by Kit Morgan
“That’ ain’t why I suggested it. As far as supplies, we could last another month, though I’ll get a few things. I was thinking more about something for you.”
Effie’s face broke into a wide smile. “For me?”
Forrest grinned ear to ear. “I made good money off those piglets. Thought we’d celebrate with a little shopping. ”
Effie wrapped an arm around his, rested her head against his shoulder and sighed in contentment. “I love you.”
Forrest’s arm tightened. And he didn’t say a word.
Effie glanced at her husband. He stared straight ahead, his eyes on the road, one corner of his mouth raised up at an odd angle. What was that about? Why wasn’t he saying anything? She’d just told him she loved him, for crying out loud!
“Well?” she said, unable to stand it any longer.
“Well, what?”
She slipped her arm from his and adjusted herself on the wagon seat to look at him. “I … that is … you …”
He raised an eyebrow. “You ain’t making sense, woman.”
She swallowed hard. “No, I’m not. I’m sorry.”
He glanced at the road and back. “Gonna be a fine day,” he said, changing the subject.
Effie’s heart plummeted. He wasn’t going to say he loved her in return. Great. She looked skyward. “Yes, it is.” She folded her arms in front of her and stared straight ahead. She wasn’t sure how to handle the rejection, if rejection it was. She knew she’d changed since marrying him, and for the better. But his not saying those three little words back to her made her feel as if it was all for naught, that she might as well go back to New York.
No, no – that was fickle thinking, the kind she’d have done before she married the man next to her. Maybe he had a hard time telling people he loved them. Yes, perhaps that was it. She just needed to give him time, that’s all.
At least she hoped that was all.
When they reached town they drove straight to the general store. Forrest helped her out of the wagon, then pulled out a list from his shirt pocket. “Give this to Mr. or Mrs. Barnes and have ‘em start filling it while I go check the post office. When I come back, we can do a little shopping for ourselves.” He gazed into her eyes. “Anything special you fancy?”
Yes! her mind screamed. Tell me you love me, you silly man! “Maybe some more yarn …”
“Yarn – is that all?” He laughed. “C’mon now, wife, you can do better than that. I got ten dollars to spend on us, and I aim to see it spent. Now get in there and start looking.”
She smiled, feeling a little better, and turned toward the steps to the boardwalk. Once inside the store, she went to the counter. Mrs. Barnes was busy dusting shelves, her back to her. She didn’t so much as turn around and say hello. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Barnes.”
“Good afternoon,” the woman grunted, still not turning. “Give me your list so I can fill it. We’re closing in a few minutes.”
Effie stared at her. The woman was even grumpier than the last time! “On account of the picnic, I suppose.”
“We always do. Now, your list?”
Effie handed it over. “My husband and I were hoping to do a little shopping after you filled that.”
“Not today. Besides, how much shopping can the two of you do?” She saw Effie’s pink day dress and matching hat. “I suppose you had that made for you as well?”
“Yes, though I hope to make my own one day.”
“Make your own? Whatever for?”
Effie smiled. “Because I want to know I can.”
Mrs. Barnes stared at her a moment then shook her head and started to fill the list. “Oh, by the way,” the woman said. “I’m afraid when I invited you to tea with Mrs. Hopkins, I spoke out of turn. You won’t be able to get an invitation from her.”
Effie sighed. She knew what she was really saying: you aren’t good enough to sit down and have tea with Baker City’s elite. She looked at the smirking Mrs. Barnes and smiled. “That’s perfectly all right. I’m not available.”
Mrs. Barnes smile broadened. Effie knew that look – the woman wasn’t going to be satisfied until she knew she’d drawn blood. “Too bad – Mrs. Hopkins’ teas are the real social events around here. After all, only the best of the best …”
The door over the bell rang, and in walked Forrest with a well-dressed older woman.
“… Mrs. Hopkins! I was just talking about you,” Mrs. Barnes gushed.
Mrs. Hopkins smiled first at Forrest, who’d held the door open for her, then Mrs. Barnes. “Lucy, so nice to see you.” She turned to Effie. “And you must be Mr. Lang’s new bride. How very nice to meet you.”
