by Kit Morgan
“Christmas?” Aggie said, confused. The poor little fellow must be addled, or drunk.
“Ah, here it is!” He pulled a yellowed piece of parchment from his coat and slapped it on the counter. “Christmas!”
Aggie studied the scrawl of Gothic script on it. “What is this?”
“Read it,” he said happily.
She took a closer look. “This looks like a recipe …”
“It is! A recipe for Christmas.” He stood proudly, his hands in his pockets. “Ya can have it. A present.”
“Oh, but I couldn’t take your recipe from you,” Aggie said, still unsure of him.
“No worries – I got it all up here.” He tapped his head with a finger.
“Well, if you’re sure …”
“Course I’m sure.” He grabbed his cup. “Now I better be goin’. Lots to do!”
“But, I haven’t fetched Mrs. Cornell yet,” Aggie protested.
“No need. Got what I wanted.”
“But … I didn’t give you anything.”
He smiled. “Indeed ya did.” He shook his cup again and left.
Aggie stood, flabbergasted. “What an odd little man.” She tucked the scrap of parchment in her pocket and went back to work.
The next time the bell over the door rang, it was late afternoon. Aggie looked up, and her heart raced. Eldon! She finished tucking away some ribbon as her stomach did a flip. “Hello. You’re early.”
He smiled. “Yes, I suppose. Are you done?”
She stepped out from behind the counter and brushed nervously at her skirt. “I’d better check with Mrs. Cornell – she’s in the back storeroom.”
He gazed at her and smiled. “Is she, now?”
Aggie nodded and swallowed hard.
“I was thinking,” he began. “I hope you don’t think it forward of me, but since we’ll be working on the festival together, I’d like to call you Aggie. You can call me Eldon.”
He wanted to be on a first-name basis? Her mouth went dry and she took a ragged breath. “Oh … well, all right …”
“Good afternoon, Mr. Judrow,” Mrs. Cornell said as she emerged from the back, coat in hand. “I thought I heard your voice.”
“Are you ready?” he asked.
“Yes, I am. Aggie?”
Aggie glanced around in panic, raced into the workroom, then popped back out, shawl in hand. Mrs. Cornell let her use it throughout the day. “Now I am.”
Mr. Judrow – Eldon – frowned. “We really must get you a good coat.” He started to take his off to wrap it around her shoulders.
“Wait, wait!” Mrs. Cornell dashed out again, returning with a black wool coat that had seen better days but still looked solid. “A customer in Washington Territory never came back for this one, but it was too nice to just throw away. It looks like it would fit you well enough.” She handed it to Aggie.
Aggie took it and put it on. It was a bit long in the arms – her hands looked like mole’s paws sticking out – but it was very warm. “Thank you so much!”
“You’re welcome. I just hired you – the last thing I need is to have you die of the grippe.”
Eldon looked slightly disappointed, but held both his arms out. “Ladies? Shall we go?”
With a woman on either side of him, they left the shop, first to drop Aggie at the stable and then head to the church. Aggie wanted to giggle at some of the looks they received but refrained. She was beginning to enjoy being seen on the arm of a handsome man.
Lessons with Jonathan went quickly enough, and he escorted her to the committee meeting before going home. Once inside the church sanctuary, she realized that she was starting to feel something she hadn’t felt in a long time. Happy.
“Oh, Mr. Juuuuuuudrow!”
So much for happiness. Olivia Bridger marched into the church like she was leading a parade. Hopefully she’d be working on that part of the festival, not the Christmas tree contest Eldon was judging. Bad enough she was here at all – Aggie hadn’t seen her, or wanted to, since the morning she left the Bridger house. She ducked behind a pew – who knew what sort of ruckus Olivia would cause once she spotted her?
She saw Eldon turn and grimly face the coming red-haired storm. “Good evening,” he said stiffly.
“Mr. Judrow! It’s so good to see you again,” Olivia purred. “I do hope I’m not late.”
Aggie almost retched, and put the collar of her coat up to better hide her face. Mrs. Cornell gave her a quizzical look.
“No, you’re right on time,” Eldon said unhappily.
