by Janette Oke
“And now from us, Marnie and me.” Molly winked as Marnie carried over a large package and placed it on Beth’s lap, standing close while Beth untied the string and lifted a corner of the paper. It was the quilt, the Bear’s Paw design they had been laboring to finish. Beth looked up at Marnie, then over at Molly, and whispered a tremulous thank you. “Ya needed something warmer fer the two of ya, and it might as well be pretty too,” Molly told Beth.
“Oh, it is, Molly. And Marnie, I know you’ve been working so hard on this.” Beth stood and put her arms around the young woman, drawing her close and whispering, “I love it, darling. It’s just too beautiful for words.” She drew back and mouthed, “But you’ll need a quilt too—”
“I can make another,” Marnie said quickly, beaming. “Miss Molly an’ me already got it started. But that isn’t all, Miss Thatcher. Ya gotta look in the folds.”
Beth sat again, slipped a hand inside the quilt, and pulled out a book. She held it up—a journal.
“It’s not a blank one,” Marnie explained quickly. “Miss Molly and I wrote out all the things we thought you’d need to know about keepin’ house. We hoped it would be a help for ya.”
Beth laid the book in her lap, put her face in her hands, and laughed through her tears.
Julie said, “Just what you need, right, Bethie?”
Her words prompted more laughter, more tears. Beth opened at random and read aloud, “Johnny Cake,” in the girl’s careful penmanship, then noted the recipe that followed. She paged through and found “Removing stains” across the top with categories listed down the side and instructions for each, and another, “How and when to make a poultice.”
“Oh, Marnie, I can’t even tell you . . .”
The girl was giggling, obviously delighted with Beth’s response. “I couldn’t have written any of it if ya hadn’t taught me so well. So I like that I can teach you too.” She added quickly, “And, of course, Miss Molly helped too with all the recipes and advice.”
Beth hugged both Molly and Marnie once more, then each of the gracious participants by turn, trying over and over again to express how deeply their thoughtful generosity had touched her.
After the group had departed and Beth had sent the gifts home with Julie and Marnie, Molly lingered. She straightened a row of desks while Beth set out items for the next day’s lessons. Finally Molly took a seat and spoke quietly. “I want ya to know that yer book’s been such a blessing already—ta Marnie and me.”
“How so?” Beth sat down next to her, this woman who had turned out to be a second mother.
Molly rubbed at her knee for a moment. “It gave us so much to talk about, both practical and deep. All the traits of what it is ta be a godly married woman. She wrote a verse from Proverbs 31 in the front cover, but we read the whole chapter and studied all of it. She’s determined to be a wife like that someday. I’m proud’a that girl.”
“You should be, Molly,” Beth answered with deep emotion. “She’s turning out to be very much like you. And that would be the very best our Marnie could be. You’ve been a wonderful guide, a teacher to her, and she’s going to be the same kind of teacher to another generation.”
News that Alberto would depart with a car after school on Friday meant Beth and Julie could finally ride along—and there would be additional passengers, Harold and Marnie. In spite of some tight quarters, Beth was happy to share the ride and spend more time with the two young people. Harold was taking Marnie to introduce her to his family, who would join them for the overnight visit with relatives in Lethbridge. The girl’s excitement was in full view as her beau deposited their bags in the trunk.
To Beth this trip would accomplish the final shopping, but more than that, she would have one more opportunity to spend time with Jarrick. And Julie would have a chance to visit Mary and her friends, to feel the bustle of the city. They planned to spend the night with Dillard and Eliza again, and that evening Jarrick brought in dinner from one of the local restaurants.
“Oh yes,” Eliza said at a lull in the conversation, “won’t you come with me, Beth? I have something for you.” The two slipped away to the bedroom closet, and Eliza produced Beth’s grandmama’s wedding gown, altered to fit just right. Beth’s stomach fluttered, and tears filled her eyes as she stared at the beautiful gown, picturing all the memories it represented.
