Harrison stayed out of the discussion and hollered at the horse to go. It didn’t really take him long, and he had the whole parcel of land plowed.
Emma had stayed out to watch and help where she could. Harrison hadn’t said much but worked hard. Suddenly, Emma realized that Miss S was nowhere in sight and was quite pleased that Miss S had gone into the house.
As if on cue, Miss S came out carrying a tray of sandwiches and two glasses and a pitcher of lemonade.
Emma glared at her. “You only brought two cups.”
“I thought Harrison would be hungry and thirsty. Sorry, I forgot a glass for you. If you hurry and run in the house, you can get your own glass. I’ll save you a sandwich.”
Emma glanced and saw that there were only two sandwiches. “Guess I will make another sandwich, too.” Without another word, which would have been an angry one, Emma turned and walked up the steps to the porch and slammed the door as she entered the house.
Inside, she let out a stifled scream. “Why is she doing this to me?”
Mora peeked out of the kitchen. “Oh, my. What is the trouble? Does it have to do with Miss S and Mr. Gordon?”
“Yes, it surely does. Miss S is chasing the man that I want.” Emma slapped a piece of ham on her bread.
Mora came to her. “I’m sorry. I had misgivings when I heard the idea. I think you should have kept the letter from The Lovelorn to yourself. But now, that cat is out of the sack, and there is no getting her back in.”
“I can see that. And I do want everyone to be happy.”
Mora handed her a glass of lemonade. “Go back out and chase that man if he’s the one you want. I just ask that you don’t cause a war between you and Miss S. I want you women to remain friends.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Emma felt as if she’d been scolded by her grandmother. She took her things and went and sat down beside them. “The field looks wonderful. The soil is rich and dark.”
He nodded. “Yes, it is. You should have some good crops later in the summer.” He started to get up, but Miss S put a hand on his arm.
“Do sit. We can get the seeds after lunch. Tell me again how much you enjoyed my singing.”
Emma rolled her eyes. She knew Miss S saw her do it, but she couldn’t take it back and didn’t even want to. Of all the women, Miss S sounded most like a desperate cat when she sang. At least, Emma thought so.
Emma stuffed her sandwich in her mouth and chewed in a very unladylike way, but it kept her from saying anything she’d regret. What was she going to do? How was she going to make Harrison notice her?
Then Miss S started singing.
Emma wanted to cover her ears. She glanced at Harrison and thought he had the same idea, but he remained the true gentleman and kept a smile on his face. Emma hurriedly finished her lunch and took the plates and tray back to the house.
Emma couldn’t take any more.
Chapter 11
Harrison wasn’t sure what to do with the howling Miss S, and when Emma abandoned him, he sat there trying to find some way to stop the woman from singing.
Finally, Miss S stopped and smiled at him. “You did such a good job of plowing.”
He nodded. “It was Peaches who really did the work. I better get the seeds and begin planting.” Before Miss S could say or do anything to stop him, he stood and practically trotted for the boarding house.
He thought he remembered Emma saying she loved planting. He knocked on the screen door. “Emma, we’re ready to plant.”
Emma came around the corner. “Thank you for coming to get me. This is one of my favorite things to do.” She grabbed a shawl and big floppy hat and then went out the door.
Harrison had waited for her on the porch. “I thought I’d let you choose what you wanted to plant.” He picked a bag from the wagon. “I also brought you some asparagus and onions.”
“Oh, lovely.”
They were almost to the garden with the seeds and plants when Miss S joined them. “I think I’ll go inside and rest. A lady needs to keep up her strength. I’ll see you at the church picnic Sunday, Harrison. Be sure and bid on my box because I make the best fried chicken.” She waved and smiled at him and brushed past them, making sure to rub her shoulder against his.
By the look on Emma’s face, those two were about to wind up in a catfight over him. He didn’t want that. The women were all such good friends. Earlier at the café, he’d met with Kyle and Howie.
Howie had let on that Jenny and Sally Mae were fighting over him. Not exactly fighting, but close.