“Are we all here?” Rev. Latsch entered the sanctuary from his office, his wife and the Carlsons right behind him. The Todds were seated in the front pew, so the only one absent was Eldon’s sister in-law Emma.
Eldon glanced around and realized the same thing. “We seem to be missing one.”
“Oh, why wait?” Olivia cooed. “If they can’t get here on time, too bad.”
Aggie watched Eldon’s face turn to granite. So did Sam Todd’s, and even Rev. Latsch froze. “We’ll start when everyone is here,” the pastor said, clearly brooking no objection.
Olivia ignored it. “Did you have a nice day?” she asked Eldon. Aggie tried not to groan. Could Olivia be more obvious?
Eldon only shrugged, giving her no opening. Aggie rolled her eyes, looked at Mrs. Cornell and saw her eyebrows raised in amusement. Aggie nodded as if to say, typical – she’s about to embarrass herself.
“Just think, we’ll be together for days,” Olivia plowed on. “I’m sure it will give us ample time to get to know one another better.”
Then Eldon did the unthinkable. “Miss Bridger – I believe you know the lovely Miss Shrewsbury?” He extended a hand to where she was hiding.
No, no, no! But, there was no help for it. Aggie stood, joined Eldon and faced Olivia. “We’ve met,” she mumbled darkly, wishing she could glare at Eldon openly. Instead she took a deep breath, knowing an explosion was sure to follow.
Olivia could only stare in shock for a few seconds. Then, sure enough … “What in Heaven’s name is SHE doing here?”
Eldon glanced at Aggie, smiled, then turned back to Olivia. “I think it’s obvious, don’t you?”
Olivia’s face went red as a beet. She pursed her lips together and glared at Aggie, venom in her eyes. She was in a spot now. Aggie knew that if Olivia blew her top, she’d make a fool of herself and risk not only a scolding from the festival committee, but getting herself tossed off it. But did Olivia care about that? She wasn’t the type to think through the consequences of her actions, if history was any judge.
“Aggie is helping with the festival, like everyone else,” Eldon continued, oblivious to – or just ignoring – Olivia’s rage. He glanced at the back of the church. “Though I am getting worried about Emma.”
Olivia just stood there, her face crimson, eyes narrowed at Aggie, but mercifully silent.
“Where could she be?” asked Rev. Latsch.
“I thought she came with you, Eldon,” Mr. Carlson commented.
Olivia broke the death stare she’d aimed at Aggie and glared at the Carlsons. “Of course she didn’t come with Mr. Judrow! Do you see her anywhere? Are you blind?!”
The church went silent as everyone stared at Olivia in horror. Aggie pitied her more than ever in that moment. Did she not know that Mr. Carlson was indeed blind? Mrs. Carlson looked ready to spit nails.
But before anyone else could speak, Lucius Judrow came bursting through the church doors. “Eldon!”
Aggie felt Eldon go stiff at her side. “What is it?”
“We’ve got trouble! I need your help!”
Eldon nodded and turned to Aggie. “Stay with Mrs. Cornell. Or the Todds.” He looked at Rev. Latsch. “You’ll see the women home?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Me and the missus can walk them home, Mr. Judrow,” Sam said.
Eldon gave the old man a grateful nod, then raced down the aisle to join his brother and followed him into the
cold dark night.
“Have you decided what you’re going to make for your entry?” Elizabeth Cornell asked.
Aggie looked up from her stitching. It was a week since what Mrs. Cornell – Elizabeth, as they were now on a first-name basis – humorously called “the scene that wasn’t” at the church. After Eldon’s abrupt departure, Olivia (having lost her audience) had growled and stomped out without another word. The rest of the committee carried on without them – or Emma – though Mrs. Carlson spent the whole evening looking peeved. Mr. Carlson just laughed it off.
Aggie and Elizabeth had been working fast and furious ever since to get the dress orders for the dance done in time – including one from Olivia, who’d come in only yesterday but seemed to think she could have one made with the wave of a magic wand. Worse still, Aggie hadn’t seen Eldon the whole time. It was bad enough he’d left so abruptly, but to not even know where he was …
Aggie shrugged. “Maybe I won’t enter the contest.”
