Small Town Girl

by Ann H. Gabhart

  “If it’s anywhere near as good as your mother’s brown sugar pie, then I’m not wanting to miss out on it either.” Jay grabbed his coat off the fence, put his arm around the older man’s shoulders, and started him toward the house. “Let’s go, partner. We can finish our men’s business later.”

  “Perhaps I’d best warn you, Mr. Tanner, that this man cannot always be trusted. Or believed.”

  “Now, Kate,” Graham said. “Ain’t no need you talking like that about me. You know I never lie to you.” He winked at her. “Fabricate some fine stories now and again, but merely for your entertainment.”

  “We’ll all have to be fabricating some good excuses if we make Evie wait much longer.” Kate turned away from them toward the house. She didn’t want either of them to see the smile sneaking out on her face.

  The cake eventually got cut, and the couple sampled the first cups of punch just the way Evie read in her magazines that it was supposed to be done. Then Evie and Mike slipped out the door, right behind Graham, who had stood half in, half out of the screen door. At least a dozen flies had taken advantage of the open door.

  Kate kept waving them away while she helped Mrs. Patterson slice and hand out the cake. Things would have gone a lot faster if the woman hadn’t had to exclaim over every icing curlicue as she sliced through it. It took all Kate’s self-control not to grab the knife out of the woman’s hand so she could get the job done.

  People were standing around all over the house, talking and forking in the cake. Aunt Hattie would be cleaning up the crumbs for a week. If she didn’t have to worry about being rude, Kate would have shooed them all out of Grandfather Merritt’s house the way Aunt Hattie was trying to shoo out the flies with her tea towel. Let them spill their crumbs and drinks out in the yard. For certain, her grandfather would have been having five kinds of heart attacks if he’d been there to see the people tromping in and out, slamming doors, poking around in the corners to see if there was anything of the man left there.

  Few of them had ever been in the house while Grandfather Merritt lived there. They knew him. They did business with him. He owned the store and practically ran Rosey Corner. But he’d been a hard man who didn’t encourage company, not even that of his family. The few times Kate had carried him a pie or a jar of jam from her mother, the big house seemed full of brooding shadows ready to swallow her.

  That had all changed when Aunt Hattie threw open the doors and started living in the house where she’d once been a servant. Grandfather Merritt had told her to in the note he left when he took off for Oregon. He’d found a wife out there and hadn’t mentioned the first word about ever coming home in the two postcards he’d sent back to Rosey Corner. He was living a new life in the West where the past didn’t matter.

  In Rosey Corner, the past would always matter. It made up the fabric of life, whether that cloth was newly woven or ripped and torn with spots worn bare. Her grandfather appeared to have shrugged off his Rosey Corner past, but it still lurked in the corners of this house. His chair and footstool in the parlor with a couple of account books on the table next to it. A cap hanging on a peg of the hall tree. His things waiting for him.

  Kate’s father didn’t think he’d ever come home, but Aunt Hattie said people could surprise you sometimes. She wasn’t about to change things around except for the kitchen. “Mr. Preston never spent no time in the kitchen. He won’t notice I put up new curtains. It’s plumb amazing what some red checked curtains will do for a room.”

  Some Rosey Corner people thought it wasn’t exactly proper, Aunt Hattie living in one of the biggest houses in the little town. They thought she ought to have given it over to Kate’s family, who were squeezed up in a house half its size. All four sisters had to sleep in the same bedroom with barely enough room to get around the two beds to pull the covers straight. But Kate was relieved that Grandfather Merritt hadn’t told them to live in the house. She couldn’t imagine getting up in the morning here and singing Lorena’s name song. Or reading romantic stories or writing poems about the sunshine streaking down through the trees in Lindell Woods. Sometimes the Lord blessed a person by letting her keep what she had.

  That didn’t mean a person always got what she wanted. She heard Mike laughing out on the porch. She loved his laugh. She loved the way he was always saying the Lord meant for his children to have a good time. That the Bible advised Christians to have a merry heart. She liked the way he listened to old Mr. Johnson with fresh attention, even though he’d heard his stories a hundred times. She loved the way he didn’t condemn her father or Graham when they didn’t show up at church every Sunday but simply said a man could worship on the outside of a church the same as the inside. She admired the way he was so close to the Lord that sometimes when she was reading about King David in the Bible she was seeing Mike’s face. He was a man after the Lord’s own heart. He’d already won hers.