Mrs. Barnes stepped out from behind the counter. “Mrs. Hopkins, how lovely you look!”
Mrs. Hopkins smiled at her, but quickly returned her attention to Effie. “Tell me, my dear, how are you enjoying life out here? I hear you’re from the East.”
Effie glanced between the two older women. Of course, by now the whole town probably knew. “Yes, that’s right. I’m from New York City originally.”
“New York, you say? A fine city – lived there myself before my father decided he needed an adventure and moved us to Oregon. And what an adventure it was, too.”
“I love her stories!” Mrs. Barnes said with glee.
Mrs. Hopkins glanced at her. “Yes, Lucy, I know. You repeat them to me often enough.”
Effie smiled as Forrest started to glance around the store.
Mrs. Barnes caught the action and frowned, “We’re closing. I haven’t time for the two of you to look at everything and buy nothing.”
“Then perhaps you’d best see to our list?” Effie said. She looked at Forrest, saw the disappointment on his face and before he could say anything, said, “And while you’re filling it, you won’t mind our looking around.”
“Of course she won’t,” Mrs. Hopkins said. “Will you, Lucy?”
Mrs. Barnes’ eyes went wide. “N-not at all, Mrs. Hopkins. Can I get you something?”
“No, I came in to meet Mr. Lang’s new bride.” She turned to Effie. “I just bought the last of your husband’s piglets he had for sale.”
“You did what?” Mrs. Barnes gasped. “Whatever are you going to do with pigs?”
“Give them as prizes today, of course. And there’s a family that could sorely use one, the Mains.” She turned to Effie and Forrest. “Mrs. Main just lost her husband, poor dear.”
Effie and Forrest exchanged a quick glance and nodded their sympathies. “Could they do with anything else?” Effie asked.
Mrs. Hopkins waved a hand about. “The usual things, I suppose. Poor Mrs. Main has three little ones to feed. I don’t know how she’ll afford it, let alone find a job to support them.”
“She needs family,” Forrest stated. “A husband.”
“Yes,” Mrs. Hopkins agreed, “but too soon for that, I’m afraid. Perhaps later, the poor dear.”
Effie looked at Forrest, who nodded. She knew they were both thinking the same thing. “We’d like to help. We have some extra money we were going to spend on … well, nothing really. Fripperies. I’m sure Mrs. Main could make better use of it.”
Mrs. Barnes’ gasp caught everyone’s attention. Seeing all eyes suddenly on her, she turned her back to them and busied herself filling their small list.
“That’s very kind of you,” Mrs. Hopkins said. “I’ll match whatever you give.”
Mrs. Barnes made a noise between a groan and a choke. All three ignored her. Effie knew from experience their conversation had to be galling the woman, especially since earlier she’d shunned Effie on Mrs. Hopkins behalf.
Forrest dug into his pocket, pulled out an envelope and the money, and handed the latter to Mrs. Hopkins. “Here. It ain’t much, but it should feed ‘em for a while.”
“What’s that?” Effie asked, nodding at the envelope.
“This? A letter. For you.”
Effie’s eyes widened as she held out her hand. Forrest gave her the
letter, then went to check on Mrs. Barnes and their list of supplies.
“You married a good man,” Mrs. Hopkins remarked as Effie stared at the return address on the envelope.
She glanced at Forrest, who was paying Mrs. Barnes. “Yes. I did. I just wish …”
“What, dear?”
She shook her head. “Nothing.” She looked at the letter again.
“A letter from home?” Mrs. Hopkins said with a smile.
“Yes. But I’m afraid to open it.”
“Are you afraid of bad news?”
Effie nodded, then looked at Forrest. “Something like that.”
Chapter 12
Forrest helped Effie carry her pies to the food tables. She’d made a half-dozen, and it was a good thing – people were eating like they’d been starved for days. Everyone in town seemed to be at the picnic, and families from outlying areas were still arriving. Many would have supper at the picnic, watch the fireworks, camp just outside town, stock up on supplies the next day and head home.
