by Cathy Marie Hake, Lynn A. Coleman, Mary Davis, Susan Page Davis
Her eyes fluttered open. “So, you get me flustered in another way?”
“No, the kiss was an impulse and for that I apologize.”
Bea smiled. “You’re forgiven.”
“Good. Now I want you to go to your cottage. Relax. Take a nap, perhaps, and freshen up for this evening.”
She narrowed her gaze. “Mr. Southard, are you suggesting I’m not presentable?”
Ellis prayed she was teasing. “Precisely,” he teased back.
Bea’s mouth gaped open.
“I can tease, too, my dear.” Ellis grinned. “Besides, would I have kissed you if I found you so unattractive?”
“You did miss,” she coyly replied, and rose from the sofa.
“Touché.” Whatever possessed him to think he could battle wits with this woman? “If you’ll excuse me, Beautiful, the swine needs turning.”
Bea laughed and headed toward the kitchen. “Bea, your cottage is that way.” Ellis pointed to the front door.
“But …”
“But, nothing. I want you well tonight. Now go.” He smiled to tame the intensity of his order.
She mocked a salute. “Aye, Captain.”
Ellis groaned inwardly. He’d done it again. Delegating—giving orders and expecting them to be followed—came with being the boss. Bea, however, was not his employee.
Once outside, he turned the pig, added some wood to the fire, and began raking the lawn free of debris. Folks would begin arriving in a couple of hours. Pastor Williams pulled in with his wagon loaded with tables and chairs. The fishermen delivered their fish. The house was alive with activity. Every so often he saw Bea peeking out a window. This isn’t right, he chided himself and dropped his rake. A few long strides and he was rounding the corner of Bea’s cottage. “Bea!” he hollered.
“Ellis, don’t come in!” Bea cried out.
“I won’t. Forgive me. If you want to help or even be a part of greeting everyone, please come out.”
“In a minute,” Bea whispered behind the closed door. “Ellis, would you send Cook over please?”
“Are you all right?”
“I’m fine, I just need a woman’s assistance.”
Of course, a corset. Personally he’d prefer the woman to not be so tied up, but this being a social occasion, and Beatrice wanting to impress, he understood her need. “I’ll fetch her. And, Honey, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to order you.”
“I understand, Ellis, and I did need the rest, but I like being in the midst of things. It’s been driving me crazy sitting in this cottage.”
Ellis chuckled. “I want you in the midst of things,” he mumbled.
“What? Speak up, Ellis, I can’t hear you through the door.”
“Never mind, I’ll tell you later.”
Bea heard the gravel under Ellis’s feet protest his weight as he walked away from her cottage. “Did he say what I think I heard, Lord?” Bea moved to her bedroom in the back of the cottage. On the bed she had laid out her lilac summer dress with a white laced collar and pearl buttons down the bodice. The skirt of the dress gathered at the waist and descended into a V shape in the front.
The door creaked open and Cook called out, “It’s me, Bea, what do you need me for?”
“My corset.”
Cook entered the bedroom. “The light one, I hope. Goodness, Child, that is a pretty dress.”
“Thank you and, yes, the light one. I want to be comfortable.”
“Turn around,” Cook ordered.
Bea turned. “How’s it going in the kitchen?”
“All done, just been cleaning up. Gonna wash and change after I get you hooked up here.” Cook groaned straining at the laces.
“Ouch, that’s tight enough. I’m not that vain.” Bea giggled.
“Sorry. Want me to help you slip the dress over your head?”
“Yes, thanks.”
“I used a slip-knot. Just pull your right-hand string and it should unfasten. If not, holler and I’ll come over.”
Bea reached back and found the right-hand string Cook mentioned. Soon they had her dress slipped over her head and flowing down to the floor.
“Mercy, Child, you are beautiful. Mr. Ellis gonna have a time keeping his mind on his company and not on you.” Cook grinned.
“I hope so.” Bea winked.
“You know, with Pastor Williams coming over tonight, we could make this into a wedding.”
“Hush. We’re not ready,” Bea admonished.
