Hazel, Mary, and Genevieve sat near Sarah, but none of them spoke a word.
The children were dismissed with Mrs. Winter, one of the older women who lived at the school and helped with their care, while Sarah and the others went to clean up the kitchen.
“Our guests have gone to the parlor,” Mrs. Greenfield said when she entered the kitchen some time later. “When the dishes are done, we’ll join the men and I will make introductions.”
“How will he choose?” Mary lifted her soapy hands from the water and wiped them on her apron.
“That’s up to Mr. Longley.” Mrs. Greenfield looked about the room, her gentle blue eyes studying each woman. “I have had little time to speak to you of Mr. Longley, but I would like to say a word now.”
Each woman stopped her work and watched Mrs. Greenfield. The older lady wore a plain blue gingham dress. It was serviceable and sturdy, just like her. Gray hair streaked near her temples, and laugh lines creased her eyes. She and her husband had endured a great deal of hardship in their mission work, but they served faithfully.
Sarah longed to be like Mrs. Greenfield.
“As you know, my husband and I worked alongside Mr. Longley in Red Lake before coming to Belle Prairie. He hails from Boston, where his father, Reverend Edward Longley, is a prominent minister. Mr. Longley is a hardworking, dedicated young man.” Mrs. Greenfield studied each lady in turn. “He has served diligently and faithfully these past two years, and he intends to continue his work among the Chippewa for as long as the Lord sees fit.” Her gaze became very serious. “After learning more about him, are all of you still interested in pursuing marriage?”
Every one of them nodded.
“Then join us when the chores are finished.”
Mrs. Greenfield left the kitchen, leaving the four ladies to stand in silence.
“Mr. Longley is even more handsome than I had imagined—and his pedigree is impeccable.” Mary dipped her hands back into the dishwater, her gaze far off. “How old do you think he is?”
“What does it matter?” Hazel wiped a plate dry. “He looks able-bodied and sensible—though maybe he is too handsome for this kind of work.”
“How could he be too handsome?” Mary’s eyes went wide.
“With a face like his, he would be better suited for a pretty church back east.”
Sarah picked up a wet rag and ran it over the worktable. She looked at Genevieve, who worked quietly sweeping the floor, her dark brown eyes revealing nothing. Sarah couldn’t deny Mr. Longley’s attraction to Genevieve—he’d barely taken his eyes off her.
“Look what you’ve done, Sarah.” Hazel put her hands on her hips. “Genevieve will need to sweep there again.”
Sarah looked to the floor where the crumbs had gone as she’d carelessly wiped the table. “I’m sorry, Genevieve.”
Genevieve abruptly ran the broom under the worktable once again.
“Really, Sarah.” Hazel set a dry plate on the tall stack, her eyes displaying her displeasure behind her spectacles. “Sometimes you’re as careless as the children.”
Sarah heard her father’s harsh voice in Hazel’s reprimand. How often had he scolded her for her carelessness? She wanted to believe she had improved since coming west, but daily she proved to herself, and the others, that she hadn’t.
They finished their work, and each of them took a moment to check their appearance in the small mirror hanging next to the door.
Sarah pinched her cheeks and ran a hand over her brown hair to smooth the rebellious curls. She had patched her dress more times than she could count, and though her stitching was imperceptible, she knew all too well that the dress was old and worn.
She had nothing to offer Mr. Longley but herself.
How could that possibly be enough?
Chapter 4
All the way to Belle Prairie, Luke had lamented the fact that he had to marry a stranger—but having four women to choose from was almost worse. How would he decide in five days?
“May I speak candidly, Luke?” Mrs. Greenfield sat on the opposite settee, with Mr. Greenfield at her side.
Luke eagerly leaned forward. “Please do.”
John sat on the chair next to Luke, his perpetual smile in place.
“We know it’s come as a surprise to find four eligible ladies here,” Mrs. Greenfield began. “And I’ll be honest. I’m not eager to lose any of them—but I knew they would be highly prized when I brought them west. I could think of no one else I’d rather see one of them marry.”