  And Evie’s. From the first Sunday he preached at Rosey Corner Baptist Church. Naturally, Evie had won out. Evie always won out. She had the looks. Kate had the backbone, but guys went for looks, not backbone. Even guys like Mike. Maybe especially guys like Mike who deserved the best.

  She certainly didn’t deserve the best. Somebody who would yearn after her sister’s beau. Kate tightened her mouth and bent down to wipe a glob of icing up off the floor. She was going to block all thoughts like that of Mike out of her mind. Forever. He was Evie’s husband now. Her brother by marriage and by Christian love. That was how she would think of him from this moment on—as a brother. That was all. She had the backbone. She could do whatever she set her mind to do. And she was going to set her mind to be very happy for Evie and for Mike.

  “I think everybody has cake now, Kate,” Mrs. Patterson said after Kate stood back up from cleaning the floor. “You go on out and join the young people. Us old ladies will clean up in here.” She smiled and gave Kate a knowing look. “That Carl has peered in the door a dozen times and we know who he’s looking for, don’t we?” She picked up the remains of the cake and laughed as she started toward the kitchen. “No need in letting a few dirty dishes stand in the way of romance. No need at all.”

  Kate wanted to tell her she’d rather wash a cabinet full of dishes than entertain romantic thoughts about Carl, but she bit back the words. Carl was Mrs. Patterson’s great-nephew. In her eyes, he was a prize catch. She thought Kate was lucky to have a boy like Carl making goggle eyes at her. Maybe she was. Kate sighed as she grabbed a napkin to wipe off her hands. Maybe Carl was the best she could hope for here in Rosey Corner.

  She turned toward the door and spotted Grandfather Merritt’s hat again and thought of him way out in Oregon. Miles and miles from Rosey Corner. A little thrill went through Kate as she imagined the world beyond Rosey Corner. She could be like her grandfather and go somewhere, explore places she’d only read about in books. She could go on to school. Not some business school that taught shorthand and typing like the one Evie had gone to. But to college where the doors to learning would be thrown wide open. Where she could figure out her place in that world outside Rosey Corner.

  Kate held in a little sigh. She couldn’t even figure out her place in Rosey Corner. Oh, she knew what she did. She took care of her sisters. She helped her mother at the store. She read every book she could get her hands on. She made up stories for Lorena and even wrote some of them down. She had a dozen notebooks full of words stuck under her bed. Dreams on paper. But that’s all they were. Dreams.

  Dreams she wasn’t even sure she wanted to chase after. She loved Rosey Corner. She belonged in Rosey Corner. And there was Lorena. It made her stomach hurt to think about not being there if Lorena needed her.

  As if summoned by her thoughts, Lorena popped through the door and grabbed Kate’s hand. “Come on, Kate. You have to help me sing Mike’s song.”

  “Mike’s song? What song is that?” Kate asked as Lorena pulled her outside. A welcome breeze touched her face. It was good to be out of the stuffy house, away from the chur
ch ladies with their pointed remarks about Kate being the next bride.

  “Oh, you know. That sweetheart one with the love light burning. I won’t remember all the words if you don’t help me.”

  Kate peered down at Lorena. “What are you talking about? You know the words to every song you’ve ever heard.” Lorena collected songs the way some of the church ladies collected recipes.

  Lorena ducked her head before peeking up at Kate. “Okay, I do know the words, but everybody will be watching.”

  “So?” Kate said. “You sing at church all the time.”

  “That’s church people. They have to be nice while they’re at church. But these are wedding people. They might laugh.” She tugged on Kate’s hand. When Kate didn’t move off the porch, she went on. “Please. For Evie. Please.”

  “I’m sure Evie would rather Mike sang that to her.” The last thing in the world she wanted to do was sing a love song where Carl could hear her and decide she was singing to him. Even now he was coming across the yard toward her. To claim her.

