“I apologize for using my fingers. Next time I’ll prepare better.” She slid a fat slice of apple bread onto one plate then handed it back to him and placed another piece on the other plate. “Is Jenny not coming in today?”
“No, a friend of hers, Patsy Mullins, recently had a baby, and she’s helping her.”
Prudy gasped. “Patsy is a mother? That’s wonderful. So many things change when you’re gone for a year and a half.”
Adam bit into the bread and closed his eyes, savoring the tantalizing flavors. “Mmm. . . This is amazing, Prudence.”
“Prudy, please. Prudence is what my mother calls me, especially when she’s angry.”
He imagined living with stuffy Helen Willard wasn’t easy. The woman reigned over the town, and it had taken him months to get her to leave him alone and let him do things his way. Much like the Prudy who’d been here yesterday, she had tried to run the mayor’s office.
“So, have you thought up any new ways to make money for the town?” she asked.
He licked the crumbs from his lips. “As a matter of fact, we may have. What do you think of the idea of a county fair?” Adam took another bite as he watched her mull over the idea.
A slow grin pulled at her lips. “I think that’s a wonderful idea. Do you know if any other towns in this county have had one?”
He shook his head. “They haven’t. A few host Founder’s Day celebrations, but they are small events.”
“Are you thinking of something large scale?”
Adam shrugged. “I don’t know how big it could be considering the budget. I’m thinking we could have a horse race or two—maybe one for adults and another for older youths. A livestock show and sale. Calf roping and sheep riding for the children.”
Prudy frowned. “That sounds more like a rodeo than a fair. What about events for the women?”
He helped himself to a second slice while pondering her question. “What do you have in mind that wouldn’t cost much?”
Her eyes brightened as she set her plate down. “The women of Bakerstown pride themselves on their sewing and baking skills.” She started pacing. “We could have a quilt show and offer ribbons to the best ones, girls could enter their samplers or sewing projects if we have an event for youth, and we could hold contests for the best pies, jellies, and various canned foods.”
“Whoa, there. Where do you think we could hold such an event? No place in town is big enough.”
She tapped her finger on her lips, drawing his gaze to them. His gut tightened. This Prudy intrigued him—interested him—but what if she turned back to yesterday’s shrew? What could have prompted such a drastic change so quickly?”
“You’re not listening.” She whacked his arm, making him jump.
He rubbed the spot. “What did I miss? I was thinking.” About you.
“I said we could rent a big tent. My Aunt Louise and I went to a circus held in one last year. I think it’s just what we need.”
He pursed his lips. “I don’t know. . . . I’m afraid we’d have to spend too much money. And we’d need lots of judges.”
“Leave the judges to me. As for the money, we could charge a nominal entry fee for each contest with the winner getting a blue ribbon and a small percentage of the total money collected for each event. I’m sure I can get the ladies of the sewing circle to help make ribbons if we need to.”
“We’d need tables for most of those events. That would be an expense.”
“True.” She walked to a window and stared out then pivoted around again, eyes twinkling. “What about asking Pastor Clay if we could use the benches from the church? They would be low, but they just might work.”
Adam nodded, catching her vision. “You’re right, but we’d have to be mighty careful. Can’t you imagine the ruffled feathers if someone bumped into a bench and knocked over a bunch of pies?”
Prudy giggled. “That would be dreadful. Perhaps we need to rethink that plan.”
“I agree.”
She clapped her hands, her excitement obvious. “This could really work, Adam. With all those events, we could add a lot to the town coffers. We’ll have to advertise it though. That’s another expense.”
“I wonder if we could offer free room and board during the fair for reporters. Say a town’s newspaper gives us free advertising, and we put their reporter up in the boardinghouse so they can attend the fair and cover it. That will give us even more exposure and make their readers want to attend next year.” He couldn’t remember when he’d been so excited.
Prudy laid her hand on his forearm. “That’s a brilliant idea.”