“I have a box ready so you can take it home with you. If we fold it carefully with paper in between the layers, I think any wrinkles will hang out before the wedding.”
“Eliza, I can’t thank you enough,” Beth whispered as she touched the satin and lace. “It is so wonderful to have it ready.”
“It won’t be long now.”
Beth smiled but didn’t say, It feels as if these last few weeks will drag on forever.
The impatience only heightened as she walked with Jarrick to the front door for a reluctant good-night farewell.
“I don’t feel we’ve had nearly enough time together, Jarrick. I know I’ll think of a million things as soon as my head hits the pillow,” she murmured from the security of his hug.
“And tomorrow I head north to Athabasca. I doubt if I’ll be back until a couple weeks before the wedding. But I’ll send regular letters, I promise. Do you need anything else from me for now?”
Beth smiled. “Well, there is one thing. A question I’d like answered.”
“What’s that, sweetheart?”
“Where are we going on our honeymoon? I need to know how to pack. I don’t think you understand that a woman needs to prepare for these things.”
“I can’t tell you,” he said, grinning. “I’ve been having too much fun keeping it a surprise. But I will tell you a little. You won’t need to dress up—maybe one evening. You should be ready to dress comfortably and casually. Perhaps throw in a good pair of walking shoes. Does that help?”
“Hmm.” The words only called up more questions. “I suppose that will have to do, then.”
He smiled again, kissing her nose lightly. “But the good news is, we won’t have to worry about keeping up appearances.”
Beth’s eyebrows rose. “Then we won’t be at someone’s home. That can only mean a hotel. But I don’t know of a hotel except in Lethbridge. But that would be in the city, and we’d need to dress for it.” She frowned. “You’d tell me the truth, right? You’re not going to take me someplace without the proper attire?”
He laughed. “I assure you, you’ll be fine. However,” he added, “that’s the last question I’m going to answer on the subject. You’ll have to trust me, Beth.”
She shook her head at him, hugged him tightly once more, and closed the door behind him. She was determined not to complain further about his secret. As difficult as it was to wait, she did enjoy his look of satisfaction at keeping it from her.
The following morning was busy with shopping. Soon into the excursion, Julie announced she could get much more done alone, and Beth was rather in agreement. However, her sister showed up at lunch with more bags than Beth had expected. “There isn’t much room in the car, darling,” Beth reminded her. “Especially with five of us, our luggage, and with my wedding dress. We don’t want to have to tie things on the top. Do you really need so much when you don’t have all that much longer—”
“Trust me,” Julie said with her usual confidence.
Harold and Marnie were holding hands when they arrived at the Smiths’ home that afternoon for their return. Marnie’s eyes sparkled.
Harold’s family must have received her with open arms, Beth concluded.
Alberto turned the car back toward the western mountains while Beth, seated in the front with Julie’s packages piled around her feet, laid her head against the frame of the door and closed her eyes.
She awoke to find the car back in Coal Valley in front of the boarding house, with several people standing outside engaged in a rather loud conversation.
She leaned forward for a better view through the window, and there was Molly, arms cro
ssed, demanding, “Was that yer plan all along?”
“Yes, ma’am. It was. I’ll own to it. But it doesn’t change anything.” Harold was twisting his hat brim around, knuckles white.
“Oh, yes, it does, Harry Edwards. It changes everything.”
Marnie pleaded, “Miss Molly, I—”
“Now you just come home, Marnie. Ya best come in right now without another word.”
Beth quickly reached for the door handle and stepped out to see Molly ushering Marnie into the house while Harold stood alone beside the car, looking downward.
“What happened?” Beth whispered to Julie.
Her sister’s eyes were round. She swallowed, then said, “They eloped—like Frank and Molly. That’s why they came along with us.”
“But, he told me, he promised . . . oh my!”
Beth, reluctant to enter the boarding house that evening, hesitated on the front porch until Julie pushed past. She gingerly followed, afraid there would be uncomfortable tension. But all seemed tranquil as they found Frank in the parlor, fiddling with a wobbly doorknob. “Come in, come in,” he invited. “We were afraid’a you weren’t comin’ to visit tonight.”