  “He wanted to, but you know he can’t even sing hymns. Not without making people hold their ears. He said Evie didn’t want any sour notes at her wedding and that included his. Besides—”

  Kate didn’t let her finish. “Besides you want to sing. You always want to sing.”

  “If you’ll sing with me.” Lorena’s face lit up with excitement.

  “You don’t need me.” Kate was sorry for her words even before that worried look slipped into Lorena’s eyes. Ever since Kate had graduated from high school last spring, Lorena had been nervous about Kate moving away. She never said anything, but Kate knew. Lorena did need her. Another reason Kate couldn’t very well leave Rosey Corner no matter how suffocating it felt at times.

  Lorena squeezed Kate’s hand tighter and her lip trembled as she said, “Please.”

  “Okay.” Kate gave in with a little sigh. “Let’s go sing a love song to Evie.”

  Lorena squealed and jumped up and down. “Evie won’t be the only one listening.”

  “I know.” Kate blew out a long breath. “That’s what I’m worried about. Carl’s already thinking things he shouldn’t think.” As she followed Lorena toward the shady side yard where people were clustered around Evie and Mike, she sneaked a look toward Carl. He’d been waylaid by a couple of men who were laughing and clapping him on the back. It appeared the whole town had turned into marriage brokers.

  Lorena looked back over her shoulder at Kate. “I wasn’t talking about Carl. I was talking about Tanner.”

  “Don’t you be falling in love on me, Lorena,” Kate said with a laugh. “Not with the likes of Jay Tanner.”

  “He’s cute.” Lorena grinned. “But you don’t call somebody you’re sweet on Birdie.”

  “Oh really. What do you call them?”

  “Katie.” Lorena giggled. “He thinks you’re pretty. He told me.”

  Kate groaned. “We need to have a talk, young lady. And soon.”

  6

  The little sister had a great voice for a kid. The song seemed to almost flow out of her without effort. Kate sang along with her, harmonizing but letting the kid have the spotlight. Mike was smiling at his bride, mouthing the words along with the kid. Enjoying himself.

  Jay didn’t think the bride was all that tickled with the whole production. She had a smile, but not an easy one. Unless Jay missed his guess, Mike was in for some rough sledding in the years ahead. This one didn’t look to be an easy one to please. Irritated even by her sisters singing her a song. One Mike had requested of Birdie. Jay heard him.

  Oh well, he’d learn. Or maybe she would. Mike could be pretty determined in his own way about some things. Jay had been on the receiving end of some of that determination at times. Back when they were in school, Mike was always after him to figure out what he believed. “A man has to know what’s true. What matters. He can’t just drift. Not without being in danger of some rocky landings.”

  Jay couldn’t argue the truth of Mike’s words. He’d known a few of those rocky landings, while Mike’s landings had all been clean and easy. Now he was a married man. A preacher. Loved by one and all in this little Rosey Corner. Jay was beginning to feel like he’d fallen into a happily-ever-after fairy tale, and he was one of those faceless movie extras in the background, dancing to the music.

  His mouth twisted up into an amused smile. A happy extra wasn’t bad. He might as well enjoy the song like everybody else. At least listening to it. It took more than fruit punch to loosen his tongue enough to try belting out a song. Others around him weren’t so hesitant as a few of the boys began picking up the sweetheart chorus line. Here and there, a girl was blushing while a guy pushed the words straight toward her.

  The other sister, the one between Kate and Birdie, was getting a good dose of sweetheart singing from her pimply-faced boyfriend. Those two were so awkwardly in love it almost hurt to look at them. Too innocent. Too trusting. Something Jay didn’t remember ever being. Not that he wanted to visit those feelings. Innocent and trusting opened a man up to getting blindsided by trouble. Better to peer on down the road with a jaded eye and be ready for whatever was barreling toward him.

  Across from Jay, that tall, skinny farm boy, Carl something, had an idiot grin as his buddies pushed him forward. The man must have found something to spike his punch, because he started practically shouting out the sweetheart words toward Kate. She didn’t give him the first glance, but she heard him plain enough. The color was rising in her cheeks. Not because she was pleased, if Jay knew anything about girls.

