“And therein lies the crux of the matter, right?”
“I don’t—”
“I’m from New York. An outsider. I don’t belong here.” He watched everyone mingling around the yard. “I’ve seen the way they’ve all watched me today. Like I’m some kind of freak. Ooooo, look. There’s Leila Standish’s son. What does he think he’s doing here? No, sorry. Leila Hooper’s son. They won’t even acknowledge she married Father. That she loved him—loves him still. All they know is she had the audacity to leave.”
Millie watched him a long time before saying anything, really seeing him this time. “That’s a mighty big chip you carry on your shoulder.” She gestured toward him. “Is that how you dress in New York?”
Geoff glanced down at his clothes. “Of course.” He raised his eyes to lock on hers. “What’s wrong with it?”
Millie laughed and placed her hand on his arm. She felt the surge of power and thought to pull her hand away, but kept it there purposefully. “Nothing’s wrong. It’s perfect. You look like you stepped straight out of The Sears Roebuck Catalog.”
Again he looked down at his clothes.
“Sears Roebuck? You wound me! These clothes are tailor made. I would never buy anything from—”
“Now look around you, Mr. Standish. Do you see anyone else wearing anything as fancy? No, of course, you don’t,” she answered for him, withdrawing her hand. “And you’re well aware of that. Don’t tell me you aren’t.”
“It’s what I brought with me. Aunt Ida insisted I come to church and stay for the social.” A wide grin crossed his face. “You would rather I had come naked?”
“Mr. Standish, you appear to spend a lot of time thinking about people naked.
“Not really. Only you.”
She widened her eyes in exasperation.
“You’re quite lovely when you’re riled, you know.” He reached out to lightly brush her hair. The corner of his lips curved up when she stepped back. “Sorry. Been wanting to do that all week. Ever since I held you in your pa’s store.”
“Mr. Standish, that’s not—”
“Proper. I know.” He moved to sit on the blanket and pulled her down with him. “What is proper around here, Millicent?”
“Talking.”
“All right, I can do that. Tell me about the quilting bee. What do women really do at a quilting bee?”
She giggled. “Mean besides quilt?”
He rolled his eyes in response.
“We talk.”
“About what?”
“A little bit of everything. Actually, this time the women were planning...” She stopped, her eyes flying to his face.
“Planning what?”
“Never mind. It was nothing really.”
“Now, Millicent. Did your parents not tell you it’s not polite to lie?” He hooked a thumb back toward the church. “Particularly at a church social?”
“Well, it wasn’t a lie. It’s simply that you wouldn’t really want to hear it.”
“Oh, but I would. Tell me, what the good Christian women of this town were talking about.”
“You won’t tell?”
“Now who would I tell anything to?”
“Your uncle.”
A look of surprise crossed his face. “Uncle Henry? You were talking about Uncle Henry?”
Millie blushed. “Not him specifically.”
He leaned closer. “Now I am interested. What do women talk about?”
“You promise you won’t...tell?”
He nodded.
“They’re planning a revolt.”
“A revolt?”
“Shh, lower your voice. It wouldn’t do for anyone to hear you.”
“This I can’t wait to hear. What are the women up to?” He stopped. “More importantly, what is my aunt up to?”
“They’re forming a league of their own. To get their husband’s to kiss them again.”
He burst out laughing. “A league?”
“Yes, against the Anti-Kissing League. They’re doing it for Clara. And for themselves, of course.”
“Clara? The young woman Aunt Ida mentioned was getting married?”
“Yes.” She nodded. “She’s getting married soon, and her fiancé is so worried about the crops and what the men think, he won’t kiss her. She says she’s not going to marry him if he won’t kiss her afterward. And the rest of the women are upset, too. Said if their husbands aren’t going to kiss them anymore, they’re going to stop doing things, too.”
His eyes glinted with merriment. “Well, good for them. Whoever thought of the ridiculous notion in the first place?”
She lifted a shoulder. “I don’t know. It kind of spread like a wildfire through a drought parched field.”
“Do they really think it prudent to irritate their husbands?”
“You must know very little about married life, Mr. Standish. Sometimes it seems that all married folks do is irritate one another.”
“Not all marriages are like that. My parents are very happy.” His brows lifted. “They never sleep apart.”
“There are other ways a woman could rebel against a husband. She could quit cooking or cleaning.”
“Father hires a maid to do those things.”
“We don’t have maids, Mr. Standish. Women here take care of their homes themselves.”
“Yes, I’ve seen how Aunt Ida cares for the house. She cooks and cleans from sunrise to sunset. Toils in her small herb garden, milks the cow, tends the horses. She never rests. It’s no wonder the women of this town hate my mother. She left for a better life. They resent that.”
She reached out to place her hand on his arm again. “Some of them do, yes. But people like Miz Taylor are bitter about everything.”
“The banker’s wife? Women like her want the things my mother has now. A fine home, a wealthy husband, the freedom to do anything she wants. Father even bought a new Model 20.”
Millie’s eyes widened. “You own an automobile? A real automobile?”
He chuckled. “Yes, it’s why I’m here.”
