“If they love each other, that shouldn’t matter. After all, Mama and Papa were separated for many months, but their love stayed true. And she wasn’t even sure if he was dead or alive.”
“That was an entirely different circumstance.” Why were they discussing his sister’s life when he wanted to know more about Molly? This wasn’t going the way he wanted.
She narrowed her eyes and quirked the corner of her mouth. “You don’t approve either, do you?”
This was not good. He didn’t plan on having any arguments about Clarissa. “Whether I approve or disapprove has no bearing on what Clarissa will or won’t do. I say that’s between her and our parents. After all, God is in control, and He will help take care of such matters of the heart.” Had he really uttered those words? If what he said was true for Clarissa, then it most certainly was the same for him.
A broad grin spread across her face and lit up her eyes with merriment. “I do believe you’re right. We can’t go meddling with other people’s lives. We have to let God take care of things and know that His plans are really best after all.”
His sentiments exactly. Now he had to remember that as far as he and Molly were concerned as well. Lord, it’d be nice if You could change her mind about soldiers and living in the country. I’m falling in love with her, but without some work on Your part, I don’t see her returning that love. Seeing how God answered that prayer would make for an interesting time ahead.
If only Molly could make her heart believe the words she’d spoken to Stefan. She’d been smitten with him as a young girl, and to see him now revived all those old notions she’d had of being his wife someday. However, his profession as a soldier did not appeal to her in the least.
As handsome as he was sitting across from her, she had to control her feelings and do what she’d advised for Clarissa and Andrew. Instead of his uniform, he wore brown pants and a cream-colored shirt that set off his sandy hair and blue eyes so like his mother’s. She could almost forget his usual attire was army blue and gold. As he continued to observe her with a slight smile, heat filled her cheeks. Seemed every time she was near him, her face turned red, and that couldn’t be attractive. She jumped up and headed for her favorite rock at the creek bank.
A moment later he followed and pulled up to sit beside her. “I can understand why you love this place so much. The water babbles along with its gurgling song, but the air is as still as a church mouse on Sunday.”
His masculine scent along with the heat of his arm pressed against hers created a longing she didn’t quite understand. She cast a sidewise glance at his face and settled on his full lips. How would it feel to have those lips pressed against hers? She blinked and focused on the fields across the creek. She couldn’t let her thoughts go there.
When she turned her head toward him, he gazed at her with those deep blue eyes that shone with a desire she had never seen in a man’s eyes. Was this what it was like to be in love? She pulled her knees to her chest and hugged them close.
Dear Lord, no, please don’t let me fall in love with him. I couldn’t bear his being so far away, especially in the army. Still my heart and calm my nerves.
Why had she suggested something like a picnic where she’d be alone with him? She slid from her perch on the rock and ran back to the blanket. She had to get control or no telling what she might say or do.
She smoothed out the wrinkles on the blanket and reached for the basket. Stefan sat beside her and peeked as she removed the cloth covering the food.
“Mmm, whatever you brought smells delicious.” He leaned close and lifted the corner of a napkin covering the ham.
She slapped at his hand. “No snitching. You’ll wait until I have the plates ready.” Her hand trembled as she removed the plates and silverware.
He laughed and sat back. “All right, m’lady. You’re in charge of the food.”
Silence ensued while she arranged pieces of ham and thick slices of homemade bread on the plates. Mama had included some of her homemade pickles and a jar of her canned peaches. When it was all arranged, she set a plate in front of Stefan and herself.
“I will say the blessing for us.” Stefan grasped her hand and bowed his head. “Dear Lord, thank You for this beautiful day, delicious food, and delightful company. Bless the food to serve our bodies and us to serve You. Amen.”
At the last word, she jerked her hand away. The heat from his hand raced through her nerves to her heart, searing it with what she didn’t want to feel. The next seven days were going to be the most difficult of her life.
If Stefan noticed her quick withdrawal, he didn’t say anything. Instead he opened the jar of lemonade and poured two glasses. “Is that cinnamon I smell?”
Grateful for the distraction, Molly removed the napkin-wrapped bundle from the basket. “Yes. Mama made cinnamon sugar cookies this morning. They were still warm when we wrapped them.”
All she wanted to do now was to get this picnic over with and head back to town. There she could at least gain some control over the emotions that threatened to undo all her resolve about Stefan. She was not going to fall in love with him no matter what happened in the next few days.
CHAPTER 14
AFTER HER EXPERIENCE on Saturday Molly avoided being alone with Stefan for the next several days, but with meals and family gatherings that was next to impossible. Being near him was simply too dangerous for her resolve. Their goals in life were much too different to make a relationship work. Even though prospects in Stoney Creek itself looked dismal, she had to keep her heart away from someone like Stefan.