Harrison knew the men needed to come up with a plan to help the women stop before they made fools of themselves. He liked all four of them. But Sally Mae did seem to go after Howie.
Kyle said he couldn’t get any of them interested in him. And he wasn’t sure which of the four he’d choose. Although he kind of liked Jenny, she was running after Howie.
Tom had stopped in and lamented that he hadn’t really got to talk to any of them.
Harrison had called a meeting of the men for Saturday. They’d meet in the saloon so that the women couldn’t get to them. And they’d sworn secrecy so that the women didn’t know.
Emma finished planting the onions where he’d suggested. She didn’t seem to mind getting in the dirt and getting her hands in the rich earth.
“Let’s plant the lettuce here and the cabbage on the other side of where we’ll plant the tomatoes.” He watched Emma smile like an excited child. She really loved the garden. Like he did.
If he had to choose today. It would be Emma. She was pretty. She didn’t talk very much, and she had grit when Miss S had taken him over. Harrison had really just been polite to S, but he enjoyed his time with Emma.
“Saturday, would you like to have lunch with me? At the café in town?”
She blushed. “Yes, I would.”
“Are you going to make a box for the picnic Sunday?”
“Yes, I will. Mine will have a blue bow. But I’m not going to tell you what I’m making.” Emma grinned, looking pleased.
Harrison nodded. “Good. I’ll look for it. I’ll be in town about ten in the morning. I’ll check on your garden. You might have a few sprouts by then. It depends on if we get rain.” He looked into the sky. “I think we’ll get some showers tonight. The air has that feel to it.”
“That’s amazing. I’m impressed by all you know.”
“My father was a farmer, and his before him. It’s in my blood.” He looked at her. “And you?”
“In Vermont, my father ran a store. I worked for him, but on occasion, I helped my grandmother in her garden. Just a small one, but I loved planting things and watching them grow.”
Harrison sifted some of the dirt in his hand. “I can’t think of anything else I would want to do. I’ve been thinking about how lonely—”
“Harrison, I thought we were getting together later today.” Howie came down to the garden. “Nice garden. Sally Mae told me you were making one.”
Harrison couldn’t believe he’d been interrupted just as he was going to get serious with Emma. The more he talked to her, the more he realized she was the one for him. He stood and stared at Howie. “I thought it was tomorrow.”
With a hand to his head, Howie nodded. “You’re right. It was tomorrow.” He blushed and stared at Emma.
Harrison remembered they were supposed to keep the meeting secret, especially from the women. He cleared his throat. “I know we need to talk about the rustlers.”
Howie caught his look and nodded. “Yes, I told the marshal I’d get together with you and Tom, and I think Kyle is going to help round them up.”
Harrison glanced at Emma. She was a smart woman and was sure to see through his scheme, but they needed to have a meeting without women. “Good. We’ll get together then.”
“Have you seen Jenny?”
Emma frowned. “No. I thought they would all be down here with me to help plant, but apparently, I’m the only gardener among the group.”
�
�I’ll just go up to the door and see if she’s in the house.” Howie nodded and left them.
Harrison wanted to continue where he’d left off, but he’d lost the feeling. Instead, he took out some more seeds. “I have peas. There’s nothing like eating fresh peas off the vine.”
Emma looked at him. “I agree. My favorite, too.” She took some from the bag. “Where should we plant them?”
Harrison walked the rows and stopped. “Here. You start on this end, and we’ll meet in the middle.”
She waited until he’d walked down to the end of the row, and then they both started at the same time.
Harrison put the last pea in the soil. He knelt on the ground and covered the seed.
Emma knelt in front of him, doing the same.
Her hair was coming loose, and some tendrils fell around her neck. He drew in a breath and was almost dizzy by the sweet aroma about her. “Emma.”
She looked up. Her blue eyes were curious and innocent. “Yes.”
“I’m interested in you.” He shook his head. “I don’t know how to go about this, but the four of us men have been talking about finding wives. I like you and thought that we might get to know one another better.”
