by Indiana Wake
“Do we?”
“Don’t we?”
She found his piercing sea-blue gaze too much to handle and looked elsewhere.
“What is the annual fair about?”
“It’s a celebration before the harvesting season. It is held every year here in our little part of the world. I’d say it’s about making’ merry before the tough work begins.”
“Ah, I see. Could you do me a favor, Oscar?”
“Sure.”
Thus began Maggie’s plans to win Simon over, once again. She acquired a set of threads and needle from a local shop through Oscar and found some old curtains with plenty of pretty material in the storage area of the house. She set to make herself look her best as Simon’s betrothed, preparing to give him a pleasant surprise and to embark on her oft-envisioned journey to happiness. She pretended to be tired during the day and to go to sleep early every night. When she sat down with her sewing instruments and began stitching her dress for the fair.
On the day of the fair, she came down to make breakfast in her usual attire and began preparing fresh eggs, bread and warm milk for all three of them. Scrambled eggs were Simon’s favorite and she was determined to win him over. It was a big honor he had shown to her by asking her to be his wife, even if it was not quite how she dreamed it would be.
“So, are we all set for today, Maggie?”
She smiled.
“Set for what?” inquired Oscar.
“Going to the fair as his fiancé…”
“What?”
“You didn’t tell him, Simon?”
“I… I… didn’t get a chance to. Yes, my dear fellow. We are engaged to be married.”
Maggie was too busy serving to look at his ashen face. Simon, however, was not.
“What happened? Aren’t you going to congratulate your friend?”
“I am… of course. Congratulations!” Oscar said, but his face belied his words.
Chapter 5
What Oscar had not prepared himself for, was the presence of his mentor and friend and Maggie at the fair. She wore a light green dress, which brought out the color of her soft brown eyes and enhanced the shine of her golden plait. It gave her the appearance of a celestial being and he could not help but stare. Her presence and beauty were so overwhelming, her demeanor so perfect, and her smile so beautiful. At that moment, she saw him and her smile made his knees go weak.
“Oscar!” she called out when she saw him. “Thank you for all your help.”
“What with?”
“The supplies, of course!”
“You did a pretty good job of using them.”
“Did I now?” she beamed.
He could not help himself and had to turn away. Her gaze was too intense, her smile to entrancing. What had he done? How could he tell her that he had penned all of Simon’s letters to her? That it was he, who appreciated her wit, and had longed for her prompt replies. Simon was blasé about those letters, but he, Oscar, eagerly awaited every one. He had started savoring her dreams. It was as if they became his dreams. To Simon, her appearance had been a disappointment, but not to him. He had been so overcome that he found it difficult to speak. If only he could have written to her on that long coach ride over, maybe she would understand because his stubborn brain would not allow him to speak.
The more he knew of her, the more entranced he became. Especially when he found her to be nothing short of the lovely person in nature that he had believed she would be. With each passing day, he felt himself fall in love with her even more? But that caused more problems, and more guilt.
Simon needs her. It’s why we asked her here, he tried to convince himself once again.
“Do you like the dress? She asked and appeared confused that he had not answered.
“Yes,” was all Oscar could manage. He turned from her and could not look back, and not realizing how rude it looked he stepped away from her.
Maggie was confused. Was Oscar angry? Had she done something? As she stared at his broad shoulders and narrow waist, she wondered what she had done to deserve such treatment from him. The man had confused her, he was interesting and at times he made her heart flutter, but she was not here for him. Yet she often found him staring intently at her, his sandy hair and sea-blue eyes gripping her attention and churning her stomach into a tiny knot. Still, he looked away, his back ramrod straight, he was clearly pretending to be busy admiring some apples.
From his chair, Simon was not oblivious to Oscar’s reactions. He could not help but remember Beaden’s enthusiasm in writing to Maggie. As soon as her letters arrived, he would reply eagerly and post back the letter without delay. When she first replied to the advertisement, he had been intrigued and as the letters continued he had acted a little smitten. Simon smiled, his plan was going well. Now all he had to do was execute the final stages. It would be hard. Oscar had his best interests at heart, and he had done more than any living relation or friend would do for him, but he loved Maggie. Of that, Simon was sure. Careful not to create a scene, he beckoned Maggie towards himself and started introducing her to the local people.
At the end of the day, Maggie had the little town called Redemption wrapped around her finger. Her caring nature had won the hearts of everyone from the youngest child to the eldest person present at the fair. Simon was so giddy with joy, as they sat in the wagon to begin the journey home that he held Maggie’s hand tight and softly pressed it, before bringing it up to his lips.
“You’ve made me the happiest man in the world, today Maggie. I think I’m in love with you.”
It was something that should have filled Maggie’s heart with joy, but all she could think of was Oscar. What had she done to upset him?