Elizabeth joined her at the worktable in the back room. “I know you’re worried about Eldon. But he and his brother were professional bounty hunters, and I’ve heard they always got their man. Especially when working together.”
“But did they have to get roped into chasing some silly outlaw gang now, in this cold?” Unconsciously, Aggie shivered.
“Oh dear, there you go again.” Elizabeth came around the table and rubbed Aggie’s back. “Why don’t I make some tea?”
Aggie nodded. Even with her new coat, morning temperatures in the last few days dropped farther than she could stand. “Tea … yes, thank you.”
Elizabeth left the room, and Aggie pulled her coat more tightly closed. She was starting to think she should wear it to bed every night – the Todds’ house was toasty, but just the walk to the dress shop seemed to drain all the heat from her. Too thin from all those meals I never got at the Bridgers, she thought. She squinted her eyes closed and did her best to forgive them – again.
It didn’t seem to take.
Neither did Albert Dunst, who came by the dress shop every day, jingling his tin cup. He always arrived when Elizabeth was elsewhere, chatted with Aggie for a few minutes, reminded her of the recipe he’d given her, and left. What he did the rest of the time, who knew – but it didn’t involve bathing or shaving, that she could tell. And she still didn’t have a cent to give him.
The bell jangled, along with the slam of the front door. “Some service, please!”
Aggie slumped in her chair and groaned. Olivia. And Elizabeth was upstairs, so she’d have to deal with the brat herself. She pushed herself up from her chair and trudged into the main room of the shop.
“There you are, you miserable girl,” Olivia snipped. “Is my dress ready yet?”
“No. You just ordered it yesterday, and there are several –”
Olivia, of course, didn’t let her finish. “I don’t care about your problems! I aim to win the best-gown contest at the festival, and I need my gown!”
Aggie wished it was done – the sooner she gave Olivia her dress, the sooner she’d leave. She’d sewn enough dresses for her to know what she liked. Besides, if Olivia kept spouting off, Aggie was worried she’d slap the little harpy. “Let me check with Mrs. Cornell.”
“Easily enough done,” Elizabeth said, coming down the stairs. “What’s this ruckus I hear?”
“Where is my dress?” Olivia demanded, stomping her foot to complete the toddler-having-a-tantrum effect.
Elizabeth was visibly making an effort to stay calm and businesslike. “Miss Bridger, you ordered your gown only yesterday, and we are working on many dresses right now …”
“But I need it to win the contest!”
“As do they. But –”
“They aren’t going to win it! I am!” Olivia turned on Aggie again. “You never could do anything right.”
Aggie was getting a pounding headache. She shivered again.
“Miss Bridger, I don’t appreciate a customer berating my employee.” Elizabeth’s voice had gotten sharper.
Olivia wasn’t listening. “I hope you’ve enjoyed your time here, Aggie, because I’m going to make sure you’re fired.”
Aggie glanced at Elizabeth, who was now staring at Olivia in outraged shock.
“Oh, and Jonathan isn’t allowed to see you anymore. Father thinks you’re a bad influence on him, quitting the way you did. Now the poor boy has to work in that horrible stable because of you –”
Aggie had had enough. “Olivia, for once in your life, shut up.”
Olivia’s mouth formed a perfect “O”. “How dare you!” she hissed.
Aggie looked her in the eye. “Shut. Up.”
Olivia’s upper lip curled into a snarl, and Aggie took a step back. This look was new, savage - and even with a couple of weeks’ good eating, Aggie was still in no shape for a fistfight. “How dare you!” Olivia screeched.
“All right, that’s enough.” Elizabeth turned to Aggie. “Go behind the counter. You don’t have to deal with this … person anymore.”
Aggie nodded and did as she’d been told.
“And Miss Bridger, let me be clear about some things. You are not going to get anyone fired around here. You are a rude and trifling little girl, not a grown woman, and I have better ways to spend my time than on the likes of you. Get out of my shop and don’t come back.”
“What?!” Olivia didn’t seem to know how to react. “I didn’t do anything – she’s the one you should yell at! I demand you fire her!”
Elizabeth put her hands on her hips. “I said, get out of my shop.”
