by Janice Hanna
“Now it’s your turn, Anne.” Maggie led her through the process of breading the meat and dropping it in the skillet. Before long, she almost had the hang of it.
Emily seemed to be doing pretty well with the potatoes too. Within a few minutes, most of the ones in the bowl were peeled. Mostly peeled, anyway. Anne still noticed a few smidges of peeling, but Maggie was gracious enough not to mention it. Instead, she went to work, chopping the potatoes and putting them on to boil.
As she worked, Maggie started another conversation about life on the ranch, her every word holding the littler girls spellbound. Anne, however, found herself distracted with unhappy thoughts of Uncle Bertrand.
When Maggie paused for air, Anne dove in. “I need to reach my uncle,” she explained, her words a bit rushed. “He is expecting us this afternoon, so I’m sure he’s going to be quite startled that we’re not arriving.”
“Hmm.” Maggie leaned against the countertop. “Surely when he goes to the station to fetch you he’ll get word about what’s happened. I wouldn’t worry too much if I were you.”
“Still, I would feel better if we could reach him. Do you know where I could find a telephone?”
“Why, we have one right here in our home.” Maggie grinned and gave her a playful wink. “My older sister Bets is green with envy. Has been ever since we had the phone put in a couple of months back. Don’t know why she’s always bothered by such things. I’ve tried to tell her that jealousy is a sin, but she doesn’t seem to believe it. Then again, Bets has always been the jealous sort.” She finally paused for air. “What was your question again, honey?”
“Oh. I was just asking… Hmm.” Anne shook her head. She couldn’t seem to remember.
“She asked if we had a telephone.” Jake’s voice rang out from behind her. “She wants to call her uncle in Dallas.”
“Yes, that’s right.” Anne turned, her heart gravitating to her throat as she took in the cleaned-up version of Jake. He’d combed his hair, and she found the new style very appealing. It really accentuated his green eyes. And the plaid shirt showed off his broad shoulders, as well. My goodness, if that boy didn’t clean up nice.
He flashed her a boyish smile. “Ma’am, I took the liberty of asking the folks at the station to send your uncle a telegram. I hope you don’t think I’m out of line. Just wanted to give him your whereabouts.”
“But how did you… I mean, however did you know how to reach him?”
“Oh, easy.” He leaned against the wall, his gaze shifting to Emily. “Our young reporter over there gave me all the facts. She also gave me a lesson in Texas Panhandle history too. She’s quite a pistol.”
“Oh, she’s a pistol, all right.” Anne chuckled. “Let’s just hope she never gets her hands on one!”
“Ooh, I wish I could shoot a gun.” Emily extended her hand, pointing her index finger in gun-like fashion. “Wouldn’t that be something? I’d wear boots and a ten-gallon hat and shoot anyone who looked at me cross-eyed.”
“That’s my concern,” Anne said. “What if someone you loved accidentally looked at you cross-eyed? Then what? They would go to an early grave.” Anne wished at once she could take back her words. Why did the conversation always go back to death? She glanced at Kate, who sat on the floor playing with the dog. Thankfully the youngster didn’t seem to notice her choice of wording.
At this point, Maggie took over the cooking of the meat. Before long, the platter on the counter was filled with thick, steaming slices of fried steak. The smell was almost enough to drive Anne to her knees. Still, they couldn’t eat until the others arrived. Besides, Maggie needed her help with the gravy and the biscuits. Oh, what a heavenly meal this was turning out to be!
Minutes later the grandfather clock chimed six times. What happened next caught Anne completely off guard. The door to the house swung open, and a passel of children raced inside. The two in front—both redheads—were boys. They were followed by a little one, maybe three, in a darling yellow-checked dress. Behind her came a young woman not much older than Anne. Must be the mama.
Within minutes, the house was full, side-to-side, top-to-bottom, with family. Anne had never seen so many people crowded into a kitchen before. And the voices! They overlapped, one on top of the other. Laughter rang out, along with slaps on the back and lots of chatter about how good the meat smelled.
