Sarah's Heart

by Marianne Spitzer

  Sarah covered her heating cheeks with her hands and sat down. “You can’t do that here,” she insisted.

  “You need some water, wait here,” Giles told her. He disappeared into the kitchen where he found Nell watching. “I need your help,” he explained. “Is anyone using the private dining room?”

  “No,” Nell answered. “It’s nearly closing time. You need it now?”

  “Yes, I need to speak to Sarah privately. It’s getting late. It is the most public, private place I can take her. I won’t take a chance at tarnishing her reputation. Some already believe the worst of her,” Giles explained.

  “I’ll light the lamps in the room. Give me a minute.”

  “Just one lamp, please,” Giles looked at her pleadingly.

  Nell smiled in understanding and nodded.

  Giles walked back to Sarah’s table and spoke to her for a moment until he saw Nell leave the private dining room.

  “Come with me please.” He held out his hand. Sarah took it and rose. He held it tightly and guided her to the private dining room. The single lamp offered enough light to see, but also cast soft, romantic shadows across the room.

  “What is this?” Sarah asked.

  Giles took her hand and dropped to one knee, “Sarah Morey, I arrived in town looking for a fresh start away from the stresses of my life back East. I never planned anything more than opening a practice and helping my clients until I saw you. You pulled at my heart with those brown eyes until it was no longer mine. It belonged to you. It still does. I love you, Sarah, more than words can say. I frightened you earlier, and I promise never to raise my hand to you or to hurt you if you only say yes. Marry me, Sarah.”

  Tears were streaming freely down her cheeks, and she nodded.

  “Is that yes?” He looked at her expectedly. “My knee is beginning to ache.”

  Sarah smiled and murmured, “Yes.” She took a deep breath and said it again louder, “Yes, Giles, I will marry you.”

  He stood and pulled her in for a long kiss then reached into his pocket. He held a beautiful gold ring with a small emerald. “This was my grandmother’s. My uncle had a few days where we could speak before he began to drift away. He told me my family history. My father never spoke about his family. I don’t remember my grandmother. I was her only grandson. She passed when I was four. My uncle said she wanted me to have her ring and give it to the woman who captured my heart. That’s you, my love.”

  Giles slipped the ring on her finger. “It fits perfectly. How did you know? Was your grandmother my size?”

  Giles shrugged. “I don’t know. When you were on trial, you came to my office with your wedding ring from Harold. Remember? You wondered if you should wear it to court as his widow. I didn’t think that would help, and you dropped it on my desk. I put it in a drawer and that night, I drew the circle on a piece of paper, so I knew the size. I planned to order a ring, but then my uncle became ill. I took the paper with me because I fully intended to ask you when I returned. My grandmother’s ring was a surprise.”

  Sarah covered her face and burst into tears.

  “Sweetheart, what’s wrong. Did I say something? Are you afraid of me or the idea of another marriage?”

  Sarah shook her head and looked up at him. She wiped the tears from her face and said, “I didn’t think you were coming back. You left abruptly, and your telegram was short and cold. I knew I’d lost you.”

  He pulled her close again. “I am sorry, Sarah. I was busy day and night trying to unravel my uncle’s business problems that I didn’t have time to send the telegram. I told one of the clerks to send one and what to say. He must have been embarrassed to add ‘I love you’ to the telegram.”

  Sarah melted against his chest, and they heard Nell’s voice. “We locked the doors, and we’re closing. You two should come out.”

  Sarah walked out and hugged Nell. She held out her hand, and Nell said, “I knew it, didn’t I Molly?”

  Molly, the only customer left in the restaurant, answered, “Yes, Nell said Giles was going to propose. I knew it, too. We all did except Sarah.” She flashed a knowing smile at Sarah.

  Cal walked out of the kitchen. “I couldn’t help but hear. Congratulations, Giles and Sarah. When’s the wedding?”

  Giles answered, “As soon as possible.”

  Sarah retorted, “I need time to plan and make a dress. A few weeks. Maybe next month.”

  Giles shook his head, “Too long. How about this month? The Saturday after Thanksgiving sounds good.”