“Good evening, Frank,” Beth answered, her gaze sweeping around cautiously.
“They aren’t home. All of ’em went’a to talk to the pastor.”
Beth was filled with relief. Philip would offer excellent advice. She breathed out a prayer for him and took a seat on the sofa. “You didn’t go?”
He shook his head. “My Mollina, she’s a strong woman, but that’a don’t mean she’s always calm. I stay out’a the way in this, eh? I give’a my help when it’s needed.”
“But what happened? What were they thinking?”
Frank set aside his repair project. “Somebody told ’em if they married that’a the company would give’a them a home, a place of their own, because the young man, he works here.”
“But they know there aren’t enough houses already.”
“They heard that’a there was to be an opening, that the McDermotts, they’re moving away. And that if they hurried, it might’a be theirs.”
“And are they, the McDermotts, moving away?”
“Yes, soon. Howard got’a himself a managing job in the mines near Lethbridge. But their home, it’sa been assigned to your teacher friend.”
“To Robert?”
“To him an’ his’a wife.”
“But Ivy, his fiancée,” Beth burst out, “said they wouldn’t even be married very soon, and that they’re planning to build a house.”
“Yes, he bought the land from’a the Grants, but the house won’ta be started till the ground thaws an’ it won’ta be done till the end of summer. So they will’a rent from the company till the other is finished.”
Beth shook her head in bewilderment.
Frank shrugged. “He spoke as if’a she would come soon. He seems’a so anxious to bring her out from the city. I think he’sa lonely here. Don’t you?”
Beth didn’t answer, forcing her thoughts back to Marnie and Harold. “What do you think will come of this meeting with Philip? Will they try to have the marriage annulled? Or will the two be given a place together somewhere?”
Frank allowed a faint smile to flicker across his stubbled face. “I’ma gonna wait to hear with the rest’a you.” He shook his head. “But I’ma gonna hope these folks will’a be kind to my sweet girl. She’sa not bad, and he’sa not either. They’re just too much in love to think clearly, eh?”
Beth remembered Frank’s first wife, his Colette—how they had been told they were too young. She supposed he was thinking about her too. “I’ll pray with you, Frank, that they’ll be treated gently, kindly.”
Molly returned soon with Marnie. The girl disappeared upstairs, and Molly moved heavily across the parlor floor, sitting herself down on the other end of the sofa.
Beth reached across to rest a hand on her arm. “I hope Philip was able to give some sound advice.”
“Ain’t much to be done,” she said with a sigh. “Seems those young’uns already set their own minds. Now they gotta abide by the consequences of that choice.”
Beth’s face twisted in concern. “What about Marnie’s education?”
“Oh, he had an answer fer that one too,” Molly said glumly. “She’s gonna finish, he claims. In his mind, there ain’t no reason she can’t be a wife and a student too.”
Beth wondered about Robert’s opinion on that score but simply offered quietly, “They can have my place, Molly.”
“Oh no,” Molly said, shaking her head firmly, “they ain’t gettin’ more ’an they deserve just ’cause they forced things. They’ll stay in Marnie’s room till somethin’ better comes along. And only the Good Lord knows how long that’ll be.”
Beth nodded, feeling for Marnie and Molly both.
The woman sadly shook her head again. “Harry claims she looked real pretty in that dress you give her.”
“What dress?”
“The one fer yer weddin’.”
“The bridesmaid dress—the blue one?”
Molly nodded, and Beth sighed again, picturing Marnie standing beside Harold in the cornflower blue. It was a conflicting image for Beth, a confusing mixture of romance and pathos. “I’m so sorry, Molly.”
Molly’s eyes had already closed. “Don’t be sorry, dearie. At least she had somethin’ nice to wear. We’d of never been able to give her better.”