Through the crowd, she made out Jake’s smiling face. He grabbed one of the littlest children and swept her into his arms, giving her a tender kiss on the cheek. One by one he embraced them, laughing and talking as if they were his own.
Introductions were made, but Anne felt sure she’d never keep all the names straight, especially since all the boys—little ones included—had J names. Thankfully, the females were a little easier. There was Pauline and Milly, Cora, and Ruth. Still, with so many, Anne hoped she wouldn’t be quizzed on the names later. And which one was it Maggie had said reminded her of Anne? Was it Cora? No, maybe it was Ruth. Or was it Pauline, the newlywed?
Oh, bother. She couldn’t remember. Not that it mattered tonight. No, all that mattered now was sitting down to dinner with this amazing group of new friends.
Maggie clapped her hands together, getting everyone’s attention. “Let’s gather around and pray before we dish up this meal. My chicken-fried steak tastes even better once it’s been blessed.” She nodded in her oldest son’s direction after everyone stood around the table. “John, would you do the honors?”
“A-course.” He nodded then removed his hat and bowed his head. The other brothers followed suit, one after the other. Jake wasn’t wearing a hat, but he did bow his head…after flashing a smile Anne’s way.
She tried to focus on the prayer. Truly, she did. But Jake’s smile, along with those dimples and gorgeous green eyes, drew her attention instead. Indeed, once John stopped praying, Anne was still deep in thought about Jake.
“Annie!” Emily nudged her, and she startled to attention. “Don’t fall asleep just yet. We might never get another meal like this as long as we live. We need to enjoy it.”
Anne tried not to let her embarrassment get the best of her as she took her seat alongside the others. She fussed with her napkin to avoid looking at Jake once more. I’m going to enjoy it all right.
“Oh, I daresay if you stay on at O’Farrell’s Honor, you’ll see plenty of meals like this,” Milly said. “We eat like this nearly every day.” She told the girls about the different types of food Maggie was known for, and the older woman’s cheeks turned pink.
“Oh, go on with you.” Maggie fussed with her hair. “I just do what every other woman in these parts does. I care for my family. That’s a woman’s greatest joy.”
Anne found herself feeling that strange feeling again, this time a tightening in her chest adding a bit of physical pain to the emotional. Why did she find herself so affected by Maggie’s mothering skills? Why, she’d known dozens of great mothers in Denver, including Charlotte’s precious mother. None had caused this kind of reaction.
Anne found herself so caught up in her thoughts that she almost missed a joke one of the children was telling. She managed to catch the tail end of it and offered a smile, just in case anyone happened to look her way.
Yes, someone happened to be looking her way. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Jake offering her another boyish grin. Gracious, a girl could get used to that.
“If you think this is delicious, you should see what Maggie cooks up for Christmas!” Ruth said. “There’s ham and turkey and the best sweet-potato casserole you ever tasted.”
“Then I want to stay till Christmas!” Kate licked her lips and everyone laughed.
Still, Anne could see the potential for disaster with this situation. In spite of the overwhelming welcome, she needed to stay focused. In just a few days, O’Farrell’s Honor would be nothing but a distant memory. She and her sisters would be living in Dallas at Uncle Bertrand’s home. Likely the only Christmas dinner to be served there was one around a painfully
quiet table with servants spooning out the food.
Oh, but when she smelled that chicken-fried steak, when she heard the laughter of the children, Anne could almost picture herself one of the O’Farrell’s Honor brides.
She stifled a laugh. How funny would that be—to be a bride in a town called Groom?
Gazing across the room at Jake, she had to conclude that there were worse fates to befall a female in distress.