Luke wasn’t sure how to proceed, so he said what was on his heart since hearing the news. “I feel obligated to Miss Smith, since she is the one I came for.”
“We’ve spoken to all the ladies,” Mr. Greenfield said. “Since all of them are in need of a husband, we feel it’s only proper for all of them to be candidates for you—and they’ve agreed. With that being said, we have known Miss Smith for a year now, and we’ve only known the other three for a few short months, but we’ve had time to witness their character qualities and feel we are in a place to advise you.”
“I would like nothing more.”
“We still believe you should decide for yourself,” Mrs. Greenfield added quickly. “Though Miss Smith would be the most obvious choice. We’ve found her to be hardworking, steadfast, and hearty. She is a bit exacting, though she means well.”
“Miss Cooper is the cheeriest of the bunch,” Mr. Greenfield said with a smile on his face. “She is quick to laugh and often sings as she goes about her work.”
Luke didn’t know which of the ladies were which. He had hardly noticed anyone but the dark-eyed lady who had served him the cool water.
“Miss Pinet is studious and quiet. She does every job she is assigned, without complaining.” Mrs. Greenfield watched Luke carefully. “Miss Pinet is beautiful, but don’t let her beauty distract you—she is very serious about her work.”
So the dark-haired one was Miss Pinet. French, no doubt.
“And then there is Miss Ellis.” Mrs. Greenfield shared a tender smile with her husband. “Miss Ellis is the youngest of the ladies, but she is wise beyond her years. She has a way with the children that is quite admirable.” She paused, and her face became very serious. “But if we are being candid, then I believe it only fair to tell you we believe Miss Ellis isn’t ready for marriage.”
“No?”
“It’s not that she wouldn’t make a good wife,” said Mrs. Greenfield. “On the contrary, the man who wins her heart will be blessed indeed. We just feel she needs a bit more time to acquaint herself with mission work before she commits her life to this journey. We’re not sure mission life suits Sarah. She tends to break rules that are set in place to keep her safe. She might be better equipped to run a school back east, where she can’t get into so much trouble.”
“She appears to be Luke’s complete opposite.” John leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed. “I think she’d be perfect for him.”
A rule breaker? Even if she didn’t do it intentionally, just imagining what Father would think if he heard Luke had married someone like Miss Ellis was enough to make him cringe.
“With all of that said”—Mrs. Greenfield clasped her hands—“it’s up to you to decide, Mr. Longley. But we trust you know your own mind and will make the best decision.”
If he knew his own mind, he wouldn’t be here at the moment. He would be on the Mississippi, his fly rod in hand, letting his cares float downriver.
A knock at the door startled Luke out of his chair.
“Don’t worry,” John said with a wink. “They won’t bite.”
“Please come in, ladies.” Mr. Greenfield and John also stood.
The first woman to enter was short, with round wire-rimmed spectacles and dark blond hair. She strode into the room with determination, making Luke want to get out of her way. She stopped and nodded at each person in the room.
This must be Miss Smith.
The next to enter was the dark-haired beauty who
had caught his eye earlier. Miss Pinet. She stood tall and slender, with generous curves and beautiful dark brown hair. She offered him a smile, which he returned wholeheartedly.
The third to enter had laughing blue eyes. She had dark red hair and was pleasant to look at, but it was the joy in her countenance that made her truly lovely. This must be Miss Cooper. She lifted her shoulders as a pleasant giggle slipped from her lips.
The fourth young lady came in, and Luke wondered how he had missed her before. She looked at him with wide green eyes, fringed with dark lashes. A spray of freckles danced across her nose and cheeks, giving her the appearance of youth—though the rest of her spoke of a mature woman. Was this Miss Ellis?
She offered Luke a gentle smile, and he was drawn to her presence. Something about her open gaze and honest face made him eager to talk to her. What made her break the rules?