On Sunday Hannah and her family had stayed in town to have dinner at the Whitemans’. Although Molly had chosen to sit with Grace between her and Stefan, she found his gaze on her whenever she glanced his way. After the meal, Andrew had to take care of any emergencies in the clinic, so that meant he and Clarissa could not be alone, but then Stefan made no effort to be with Molly either and that created anxiety about whether he had reservations about her as well.
At least they had talked to each other, even if it had been in a conversation with other members of the family both Sunday and at supper last evening. Why did she avoid him so when she really desired his company? Well, if she had the answer to that, all her problems would be solved.
Today she planned to do a little shopping with Clarissa, who had managed to spend more time with Andrew on Monday when they went out to the ranch with her father and Stefan. Clarissa had enjoyed riding with Andrew so much that she had asked her father to buy a horse for her as well, and Stefan worked with Micah to ready a horse for travel back to Arizona.
Everything appeared to be fine yesterday when the group left even though she sensed an undercurrent of uneasiness as she stood on the porch and waved good-bye. Stefan had politely asked her to join them, but she begged off with the excuse that she wanted to stay behind and help Mama with the extra laundry and the party coming up on Friday night.
With Stefan and his father back at the ranch to make payment and arrange for getting the horses to Louisiana and to Arizona, folding clothes from yesterday’s wash gave Molly the opportunity to consider what she would do about Stefan at the dance. She’d already consented to let him escort her, and backing out was not an option. But how could she spend an eve
ning that close to him and keep her emotions in check?
Alice pulled up a chair beside Molly. “Why do you look so sad? You get to go to a party Friday night, but Juliet and I have to go stay with Lettie again.” She sighed and hugged her doll. “I’ll be glad when I’m grown up and old enough to go to the parties and dances.”
Molly reached over and cupped her hand on Alice’s head. Her green eyes, so like Mama’s, peered back at her. “Honey, I’m not really sad, just thinking about all I have to do. You have plenty of time to play and enjoy what you’re doing now. Going to parties and dances will come soon enough, and I bet you’ll have all the boys standing in line waiting to dance with you.”
Alice frowned and bit her lip. “You really think so?” She pulled at one of her carrot-colored braids. “If my hair was a pretty red like yours or Mama’s, it wouldn’t be so bad. Mine’s more orange, and I hate it.”
“Oh, dear sister, your hair is perfect, and one day you’ll be glad it’s the color it is.” Molly reached over and hugged her sister. “Please don’t grow up too soon. I like having two little sisters who still play with dolls and have tea parties.”
“Humph, that’s all I ever get to do.” Her shoulders sagged and her chin dropped to her chest.
Molly remembered those days of wanting to do things the older girls did, but now she almost longed for the time when she didn’t have to worry about boys and relationships.
Clara pushed open the kitchen door and whirled into the room. “You’ll never guess what happened.”
“No, probably not, so why don’t you quit spinning in circles and tell us.”
“Ted Gladstone asked if he could escort me to the party Friday night.” She sighed and clasped her hands to her chest. “I think he’s one of the most handsome young men in town.”
Molly had to agree with that. The mayor’s son was a little less than a year older than Clara and had completed his first year in college. “That’s wonderful. I know you’ve liked him for a while so I’m glad he’s taken notice of you.”
“Will you and Clarissa fix my hair and make it as pretty as yours for Friday night?”
Clarissa appeared in the doorway, a twinkle lighting her eyes. “What’s this about doing your hair for Friday night?”
The glow in Clarissa’s face caused a lump to rise in Molly’s throat. Her friend was in love, and envy filled Molly’s heart. She swallowed hard to dispel the lump and envy before she could speak.
Clara hugged Clarissa. “Teddy Gladstone asked to be my escort for the party on Friday. I asked if you and Molly would do my hair for me.”
“I’d be delighted.” She fingered Clara’s sandy curls. “We’ll find a style that will make you even prettier than you are.”
“I wish my name was as pretty as yours. Clarissa is so much better than plain old Clara, and my hair is so drab.”
Alice planted her hands on her hips and scowled. “Well, at least it’s not orange like mine.”
Clarissa laughed. “You girls have lovely hair, and it will be fun to do yours, Clara, and that’s a fine name by the way.” She glanced around the kitchen. “I actually came down looking for Mother. Have you seen her, Molly?”
“Yes, she and Mama took Juliet and went to the bakery, and then they were going by town hall. I suppose they’re checking things for Friday night.”
“Well, then, if you’re finished here, can we go to town?”
“Yes, I just need to freshen up a bit. Clara, will you stay with Alice until Mama returns? Danny is with the men out at the ranch, so there would be just the two of you here.”
