“David’s obedient to you and Mother.”
“He does his chores, but on the inside, he’s willful as an ox. All these notions of cattle herding and gun-slinging. I’m ready to give him more work to drive those ludicrous whims out of his head.”
Sophie took it upon herself to keep David out of trouble. “He is young, Daddy. Mother said that boys his age are easily excitable.”
“I think that boy intends to become a cowhand. The other day I found a lasso in the barn. I thought Dusty had left it, but your brother told me that it was his. He bought it at the general store with the money I gave him. A waste of funds.”
Sophie turned her head so she could smile. Once able to control her show of mirth, she spoke. “What if David does find work involving cattle herding when he gets older?”
The red heat rash on her father’s face darkened. “I won’t allow it. Ranchers and cowhands don’t do honest work. They steal from each other, pass money under the table when they think no one is looking. Then they participate in things that I won’t mention to you because you are my daughter. Things involving strong drink and weak-willed women.”
No alcohol was involved when Sophie let Dusty take her into his arms. She wondered if her father would consider her worse than weak-willed. “There must be men of that trade who have their scruples.”
“Point one out to me.”
You hired one but then you drove him off. Sophie kept her lips sealed.
“See? There isn’t one. Read the papers and you’ll see how they come up to Abilene and Dodge City, tearing up those towns like the devil’s minions themselves. Most of them probably do have horns under those Stetsons.”
Sophie’s laugh came out in a high-pitched squeak. She put her hand over her mouth promptly as her father turned to glare.
“It’s no laughing matter, Sophie. I won’t have my son, who was brought up in a God-fearing home, earning money in a saddle and throwing it away in a saloon.”
“David wouldn’t do those things if he became a rancher or a cowhand. Can’t you let him prove that to you?”
“He won’t have to prove it to me because he will be a farmer.” Her father squared his broad, thick shoulders and sat with his back straight.
Sophie cast her eyes downward, dejected. If her father was willing to force her brother into being like him, how was he going to react when she refused to be courted by the man he gave leave to pursue her?
She touched the necklace at her throat. The humidity of the morning was going to be nothing compared to the unbearable evening of the mayor’s pre-election party.
CHAPTER 24
T HE FIRST SATURDAY of August arrived with all of the town’s well-to-do flurrying to appear at the mayor’s residence in their finest evening attire. Sophie spent the afternoon in preparation with her mother and sister, starching petticoats, polishing shoes, and heating tongs over the stove to turn Rosemarie’s straight hair into a bevy of sausage curls. She coaxed her little sister to remain still for the hour-long process.
“Mother says we can stay at the party later now that I’m older.” Rosemarie beamed. “Last year we had to leave before the cake was served.”
Sophie tried to match her sister’s enthusiasm, if only for appearance’s sake in front of their mother. “I think it had buttercream frosting. We’ll see what Mrs. Hooper decides to do with it this year.”
“No cake, Sophie,” her mother declared from across the table as she ironed the boys’ suit trousers. “Remember what I said about paying attention to what’s on your plate.”
Her mother would not have to worry. Sophie didn’t possess an appetite, knowing that she had to succeed in breaking off with Chad that evening.
She finished arranging Rosemarie’s hair before readying herself. She wore a blush-rose gown that her mother had chosen for the event.
“I have the notion that this will be a most memorable night.” Her mother gave her ensemble a final once-over before the family left.
They reached the mayor’s residence at five that evening when most of the guests had arrived. The mayor and his wife greeted people at the door. Sophie counted off the familiar list of town notables as she walked with her family through the house entrance. The Gillings family was present, with Dr. Dorothea choosing to wear a simple but tasteful gown. Linda and her family were there. Sophie’s friend looked bored, likely on account of her gentleman caller Wes Browman not being extended an invitation.
“You look beautiful as always, Sophie.” Linda greeted her with a hug. “I told you rose suited your complexion.”
Margaret joined them from the sitting room. “It goes especially with the rosebud necklace you’re wearing.”
Sophie touched the pendant at her neck and murmured a thank-you. She heard strains of music filling the house. “Where is that music coming from?”
“From outside, in the back. Your beau is there.”
Sure enough, Sophie saw him come from that direction, looking like the personification of Lady Whitecastle’s lover. Chad wore a dinner jacket and pinstriped trousers. A dandyish yellow carnation decorated the front of his lapel. White spats peeked over the gleaming tops of his shoes. He saw her and a smile eased across his face. Sweeping a hand over the top of his precisely parted hair, he came forward.
“Good evening, my dear Sophie. You are a lovely sight.” He gave her a chaste peck on the left cheek. The gesture sent Linda and Margaret into giggles before they excused themselves and flitted elsewhere.