Each lady was introduced to Luke, and then they looked at him expectantly.
It was Miss Smith who spoke first. “How shall we go about this business, Mr. Longley?”
Miss Ellis’s cheeks turned pink, and Miss Cooper’s eyes danced with mirth.
There was no use tiptoeing around the delicacy of the situation. “I know all of you are aware of why I’ve come. I wish I had time to properly court my future wife, but I have less than a week before I must return to Red Lake.”
Each lady nodded.
Luke stood with his hands clasped behind his back, never feeling more awkward in his life—but there was nothing he could do about it now. “I hope the Lord will guide all of us.”
“I believe Mr. Longley is tired.” Mrs. Greenfield rested her hand on Luke’s arm. “I suggest we let him and Mr. Beaumont get some rest. In the morning, Miss Smith, you may show Mr. Longley about the mission.”
“I suppose it’s the logical place to start,” Hazel said.
Luke noticed the twitch in John’s mouth as he tried not to laugh.
“Then I’ll plan on spending the morning with you.” Luke didn’t know if he should bow, shake her hand, or tip his hat. In Boston, he’d never had trouble with the opposite sex—he knew what was expected. But here, in this situation, there were no rules to follow.
Chapter 5
Luke stood at the front door in the predawn hour, his gaze riveted to the shadows scattered over the prairie. The eastern sky held a hint of light, while morning stars glittered overhead. The air felt cool and crisp, and dew hung on the tall prairie grasses.
Dawn would soon arrive, bringing with it an arduous day.
He let the door close softly behind him, longing for a few moments alone to pray.
Off to the southeast rose a long bluff on the prairie, large and striking in its unexpected presence. It stood too far off to walk to, but it drew Luke’s attention as he left the mission house and followed a well-worn path toward the river.
A figure knelt beside the path, her head bent and her hands clasped together on her knees. She wore a soft yellow gown, with a heavy brown shawl over her shoulders.
Miss Ellis.
The young woman lifted her face and he paused, captivated by the look of peace in her green eyes. But then she saw him, and she blinked a few times, as if surprised to be caught.
“Pardon me.” Luke raised his hand when she began to rise. “Don’t stop on my account.”
“I was nearly finished.”
When he saw she was determined to stand to her feet, he offered her his hand. She hesitated for a moment and then laid her small hand in his and allowed him to assist.
Her hand was so delicate and soft, he wondered how she could do such hard labor on this untamed prairie.
“Thank you.” She spoke softly, as if the early morning should not be disturbed with her voice.
He let go of her hand, and they stood facing each other. She absently brushed at her yellow gown as she cast a glance over his shoulder toward the house.
“I see we had the same idea.” He motioned to the spot where she had been kneeling. “Were you praying?”
The peaceful look returned to her eyes. “This is my favorite time of day. With so many people living here, it’s the only time I can find for myself.” She clutched the ends of her shawl and looked at the mission house again.
Luke turned, expecting to see someone on the steps. “Is everything all right?”
A mischievous gleam lit her green eyes. “I’ve been scolded more than once for coming out here on my own so early in the morning. Mrs. Greenfield says it isn’t safe.”
“Why do you disobey, especially if it’s dangerous?”
She looked at him with a bit of surprise. “If I obeyed, I would never have this time with the Lord.”
Her answer was so simple, it startled him for a moment.
“If you’ll excuse me.” She wrapped her arms around herself and then stepped past him on the path. When she turned to look at him, she had that mischievous gleam in her eyes again. “I need to get back before the others wake up.”
He watched her retreat to the mission house, the hem of her yellow gown swishing in the prairie grass.
Instead of praying, he stood for a long time, pondering her words. Could it be possible to break rules for a noble cause?
Much sooner than he would have liked, people began to stir at the mission house.
A new day had begun.