  Sarah blew out a breath, “I can be ready by then.”

  Giles grinned, “It’s settled. We’re getting married right after Thanksgiving.”

  Sarah, Molly, and Nell smiled at each other knowing they had a lot of plans to make.

  ~ * ~

  Molly rose with the sun allowing Sarah to sleep in a bit longer. She assumed that Sarah stayed awake late dreaming about her wedding. Molly sat at the table and poured a cup of coffee wondering if she’d ever make wedding plans. None of the men in town that Molly considered marriageable gave her a second look. Most people believed she never worked upstairs at Underwood’s, but they had a few doubts about what she might have done before she arrived in Gentle Falls. Molly could never prove she wasn’t a soiled dove in her past. She didn’t blame her mother for taking that path in life. It was all she could do to support Molly. Her mother made a difficult decision, and now it was time for Molly to make one. She loved living in Gentle Falls, but if she stayed she’d never find an end to loneliness. When Sarah married, Molly would live alone. Sarah made it clear the previous night that Molly would always have a job and a home in the apartment above the shop. Sarah wasn’t closing the shop because she planned to marry Giles. No, Molly needed to plan a life for herself, but what could she do?

  She finished her second cup of coffee when Sarah wandered into the kitchen.

  “Good morning, Molly,” Sarah practically sang.

  “Good morning. You sound happy. I wonder why?” Molly smiled. “I made coffee.”

  “Good,” Sarah exclaimed. “I need coffee to help me wake up. I didn’t sleep much last night.”

  “I’ll get you a cup. We have a lot to do today. Celia is coming in to discuss the rest of her wardrobe and we received a large shipment of fabric yesterday. Do you need to order fabric for your wedding dress? You don’t have much time. We need to place that order today if you need it in time,” Molly said while pouring Sarah a cup of coffee.

  Sarah’s eyes sparkled, “No, I have the fabric. When we decided to order a few finer fabrics in case someone wanted a formal dress, I ordered a lovely pale blue silk. It was before Giles left and I had hoped he might want to marry. I can’t wear white, and I’m not comfortable with ivory since I am a widow. Blue would be perfect. Let me get it. I put the entire bolt away in my room.” Sarah stood and hurried to her room.

  She returned carrying a bold of the most beautiful fabric Molly had ever seen.

  “It’s lovely,” Molly exclaimed. “I know the perfect lace to embellish it. We’ll have such fun.”

  Sarah and Molly opened the shop shortly before Celia arrived. A few snow flurries blew around, and Molly added another log to the stove.

  Celia arrived mid-morning and gushed, “I did it. I just gave the letter to Mr. Masters to mail for me. He said it'd go out on the next train. I told Mr. Hastings yes. Fortunately, Minnie was in the back, or she would have asked who I know in Wyoming.”

  Sarah smiled and said, “We both have something to celebrate. Giles returned last night and proposed.”

  Both young women hugged and Molly interrupted. “You both need some pretty nightdresses. Look at this flyer. It was in with the fabric shipment. Sarah, could you sew a few of these for you and Celia?”

  Sarah and Celia looked at the flyer and blushed.

  “I don’t think I could wear one of these alone much less as a married woman,” Celia giggled.

  “Giles would like this, but I don’t know if I could we
ar one either. Besides, we don’t have enough time to order one and I’m not going to speak to Minnie about placing this order,” Sarah murmured.

  Molly suggested, “Order plain new ones from Minnie and alter them, Sarah. You could do that.”

  “Maybe,” Sarah mused.

  All three women jumped when the bell above the door jingled. Eloise entered and walked over to where they were studying the flyer.

  Eloise’s hand flew to her mouth. “They sell these? It’s scandalous but wonderful. Would any of you wear one?” She looked each woman in the eye.

  “I might,” Molly admitted. “After all, isn’t that what anyone would expect from me?”

  “Molly,” Sarah admonished. “I thought we discussed this and that you are worth more than what people think.”

  “I know,” she replied, but her mind flew to her earlier thoughts about being alone. She would wear one of the scandalous new nightdresses, but she’d wear it alone. She’d always be alone.