Her cheeks were pink. “Yes. We’ve been talking about the same. I’d like that Harrison.”
“Harris, you can call me Harris. If you’d like to, that is.”
“Yes, Harris.”
“Yoo hoo! Is the garden done yet?” Miss S came down from the house with an apple in her hand. “Harrison, I thought you might like to have an apple. You’ve been working so hard.” Miss S handed him the red prize.
Wiping his hands on his trousers, Harrison stood. “Thank you.” He glanced at Emma and caught the wary glance she’d given Miss S and almost laughed. Yeah, there was a competition on the women’s side all right. Good thing the men didn’t stoop to such tactics.
Chapter 12
The next morning, Harrison got to town before the others. He hoped he didn’t run into Miss S. She was obviously after him. He accomplished what little business he had to do and then went to the saloon to wait for the men.
Howie came in first and took off his hat, setting it on the chair behind him. “Sorry I let on about the meeting in front of Emma.”
“I don’t think she suspected anything. We should be able to get our meeting over. I bet all the women are cooking up their favorites for the picnic box tomorrow after church.” Harrison watched the door. “Here come the other two.”
Soon, they were all seated around the table. Tom shook his head. “This business of getting a woman isn’t the easiest. I think I’d rather just buy one.”
“Doesn’t work that way.” Kyle frowned. “I don’t think any of the ladies at Mora’s know me.”
Howie smiled. “I’ve got two of them after me. Sally Mae and Jenny.”
“They’re pretty gals, all right.” Tom smiled. “I wish one would come after me.”
Harrison held up his hand. “We need a plan. Maybe decide which one we want and try and cut them out from the herd.”
Tom looked at him. “That sounds like rancher talk more than farmer.”
Harrison laughed. “It does. But then I do have chickens and some pigs that I have to tend to. Most of my vegetables stay put.”
Kyle, the quietest, finally spoke up. “How are we going to know which woman is best for us?”
Howie shook his head. “I don’t know. I like Sally Mae. She’s bright and fun. Jenny laughs all the time and has pretty brown hair. Miss Salisbury is a bit standoffish, but she’s pretty in her own way. Tall though. Too tall for me. I’d say she’s a fit for Tom or Harrison. That leaves Emma, she’s quiet and ladylike. I’m not sure who she’d be good for. I don’t think she’s right for Kyle. You’re quiet too, and that might be a problem.”
Harrison took his list and jotted down the suggestions. “We’ve got a blond, dark brown, Miss S is kind of red brown, and Emma is sandy brown hair.”
Kyle nodded. “What about eyes? Emma has blue eyes. I talked to her at the dance and saw that much.”
Howie smiled. “Sally Mae has sweet brown eyes.”
“Miss S has hazel eyes.” Harrison contributed to the list.
Kyle looked at Harrison’s list. “What about Jenny?”
All the men looked at one another, but none of them knew. Harrison made a note. “Find Jenny’s eye color. That girl does like to laugh.”
Kyle grinned. “Yeah, she does.”
Tom rubbed his chin. “All right. So, do we match them with us? I’ve got dark hair like Jenny.” He looked around. “None of us are really blond. Kyle your hair is kind of red. But your eyes are grayish.
Howie frowned. “My hair is the lightest brown. Does that mean I get Sally Mae even if I don’t have brown eyes? Because I like her the best.”
Harrison was reluctant to tell them he liked Emma. He was beginning to doubt if their method was any better than whatever process the women were using.
Tom cleared his throat. “I think we should look at weight and height. Miss S is the tallest. Jenny is the, he stopped and looked around, the plumpest. Sally Mae is shortest and Emma the skinniest.”
Kyle shook his head. “I don’t think we ought to go by that.”
Howie raised his hand. “Why don’t we go around and look at married couples and see how they match up?”
Harrison nodded. “Sounds reasonable. But then again, I had a matched pair of bays, and they weren’t a good team at all.”