Chapter 6
The days trudged on as if nothing had changed. Simon made no attempt to court Maggie and made no further mention of their betrothal. Often she wondered if she should mention it, or at least ask when they were to be married. She knew there was a small church in the local town and she wanted to go, but she was not sure who to ask. Surely they would be married in that church so should she ask Simon? But she couldn’t not while things were so cold between them. Often she would try and talk to him, would ask him questions but nine times out of ten it was Oscar who answered. Always he was curt and to the point. Acting as if he did not want to speak to her and she wondered if she had upset the delicate balance between the two of them. Wondered if she should go home? But there was no home for her and she had no income. Like it or not she was stuck here, at least for the moment.
“I’ve heard that a swarm of Locust has been spotted not four farms over,” Oscar said one morning. “It looks like we won’t bear the brunt of it, but the crop could become infested.
“That is worrying,” Simon said. “I had something planned for the profits from this year’s harvest. Is there anything we can do to mitigate the damage?”
Oscar scratched his chin and paused while he thought. “There are things we can do, but they are labor intensive and you know how short, good workers become around harvest.”
“That I do,” Simon said.
“I could help,” Maggie interjected. For years, she had listened to her father and helped him work in the fields.
“And how could you do that?” Oscar asked a little harshly.
“Steady on ole chap,” Simon said. “I would like to hear what Maggie has to offer.”
“Quickly she explained the techniques they had used. As she spoke, she found her excitement coming back and for the first time since she had met him she found Oscar was as excited as she was.
“That is a fabulous idea,” he said.
Maggie beamed with pride. It was great to use her mind at last and she could see that Oscar was impressed.
“The problem is I can’t spare many of the hands,” Oscar said.
“I could help,” Maggie replied. “I worked with my father for many years.
“I don’t know,” Simon said. “It is awfully hot out there and the work can be
hard.
Oscar’s face had lost all its color and it looked like he did not want her to work with him. Maybe did not want to be that close to her.
“It’s my future too,” Maggie said, “and I am not a wallflower. If you will remember from my letters, I wanted more from life than to be just a cook and a housemaid.”
Both Simon and Oscar let out a bellow of laughter.
“I wondered where that fire was hiding,” Simon said, “the one that was hinted at in your letters. I would be honored if you would help with this problem. Oscar will look after you personally.”
Maggie was so happy a smile spread across her face, but Oscar had turned a funny shade of pale. She guessed he was not pleased, but if she were to be the lady of the house then he would have to get used to working with her.
Oscar bit his cheek as Simon told him he had to work with Maggie. How could he do it? How could he work alongside this beauty and not fall even deeper under her spell? It pained him so much. After all Simon had done for him, his foolish heart was betraying his friend and he did not seem to be able to help it.
Maybe he could assign her to one of his hands? But he knew he would not do that. He would be too jealous and too worried that they would not protect her.
“After breakfast, if you have no chores,” he said. “Then we will survey the crops.”
“I have nothing that can’t wait,” Maggie replied.
And so she began to work with Oscar, he could not understand why Simon seemed so delighted with the situation. Could he not see that Oscar had feelings for his woman?
Maggie started with him by surveying the fields. She was intelligent and hard working and provided valuable insight about how to manage the crops that had not yet been infected from getting so. Also, she gave him several techniques that prevented further damaged in those fields that were infested. They were going to beat this and Oscar found his days full of joy, but his nights were full of remorse.
Maggie was a delight to be with. She was able to be jovial in times of such difficulty but also to be so helpful. She had been a keen observer at the farms where her father worked and had sound knowledge regarding the source of pests as well as their eradication. She soon became his confidante, and at times even his advisor. Before long he was consulting her in all matters, including those of the taking care of and herding the livestock. But his heart was damaged. Maggie would have made him the perfect wife. Here was a woman he could worship, treasure, and cherish and yet at the same time he could work alongside her as if she were his equal. It blew his mind at how powerful she was.
One day they were riding out to check on a crop, just before the workers came in to fulfill the harvest. “You ride a horse so well,” he said.
Maggie blushed and lowered her eyes in that way that made his heart do somersaults and brought a blush to his cheeks.
“Actually I prefer to ride astride,” she said. “Sidesaddle is very elegant, but not that practical when you are working and it is difficult to mount the horse by yourself. Sometimes on my father’s farm I would put on trousers and ride astride. I think I got away with it because of my size. No one really expects me to be feminine.”
Oscar was both impressed and shocked. He could not imagine how difficult it must be to ride side-saddle. But what shocked him the most was that she looked sad when she mentioned her size. He made a promise right there and then that he would help and support her more than he had done. “I think your size is perfect and that you are the most attractive woman I have ever met,” he said and then took a breath. How could he say such a thing to his mentor’s intended?
Maggie stopped her horse and turned towards him. For a moment, he saw a smile surface on her face, but it was replaced with anger so quickly that he wondered if it really happened.
“I do not take kindly to such comments,” she said. “Please remember I am betrothed to your boss.”