  “Enough,” Sarah said. “Celia and I need new nightdresses. I’ll place the order for the plain ones, and if Celia wants, I can embellish it. I’ll think about what to do with mine?”

  “Why would Celia need a scandalous nightdress,” Eloise asked.

  Celia’s eyes shifted between Molly and Sarah. “I was going to wait a bit, but now is as good a time as any. Eloise, I have something to tell you.”

  Molly and Sarah busied themselves with the new fabrics while Celia explained about her new life in Wyoming. Thirty minutes later, Eloise managed to stop crying and let Celia know she’d miss her terribly, but also support her in any way she could.

  “Have you told Henrietta?” Eloise asked wiping tears from her face.

  “No, and I have no idea how to tell her or when. She will do whatever she can to stop me. She believes I need to remain in Gentle Falls and marry since Father was one of the founding fathers. If I stay, I’ll be a spinster. I’m well on my way now,” Celia admitted.

  Eloise took her hand, “I’ll help you tell her. When you find out your departure date, I’ll invite her to tea, and you can tell her. She can’t physically stop you. If she’s upset for a few days, she’ll be all right eventually. She didn’t take it very well when I stopped wearing black, but she came around. We’ll miss you, but I want you to be happy. I know Henrietta does, too.”

  Celia smiled, “Until then we should enjoy our time together. I need to go to the mercantile and order two new nightdresses. Would you like to walk with me? We could go back to my house for tea.”

  “Yes, I’d enjoy that.”

  Celia stood, “Eloise and I are going to shop and have tea. We’ll come back this afternoon to discuss our dresses.”

  Sarah raised her head and answered, “We’ll see you then. Have a nice time.”

  She turned back to the fabric and lifted a bolt of deep green calico with tiny yellow flowers. “This would make a lovely dress. I feel like a new dress.”

  Molly laughed, “You have to make your wedding dress.”

  “I can do both.”

  Chapter 13

  Sarah looked up when the bell jingled greeting a new customer. She smiled when she saw Giles enter. He walked halfway across the room, took his hat off, and bowed. “May I have the honor of escorting you to lunch, Sarah?”

  Sarah held her hand across her mouth to keep from giggling. Giles’ face was serious, and she did her best to remain serious. “I would be delighted, kind sir.”

  He nodded and held out his arm fighting a smile. Sarah hurried into the back room to tell Molly she was leaving and would be back within an hour.

  “Have fun,” Molly answered. “I have some work to do, and I’ll take care of anyone who might come in. It’s been quiet.”

  Sarah waved and grabbed her wrap before she hurried back to take Giles’ arm and accompany him to Callahan’s for lunch.

  Less than five minutes later, Molly heard the bell jingle again and walked out to the store’s front room. She stopped in her tracks when she came face to face with Widow Biggs.

  “Welcome, ma’am. Sarah is having lunch. Is there anything I can do for you?” Molly smiled hoping the woman wasn’t there to cause trouble.

  Widow Biggs smiled back worrying Molly even more. “Yes, I’ve come for a new dress.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry, ma’am, we don’t have black fabric in stock. I will tell Sarah, and she can order some. Possibly the mercantile may have some.” She interlaced her fingers and held them in front of her worried that the Widow Biggs’ anger might erupt.

  “No, I want a new dress, not a copy of what I’m wearing. I spoke to Eloise, and she convinced me I had grieved long enough. I need something besides black to wear.” She smiled at Molly again.

  Molly nodded slowly taking in the woman standing in front of her. “I can make some suggestions. Did you wish to make a dramatic change and buy a pink or yellow dress or something more subtle like brown or dark green?”

  Henrietta walked around looking at some of the fabrics Sarah had on display and picked up a bolt of dark brown calico sprinkled with tiny pink flowers. She held it for several moments before turning to Molly.

  “I think this will do. It’s still dark enough that I won’t make a spectacle of myself but pretty. I do like the flowers.”

  Molly hurried to her side, “I think this is a lovely choice. What type of dress did you have in mind?”

  “Something for Sunday, I think. If I’m making this change, I might as well let the entire town see it at once.” Henrietta clutched the bolt of fabric to her chest. “Do you think I’m a foolish old woman?”

