, Ophelia basked in the previous night’s glow. The room was a din of chattering women.
Prudence said, “I about fainted when the magician’s assistant stepped out of that box. Have you ever seen anything so scandalous as the way she dressed? Rather, underdressed.”
Lorraine said, “She looked like a lightskirt, didn’t she?”
Ophelia didn’t know why, but she felt honor bound to defend what went on in Elias’ opera house. “Elias said she was dressed that way to distract attention from the magician so people wouldn’t see how he did his tricks.”
Rachel laughed. “I imagine she did that, all right. Men were ogling and women staring in shock and disapproval.”
Concerned, Ophelia glanced around the breakfast table. “Did each of you find her dress offensive?”
Rachel tossed her black hair over her shoulder. “Not me, but I suspect some did. What about you, Ophelia? What did you think?”
“I was… surprised.” She hoped she could redirect the conversation. “After Elias explained why she was dressed like that, I tried to watch the magician’s hands, but couldn’t keep up with him.”
Lorraine agreed, “Me either. I wanted to catch him and see how his tricks were done but I couldn’t figure out how he accomplished anything. He was too clever.”
Lydia nodded. “I couldn’t decide where the assistant disappeare
d to. I know there’s a trap door in the stage, but I don’t know how she accomplished disappearing and reappearing so quickly.”
Cassandra tapped her glass with her spoon. “Ladies, Ophelia has an announcement.” She gestured toward her.
So happy she wanted to share with her friends, she glanced around the table. “Elias Kendrick asked me to marry him and I accepted.”
The room echoed with squeals of joy, laughter, and good wishes.
Lydia clapped her hands and the rest quieted. “When do you plan to wed?”
“We didn’t set a date until I had a chance to make sure ours doesn’t interfere with anyone else’s ceremony. Now that Josephine and Angeline are married, I expect our number to decrease rapidly.” She glanced around the table waiting for someone to speak. “If no one is going to claim a date, then I’d like to be wed in two weeks from yesterday.”
Lydia smiled. “Wonderful. Just let us know the day. Perhaps you and your intended can talk it over after church today. And speaking of that, we’d better get moving or we’ll be late.”
Each of the women carried her plate to the kitchen.
Wearing an apron, Mrs. Greenberg shooed them. “Get on with you, girls. This is my day to clean up. I’ll see you for dinner.”
Ophelia raced upstairs. She knew which dress she wanted to wear and hoped it fit well enough. Before breakfast, Cassandra had brought in the shoes, hats, and jewelry that went with the dresses. Ophelia laid the pink foulard dress on the bed. Very early that morning she’d pressed the gown and hung it on the armoire door.
The color was mauve rather than pale pink and she loved the dress’ style. The matching ruching around the hem and panels made it dressy. The neck was high in back and modest in front. A tiny hat matched.
Cassandra rapped on the door before slipping inside. “I see you’ve chosen for today. I wondered if you need any help.”
Ophelia stepped into the skirt. “After years of deprivation, I feel as if I’ve opened Aladdin’s cave of treasures and you’re my personal genie. Thank you again for your generosity.”
The other woman helped her with the top. “Please stop thanking me. You’re making me feel guilty I didn’t think of this earlier.”
“I love the buttons are in front so I can manage them. I don’t know who on Earth decided to open some dresses down the back.”
“Someone who had a maid, that’s for sure.”
Ophelia transferred the paper to the toes of the pink shoes and slipped her foot inside. “All ready now. Will I do?”
“You look perfect.” She giggled. “I hope I can see your fiancé when he spots you.”
“Well, I don’t know that he’ll be able to sit beside me. There’ll be plenty of room for all of us on one pew.”
“Not if you’re clever.” Cassandra tilted her head and grinned.
***
Ophelia and her friends walked to church. Today, Elias waited for her near the steps. His face brightened when he saw her, as if he were happy she’d arrived. How nice to be welcomed so warmly. All her life she’d dreamed of seeing that expression on the face of the man she loved.
He strode toward her. “I hope you don’t mind me waiting for you.”
She lowered her voice, “Cassandra has been miserable while she and Sam have been quarrelling and I think he has been too. I hope they soon reconcile.”
“So the banker has lost out? Can’t say I’m sorry to hear that.” He offered his arm. “Shall we go inside?”
She placed her hand on his arm and let him escort her into the sanctuary. “I hope there’s room near Lydia and the others.”
Once again, they sat on the pew immediately behind Lydia. Rachel stood and came to sit beside Ophelia. Today she had a friend sitting on one side and a fiancé on the other with good friends in front of her and friendly acquaintances scattered throughout the sanctuary. How fortunate she was. After being lonely for so many years, she’d found the home she’d hoped for halfway across the country.
Before she’d come to Tarnation, she dreaded getting up each day and lived in a state of constant fear. She never knew when the slightest thing would anger her pa. There was no rhyme or reason to his rages. Perhaps Jo was right and something was wrong with Pa’s mind.