He glanced down, enjoying her gentle touch, then looked up, capturing her gaze and holding it. His insides simmered, his senses on alert. He hadn’t wanted to be attracted to Prudence Willard yesterday, but today, everything had changed. She had changed.
She lowered her eyes and stepped back, a becoming blush staining her cheeks. “It seems we can work together, doesn’t it?”
“Indeed.” He smiled.
“So, where do we start?”
CHAPTER 6
Prudy rushed into the mayor’s office the next morning, her head swimming with ideas for the county fair. Adam rose from his chair behind the desk when she closed the door.
“Good morning.” His deep voice rumbled through the office sending delicious chills up her arms.
She smiled. “Yes, it is.” After removing her hat and gloves, she hurried to one of the chairs in front of the desk and sat down. “I told Papa about your idea for a county fair, and he thought it was brilliant. He and I chatted about it all evening, and he gave me some wonderful ideas.” Prudy glanced up from scanning the list in her portfolio to see a perplexed expression on Adam’s face. “Is something wrong?”
His lips twittered, as if a humorous thought had crossed his mind. “I wasn’t sure which Prudy to expect this morning—the sweet, helpful one or the. . .other one.”
She lifted a brow. “I do believe I told you that I’m trying to change my ways. Being around my mother again has made me realize how much I had started acting like her; and I have to say, I don’t want to become that woman.”
“I’m very relieved to hear that.”
She cocked her head, wondering what he really thought of her—and why it mattered. “Was I truly so awful?”
His eyes lifted to the ceiling for a moment. “Maybe unexpected is a better description.”
She fought a grin. “I suppose that is fair. I did rather barge in and take over. Again, I apologize for that.”
He sat back in his chair. “So, let’s hear your ideas.”
The door rattled, and Prudy peeked over her shoulder to see Jenny entering. Adam’s sister soon joined them, casting Prudy an apprehensive glance. Prudy smiled, hoping to relieve the young woman’s concerns.
“We were about to go over the list of ideas that Prudy and her father came up with last night.” He looked at her. “Please proceed.”
“Concerning the tent, Papa thought we might use the church benches to create a sitting area. We could have a stage at one end of the tent with all of the items to be judged there. People can sit and rest while they view the judging events for the women.”
He nodded. “I like that, but we still have the issue of needing tables we don’t have.”
“There’s a sawmill in Sweetgum. I wonder if we could get them to donate the lumber in exchange for some type of free advertising or possibly a complimentary booth?”
“What if we had flyers made announcing the various events and times they will be held?” Jenny said. “Then we could offer free ads to people who help us with donations.”
Adam stared at his sister for a long moment then shifted his gaze to Prudy. “I think both ideas are brilliant.”
Excitement filled Prudy. “So do I.”
“Good. Jenny, do you think you could be in charge of the brochures?”
Her eyes widened but she nodded.
Adam rubbed his jaw. “I’ll see
about getting the tent and talk to the sawmill owner and some other businessmen who might be able to help. Prudy, could you work on the schedule of events and create short descriptions so we can advertise them in area newspapers?”
“I’d love to. Have you settled on which events you want for the men?”
The next few hours passed quickly as they tossed around ideas and made decisions. Prudy loved the interaction and camaraderie and felt like she had made two new friends. “We have an excellent start. I’m so excited to see how it all plays out.”
Jenny nodded. “I sure hope the townsfolk of Bakerstown and the other towns in the county support the fair. It would be dreadful if we did all this work and spent more of the town’s money, only to have it flop.”
Adam sat with his elbows on his desk, fingers steepled against his mouth. “It won’t,” he said with confidence. “People love events that bring them together, give them a chance to see friends and family, and they love to compete. I expect the fair will be a rousing success.”
Prudy enjoyed the way his eyes squinted when he smiled. He was so different than she’d first thought. It shamed her that she’d judged Adam Merrick so harshly.