Chapter Seven
If you’ve traveled from state to state, you’ve likely witnessed hundreds of sunsets. The colors of the setting sun over the Grand Canyon are magnificent, to be sure. And the snowcapped Rockies are quite a sight to behold in the evening’s afterglow, as well. But there’s nothing like the north Texas plains, springing to life under the colors of the near-night sky, to capture the imagination. There simply are no words to describe the variety of vivid reds, golds, and purples as the vibrant day gives herself over to the shadows of night. No matter where you travel, where you roam, you’ll never find a sunset like the one you’ll find at home…in the Texas Panhandle. —“Tex” Morgan, reporting for the Panhandle Primer
After supper, Anne helped Maggie and the other women clear the table. She offered to wash the dishes, but Maggie wouldn’t hear of it. Likely because Anne couldn’t stop yawning.
“Go on outside and take a walk,” Maggie said. “Feast your eyes on that gorgeous Texas sunset. Then get on back in here and tuck yourself into bed for the night.”
The idea sounded simply delicious. Anne gazed up at Maggie, wanting to pour out her thanks but unwilling to speak even a word. What was it about this place? This woman?
She knew, of course. The overwhelming sense of family. The laughter of children, coupled with the disciplining they received from loving parents.
“Yes, you go on outside and soak up that sunset, Anne,” Maggie said. The older woman fussed with Kate’s disheveled curls. “I do believe this young lady could stand to have her hair washed.” Maggie glanced Anne’s way. “Would it be all right with you if I took care of that?”
“Why, of course.” Anne nodded.
Maggie’s eyes filled with tears. “Must sound silly, but it’s been years since I’ve helped a little one with her hair.” She clasped her hands together and looked at Kate. “Oh, I know! Let’s put your hair in pin curls tonight. Would you like that?”
Kate’s expression hardened. “Will it hurt?”
“Oh, no. I’ll be as gentle as a lamb, I promise. You won’t even know you’re sleeping on them. And while we’re pinning up your curls, I’ll tell you a story about the day I first arrived in Texas as a young woman.”
Suddenly Anne found herself intrigued. “You’re not from Texas?”
“No, my folks lived in Missouri. My father, God rest his soul, came down to the Panhandle on business and fell in love with the place. He took one look at this magnificent land and…” Maggie giggled. “Anyway, I’m getting ahead of myself. Let me get Kate’s hair washed and then I’ll tell the story.” She and Kate disappeared into the bathroom and Anne glanced at the front door, wondering if she could really slip outside for a few moments of alone time. Off in the other room, she heard Kate’s voice ring out alongside Maggie’s in a rousing rendition of “Camptown Races.” Before long, she found herself humming it too.
Just about the time she’d opened her mouth to sing a few of the words, a gentle voice rang out from behind her. “So, the fair Guinevere sings too.”
Anne turned, her cheeks suddenly feeling as if they were on fire.
“Excuse me? What did you call me?”
He grinned. “Oh, sorry about that. Just a slip.”
“Did you say Guinevere?” She took a seat. “Like the one in the legend of King Arthur?”
“That’s the one. From the minute I first met you, I felt you resembled her. Or at least the image of her I’d painted in my head after reading the story.”
“That’s a lovely compliment.” Anne found herself embarrassed by such flattery. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He paused and gave her a tender look. “Did I hear you say you were going outside for a walk?”
“Yes.”
“You’ll catch the sunset if you hurry. I’ve got to head out to pen up the goats and then tend to my mare, Frances.”
“You named your mare?” For whatever reason, this got her tickled.
“Well, sure. Don’t you name your animals?”
“Yes.” She chuckled. “I call them Emily and Kate.”
He seemed to get great pleasure out of that. Before long they were both laughing.
“I’ll be in the barn a few minutes, but I’ll join you when I’m done.” Jake gave her a second glance. “If that’s all right.”
“Of course.” She offered him a shy smile, her heart skipping to double-time as he returned it. Oh, those dimples. How they captured her imagination.
Before heading outside, Anne peeked in on Kate, who was singing a song in the bathtub while Maggie scrubbed her hair. Since when did Kate sit still for a hair scrubbing? Why, the youngster was really going to town, singing that song. And where was Emily? She’d disappeared. She glanced into the youngster’s room and was surprised to find her seated at the rolltop desk. As Anne entered the room, Emily looked up.
“Aren’t you too tired to write tonight?” Anne asked.