“But … but …” Olivia sputtered. “I … I want my money back!”
“Aggie – pull out Miss Bridger’s order.”
Aggie, now trying not to laugh, opened the invoice drawer behind the counter, reached into the “B”s and found Olivia’s dress order. She handed it over to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth glanced at it and smirked. “Just as I recalled. I can’t give you your money back – you haven’t paid yet.” She held the paper up in Olivia’s face. “But don’t worry – you won’t have to.”
“Good!” Olivia began. “Because I – what? What are you doing?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Elizabeth said in a fair imitation of Eldon’s tone from a week before, and continued tearing up the order. “Your business – such as it is – is not wanted here. For the third time, get out. I will not tell you a fourth time.” She slapped the shredded order onto the counter.
Olivia pressed her lips together and sucked air through her nose until Aggie thought she might burst. “Now see here, Mrs. CornAAAAAGGH!”
Without warning, Elizabeth had spun Olivia around, grabbed her right wrist and yanked it up between her shoulder blades. She shoved Olivia’s left shoulder, causing her to careen toward the door. Elizabeth opened the door left-handed, pushed Olivia twice more, and sent her stumbling onto the boardwalk – in full sight of the pedestrians and other shop owners on the street.
Aggie had followed at a safe distance, wide-eyed at how her employer had manhandled the terror of the Bridger house. Elizabeth saw her in the doorway, nodded with a smile, then turned back to the floundering Olivia. “And don’t come back!” she yelled loud enough for half the town to hear, before marching back inside and slamming the door.
Once there, Aggie and Elizabeth looked at each other – and burst out laughing. “How … how did you do that?” Aggie asked between guffaws.
“My husband … was in the Army … Mexican War. He taught me a few tricks … to defend myself when he wasn’t around.” Elizabeth took a deep breath to calm down and wiped the tears from her eyes. “Never had so much fun using them, though. Ohhhh, what a horrid girl! Let’s hope that’s the last we see of her … around here at least.”
“Thank you,” Aggie said, dabbing at her own eyes. “Thank you so much.”
“Believe me, it was my pleasure. And speaking of pleasure, I am going to do my best to get you set up for the gown contest
.”
Aggie gasped in shock. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to. It’ll be my pleasure. Besides, there’s the question I asked you earlier. What are you making for the dessert contest?”
“I haven’t the faintest idea.”
“Come now, you must have something in mind. But it’ll have to be something spectacular. Something new.”
Aggie went back behind the counter. “I can’t think of anything right now.”
“There are only four days left, Aggie. I suggest you think fast.”
Aggie glanced at the shop’s front window. “What about you? The tree judging is Friday.”
“Yes, I’d better finish those decorations. But for now, let’s get back to work – we’ve had our fun, but those dresses won’t finish themselves.” Elizabeth turned and headed to the back room.
Aggie sighed – and realized that for the first time in a week, regardless of the temperature outside, she felt truly warm, inside and out.
Chapter 12
At Elizabeth’s request, Aggie stayed with her for the next few days so they could get through all the work – and experiment with different recipes. The Todds didn’t mind, and Elizabeth was happy to try her best to keep Aggie fed. Not an easy task, she quickly found out. But Aggie did feel like she was finally putting on some much-needed weight.
“Aggie, what’s this?” Elizabeth asked as she unfolded a piece of yellowed paper. “I found it under the counter.”
Aggie took it from her. “Oh, I forgot about this – that odd man Mr. Dunst gave it to me the first time he came by. He said it was a ‘recipe for Christmas,’ whatever that means.”
“Let me see it again.” Elizabeth took it from her and began to read. “Very interesting. This looks like some kind of pie.” She flashed a smile. “Let’s try it.”
“Tomorrow’s Friday – we’re running out of time. What if it doesn’t turn out?”
“Then we’ll bake something else tomorrow. It won’t be the end of the world. ” Elizabeth scanned the paper. “We need to make a list and go to the mercantile – some of this will be hard to find. Pumpkin, plums, there seems to be a shortage of those around town. Cinnamon – no worries there, I have plenty of that. Tell you what, I’ll hold the fort here and send you over – is that all right?”