She smelled his expensive French cologne. “How are you this evening, Chad?”
“Now that you’re here, superb.” He placed her hand on his arm and made sure she kept it there for the next hour.
Dusty watched the town of Assurance get smaller in the distance as the train rolled away from the station. He never thought much of the combustible steam engines that clicked and clacked along the rails each day. Now he was forced to ride inside one all the way to northern Nebraska. The noise coming from the engine was about to drive him mad.
Joe sat beside him on the bench in third class, appearing less harrowed by the discomfort. “Mighty nice of Mabrey to get us tickets up to this shorthorn ranch. Saves us two or three weeks of ridin’ there and then drivin’ the cattle back down to Kansas.”
But it would keep him away from Sophie for one week. A lot could happen in seven days. “I’ll be happy to get there and back in one piece.”
“Your first time on a train, Sterling? Better get used to it if you want to have your own ranch. This’ll soon be the only way to transport the herds.”
“I’ll send someone in my stead.” He watched the scenery blur around the edges of the window as the train picked up speed after clearing the station. Right now Sophie was at that party at the mayor’s house. Would she do what was needed and set Chad straight about leaving her alone?
“I asked Mabrey for you to accompany me. I didn’t want to go two hundred miles worrying about Wilcox or Freeman chasing down women in each car.”
He turned to Joe. “Thanks for giving me the chance to show the boss I can be responsible to purchase cattle for him.”
“It’s not just for him. Buy several for yourself. I promis
ed Violet I’d see about getting a yearling for her. She wants to be the first lady rancher in the state.”
“Must get her ambition from you.”
“Yep, I moved my family from Georgia when the war ended so we’d have a chance to earn a real livin’, be part of a town. Say, did you see that Violet signed Miss Sophie’s petition too? I’m proud she stood up for her beliefs.”
There was bravery on Sophie’s part, too. That gave Dusty some thought as he tapped his boot heel on the train floor.
Would she be brave enough at that party to tell Chad and her own family that she didn’t want to become Mrs. Hooper?
Assurance disappeared from view, swallowed by the plains. Dusty wished he could have gone to that party with Sophie to make sure that Chad understood the word no, but his kind would never be invited to such an event.
Fidgeting nervously, Sophie stood by Chad as the guests gathered outside the house after dinner. Not once did she get the chance to be alone with him to reiterate that she was through being courted. The band from Chanute played while people enjoyed the cool evening breeze. Mayor Hooper was preparing to give a speech and thank everyone for attending.
Chad drank from an expensive crystal glass. “You’ll be pleased to know that your petition had enough signatures to warrant a school election. My father said it will be on the ballots this September.”
“Wonderful.” Sophie welcomed the bit of good news. At least she could celebrate in doing one thing right that summer. She may not have entered her project in the most auspicious manner but she’d managed to conclude it to her satisfaction.
“That isn’t the only surprise I have for you.” He handed her his glass and slipped away amongst the guests.
The band stopped playing. Sophie caught sight of her parents speaking to the mayor as he ambled to the front of the crowd. Her father gave her a warm nod before ceasing to look at her again. What was going on?
Mayor Hooper called everyone to attention. “Ladies and gentlemen, my family and I thank you once again for coming to our annual dinner. But this year, we also thank you for showing your support in the upcoming September election. I have no worries about the outcome, because I know we will have another two years of progress. . . . ”
Sophie shut out the political speech as she pondered Chad’s whereabouts and kept glancing at the house. She swirled the stem of Chad’s glass between her fingers while she waited for the mayor to finish talking.
“ . . . and now my son would like to make an announcement.” Sophie turned with the other guests as Chad came from the house. In passing, his glance her way contained a hint of secrecy.
“Are you running for deputy mayor?” Mr. Euell called out from among the guests, making a few of them chuckle.
“Sorry to disappoint, Mr. Euell.” Chad stood before them with his head held high. “However, I do have something else that you might see fit to print in this week’s newspaper.” He paused with dramatic effect, waiting for everyone to be quiet. “Tonight, I am officially announcing my engagement to Miss Sophie Charlton.”
Sophie heard her name and thought there had been a mistake. Surely he had not said the word engagement in reference to her. She searched the faces around her for confirmation of her belief, but all the guests looked her way with smiles and murmurs of surprise.
“Congratulations.” An elderly matron touched her shoulder with a silk-gloved hand. “You’ll make a lovely bride.”
The world slowed as though Sophie were in a dream. She moved her head to look past the swirling sea of faces to behold Chad standing in the center of them all. Her breath caught in her chest. She struggled in vain to force down more air. Little pinpricks of light clouded her vision.