The words stung Oscar more than if she had whipped his face. “I understand,” he said and kicked his horse into a gallop.
Maggie felt genuinely pleased with her new position, even though nothing had changed between her and Simon. He still treated her coldly and hardly spoke to her, but the work with Oscar enriched her mind and spirit. Each night she would read her Bible and pray that she would be allowed to continue her work with him. The only thing that could make her life better was if she could talk to Simon how she talked to Oscar.
Oscar listened to her opinions and challenged her intellect. She caught him looking at her at times, his eyes broody, his jaw clamped tight. What was he thinking? It did not matter. Her life was no longer simply to function as the serving lady, and she was happier than she had been for a long while. The only blot on her landscape was that no matter how she tried she could not gain the trust and understanding of Simon. He treated her as if she were part of the furniture. Apart from his suggestion that she helped Oscar with the crops he had hardly said a word to her. What was she to do? If only he were more like Oscar, her life would be perfect.
After being reminded that she was not for him Oscar watched how Simon treated her. It made him angry. It was fetch this, do that, clean this. How the poor woman managed to still run this house and cook them meals despite spending all day in the fields, he did not know. While Simon seemed to get cooler and cooler with Maggie, he felt that everything about her was drawing him in. Like the moth to the flame, he was enticed and he wondered if he too would get burnt. It did not matter, he found her mannerisms endearing, her joviality infectious, her positivity pleasing and it little short of a miracle that they had survived this long without her. It had been his suggestion to post for a suitable bride for Simon. His friend had lost so much and he hated to see him so unhappy. Yet now he regretted that decision. Simon was making no effort and he imagined his lack of response was making her miserable. While he could not help but get drawn to the warm and accommodating presence that Maggie had created in their lives.
Simon watched Maggie and Oscar with some interest. Life trapped in a chair was difficult enough, but Oscar had given him back some semblance of normality. He helped him personally where needed and he talked to him. Informed him, made arrangements to change the house in ways that allowed him some freedom. He had even fashioned a saddle so that soon he would be able to ride. In all honesty Simon knew he would have taken his own life without Oscar Beaden.
So as he watched Maggie and Oscar taking a fine stroll across to the barn. A stab of regret hit him in the chest. He knew Oscar had feelings for Maggie, had know that since the second letter. He could see that they had grown closer together because of their work. But Maggie had enticed him also; she was a woman who was easy to love. For a second he pondered his decision to marry Maggie. Would it be feasible for them to spend their future, their entire lifetime together?
Harley envisioned Maggie standing beside his chair. Was that all that poor Maggie’s life would amount to? Surely a person like her would deserve someone who was her equal, in terms of all walks of life. Right at that moment he wanted it more than anything. The love of such a good woman would fill his days and enliven his nights, but she did not love him. Of that he was sure. What did she think of Beaden? He was a decent man, literate and sensible. Moreover, he had what Simon could not give her – the power of being able to move. Were Simon to spend his life with Maggie, he would be doing it for purely selfish reasons… and he did not like to think of himself as selfish. Yet the act of marriage to a perfectly healthy woman and limiting her life made him feel terrible. Of course, he would be giving her financial security, a good home and the ability to stretch herself. It wasn’t enough; he had known that also from that second letter. In his heart, he concluded that maybe, just maybe he wasn’t the right man for Maggie.
And so, even though he had grown very fond of this woman he continued with his plan. The problem was his two friends were stubborn. It was going to take some doing to complete what he had started.
He worried that if he confronted either Maggie or Oscar with
his plan, that they would feel pity for him. That they would make the wrong decision to see that he was happy. Right now, he knew what would make him happy and he intended to see that it came to fruition.
Chapter 7
Next day Maggie laid out breakfast on the table and set about the dusting and washing that had become a part of her routine.
“Why do you work so hard Maggie?” asked Simon.
“It keeps me busy,” she answered, with a smile to her future husband.
“Don’t you get tired?” he inquired, with a worried look.
“I seldom do. I am used to it.”
“Good. I think women of the house should stay in the house,” he replied curtly, before getting back to his bread and milk.
Maggie was surprised to hear Simon say such things. It was Simon who had urged her to go out of the house and work in the fields. He wanted her to learn how to take care of the livestock because he wished for his wife to know the functions of Harley house and the ranch. Maggie was confused as to what had instigated the overnight change in Simon’s attitude.
Oscar, on the other hand, could see this as the signs of distress that he had created. He resolved to find out the reason for Simon’s attitude. In the meantime, he planned to stay away from Maggie, as he feared that their friendship might be the root of the problem.
“Maggie… Maggie!” Simon yelled with rage the next day.
“What, what is wrong?” Maggie asked as she rushed into his room, feeling as if a fist was squeezing her heart.
“What have you done to my belongings and my room,” asked Simon enraged.
Maggie looked around to find all his possessions strewn across the floor.