“What did you do? Smash it?”
“No, but I was a bit inebriated the last time I drove Father’s new Model 20. My friends Brody and Rod were with me. How was I to know Brody was so drunk he’d fall out of the car when we rounded the corner? Guess I should have expected something like that since the car had no front doors.”
“Your friend fell out of the car?”
He nodded.
“Was he hurt?”
“No, he was too drunk to be hurt. But simply because my friends and I were arrested for being drunk again was no reason to banish me to someplace in the middle of nowhere. So here I am. Twenty years old and banished for I have no idea how long. I would rather she sent me away to London, but she sent me here to punish me.”
“You consider being in Napierville punishment?” She narrowed her eyes as she watched him. “Yes, I guess someone like you would.”
“When she saw me off, she told me she hoped Aunt Ida would be able to instill some of the values in me she had failed at.”
“She has a life like that and thinks she failed?”
He shook his head. “Not failed as you mean it. She just thinks I’m...”
“Incorrigible?” she added when he stopped.
He threw back his head and laughed. “Oh, that’s good. Yes, in a way I guess I am. When I’m about town with my friends at least. We tend to...”
“Drink too much?”
He removed the hand she had on his arm. Held it between his. “Do you always finish other people’s sentences?”
“Were my answers wrong?”
“No, I guess not. You seem to know me quite well. Is everyone in this town as observant as you?”
She shrugged, but said nothing.
“Is that what life here is really like, Millicent? Is that what a wife has to look forward to?”
“You don’t know the half of it.”
“What do you mean?”
“You mentioned cooking and cleaning. There’s the sewing, washing, canning, and baking. Then you have mending, patching, ironing. Depending on how wealthy the family is, they might not be able to buy many of the things you’re used to. Here a woman might have to make her carpet out of rags or fill her bedticks with oat straw. I imagine you bought such things from fancy stores.”
He nodded, his eyes wide with surprise. “How do you do that?”
“I help Mother, but I don’t do everything she does. I’m not married. Once I am, I’ll have all that and more. You forgot the most important thing.”
“And that would be?”
“Having children.”
“And you want that?”
“Oh yes, Mr. Standish. I want all of that. As long as I have a man who loves me.”
“Do you have that?”
She cocked her head in question.
“A man who loves you?” he added.
She shook her head. “Several men tried sparking me, but in the long run they’re only friends. I don’t know. Something’s always been missing. Mother says I’m too fussy. What’s really funny, although I’m sure you won’t think it so, is that just the other night we had a full moon.”
“Mean the Blue Moon?”
“Yes. You saw it?”
He nodded.
“Well, so did I. I was on our porch swing. Wanted to be by myself for a while. I glanced up at it and did something really childish.” When he said nothing, she continued. “I made a wish on it.”
“What did you wish for?”
“I can’t tell you that, Mr. Standish, or it won’t come true.”
“But—”
She turned toward the gathered throng when sounds grew louder.
“Look,” she told him, interrupting, “they’re getting ready to eat.” She drew her hand from his and stood. “Come, Mr. Standish, let’s get some food. I’m starving.”
***
Starving? Oh yes, that’s exactly how Geoff felt. But it wasn’t food he wanted. It was Millicent Baker. She’d be the main course and dessert all rolled into one.
When she’d laid her hand on his arm earlier, he’d thought it would brand him forever. If the entire congregation hadn’t been milling about the churchyard, he surely would have taken her into his arms and kissed her –and the Anti-Kissing League be damned.
He thought back to her silly statement about having to marry him if he kissed her. Marry? Him? Not a chance. He still had too many wild oats to sow. He’d finish his time at his uncle’s farm and then head home to New York. Surely his mother wouldn’t insist he stay until his uncle was completely well. From something he’d heard Aunt Ida say, that could take months. Geoff had no intention of sticking around this one horse town that long.
Yet what had she meant about not being ready to marry him? Surely the prospect couldn’t be that bad.
In truth, being here wasn’t really all that bad. And he did get to tease Miss Millicent Baker in the process. But teasing her wasn’t what he wanted to do.
He’d get his way. Always did. He couldn’t remember a single girl in New York he hadn’t bedded if he’d wanted to. Miss Baker might take a bit longer, but she’d give in. Geoff knew it.
For now he’d sit with her and eat if that’s what she wanted to do. After all, a man did have to consider his stomach, didn’t he? And Aunt Ida Mae had brought her fried chicken and peach cobbler. He’d had them both several times since he’d been here and had never tasted anything better. Not even at the fancy dinners his mother held for Father’s bosses.
Millie grabbed Geoff’s hand and pulled him along behind her. “Come on, Geoff, or the food’s going to be gone before we get there.”
“Fat chance of that,” he said, hoping she’d never let go of his hand. “Those picnic tables are loaded with food.”
After filling his plate to overflowing, Geoff headed toward where they’d been sitting earlier. “Hope you don’t mind being over here alone. I don’t feel comfortable being in the midst of so many strangers.”
Sitting on the blanket, Millie spread her skirt around her before starting to eat. She gazed at him through those long lashes and Geoff wanted to lean forward to kiss her tempting lips. Though he couldn’t do that with everyone outside.