“ . . . so happy she’s speechless . . . ” Chad’s voice was drowned out by a sudden ringing in her ears. She gasped, but the tight lacing of her corset only permitted a tiny pocket of air to be drawn into her lungs.
Why were they all laughing? This was wrong, so wrong. Her hands tingled. She couldn’t feel the nose on her face. Her skin crawled with a thousand ants biting to get inside. She swayed on her feet as she tried to hold herself upright, her head heavy as a bowl filled with punch.
Was she holding a glass? Sophie heard it shatter just before she felt the weight of her body tumble backwards.
“Would all of you please move away? She needs air.”
Sophie could hear Dr. Dorothea’s voice among what sounded like dozens of flies buzzing around her ears. Where was she? The atmosphere felt hot, cloying.
A sharp, pungent odor filled the air and burned Sophie’s nostrils. She opened her eyes to Dorothea looming over her, holding a bottle of smelling salts. Chad peered over her shoulder.
“You fainted, Sophie.” Dorothea waved a fan. “It was due to all of the excitement.”
“What excitement?” Sophie’s voice croaked as she moved her head to view her surroundings. She was outside. It was nighttime. The dozens of flies buzzing were actually dozens of people standing around her, whispering. She recognized their faces, seeing those of her mother, father, and siblings among them.
Then she remembered why they were all there.
“I announced that we were engaged, my dear.” Chad moved in closer until his face was bigger than everyone else’s. “I wanted the surprise to take your breath away, but not to this extent.”
“How could you?” Her voice came in a ragged whisper.
“I beg your pardon? I didn’t quite hear what you said.”
She narrowed her eyes at him when her voice failed to produce the desired effect. “You heard me just fine, Chad Hooper.”
He moved back from her and looked to the people standing over them. “I think my fiancée needs a few minutes to gather herself.”
“Take her into my study,” Mayor Hooper voiced from Sophie’s left.
A pair of arms came to support her back and legs. As Chad lifted her from the ground, she twisted to peer over his shoulder. Why weren’t her mother and father doing anything? Why were they letting him take her away?
How could they let him say he was going to marry her?
Her family followed behind Chad and Dr. Dorothea, who was giving more instructions. “Open a window in the study, Chad. She may faint again. I think you and your wife should wait in the sitting room, Mr. Charlton. We can’t have too many people crowding Sophie.”
“I will stay with her until she’s fully recovered.” Chad carried Sophie into his father’s study and set her down onto the settee. “You can wait outside too, Dorothea. I’ll call for you if need be.”
Sophie watched the doctor give him a vexed look before being forced to offer a compliant nod. No, Dorothea, don’t go away. Don’t leave me with him.
The door of the study closed. Chad locked it behind Dorothea. “You’ll need to fortify yourself before attempting the trip home.”
He crossed the small room and opened the lower panes of the window. The breeze offered Sophie little relief from the tension that built inside her. Fury began to replace her former disorientation.
Chad went to a small table behind the desk and opened a decanter of amber brown liquid. He poured some into a snifter gla
ss and offered it to her. “Brandy?”
“Not unless you want it tossed in your face.”
“Is that any way to speak to your betrothed?” He set the snifter on the desk and leaned against the edge of the furniture. “You’re going to be a married woman soon and I just gave your father more status by bringing our two families together. You should be the happiest girl in Assurance.”
“Chad, you knew I didn’t want our courtship to go on. How could you make that false announcement to all those people?”
He crossed one spat-covered boot over the other. “It wasn’t false. My intentions to marry you were clear from the day I asked your father permission to call upon you. He gave me his blessing yesterday when I asked if I could propose.”
“You didn’t propose to me so much as told a lie to your guests. You knew I couldn’t have said anything in front of them without causing a scandal. I told you two weeks ago that I didn’t want to go through with this anymore.”
“You didn’t know what you were saying.”
Sophie rose up on her elbows, ignoring the residual lightheadedness that made her want to shut her eyes. “I told you that my feelings have changed.”
“How can your feelings change when you agreed to let me court you? I’ve taken you about town, given you flowers and jewelry. I even helped you with that ridiculous petition. What are you saying, exactly?”
She clenched her stomach muscles as he pelted her with rebukes that left her guilt-ridden and insulted. “I don’t have any affection for you that warrants me to call you my beau or my fiancé. Your rudeness and the way you’ve taken liberties tonight seals it.”
Chad huffed a sound of disbelief, laughing once. “You vain and frivolous little girl, always leading men along by the nose. You led me on once before and I won’t be foolish enough to let that happen again.”
A Windswept Promise Page 23
