by Zina Abbott
Luther’s face broke into a grin as he started stepping backward toward the barn. “I can do that. Thank you, Beth. You won’t regret this.”
“Already do,” Beth muttered to herself as Luther retreated. She watched as Luther entered the barn and exited, towing Hazel by the hand, toward the front door of the house.
CHAPTER 15
Luther and Hazel reached the double doors to the parlor only to discover two teen-age daughters of two of the visiting families huddled together on the settee sharing confidences.
Luther awarded them his most charming smile. “Pardon me, ladies, but would you mind if we have the room to ourselves for just a few minutes? Miss Jessup and I have a very important matter to discuss.”
Sharing giggles, the two agreed and left the room, shutting the doors behind them.
Luther led Hazel over to the settee the two girls had vacated. “Wait right here, please, Hazel. I’ll be right back.
Puzzled, Hazel watched Luther jog out of the room and listened as his rapid footsteps clattered up the stairs, only to clatter back down a few seconds later. He returned to the room, slightly out of breath, and once again closed the doors behind him. He sat next Hazel, taking her left hand in his.
A look of concern on her face, Hazel couldn’t keep the quaver from her voice. “What’s goin’ on, Luther? I saw you and Beth talkin’ outside, and it looked like she was chewin’ your hide. She mad about somethin’ again?”
“Not exactly. You remember when I told you I got your ring? Barbara knew about it because I stayed with her coming and going from Carson City. She just accidentally on purpose told Beth about it a few minutes ago. Beth decided I shouldn’t wait until Thanksgiving to ask you to marry me. She thought it would help smooth things over with family if we make the announcement while everyone is still here. Besides, my sister will no doubt accidentally on purpose let it slip to a few more people today—if she hasn’t already.”
Luther slipped off the settee and onto one knee while his hand fumbled in his pocket. He pulled out a gold ring with a diamond mounted in a filigree setting. “Hazel, I love you with all my heart. Will you marry me?”
Hazel leaned back and pressed her hands to her face as her eyes teared up. “Oh, Luther, that there’s the most beautiful ring I ever seen.” She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his, causing him to almost lose his balance and fall backward. “Of course I’ll marry you.”
Luther righted himself and sat back on the settee next to Hazel. He jiggled the ring onto her finger. “Looks like it is close in size. Thank you, Hazel. You’ve made me a happy man.”
“How soon you reckon we should plan the wedding?”
Luther’s face clouded over. “There’s something I need to tell you, Hazel. In order to get Beth’s blessing, she asked me to promise two things. One is that we won’t marry until your birthday in June. That will give us plenty of time so you can plan the wedding you want.”
Hazel shook her head in annoyance. “That Bethie. She still thinks I’m too young to know my own mind. What else did she make you promise?”
Luther sighed and shook his head with regret. “No shivaree tonight. I guess she’s afraid it will upset the chickens.”
Hazel snorted in derision. “This don’t have nothin’ to do with no chickens. Bethie sure knows how to spoil the fun. Ain’t there somethin’ we can do?”
Luther’s face lit up as a thought occurred to him.
Maybe I can still have my fun with those two.
“What’s goin’ on in your head, Luther? You think of somethin’?”
“Maybe so.”
Luther leaned over and gave Hazel a quick kiss and whispered in her ear.
Hazel giggled and nodded.
Luther rose to his feet. “Sorry I’m leaving so quick, but I need to go talk to the boys. I’ll be back as soon as I can so we can go ask Val to announce our engagement. I love you, Hazel.” With that, Luther strode out of the house and over to the group of ranch hands standing outside the door to the barn.
“I love you, too, Luther,” Hazel whispered after him. She rose from the settee and ran to the parlor’s front window. She could hardly wait to see the results of Luther’s plan.
♥•♥•♥
Val picked up a piece of kindling and rapped it on the edge of one of the tables. “Ladies and gentlemen, may I please have your attention?” He repeated himself two more times before the noise level in the barn diminished enough that he knew he could be heard. With Beth next to him on one side, he used his opposite hand to pull Luther next to him. Since Hazel held tightly to Luther’s arm, she also drew closer so the four stood in a straight line.
“I thank you all for being here to help me celebrate my marriage to Elizabeth, better known as Beth.”
The room exploded with hand-clapping and words of well-wishes and congratulations.
Beth, her eyes alight with pleasure, stood by as Val raised his hand, then banged on the table again to regain people’s attention.
“Beth and I thank you. But now, I have been informed that another happy event in our family has taken place. I now have the honor to announce the engagement of my brother, Luther Caldwell, to Miss Hazel Jessup. Please join me in offering them congratulations.”
The room once again resounded with claps and shouts of well-wishes. Someone yelled out, “Love is in the air.” As the volume began to diminish, another voice asked, “So, when is it Luther’s day to bite the dust?”
“First Saturday in June, folks. Keep that day free, because we are going to do this again.”
Several locals, many unknown to Beth, crowded forward to offer Luther and Hazel congratulations. Beth studied her sister. Hazel’s face was aglow with happiness. She wished the best for the couple. She could even think kindly about Luther this day, especially since they got the issue about the shivaree resolved to Beth’s satisfaction.