“Don’t take much more than what I saw in the living room. Admit it, Child, you love him.”
“Cook, I think I do, but how can you love someone so quickly?”
“It’s a mystery, but some folks just get hit like that. George and I did. Once I met him, my heart was aflutter. I couldn’t think of anything but George. Of course, my parents had a thing to say about that, but in the end we were married inside a year.”
“A year?” Bea didn’t think she could wait that long. On the other hand, a year’s formal engagement period would be expected back home.
“Yes’m. ’Course, George was away most of that year. If ’n he was at home, I imagine we would have been married much sooner.”
Bea felt her cheeks flush.
“Truth, is all. Of course, we never told the children that until they were older, much older.” Cook winked.
Bea reached out and hugged Cook. “Thank you, Francine, you’re a good friend.”
“I’m honored to be yours, Miss Bea.” Cook patted Bea on her back. “Do you need help with your hair?”
“No, thank you. Ellis likes it down, but that’s not really proper, so I thought I’d put it in a French braid.”
“Sounds beautiful. Well, if ’n you don’t need me, I best get cleaned up. I smell like fish. You wouldn’t believe how much Mr. Ellis bought.”
Bea closed her eyes and let out a small sigh. “No, I’m sure I wouldn’t.”
Cook departed and Bea sat down at her vanity. She took down her tight bun and began combing out her hundred strokes.
A sudden knock and crash at her front door startled her.
Chapter 18
Nanna!” Richard cried with excitement.
“Richard, you frightened me.” Bea placed her brush down on the vanity.
“Sorry.” Richard jumped up on her bed and bounced. “I’m so excited. Uncle Ellis said everybody is coming.”
Bea chuckled. “I can see you’re excited. What have you been doing? You’re filthy.”
“Helping.”
“Helping with what, dirt?”
“No, silly, raking the leaves and broken trees and stuff.”
“Oh.” Bea smiled. “I’m sure you’ve been a big help.”
“Uncle Ellis said I needed to get washed up.”
Oh dear, Bea had forgotten about getting Richard ready first. Dirt would attach to this dress like a moth to a light. “Can you wash up by yourself?”
Richie nodded his head.
“You wash up, and I’ll help you put on your Sunday clothes.”
“Can I play in them?”
“Of course not,” Bea lightly scolded. “You know that.”
“I wanna play the games with the other kids. Can I wear something else?”
Naturally he would want to play.
“Of course.” Bea wondered if she had made the wrong choice in her dress.
“Richard,” Ellis called from outside Bea’s door. “I told you to go clean up.”
“Nanna always helps me,” Richard called back.
When Richie came barreling in, Bea had completed twenty brush strokes on her hair. “Ellis, you may come in.”
The door creaked open. “Richard, go to the house, Son. I … I’ll … Bea, you’re beautiful,” Ellis proclaimed.
“Thank you. Richie, you go on. I’ll be right up there to help you pick out your clothes,” Bea encouraged.
“I can do it, if I can wear play clothes.”
The boy was growing up, Bea thought with a smile. “
All right.”
Richard slipped off the bed, leaving a streak of dirt behind him. “I’ll see you at the big house, Uncle Ellis.”
Ellis stood there motionless, speechless. “Please stand up,” he finally spoke.
Bea trembled and stood. “Do you approve?”
“Goodness, do you have to ask? I’ve never seen anyone as beautiful.”
Heat fused with joy and painted a faint blush on her cheeks.
“Thank you.”
The intensity of his attraction forced her to restrain an urge to jump into his arms. She needed to break the tension between them. “You’re a handsome man, Ellis Southard, but I’ve seen you look much better.” She winked.
Ellis looked at his blackened hands. Amused by her ability to understate the obvious, he smiled. “I’m in need of a good scrubbing.”
“At the very least.”
“I … I need to go. If I don’t, I’ll soil that dress.” A desire to wrap her in his arms fought to have its way. Ellis thought of the Lord and how He would behave given this situation, and swallowed hard, silently thanking God for His grace.