Now she woke looking forward to whatever the day might bring. Though she was only a guest there, she lived in a beautiful home. The other women who’d come with her to Tarnation had become close friends, almost like the sisters she’d always wanted. In addition, she’d made friends in the community, thanks to Lydia and her events.
After church, Elias escorted her home but a block behind the others. “Sometime, I’d like to have you and maybe the Buchanans and McIntyres for dinner at my home.”
“That would be fun, wouldn’t it?”
He rubbed his chin. “I’m not used to entertaining guests and might be an awkward host, but I’d like to learn.”
“None of those people would be critical, Elias. You have a lovely home well designed for both living and entertaining. Obviously, you put a lot of thought into building.”
“Planned it for years and years. Kind of modeled my place after one I saw when I was a teenager.”
She longed to know more about him. “Where was the one that served as inspiration?”
“Town in Colorado not far from Denver. I worked in a saloon about a year that was owned by this man whose house was the best I’d ever seen. Not the fanciest by far, but most like I thought I’d enjoy.”
“I’m glad you left Colorado but I’m surprised you did if you liked it so well.”
“Suppose I should have stayed there, but I wanted my own saloon and home. I… um, I don’t know how you’ll take this, Ophelia, but the money to get my start came from gambling with cards. I have a good head for numbers and can count cards.”
Gambling? She stared at him. “I don’t know what counting cards means.”
“A man—or woman—who can keep count of which cards have been played and guess with any degree of accuracy where the others might be is a winning gambler. There’s no need to cheat if you’re good and I’m very good. I won a huge, and I mean huge, amount that I used to come here and build my own place.”
Before she could stop herself, she asked, “Did you feel guilty because others lost?”
“Not one bit. Don’t worry, my precious Ophelia, I didn’t take someone’s grocery or rent money. Instead, I played with men for whom gambling is a sport. They were used to losing and winning huge amounts. If they had won the amount I did, they’d have used it to gamble the next night. Not me. That win was all I needed to start accomplishing my dreams.”
“How did your employer view your departure?”
“Gave me his blessing and told me I was doing the right thing. Gamblers don’t stay on top forever and I didn’t have a fortune to play around with like the men who’d lost. I drifted to Texas and looked for a town that didn’t have a saloon, that had a good sheriff, and that seemed like a nice place to live.”
“That describes Tarnation. Adam is a good sheriff and this is a good place to live. Of course, I’ve only been here a couple of months, so I don’t know what winter is like.”
He laughed and squeezed her hand. “Cold. We’re higher than the area even thirty or forty miles away. We can get snowed in when the prairies of lower elevations only get a light dusting of snow.”
“Sounds scary if you’re away from town, especially if you were on your own. In town, being snowed in wouldn’t be so bad and might even be cozy.”
His eyes darkened and he slipped his arm around her waist in a brief hug then returned her hand to his arm. “I like the way you think, Ophelia my dear. I look forward to being snowed in with you.”
Embarrassment sent the heat of a blush across her face. “I-I wasn’t insinuating anything, Elias. I should think before I speak.”
“Quite the contrary. Your honesty is refreshing and I’m thrilled that our thoughts are similar. We’ll make a happy couple.”
“
I believe so, too. I’m very fortunate to have met you and attracted your attention. You had seven of us to choose from—or to turn down.”
“I hadn’t actually made up my mind to seek a wife now until curiosity caused me to meet the stage with the others. The minute I saw you, I knew you were the one for me. I can’t explain why because there is no logical explanation. Perhaps fate brought us together.”
“I prefer to think God did. I guess fate is another way of saying the same.”
“Right. Here we are at Lydia’s, my dear.” He reached inside his coat and removed something from his pocket. “I thought you might like these.”
Ophelia took the present from him. The same brown paper and red ribbon adorned it as the other things he’d given her. “Elias, you mustn’t keep giving me gifts. I have nothing to give you.”
“My pleasure is in seeing the happiness you display when you receive them.”
She unwrapped the slim package. “Oh, kid gloves. My stars, have you ever known anything softer?” After hurriedly removing her old pair, she slipped her hands into the new ones.
She compared them to the mended cotton gloves she was wearing. “I’ll enjoy these a great deal, especially since you chose them for me.”
Admiring her hands in their new covering, she smiled at him decorously even though she wanted to throw her arms around his neck and kiss him. “Thank you again, Elias. I appreciate so much all you’ve given me, especially the time you’ve spent with me.”
At the door, he held her waist and leaned down. Meeting his lips with hers, she leaned into him. Their bodies pressed together and she was aware of his need for her.
Instead of frightening her as it would have weeks ago, she was encouraged because she wanted him, too. Even though she didn’t understand all that meant, she knew he would be able to guide her. She longed to be with him and have his arms around her forever.
In spite of her yearning, she broke the embrace. “I’d better go inside. Dinner will be served and I shouldn’t be late.”
He caressed her face. “But, soon we won’t have to part. We’ll be in our own home. I look forward to that time.”
Ophelia (Bride Brigade Book 4) Page 8