Tom pointed at his list. “Yet, your Peaches and Cream match, and they’re the best team around.”
Kyle groaned. “This is not easy.” He looked around the table. “All right, does anyone here have a woman they’re interested in?”
Howie nodded. “As I said, I like Sally Mae.”
Kyle shook his head. “But I’ve seen you with Jenny plenty of times.”
“She comes around me. Sally Mae is who I’m interested in. Take her off the list, Harrison.” Howie pointed on his paper.
“You men all right with that?”
They all nodded, and Harrison removed Sally Mae’s name. “Anyone else?” If he was sure, Harrison would take Emma’s name from the list. But he wasn’t.
Howie raised his hand. “How about the rest of you put your name by one of the ladies, so we don’t have issues.”
Tom groaned. “I’m not sure. But if I have to choose, I’ll take Jenny.”
Kyle shook his head. “I don’t know, I guess Emma. She does have pretty blue eyes.”
Harrison wrote down the names and dutifully put Miss S beside his. This was not at all like he thought it would go. Not at all.
The men sat around the table, and Harrison noted that the only one smiling was Howie. That’s because he’d chosen the one that he wanted. The rest of them just put up with one of the names.
Harrison stuffed the list in his pocket. “The list is not for sure. Just a suggestion. At the church picnic, we talk to the girl across from our name. At least some of the time. If we don’t want that one, then we can go on and talk to another. Everyone clear with that?”
All of them agreed.
Harrison stood, not feeling confident at all about the results of the meeting. “I better get back to the farm.”
Harrison was all the way back to the farm before he remembered he’d offered to take Emma out for dinner. The meeting with the other men had so taken his concentration that he’d completely forgotten.
He could saddle Riley and ride in. Looking at the sun, he figured he might have enough time. Harrison ran into the house and changed clothes to his nice suit. Then he went out to the barn and saddled Riley.
The colt was green broke and had a mind of his own, but if he was careful, Harrison figured he could make it into town.
“Easy fella,” Harrison mounted the anxious horse and headed him toward town. He prayed along the way that Emma would forgive him for being late. And he asked to be forgiven for not having the courage to put her name down by his
.
Emma was the one he wanted.
***
Emma had changed into one of her newer dresses. She’d even bought some gloves so her hands wouldn’t show the brown spots and callouses from her hoeing and weeding. She knew better than to try and ask Miss S if she could borrow a pair.
He’d said early afternoon, and it was nearly five now. Surely, he hadn’t forgotten about her. She knew he wasn’t with Miss S because she was sitting on the divan sewing. Humming too. That made Emma suspicious and wonder if she wasn’t up to something.
Sally Mae had run out of the house a couple of hours ago. And Jenny was sitting on the porch dreaming about the man she would marry. So far, she said, he had no face. Just that he was strong.
Nervous, Emma stood and walked around the room. “I think I’ll go down and check on the garden.”
Miss S looked up from her pattern. “I’m sure glad you like weeding. Don’t get your nice dress dirty. Are you sure you shouldn’t change before you go out?”
Emma shook her head. “No, I wanted to pretty up for Saturday. Maybe I’ll take a walk.”
Emma left the house and walked outside to the garden. Tiny plants were coming up, and that made her happy. The anticipation of picking vegetables and the fruit of her labor thrilled Emma and took her back to the days when she helped her grandmother.
Such good times when life was fresh and full of hope. Where had that all gone? Now she was desperately trying to chase down a man to marry her, competing with her friends, and fearful that she’d be left alone again.
What if they all found a man, and she didn’t? She prayed and prayed that God really didn’t want her to be a spinster. Some women were excited to take the role. Or so she was told by well-meaning women.
But truly, Emma had always pictured herself married and with children. She did not want to be a spinster and take care of another woman’s house and children. No.
Tears were forming when she looked up and saw Harrison riding toward her. Her heart raced. He had come.
She heard the door slam, and Miss S call out to him. But Harrison rode on toward her to the garden.
Deserted in Dodge Page 6