Beth stepped behind the two men and hugged her sister. Then, she captured Hazel’s left hand to take a look at the ring. As the other women also crowded around to take a look, Beth gave Hazel’s hand one last squeeze and backed away. She glanced down at her ring finger with the opal in a smooth solid gold setting that now had a matching gold band next to it.
She’s got a right pretty ring, but glad it’s Hazel’s and not mine. I’d be cleanin’ bread dough out of that there diamond and filigree every time I turned around.
CHAPTER 16
It was a few hours to sunset when Val stepped outside to check the sky. Even though it was clear directly overhead, there were clouds hovering over the tops of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Val’s practiced eye told him they were storm clouds. With as cold as the days had been, they probably could expect snow—hopefully not too much since there were still pockets of missing cattle the men needed to hunt down and bring in the valley before the winter snow came in heavy.
Val returned to the inside the barn and found Beth right where he expected her to be—standing next to Louisa with an apron over her wedding dress helping at the food table.
Val nodded to Louisa. “I can’t thank you enough, Louisa, for your help today. But, I need to steal Beth away.”
“You are most welcome, Val.” She looked around the room. “I think people have enjoyed today, but it is about time you two leave. And, don’t worry, Beth. I’ll help keep an eye out for Hazel, and Gus will see that Josh is taken care of while he is here. Someone will get them back to your place next week.”
Val nodded his agreement. “My thoughts, exactly. As soon as folks here notice the sky, most of them will probably decide it’s time to head for home before a storm moves in.”
Val reached for Beth’s arm and pulled her away from the table. “Come with me, sweetheart. Louisa and Hazel can see to the food and I’m sure some of the other women will step in and help. I think we need to sneak away while we can. Luther should have the wagon loaded by now.”
“Luther?” Beth hissed the name in hopes no one but Val heard, but she could tell by the smile on
Louisa’s face she had too. “You trusted your brother to get our things?”
“Don’t worry, Beth.” With an arm around her waist, Val led her out of the barn while he did his best to cajole away her concerns. “This is our wedding day. I don’t think Luther would try to pull one of his usual tricks. Even if he did, he would direct it against me. After all, you did get him to give his word of honor he wouldn’t shivaree us. Luther must love Hazel a lot to agree to forgo that.”
The two stepped out to see the horse and wagon Beth usually drove hitched up and waiting in front of the house. Luther stood next to the horse’s head. The scene prompted Beth to scowl.
“Don’t mean I trust him none.”
“Come on inside, Beth. Let’s get you changed out of that apron and into your warm coat and neck scarf. I don’t want you getting cold on our way back home. Besides, your wedding present from Hank and the boys is waiting for you there.”
Beth jerked her head to face Val, a surprised look on her face. “A weddin’ present for me? Ain’t it our weddin’? Besides, what they got that needed to be took to my place?”
Val couldn’t hide his mischievous grin. “You’ll have to wait and see, Beth. And, don’t you worry. It will be a gift for me, too.”
Beth gave Val a baleful look, but finished getting ready to leave for her home. She felt relieved that the day was almost over. As willing as she was to help others with socials, it has been hard to be at one held to honor her marriage to Val.
Hazel came over just before Beth stepped out the front door. She wrapped her arms around Beth and squeezed her as hard as she could. “Bethie, I love you so much. Ain’t this been a right smart weddin’? I’m right happy for you and Val.”
Beth fought back the tears that started to form. “Thank you, Hazel. You know I love you, too. Don’t know what I’d do without you. And, I’m plumb tickled for you, too, baby sister, gettin’ that beautiful ring. Luther will be a good husband for you.”
A sight better than if it was his oldest brother, that’s certain.
“Thank you, Bethie. And thank you for not givin’ him no trouble about askin’ for my hand.”
Ain’t like I didn’t want to.
“You take care, Hazel. We’ll see you and Josh in a few days.”
As soon as Beth stepped outside the door, she came to a dead stop, almost causing Hazel who was behind her to run into her back. It appeared as if everyone who had come to the wedding stood around the wagon waiting for her and Val to leave. She turned to Val as he waved his hand in greeting and pulled her down the porch stairs toward the wagon. They progressed slowly as people stopped them to offer one last word of congratulations. Beth kept a continuous smile so firmly in place she soon feared her face would crack before they made their get-away. Val stopped to shake hands with Edwin. Beth avoided contact with him by hugging Rosamond and whispering in her new sister-in-law’s ear how much she appreciated the loan of the white Bible and lace-edged hankie to carry in the wedding. All the while, Luther stood at the head of the horse and spoke softly to it and stroked its neck to keep it calm.
The couple reached the side of the wagon none too soon as far as Beth was concerned. Val helped her up and she settled in her seat. Val climbed up next to her and took the leads. He turned and waved one last time to the people gathered around the wagon to see them off. Then he pulled on the brake to release it.
Nothing happened.
“What the...”
Val jerked the brake back with all his strength. He felt whatever the brake had been hung up on give way. Something clattered beneath the wagon sounding like tin cans being dumped.
Beth turned to Val, an expression of concern wrinkling her brow. “You hear that?”