Forrest and Effie were doing the same, only they already had their supplies and planned to leave before sunup to get home and take care of the stock, rather than waiting to leave later in the morning.
“Effie! Forrest!” Alice called and waved. She grabbed John by the hand and headed their way. By the time she reached them, she was out of breath.
“Are you all right?” Effie asked.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. Don’t know why such a li’l distance would have me wheezin’ like a draft horse.”
Effie giggled. “Where are your cakes? I want to try a piece.”
“Over there.” She pointed at one end of a table. “Better hurry – looks like folks’re helpin’ theyselves already.”
Effie glanced at the dessert tables. Sure enough, several men were admiring the cakes as a petite blonde woman with three small children stood off to one side.
“John, ain’t that April Main and her younguns?”
“I believe so.” John studied the crowd around them. “I wonder where Edward is.”
“He’s dead.” Forrest said, his eyes fixed on the small family. “Mrs. Hopkins told us down at the general store.”
“Dead?” Alice said in shock. “How horrible! Poor April.” She turned to John. “What can we do to help?”
John scratched his head. “Don’t right know, but we’ll think of somethin’.”
Effie watched the woman wait for the men to get their cake, then ushered her little ones forward. Shame rose again, but she batted it down. She wasn’t that person anymore. Her past was just that, past. In the short time she’d been married, she’d learned more about people and what really mattered than she’d given a second thought to as a New York debutante. Where she came from, if you didn’t have social status, a large bank account and a name for yourself, you might as well pack up and leave. Thank Heaven she had, and come to a place where people helped each other.
She looked at Forrest, who was still watching the new widow and her children. He’d changed her, this lowly hog farmer with his two-room cabin and his chickens and his stitches and his well-deployed potato. Because of him, she didn’t take things for granted anymore. Now if he’d only tell her that he loved her …
He swung his head in her direction and smiled. “Makes me feel blessed.”
“What does?” she asked.
“Being married to you.”
Effie’s face broke into a smile. “I feel the same.”
He turned to face her. “You gonna open your letter, or read it later?”
She’d forgotten all about the second letter from her father. She smiled, went to a tree, sat and pulled it out just as Mrs. Hopkins happened by with Mrs. Barnes and several other women in tow. “We meet again, Mr. Lang,” she greeted.
“Ma’am.” Forrest tipped his hat.
She turned to John and Alice. “Mr. and Mrs. Capshaw. How lovely to see you.”
Alice smiled as John nodded. “Mrs. Hopkins,” he said.
Mrs. Barnes and the other women didn’t look happy about their idol speaking to the likes of the Capshaws. They looked Alice over as if she were a piece of spoiled meat.
Mrs. Hopkins, however, was different. “Why, Mrs. Capshaw, what a lovely dress you have on.”
Alice blushed deep red. “Thanky. I made it myself.”
“Did you? Why, it’s as good as something Mrs. Argus would turn out. Have you ever thought of dressmaking?”
“Oh naw, I couldn’t,” Alice insisted. “I ain’t near good ‘nough.”
“I quite agree,” Mrs. Barnes quickly added.
Her remark caught Effie’s attention. She looked up from her letter, tears in her eyes and quickly wiped them away.
Forrest saw and was immediately at her side. “Effie, what is it? Bad news?”
“No – good news.”
Forrest quickly helped her to her feet. “Tell me, darling.”
She raised her eyes to his. “My father and uncle. They’ve … they’ve got it all back!” She fell into his arms.
He hugged her, then held her away from him. “You mean their businesses?”
She nodded, unable to speak.
Forrest looked both delighted and nervous. “Why … that’s wonderful news, sweetheart.” He pulled her close again before adding, “… ain’t it?”
“I knew it!” Mrs. Barnes turned to the other women. “Didn’t I tell you? I knew there had to be some sort of scandal that brought her here!”
Mrs. Hopkins spun on her. “Lucy Barnes! Have you been gossiping about this child?”
Mrs. Barnes turned white as a sheet.
“I thought so,” Mrs. Hopkins said darkly. “If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s a gossip.”