Bea giggled. “You do and you’ll not hear the end of it.”
“Later, my love.” Ellis wiggled his reddish brown eyebrows and turned to leave.
A faint whisper tickled his ears. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“I heard that, Beatrice Smith. You’re a siren for certain, here to test me.”
His hand reached the latch of her front door.
“Or vice versa,” she replied.
He didn’t have time for this playful banter, although he fought a tremendous desire to continue it. As if working his way through a thick marsh, he pushed himself toward the house. Guests would be arriving shortly.
Mounting the stairs two at a time, he arrived at his room in short order. He grimaced at the sight of his filthy face in the mirror. Sweat mingled with black soil and small bits of decaying leaves plastered his face and beard. Looking at the amount of dirt in his hair and on his body, Ellis slipped on a robe and headed for the outside shower, an ingenious contraption of a fifty-gallon barrel with a spigot. When one pulled on the string attached to the spigot, water sprayed down on him.
Showered and dressed, Ellis entered the parlor. Bea stood at the far wall examining a hand-painted vase from the Far East. “Am I more presentable now, Miss Smith?”
Bea turned with the grace of a dove floating on the wind. Scanning him from head to toe, she spoke. “Mr. Southard, you are most handsome indeed.”
Ellis stepped farther into the room. “Come here, Love.”
Bea placed the vase back on the shelf and walked toward him with elegant poise.
“Your hair, it’s beautiful. What style is this?”
“It’s a French braid. I know you like my hair worn down, yet a woman should always wear it up. So this braid allows it to be tied neatly in the back.”
“Bea, you’re incredible….” Ellis reached for her delicate fingers. She slipped her hands into his. “I …”
“Uncle Ellis!” Richard yelled. “They’re here.”
“Later, my love,” Ellis whispered in her ear. Then he took in a deep breath and released her.
He turned toward the doorway and marched to the front door. Pulling it open, he greeted everyone. “Welcome, come on in.” Members of Cook’s family started pouring in. As the door was about to close, another group, and then another, entered as well. The house was soon brimming with people.
Ellis encouraged the men to join him outside at the pit. The ladies began carrying out the food to the tables in the backyard. The children followed Richard as he first showed them his room then the various nooks and crannies of the house.
Bea mingled well, Ellis noted. She spoke with loving grace. Constantly throughout the evening he watched her. Occasionally he would catch her watching him. All different ages and races mingled together, the house and yard overflowing with people.
Key West is a good place to raise a child, Ellis decided. But what about the homestead—my brother’s wishes? I must make a decision regarding that property someday, he mused. But today is not that day.
Pastor Williams, in his black and white preacher’s suit, walked up to him with a hand outstretched. “Quite a feast, Ellis. Thank you for inviting us.”
“My pleasure, Pastor. Thank you for the use of the tables and chairs.”
“They’re always available. So, tell me about this Miss Smith … will she be staying on?”
“That’s hard to say, Pastor.” How could he admit his feelings for Bea when they hadn’t yet discussed them?
“Does she have a commitment back North?” Pastor Williams inquired, searching Ellis for an answer.
“No, but I can’t ask her to stay on as the child’s nanny.”
Pastor Williams lowered his voice. “Why not?”
Ellis looked at Bea. Pastor Williams caught his glance. “I see.” Pastor Williams smiled. “If you don’t mind me making a suggestion, totally unasked for, I wouldn’t let that one slip from my hands, if I were you.” Pastor Williams slapped Ellis on the back. “God’s blessings, Son. You’re going to need it.”
Ellis swore he heard the pastor chuckling under his breath as he walked away. Was it that obvious? Heat blazed on his high cheekbones.
“ ’Evening, Ellis.” Marc Dabny sidled up beside him, his swollen belly lined with a gold chain. “Quite a crowd here tonight. Anything special going on?”
“Just invited a few friends, and it kinda grew.” Ellis smiled, grateful for the distraction.
Marc whistled for Lizzy, Cook’s daughter, as she walked past. “Hey, get me a drink.”
Lizzy turned to face Marc, but held her tongue.