Just then Luther took his hat off and swatted it against the horse’s haunches while hollering at the top of his voice. “Giddi-up! Go! Go!”
The startled horse neighed and side-stepped away from the attack. Then, it began to run as fast as it could down the drive away from the crowd.
The force of the wagon suddenly jerking forward threw Beth against the seatback. While Val struggled to calm the horse and pull on the leads to bring it under control, she held on to whatever she could grab while she twisted to look behind her to discover the cause of the deafening clatter following the wagon.
Beth scowled as she studied the numerous cow bells, horse shoes and tin cans tied to several strands of rope and heavy twine trailing behind the wagon. Although the crowd of people in the way may have had something to do with blocking her view of the underneath of the wagon, it didn’t take her long to figure out that one reason she had not seen the noisemakers was because someone had tied them up under the wagon. The line holding them tight against the wagon’s bottom had been attached to the brake.
And Beth knew exactly who was behind this little trick. Her eyes drilled into Luther as he ran to catch up with the wagon. She watched as he repeatedly bent over with laughter so intense it forced him to hold onto his ribs. He still wore a silly grin as he approached her side of the wagon.
Beth wagged her finger at him. “Luther Caldwell, I figured you for a man of your word. I warned you about this.”
Her mouth still hanging open, Beth stopped scolding as she watched Hazel push through the crowd to reach Luther’s side, her face also alight with laughter. Beth pursed her lips. She should have known her sister would be right by Luther, encouraging his antics.
Luther shook his head. “Oh, no, Mrs. Caldwell. I gave my word of honor there would be no shivaree, and there won’t—not that I have any part in. But you didn’t say there couldn’t be noisemakers attached to the back of the wagon to give you two a rousing send-off.”
CHAPTER 17
As the wagon approached her house, Beth squinted her eyes in order to see through the light snow that had started several minutes earlier. Something looked different. The closer they came, the more she was sure of it. Someone had built onto her house.
“Val, what happened to my house? You have a part in this?”
“Nope! I’m smarter than that, Beth. I know how you feel about doing everything yourself. What happened is, you remember when Hank went to Lundy looking for houses people are trying to sell now that the town is shrinking? After he saw how well dismantling a house already built and putting it back together worked out for you, he figured it was the fastest and cheapest way to get him a house up on his land before winter.”
“I recollect, seein’ as how I was at the house-raisin’ doin’ the food. He got himself a right nice two room house about like mine. That ain’t got nothin’ to do with what I see now.”
“While he was up there, he came across this cabin that was too small for him, but was built well. He got together with Luther and the other men at the ranch and asked if they wanted to chip in to buy it to add a bedroom to your house. They figured rather than have Hazel climb up and down a ladder and sleep in the loft, it might work better if she had her own room downstairs. Hank brought it down along with his house. He and the boys have been working to put it up these last few days.”
“Been puzzlin’ about why they been takin’ off. Still ain’t sure about this, seein’ as how weddin’ presents should be for the both of us.”
“Oh, this is for both of us. With Hazel being in a room on the other side of the house from us rather than the loft overhead, that is going to give us a lot more privacy. Plus, in another few years, we may have children old enough to sleep in their own room.” Val leaned forward and studied her face to see if she accepted his explanation. “The way I see it, Beth, if we’re going to live here for five years while you prove up your land, it doesn’t hurt to have a house we can grow into.”
“You put it like that, reckon I ain’t goin’ to stir up no fuss about it. Next time I see the men, I’ll tell them I’m beholden to them.”
Val stopped the wagon and climbed down before he helped Beth down. I’ll put our things in the house and put the horse and wagon up for the night. Why don’t you see to yo
ur chickens so we can get inside before this storm breaks in earnest?”
Chores finished, Beth entered her house. As soon as she struck a light and the lantern illuminated the room, she came to an abrupt halt. She turned to face Val who entered right behind her. “Where’d this furniture come from?”
Val walked to the wood stove and stirred up the coals Josh had banked before he left with Frankie to go to the wedding. He spoke as he added kindling and wood. “The Caldwell attic. It’s old, Beth, but still serviceable. It’s just that when my mother married my father, she was willing to live in the same house as his previous wife and she was willing to raise his nine-year-old son, but she wasn’t willing to live in Edwin’s mother’s shadow. She gradually had most of the furniture taken to the attic and replaced by furnishings she picked out.”
“Edwin didn’t want it?”
Val shook his head as he started to help Beth out of her coat and scarf. “No. It was offered and refused. I don’t think Rosamond would have had it in her house. She likes doing her own decorating.”
“Reckon I can live with it.”
“Good, because I decided if I’m going to live here, I want something comfortable to sit on. When Luther comes to visit, I don’t want to worry over who sits on the stool and who gets Hazel’s clothes chest. You’ll notice I brought two more kitchen table chairs, too.”
Beth eyed the doorway in the corner of the far wall of her kitchen. “Now’s as good a time as any to see that new room.”
Val picked up the lamp and put his arm around Beth’s waist as he walked her over to view the new addition. It wasn’t the bedroom he wanted to lead his new bride to, but he had enough sense to know he had to satisfy Beth’s curiosity first.