Clara looked like she wanted to say no, but she sighed and grabbed Alice’s hand. “C’mon punkin’. Let’s go see what we can find to do.”
Molly hated to leave Clara out of the shopping trip, but someone needed to stay with Alice. She’d be sure to make it up to her sister next week. Molly had had her share of foregoing activities to take care of her younger siblings, so she understood Clara’s sigh and resignation that she had no choice.
Twenty minutes later she and Clarissa walked toward town, their parasols shielding them from the sun’s rays. June in central Texas meant temperatures well into the ninety-degree range, and sun like that could ruin a girl’s complexion mighty fast.
Clarissa linked arms with Molly. “I’m glad we’re doing this alone. I have some things I want to talk with you about, and your house has so many ears.”
That was true, and the walls weren’t all that solid. Privacy was a rare commodity with a family as large as hers. “What do want to talk with me about, as if I didn’t know? It’s about Andrew, isn’t it?”
Clarissa only nodded as they stepped up to the boardwalk at the edge of the business area of town. “I like your town. Stoney Creek people have been so friendly toward our family, and I’m looking forward to the dance on Friday night. Your mother told me that almost everyone invited will be there.”
“Yes, they will, and you’ll have a grand time.” Whatever Clarissa wanted to say about Andrew would come about eventually. All this small talk about Stoney Creek acted as a bridge to what was really on Clarissa’s mind. Molly would be patient and let her friend decide when she wanted to share.
They stopped in front of the dress shop and eyed the display in the window. Several hats in the latest style sat atop cushion-topped posts for all to see. A mannequin stood in one corner wearing a dress of the prettiest yellow silk she’d ever seen. She’d love to have it, but her budget wouldn’t allow it, and she didn’t want to ask Mama for such an extravagance. She turned to say something to Clarissa, but the tears glistening in her eyes stopped Molly cold. “What in the world is the matter? Has something happened between you and Andrew?
Once again Clarissa only nodded. She blinked her eyes before speaking. “Let’s go over to the bakery and have tea and cake. I saw our mothers leaving, so we won’t run into them.”
“All right.” Molly followed Clarissa across to the bakery shop. All types of scenarios paraded across Molly’s mind. Whatever had happened was enough to make her friend cry, and that didn’t bode well for anybody.
Faith stood behind the counter and filled their order for pound cake and herb tea. She grinned and came around to place the plates of cake and cups of tea on their table. “I can see why my brother is so smitten with you. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone with eyes the color of yours. They’re beautiful.”
Pink filled Clarissa’s cheeks. “Thank you, Faith.” She wrapped her hands around the teacup and Faith headed back to the counter to help another customer.
Molly reached across and grabbed Clarissa’s hands. “Now, please tell me what has you so troubled.”
With a glance over her shoulder to make sure Faith was not in hearing range, she said, “It’s Mother and Father, and even Stefan. They’re all against my having any relationship with Andrew.”
Molly had suspected as much, and her heart ached to see Clarissa in tears because of her family’s attitude. “I see, and just what are your feelings for Andrew?”
“Oh, Molly, I love him. He’s been so wonderful. I know we only just met, but I can’t stand the thought of never seeing him again. He . . . he asked if he could write to me after we return
home and I said yes, but I’m afraid Mother and Father will frown upon that and forbid it.”
Molly had heard of love coming quickly, but she wasn’t prepared to hear this from Clarissa. Why, Andrew and Clarissa barely knew each other.
“I don’t know what to say, Clarissa. From what I’ve observed, Andrew loves you as well. I’m sure your parents will let him at least write to you.”
“But we want more than that. I’d be willing to stay here in Stoney Creek if he asked me to marry him, but after what Father said last night, he wouldn’t let me.”
“What did he say?”
“He said he could never let me leave home and live in a place like Stoney Creek. He said . . . ” She blushed and looked down. “He said that we have far too much social standing in St. Francisville and Baton Rouge for me to give it up to be a small-town doctor’s wife.”
“What do you feel?” Molly asked.
“I like Stoney Creek well enough, and I think it would be interesting to be a doctor’s wife.”
“You say that now, Clarissa, but think about all the friends and activities you’d leave behind. Marriage isn’t something you enter into lightly. It’s for a lifetime.”
“I know that, and that’s what I want with Andrew, a lifetime of love and having a family together. But I love my parents, and I can’t dishonor them by leaving them alone in Louisiana. What am I to do?”
“I don’t know, Clarissa. Has Andrew declared himself?” Clarissa sighed. “No. And I don’t know if he would if he knew how much against this match my parents are. Isn’t that unfair?” She gripped Molly’s hand. “What about you and my brother? Surely your parents wouldn’t be against the match, and I know my parents adore you and your family. As do I!”
Love Never Fails Page 11