“She’s a guest, Marc. You can get your own drink, like everyone else here.” Ellis held back his emotions.
“Excuse me?” Marc confronted Ellis face-to-face. “I can understand you throwing a party for your workers, but to consider them guests … Are you daft?”
“Forgive my friend, Lizzy. He seems to have forgotten his manners.” Ellis stood toe-to-toe with Marc, towering over the balding man. “Lizzy is my guest. Her mother works for me, but she is not my employee. May I suggest you apologize?”
“You’re daft, I’m not apologizing to no n …”
Ellis grabbed Marc by the collar and lifted him to his toes. “Not in my house. No one, not anyone, uses that word in my house. Do you understand, Marc?”
Marc’s bulging eyes blazed with anger as he nodded his assent.
Ellis eased him back to the ground. “I believe our business partnership will not be pursued, Mr. Dabny.”
“You’d throw away a solid offer for the likes …”
Ellis knitted his eyebrows.
“… for …”
Ellis leaned closer and set his jaw.
“… those … those … people?” Marc spat on the ground.
“Any day. I believe you’ve worn out your welcome, Mr. Dabny. Have a good evening.” Ellis turned his back to Marc and stepped back into the crowd which had gathered behind him.
Marc spat at Ellis’s feet. “You’re a fool, Ellis Southard, an absolute fool.”
Ellis refused to bait the man, but simply ignored him and walked up to Lizzy. “My apologies, Lizzy.” He reached for her hand and bowed. “You’re welcome in my home anytime.”
Bea watched as Lizzy’s eyes pooled with tears. Bea’s own eyes threatened to stream. She bit the inside of her cheek to hold back the tears. Ellis had handled Marc with absolute authority. She was so proud of him. By the looks of the folks gathered around him, they were proud of him as well.
Bea worked her way to one of the tables. On its far corner a lantern glowed. She sat down and waited. She’d been on her feet all evening greeting folks, learning people’s names and their relationship to Ellis. She rubbed the back of her calves. She hadn’t been in high heels since she arrived, apart from the short outing to church the other day.
“Care if I sit down
?” Mrs. Williams, the pastor’s wife, asked, holding a bald baby with a toothless grin.
“Of course not.” Bea placed her hands in front of her on the table.
“Are your feet hurting?”
“I’m afraid so. I haven’t been in high heels much.”
“Hardly wear them myself. Can’t go chasing eight children in high heels.” Mrs. Williams bounced the little one on her lap.
“I can’t imagine. Chasing one child keeps me busy.”
Mrs. Williams chuckled.
“Will you be staying, Beatrice?”
Bea didn’t know what to say. To respond that she had fallen madly in love with Ellis and prayed she would be staying at his side forever was not an option. “I’m waiting on a ship bound for New York.”
“So, Mr. Southard doesn’t want to hire you on as Richard’s nanny? Or do you have obligations back home?”
“Truth be told, I have no obligations. But Mr. Southard doesn’t believe he can hire me to stay on as Richard’s nanny.”
Mrs. Williams’s pleasant face contorted with confusion.
“It’s complicated.”
Mrs. Williams’s brown eyes softened. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.”
“It’s hard to explain. Ellis—I mean Mr. Southard—learned of my social status and he feels it is improper for me to continue on, especially since he is quite capable of hiring someone.”
“That doesn’t sound like the man who just …” Mrs. Williams caught herself and stopped. “I’m sorry, I have a tendency to rattle off my thoughts before thinking them through.”
“Mrs. Williams …”
“Edith, please.”
“All right. Edith. Please don’t think poorly of Mr. Southard. In our community back home I already created quite a scandal by staying on as Richard’s nanny. But over time, many came to realize I deeply loved Richard’s mother and would honor my commitment to her.”
“There seems to be a lot in that pretty head of yours, Dear. Is it your prayer to stay with Richard?”
Bea placed her hands in her lap.
Edith’s black hair sparkled from the light—or was it tears threading her eyelids? Bea wasn’t certain. The baby cooed at a moth flying around the lantern.