Effie dried her tears and stared at the storekeeper. “What have you been saying?”
“Never mind her,” Forrest said. “She obviously ain’t got nothing better to do. Your pa’s gonna be all right, then?”
Effie nodded. “Yes, I think so. It may take some time to build back up to where they were, but my father’s letter says he’s confident they can manage it.”
Forrest kissed her forehead and held her close. “That’s great to hear, sweetheart. I’m happy for them.”
“What sort of business does your father have?” Mrs. Hopkins asked.
Effie took a deep breath to calm herself and looked at her. “My father and uncle were – are – in the shipping business. Import and export.”
“How wonderful. My father was as well, many years ago – probably when yours was just a lad, of course. Tell me, dear, what is your father’s name?”
“Ulysses Stout, ma’am.”
“Of Stout and Stout? My word, I’m familiar with that firm. Why, this is wonderful news indeed!”
“Yes,” Effie agreed, beginning to cry again. “It is.” She looked at Forrest. “And he sent this.” She handed him the envelope.
He took it from her, pulled out what was inside and almost choked.
Mrs. Barnes and her audience took one look at it and erupted in mutters and gasps. Even Mrs. Hopkins had an “oh my!” for the occasion.
Forrest held up the check and turned to Effie. “That’s … a lot.”
“Father says it’s a wedding present,” Effie said, reading from the accompanying letter.
Forrest nodded in astonishment. “There’s more’n enough here for you to go pay ‘em a visit, if you want.”
Effie shook her head. “No. I … I don’t want to leave you.” And it was true – the thought of being separated from her husband made her shudder. He’d become such a part of her over the last few weeks. Or was he suggesting that because he wasn’t sure how he felt about her?
His wide grin provided a partial answer. “Glad to hear it.” He stuffed the check back into the envelope, put it in his pocket and pulled her into his arms. “I don’t think I could stand to be without you neither.”
She smiled up at him and swallowed hard. “I … I love you.”
Fo
rrest gazed into her eyes and smiled.
Effie’s face fell. He was doing it again!
John cleared his throat.
“What?” Forrest said in annoyance, which only made Effie feel worse.
“You’ll find Forrest is a man of few words,” John announced to no one in particular. Alice giggled.
Forrest sighed as he looked at John. “All right, I gotcha.” He turned to Effie. “I ain’t much for flowery words – when I try ‘em, I usually just jumble ‘em up and make a mess of things. But every time I’m near you, I feel fit to bust, you make me so happy. And …”
Effie’s face lit up.
“… and I love you, Effie. So … yeah, there it is –”
“Forrest!” She threw her arms around his neck and wept.
“Not in public!” Mrs. Barnes gripped.
“Lucy Barnes,” Mrs. Hopkins declared evenly. “Mind your own business for once.” She turned back to the couple and blushed as they began to kiss passionately. “Oh my, oh my.”
John and Alice laughed as Mrs. Barnes stalked off in a huff.
Many of her friends decided to leave as well, so by the time Effie and Forrest broke their kiss, the crowd had cleared. “Guess we were too much for ‘em,” Forrest joked.
Effie giggled, then noticed Mrs. Hopkins had remained. “Oh, we’re terribly sorry, Mrs. Hopkins. We didn’t mean …”
But she waved it off. “Dear, you’re newly married – I believe you have the right. I shall leave you to each other then. But tell me, when might you be able to join me for tea?” She looked at Alice. “And you too, Mrs. Capshaw. I’d also like to speak with you about perhaps making me a dress.”
“Me?” Alice pointed at herself. “Well, I’d be honored.”
“And well paid, I assure you. ‘The worker is worthy of her support.’” Mrs. Hopkins turned to John. “Provided that’s all right with both of you.”
“Certainly,” he replied, still half in shock. “I’ll be delivering a horse to town in two weeks. We could both come.”
“Wonderful,” said Mrs. Hopkins. “I’ll see both you ladies then.” She nodded and left.
Effie stared after her a moment before resting her head against Forrest’s shoulder. “I do love you.”