The breakfast bell rang, calling him to the long dining room table. This time, he was well aware of each of the four single ladies in the room. Miss Pinet wore a different dress this morning. It tucked and hugged in all the right places, drawing his eye more than once. Miss Smith hustled about, directing the others to place the food on the table. And Miss Cooper smiled, her eyes looking as if she knew a joke, or a secret the others didn’t.
But it was Miss Ellis who drew his full attention when she entered the room. She carried a plate of fried salt pork and set it down before John. His best friend greeted her, and the friendly smile they shared made it look as if they had known each other for years, not hours.
The meal was soon over, and Luke found himself with Miss Smith, walking along the rutted road to the schoolhouse. She wore a plain straw bonnet with a tan ribbon coming down on either side, which she had tied in a practical knot under her chin.
“Do you enjoy working with the Chippewa, Miss Smith?”
“I am fulfilled.” She walked with a quick step, and he had to pick up his pace to keep up. “This road is used by the Red River Ox Cart drivers in the spring,” she said. “Fort Ripley is just a few miles north of us, and a new town called Little Falls is just a few miles south.”
She pushed open the heavy oak door of the large schoolhouse and stepped over the threshold. “We keep a very strict schedule. After breakfast, the children have their morning chores, followed by school until four o’clock. After school is over, they do their afternoon chores, and then we eat supper. In the evenings, they have free time.”
He followed behind. “Do you intend to stay on the mission field indefinitely?”
Miss Smith spun and clasped her hands together. “I will stay here as long as I’m needed.” She indicated the room. “This serves as a schoolhouse five days a week, and the church on Sundays. All of the desks, blackboards, books, and other school supplies were purchased by clerks of the American Fur Company who saw the need for a school for the Indian children and the children of the fur traders. We currently have twenty students.”
She took him from shelf to shelf and described in detail the subjects the children studied.
“What is your favorite subject to teach, Miss Smith?”
Her eyelashes fluttered in confusion behind her spectacles. “My favorite?”
He smiled at her, hoping she would relax. Was she always this serious, or was she just nervous? “Don’t you have a favorite?”
She took a step back. “I’ve never contemplated such a thing—I don’t believe in having favorites.”
He allowed his eyes to flirt with her—just a bit. “Why not?”
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p; She took another step back and reached for the doorknob. “Having favorites only leads to discontentment.” She appeared flustered, and her composure slipped.
She was kind of pretty when she didn’t look so severe.
She opened the door and slipped outside. “I’ll show you the barn now.”
They hurried to the barn, and Miss Smith introduced him to a farmhand. She took Luke from stall to stall, telling him about the farm activities.
The stench of animals filled his nostrils, and the neighing of a horse drowned her words.
Miss Smith’s movements were quick and decisive. Everything she said, and did, had a specific purpose. There was no nonsense about this woman. Her knowledge was impressive, and her confidence commendable. He couldn’t deny that she was well suited for mission life, and her knowledge and experience would probably far surpass the other ladies’. But suddenly, his mind filled with images of married life with Miss Smith.
Would she handle all aspects of life, even the most intimate, with such practicality?
Chapter 6
Sarah sat in the fading light of day, a pile of damaged socks in the basket at her side. She picked up a sock, slipped a wooden darning egg inside, and gathered the loose material at the bottom. She began the little stiches that would repair the hole and make it as good as new.
The long porch was surprisingly quiet. Mrs. Greenfield and Mrs. Winter were tucking the children into bed for the night, while Hazel sat in the parlor and prepared lessons for the coming morning. Genevieve had slipped away to write a letter, and Mary had disappeared just after the supper dishes were finished.
Sarah pushed the darning needle through the wool sock, her eyes slipping up from time to time, watching for Mr. Longley and Mr. Beaumont to return to the mission. They had gone with Mr. Greenfield just after supper to visit the chaplain at Fort Ripley.
A pleasant breeze floated past Sarah, and she stopped for a moment to savor the smell of sunset on the prairie. The windows had been left open in the boys’ and girls’ rooms upstairs, and Mrs. Winter was singing a hymn to put the children to sleep.
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