CHAPTER
23
THE STARTLING NEWS traveled through Coal Valley in record speed. Beth followed Molly, Frank, Harold, and Marnie into their regular pew on Sunday morning, and she watched the various members of the congregation size up the situation. She saw simple curiosity and interest, along with varying degrees of sympathy and support, while a few faces showed condescension.
Following Sunday dinner, Frank went for his usual visit with friends, and Beth retreated to the kitchen with Julie to help clean up. Harold and Marnie had quietly slipped away for a walk, and Beth caught sight of Robert leaving through the front door in his dapper hiking clothes and boots, as was his Sunday custom.
When Frank returned he pulled out the checkerboard and challenged Beth to a game. She was quick to accept, and they were soon matching hop for hop, piece for piece.
“I’m afraid your mind is elsewhere today, Frank. I’m keeping up with you for a change,” she teased.
He looked startled for a moment and then admitted, rubbing at his chin, “Yes, I am’a thinking of other things’a right now.”
Of Marnie and Harold, Beth assumed.
He hunched over the table and studied Beth for a moment, then must have decided to bring her into his confidence. “I was walking back from’a the river, where I meet’a my friends, and I saw many hoofprints in the woods where the kids were said’a to be playing with the company’s castoffs.”
“Was it deer, or maybe elk?”
“It was’a horse hooves. But who was’a the rider, that I don’t know. It’sa strange, eh?”
“Yes. Yes, it is.”
Frank moved his hand to lift one of his checker pieces and stopped again. “Such a silly thing, and yet the town, they are’a blaming your teacher friend. It’sa causing him many problems.”
“But why? Surely they don’t think he’s involved.”
“They think he should’a know what the children are about.”
“Even when their parents can’t explain it?”
“Yes, some of ’em, even then. I think he’sa fallen from grace and is’a not so trusted anymore.”
Beth’s imagination fastened on the mysterious hoofprints. What if it isn’t the children at all?
Monday morning, Julie was finally ready to admit the reason for her many purchases in town. “I’ve arranged for a shelf in Coulter’s store. It’s for Coal Valley ladies. Creams and makeup and lotions. Ivy was the one who encouraged me. After all, those things really are needed here, out where the weather is so hard on a woman’s complexion. So
why not make available my considerable experience to help these women discover cosmetics?”
“Julie, these women struggle just to put food on the table.”
“Pish-posh. What I have isn’t very expensive. I took that into consideration and only have brought in the most basic and economical.”
Beth wanted to object further, but she was simply too weary after worrying about Marnie and fretting about the future for herself and Jarrick. What could possibly go wrong if Julie tries to sell a few beauty products? At least this will keep her busy.
That afternoon, upon arriving home from school, Beth was not surprised to find Julie placing labels on small jars spread across the kitchen table and piled into a small crate on the second chair. Beth shrugged out of her coat, her cheeks feeling frosty with cold. A blizzard was descending over their little town, and she had released the students early so they could make it safely home before it hit.
“Well, since it’s almost spring, now what do you think of our weather, Julie?”
“If it leaves lots of fresh snow for skiing, I’m happy. There’s been far too much crusty, icy mess for my taste. That’s what I think.”
“You know this means the store will be closed and we’ll probably be stuck inside for a day or two.”
“My darling, I’ve felt mostly stuck inside since I got here. And anyway, we can finish those wedding programs you’ve been pestering me about.”
“I haven’t pestered you at all. Why I—”
“You have mail, Bethie.” Julie smiled sweetly and gestured toward the top of the small pantry cupboard.
“A letter from Mother,” Beth said as she sorted quickly through the envelopes. “I’m glad. I haven’t heard from her in a while. It’s probably some stories about baby Josiah and more questions about the wedding. Perhaps by now they’ll know when they’ll arrive.” She set it aside. “And one from Margret. Oh, I hope she included pictures.” And then, “Julie, what’s this?”
Another item was stuck to the back of Margret’s envelope. “It’s a telegram,” Beth commented, looking for the name of the recipient. “It must have been sent out from the city along with the mail.”