Adam slapped his hands on the desk, making both her and Jenny jump, but his gaze was directed only at her. “What say we go out to lunch and celebrate?”
Prudy nodded. “I’d like that.”
Adam was walking in dangerous territory allowing himself to be attracted to Prudy. This sweet, helpful version intrigued him more than a little, and surprisingly, he’d caught himself thinking of her in terms of romance and even marriage. It was crazy since he’d known her less than a week.
If he were honest, he’d have to say the shrewlike Prudence had also caught his interest with her passionate defense of her father’s job and insistence on ensuring the town’s money and concerns were safe.
He liked that she recognized how she was behaving badly and was working hard to change her ways. So far, he believed she meant what she said. Time would tell, though.
He escorted the ladies, one on each arm, down the empty street toward the small café. Jenny had settled in well to life in the small town, and for that, he was grateful to God. As he listened to the women’s chatter, he realized that Prudy and his sister were on their way to becoming friends, and nothing could make him happier.
Adam stood a bit straighter, enjoying having two pretty ladies at his side. He’d often wondered why God had sent him to such a small town. His dreams had been for something loftier, but if God brought him here to find the love of a good woman, well. . .he wouldn’t fuss about that.
He smiled as he opened the café door, releasing a barrage of tantalizing smells. He’d prayed so hard to find a way to help the town with its financial crisis, and God had sent him help from a most unlikely source—Prudence Willard. Adam bit his lip to keep from smiling as he seated the ladies. Just think, after the stories he’d heard about Prudy, he’d been half afraid to meet her at the depot.
He dropped into his chair and winked at her, drawing a becoming blush to her cheeks. Yes, sir, God sure had surprised him.
CHAPTER 7
September 5
Four days before the start of the county fair
As Adam and Prudy walked away from the stockyard, she checked another item off her list. She looped her arm around his and glanced up at him. “I’m really glad Mr. Hampton decided to build another corral at the livery, and that he’s willing to let us use it during the fair.”
“Me, too. I’ve had visions of stampeding cattle, with women and children getting hurt.”
Prudy lifted one brow, a bit surprised by his comment. Adam didn’t seem the type of man to worry so much that it would affect his dreams. In the past few months they’d worked together, he had always been calm, organized, and self-controlled—well, except for the few times she riled him with her stubbornness. “If it makes you feel better, I still have visions of pies on the church benches and someone plopping down on one end, sending them all flying into the air and landing on my mother.”
He chuckled. “That might almost be worth seeing.”
“Oh!” She spun and smacked him on the arm. “What an awful thing to say. That would be a waste of good pies.”
Adam glanced down, his eyes dancing with humor. He pressed her arm against his side. “I’m going to tell her you said that.”
She gasped in mock horror. “You’d better not. I’ll quit, and you’ll have to tend to all the fair details yourself.”
His smile drooped. “That would be a nightmare. I don’t think I’ve told you half enough how amazing a job you and Jenny have done. We wouldn’t be having this fair without you, Prudy.”
She warmed under his praise. “Remember that first day I stormed into your office. I was so certain you were trying to steal Papa’s job from him.”
“It felt like a cyclone had blown through.”
“I’m sorry for that. I suppose I was in a rather stormy mood.” As Adam guided her down Main Street, Prudy watched Mr. Lane, the grocer, tack up a row of patriotic bunting, as many of the other business owners had already done. It was a delight to see how excited the whole town was to be hosting the county fair in Bakerstown. “Did I tell you that Mr. Lane told me he’s had to reorder sugar and flour and other baking supplies three times in the past month? It would seem the ladies are planning to do their part.”
“I’m glad. I’ve heard plenty of the local farmers and ranchers bragging about their crops and livestock. Each one thinks he has the winning bull or horse. I’m expecting a large turnout.”