  He’d seen plenty of both kinds of blushes—the pleased ones and the better-get-out-of-the-way ones. That older guy, Graham, appeared to be right about poor old Carl. The man was speeding his love train down a track with the bridge out. Nothing but unhappiness in store for him.

  Thinking that didn’t make Jay a bit unhappy. Maybe he would hang around Rosey Corner. Get his bearings. Stay ahead of the draft notices for a month or two if he was lucky. Graham and his old flea-bitten dog might make interesting companions for a few weeks. Till winter moved in anyway. A little honest outdoor labor. He could slap paint on a house. Help the man out and put a jingle of coin in his own pocket and gas in his car. All good things.

  His eyes drifted back to Kate. Another good thing. A girl on the rebound was sometimes ready for a good time. He wasn’t Mike, but he wasn’t that hayseed Carl either.

  She and the little sister got to the end of the song amidst cheers and laughter. Mike put his arm around his bride and brushed her cheek with his lips before he turned to the friends around them. “We’ve said the vows. We’ve eaten the cake and sung the song. Done all we need to do except for the honeymoon.”

  The guys let out a few whistles, and the bride and a good number of the girls colored up and ducked their heads. Not Kate. She was looking at Mike like she just now was noticing that he was a guy the same as the rest of them instead of whatever unreal fantasy she’d been carrying around in her head. Girls, they always wanted men to be heroes instead of regular guys.

  The bride gave Mike a playful shove. “Give me a minute to change into my traveling clothes. I can’t ride to Louisville in this.” She held up the lacy skirt of her wedding dress.

  Her sisters surrounded her at once and separated her from Mike to escort her toward the house.

  “Don’t take too long, darling,” Mike called after her. “I’ll be waiting.”

  More whistles and catcalls. Pastor Mike was going to have to do some preaching on lustful thinking to calm these boys down. Jay had never heard Mike actually preach behind a pulpit. That might be an experience if he was still here next Sunday. His buddy preaching the Word, solemn like, and officially trying to save Jay’s soul. Mike had a way of believing anything was possible. He’d told Jay that once. That with the good Lord’s help, all things were possible.

  Jay didn’t doubt it. What he doubted was the good Lord sending any help his way. That was all right. Jay had made it o
n his own so far. He’d keep making it on his own.

  The bride must have been readier to head out to her honeymoon than Jay had thought. He figured it would take her an hour to change and say her goodbyes, but she was back out the door in half that time with the sisters trailing after her. Guess a girl could be eager to start married life the same as a guy. Her parents came out to watch from the porch.

  The mother brushed away a few tears and the father put his arm around her to pull her close to his side. Old, steady love. New, fresh love. Kisses and hugs all around. Slaps on the back for Mike. Shouts of good wishes as Mike handed his new wife up into his car like she was some kind of fragile treasure.

  Maybe she was. For Mike. Each man had to find his own treasure. When he was ready. Jay wasn’t ready. Not by a long shot.

  Mike shut the car door, but then instead of crawling in the other side, he came over to Jay. “You can’t know how much I appreciate you coming to stand up with me, Jay.”

  “You didn’t think I would?” Jay said.

  “I knew you would.” Mike didn’t let any doubt show, but Jay figured he’d not been all that sure. He’d probably had a backup plan to ask that Carl or maybe the bride’s father to stand in if Jay didn’t show up. Mike grinned now. “Not as sure about the suit.”

  “Only for you, buddy.” Jay grinned as he pushed Mike away from him toward the car. “Your bride awaits.” He peered past Mike toward the woman in the car. “A tad impatiently or I miss my guess.”

  Mike glanced over his shoulder and laughed. “Patience is not her strong suit. But loving me is.” He grabbed Jay’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “Don’t be such a stranger. Let me know where you are when you get settled again.”

  Jay could have told him that he might be settled right here in Rosey Corner when Mike came back after his honeymoon, but he didn’t. Let him find out for himself. That way Jay wouldn’t be tied to any words if he decided to move on down the road. Free and loose was the way to be. He was sure of that, even if his gut did twist with a bit of lonesome longing when he watched Mike climbing into the car and calling out to his friends. His family. Laughing. Happy.