  “Not at all,” Molly answered stepping closer. “We all need to do what is best for us. You chose to grieve for over five years. I will not judge you for it.”

  Henrietta’s smile faded as she looked at the fabric and then at Molly, but in a moment her smile returned. “Yes, I have grieved a long time. I’ll take this fabric for a dress.”

  “Sarah will be able to help make the best decision for a pattern that will suit you. She will be back in less than an hour. During that time, I can take your measurements and drape the fabric across you to see if you still like it. We have a mirror in the back, and it will help you decide on the fabric.” Molly smiled warmly at Henrietta.

  Henrietta handed the bolt to Molly and answered, “We can do that. Thank you.”

  Molly led Henrietta to the back dressing room and said, “There is a wrapper in the room. To get the best measurements, it would help if you removed your dress.”

  Henrietta nodded.

  Molly picked up a sheet of paper from the measuring table and jotted Henrietta’s name and fabric choice at the top of the page. She would add the measurements as she took them.

  “Do you need help with your buttons?” Molly called.

  “Thank you,” Henrietta said. “You’re quite kind considering.”

  “Considering?” Molly’s mouth twisted in confusion.

  Henrietta stared into her eyes, “Yes, considering the way I treated you. I know you were never one of Underwood’s upstairs girls, and I should have understood you worked for him in order to survive. That takes courage. Celia explained that to me when I made the decision to get rid of my widow’s weeds.”

  “I see,” Molly said. “Thank you. Shall we get to those buttons?”

  Before Molly had time to reach the first button, the back door flew open, and two men barged into the room carrying guns.

  “How dare you,” Henrietta exclaimed. “Get out of here now. Men are not allowed in here.”

  One of the men growled, “Shut up you old biddy before I shoot you.”

  Molly stepped forward and said, “What do you want? We don’t have much money here. I can give you what we have.”

  “Yeah, that’s a good idea.”

  Molly hurried to the box she and Sarah used for customer’s payments and handed the money to the man. He shoved the money in his pocket and grinned at her.

  “Please go now,” she pleaded.
>
  “Not yet, lady. You’re coming with us.” He grinned and waved his gun toward the back door.

  “She is not,” yelled Henrietta and began to beat the man with her parasol.

  “Get back or I’ll shoot you,” he raised the gun.

  Molly pulled her back and whispered, “Let me handle this. I’ve seen men like this before. Sometimes they respond to kindness.”

  She turned toward the man and smiled, “I can see you’re upset. My friend is just frightened as am I. I’m sorry she hurt you. Let’s say we walk to the bank and I’ll get you a nice sum to take with you. Your friend can stay here with Henrietta.”

  “That’s right nice of you, ma’am, but the boss said we need to bring you back to the cabin with us.”

  “Shut up you idiot. Don’t tell her where we’re going,” the second man snapped at the first and slapped at his head.

  “Listen, Bert, she’s gonna see the cabin when we get there so let me talk to her.” He walked in a wide circle around Molly keeping an eye on Henrietta.

  “What’s the matter with you, Eli, don’t tell her my name.” The second man scowled.

  Molly looked at Henrietta and rolled her eyes. She knew she was dealing with two idiots, but they had guns and guns in the hands of an idiot are never a good thing.

  “Now, now, boys, let’s not fight. Just tell me what you want,” Molly forced herself to smile at Eli.

  Eli spoke, “We’re here to get you, Mrs. Morey. Our boss wants you and then has business with your fella. Now, you can come quietly, or you can come along unconscious.”

  Henrietta was going to say something, but Molly’s firm look made her think it was better if the men didn’t know they had the wrong woman. Then again, she was not about to be shot or abducted by the likes of the man with the gun. Henrietta did her best to leap at him and hit him with her fists. She landed one blow before he pushed her back. She fell against a crate and sat stunned.

  Eli shook his gun in her face, “I’m gonna shoot you now. Say your prayers, old lady,”

  Bert yelled, “Don’t shoot. Someone will hear the shot, and we’ll never get the lawyer’s lady out of here.”