When she started to eat and a few crumbs of fried chicken stayed on her lips, Geoff had to fight off the urge to lick them away himself.
Too soon the day ended and Geoff walked Millie home. “Will I see you again?”
“Well of course you will. The next time you come in for supplies at the store.” Something in his heart melted at the teasing lilt in her voice and mischievous glint in her eyes.
“Tomorrow morning?”
“I won’t be there in the morning. I help over at the local institution three mornings a week.”
Geoff frowned. “Why would you do something like that?”
Millie’s eyes widened. “And why wouldn’t I? They need my help even more than most of the people in this town. Someone has to help care for them.”
“But they’re...different.”
“They’re only a little slower than most people, that’s all. Or their families don’t want them around for some reason. Usually because they fear they’ll be embarrassed if the person stays home. We got a new young woman in last week. Her family was able to raise the twenty-five dollars it costs to be admitted there.”
“Is she...different, too?”
“Not really. It’s such a sad situation. She’s going to have a baby, and I guess her family’s ashamed of her. Didn’t want her around to be a daily reminder of her poor judgment. So they decided to put her in the institution. She seemed so lost when they left her there last week. I plan to spend most of my time with her this week so she won’t feel so lonely.”
“I never met anyone like you before. Most people I know only think of themselves and what they can do. You...you actually think of other people.”
She nodded. “Is that really so unusual?”
“To me it is. You don’t feel awkward being there?”
“No, not at all. The people there just want to be loved. Just like those of us outside the institution. The ones that break my heart are the children. I know times can be tough, but to just drop a child off and never see them again...” She broke off and peered up at the moon. “I couldn’t do it. I want children so much, I can’t understand how someone can leave them.”
“I never thought about it before. Maybe they just can’t... I don’t know. Maybe they weren’t meant to be parents and can’t care for the child.”
“So you drop it off? Discard it? Like some article of clothing you don’t want?”
“I can’t answer that question, Millicent. But look at you now. You’re shaking. Are you cold? You can’t be, it’s warm out.”
Her lips trembled. “No, I’m not cold, just sad.”
Without thinking, Geoff wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. He felt her shaking as she leaned her head against his chest. “You can’t solve all the problems of the world, Millie, honey. But it’s okay now. Just lean against me for a little while before you go inside.” He brushed his lips over her hair.
They stood like that for quite a while before Millie finally pulled away and said goodnight.
***
After she closed the door behind her, Millie let out a whoosh of breath. He’d called her Millie. And he’d called her honey. Oh my!
The next morning after she finished volunteering at the institution, Millie walked outside and was surprised to find Geoff waiting on the steps.
“What are you doing here?”
“This isn’t a very safe part of town. I didn’t like the idea of you walking back to the shop all by yourself.”
“Geoffrey Standish, I’ve walked this way by myself for over two years now. What makes you think I need your help now?”
“I wasn’t here to protect you before. Now I am.”
She sputtered. “Protect me? I don’t need anyone to�
�”
He stopped her with a kiss.
Pulling her behind a nearby building so a passerby wouldn’t see them, Geoff drew her into his arms and kissed her again.
“You can’t do this,” she said, barely able to breathe.
“I know. It’s against the Anti-Kissing League. I don’t care about that.”
“Neither do I, but you can’t kiss me. Mother said I’d...” Flustered, she stopped.
“Get pregnant? Do mothers still really tell girls that? Well, I can assure you that isn’t true.”
Lowering his mouth toward hers again, he ran his lips gently around her mouth, slipped the tip of his tongue along the seam of her pressed together lips. When she opened them on a sigh, his tongue plunged in, taking advantage of the opening. He gave her no quarter, but plundered her mouth until she tentatively answered his mating call.
What had she just done? He held her close after the kiss, but Millie feared her knees wouldn’t hold her if he let her go. She’d never felt so weak before. He’d set her entire body aflame with that kiss.
Speaking of flames, would the town’s crops die now? Would she be to blame for the shortage of food come the fall? Did she need to tell someone so they could do something to prevent it? No! She could tell no one. And she could never let this happen again.
She could never see Geoff Standish again.
What a ridiculous thing to think when his arms were wrapped around her. If she didn’t see him again, she thought she’d die.
When they finally reached the store, she helped him fill the seed order his uncle had sent with him. Wasn’t it too late in the year to still be planting crops? Why would his uncle want seeds now?
***
Wednesday and Friday Geoff stood waiting outside the institution for her.
“I told you I planned to walk you home, and I meant it.”
He drew her arm within the crook of his as they walked down the lane toward town. Did her family really not care that she spent so much time in this part of town? It wasn’t safe. Who knew what might happen to her. Geoff admitted he wasn’t willing to risk that.
“And who’s going to walk me home when you head back to New York?”
He stopped and pulled her behind a ramshackle building. “I don’t know,” he practically growled in her ear as he drew her close, “but while I’m here, it’s going to be me.”
Blue Moon Enchantment (Once In A Blue Moon Series) Page 4