“Not at all.” Emily looked at her, clearly stunned. “This has been the most amazing day. Loaded with fodder for my story. If I don’t capture it right away, I’ll go to sleep and forget. I need to put the words down while they’re fresh.”
“I see.” Anne chuckled. She didn’t really understand her sister’s enthusiasm for stories but knew that writing brought some sense of comfort. “Well, I’m headed outside for a little walk. I’ll be back in before long.”
“Mm-hmm.” Emily turned back to her tablet, her pencil moving fast across the page.
Anne slipped through the front door and stood on the porch for a moment. She thought about sitting in the swing to enjoy the sunset but decided that a walk sounded more appealing.
She made her way down the stairs and across the lawn, going west so she could see the sunset in all its glory. In all her nineteen years, she’d never seen such a large property before. Their home in Denver had been situated just yards away from the house next door. Most houses in the city were built so close you could practically reach out and touch your neighbors. But here, in this wide, expansive place, a person could walk for hours and never cross a neighbor’s property line.
Perhaps she would have to do that tomorrow. Walk for hours, that is. How glorious it sounded. Of course, if she got to choose, she would continue walking west, as far away from Dallas—and her future life with Uncle Bertrand—as possible.
Anne strolled across the yard and out into the field, enjoying the sunset. Off in the distance, she heard the voices of John and his children. Before long, the chatter of young voices gave way to the silence of the wide-open plains.
She tried to picture her mother just beyond that sunset. Her wonderful, kind mother—who’d been so good to everyone. She’d slipped off to heaven without so much as a real good-bye, leaving behind only memories and the little cross, a small symbol of her very large faith.
Anne fingered the necklace, hoping to stir up some degree of faith to see her through this current problem. A thousand thoughts ran through her mind. Though her prayers of late felt as if they weren’t going much higher than the clouds, she decided to give it another try. Perhaps this time the Lord would give her an answer she could live with…if she could only think of a way to voice the question.
“Lord, is this some sort of sign?” She looked to the skies but saw nothing. Heard nothing—nothing but the sound of a whip-poorwill in the distance. “Maybe we’re not supposed to go to Dallas. Am I supposed to turn back around and return to Colorado?”
Across the field, the sun dipped below the trees, casting ribbons of color across the field. The grass, once golden, now
looked almost red. If she stood here awhile longer, would it drift to shades of gray? Likely. Hadn’t her life moved in that direction already?
Pushing back the tears, she forced herself to pray.
Jake finished his work in the barn then headed to the fence, to the spot where he’d seen Anne walking. From a distance, he watched as she stood beneath the glow of the setting sun, her beautiful black hair shimming under a red-orange sky. He could tell from her posture that she felt relaxed. He hated to interrupt her but felt himself drawn in much the same way he’d been drawn to work for the railroad three years ago. Some things were just unavoidable. He drew near and cleared his throat.
She turned, and he could see at once that her eyes brimmed with tears.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I—I didn’t know you were…” Jake reached inside his pocket and came out with a handkerchief, which he passed her way. “Would you like me to go? I don’t mind.”
“No, it’s fine.” She dabbed at her eyes with the handkerchief. “I’m just being silly, I guess.”
He took another step in her direction. “Missing Colorado?”
“Yes. Missing a great many things.”
He hoped she would elaborate, but she did not. He had so many questions—about the life she’d left behind and why she and her sisters were on their way to their uncle’s house.
He opted to say nothing at all. Maybe it would be better to leave things as they were for a moment. He stood alongside her, gazing out over the pasture. From time to time, he heard what sounded like a contented sigh as she took in the sight before them.
Off in the distance, the family’s collie rested in the yard. “From what I hear, Ginger worked hard today,” Jake said. “John said she was worth her weight in gold. They rounded up the cattle on the back twenty.”
“Aw. Poor Ginger.”
“Yes. It looks like she’s tuckered out.”
“I’m a little tired myself.”
“Should we go back inside?”
“Not just yet.” She turned and offered up the sweetest smile he’d ever seen.