Adam opened the door of the café, and Prudy entered and sat at an empty table. She flipped back a few pages in her notepad. “On Friday morning, I’ve arranged with several women to teach classes in ten-yard rag rug making, log cabin quilts, straw hats with decorations, and chair tidies, while the men will be occupied with the livestock sale. After lunch, in the early afternoon, we’ll have the first round of horse races and stock horse pulls as well as some of the children’s events. Late afternoon will be the preliminary judging for all of the food items and show stock. Then on Friday night, we’ll have a square dance and barbecue.” She glanced up, hoping he approved of the schedule since it would be hard to change at this late date. “How does that sound?”
He reached across the table and took her hand. “You’re an amazing woman, Prudence Willard.”
Cheeks flaming, Prudy tugged her hand from his as the waitress rushed toward them. Adam was like no man she’d ever known. Even kindhearted Pastor Clay paled in her eyes when compared to Adam. He made her heart sing and her body tingle with a simple touch or when they shared a private smile. What had started out as a mission to rescue her father’s job had turned into an unexpected romance—at least that’s how she felt. Was it possible Adam felt the same?
“Prudy? Did you hear the waitress? She asked what you’d like.”
“Oh, my apologies. I was thinking. Too many things muddling my mind these days. I’ll have a bowl of ham and beans and some lemonade, if you have it.”
The waitress nodded, took Adam’s order, and then scurried to another table. The delicious aromas made her stomach grumble. She’d been too engrossed in the fair when they entered to notice her hunger.
Adam shook out his napkin and placed it in his lap. “After we eat, I need to make sure the tent crew doesn’t need more help. They’re going to start erecting it at two.”
Prudy’s insides swirled. “I can’t wait to see it standing. Until that happens, I don’t think I’ll believe the fair will actually happen.”
“Oh, it’s happening all right.” Adam’s look of pride, directed at her, made her sit a bit straighter. “I don’t know how you managed to get so many businesses from other towns to come and rent space to advertise their products.” He shook his head as if astounded. “A candy maker, Simon & Barnes clothier, a wagon company, and have you seen that water tower going up near the stockyard?”
“Of course I saw it. We wer
e just there.”
“So, did everyone come through with the donations for prizes?”
“Yes, surprisingly so. Simon & Barnes donated an overcoat valued at fifteen dollars, which is the prize for the best eight-pound pail of butter exhibited at the fair, and an English worsted suit also valued at fifteen dollars is the prize for whoever wins the horse race. A gunsmith from Independence is coming to show his wares, and he donated a rifle for the winner of the shooting competition. And there are the cash prizes the winners will covet. Jenny is collecting money today from the businesses that are sponsors.”
Adam sat back. “I’d say we’ve done it.”
Prudy’s mind raced. “Done what?”
“Saved the town’s treasury. With all the money we’ve taken in and will still receive on entry fees, especially since you and Jenny had the foresight to get prizes donated, the town fund is at its highest point ever.”
She basked in his praise. “It was a lot of work, but we never could have done it without your help and support.”
Embarrassed to receive such a loving gaze from Adam in public, Prudy glanced at her notes. “Oh, did I tell you that several ranchers are going to put on an exhibition of riding tricks for the children on Saturday afternoon while the men play baseball?”
The waitress slid their plates in front of them and spun away.
Adam reached across the table for her hand. Prudy glanced around the crowded café then slid hers into his, hoping no one noticed.
“Lord, thank You for all we’ve accomplished with Your help. I’m most grateful for this wonderful woman You’ve brought into my life. We ask Your blessing on this meal. In Jesus’ name. Amen.” He glanced up, capturing her gaze with his.
Prudy’s heart stampeded at the promise in his alluring blue eyes. She didn’t tell him her real dreams included him—and a future together.
Adam beamed like a boy with his first knife as Prudy approached the site where the tent was being raised. “The crew foreman is going to let me erect one of the two center poles.”
The 12 Brides Of Summer (Novella Collection Book 4) Page 4