Molly smiled faintly. “I do like Stefan very much, but Clarissa, I just don’t know if I like him enough to give up my home and everything I know. Being a military wife would be so different—and difficult.”
Clarissa sobered. “I can’t blame you. It looks like a hard life. And if I marry Andrew and live in Stoney Creek, I would want you to stay here anyway!”
Molly smiled and reached for her tea, but her mind was elsewhere. If Clarissa could give up her family and the only life she had ever known for the sake of love, shouldn’t Molly be able to do the same? At least Molly’s parents weren’t likely to stand in the way of a relationship with Stefan, so why was she so hesitant? She cared about Stefan a great deal, but the life of a military wife held no appeal to her. And for that reason she needed to make sure her feelings for Stefan didn’t grow any deeper, or like Clarissa she’d be in a terrible dilemma, but for different reasons.
After securing a bill of sale and method of transport for the horses, Stefan rode beside his father with Danny back to town. As much as he’d like to talk with his father about Clarissa and Andrew, he didn’t want Danny to hear the conversation. Danny chatted with Father and pointed out his favorite trails and places for hunting.
The boy’s enthusiasm reminded him of Molly, and that presented a question as big as the one about Andrew and Clarissa. He’d seen through the tactics to avoid him since Saturday afternoon. The impossibility of their situation loomed even greater than his sister’s with Andrew.
How could he be satisfied with being only friends when her very presence ignited a fire in his belly that he couldn’t ignore? If she’d allow him to write to her after he returned to his regiment, perhaps he could help her to see that being in the military didn’t always mean fighting and killing, and that whenever that happened, it was to protect innocent people.
She loved her work as a teacher, and she loved her town. Those were obstacles that rivaled her distaste for war and meant he’d have to come up with a plan to entice her away from here. That would take all the genius planning he could muster in the weeks and months ahead.
Danny’s high-pitched voice on the verge of changing to a much deeper one broke into Stefan’s thoughts. “Mr. Stefan, when are you going back to the army?”
“After I get back to Louisiana I’ll see the doctor and he’ll tell me. I think it’ll be very soon.” The Whiteman boys certainly didn’t share their sister’s point of view about the army. Both Danny and Tom had questioned him at length about what army life was like. If not for the promise to his parents to finish his schooling, Tom most likely would have joined the military.
“Do ya every get lonely and wanna be back home with your ma and pa?” Danny’s brown eyes held sincere interest in whatever Stefan had to say.
“Yes, son, I do. But then we get busy and I get a few letters from home and it’s all okay.”
“I think I’d miss my ma and pa somethin’ fierce.” With that he rode on ahead a few yards.
To be honest, the post in the desert did get lonely. Sure there were lots of other soldiers around, but they were from all over the country. He could have stayed with the Louisiana 4th Regiment where his father had served, but the lure of the cavalry was stronger. He’d made his choice and ended up out in Arizona.
Asking Molly to leave Stoney Creek, her family, and her beloved students for the desolate Arizona desert was more than unfair, and he couldn’t do it to her, no matter how much he loved her. He blinked and gulped at that idea. He did love her, and now there was no denying it. He’d need all the strength the Lord could give him to get through the remaining days of their visit.
CHAPTER 15
MOLLY’S HEART HUNG heavy in her chest. Tomorrow Stefan would be leaving, and she most likely wouldn’t see him again for a very long time. Clarissa’s mood over Andrew didn’t help to make things any better either. At least they had the party tonight, but even that dimmed in light of reality.
Clara ambled into the room in her pink wrapper, ready for Clarissa to do the magic on her hairstyle for the night. Molly squared her shoulders and breathed deeply. In no way would she ruin her sister’s happiness with an evening in the company of Teddy Gladstone. And Tom would again escort Faith Delmont, so at least her siblings would enjoy the evening. Only she and Clarissa would face the evening with bittersweet feelings.
Clarissa smiled and waved her hair brush. “Let’s get on with making you the most beautiful young lady at the party tonight.”
Molly pasted a smile on her lips to match that of Clarissa. “She’ll work her magic on you just like she did for me last week. Which dress did you choose to wear?” Molly could guess, but small talk about clothes might help to get her mind off Stefan’s being her escort tonight.
“The lavender one. Mama says it makes my hair look lighter and shinier. I hope she’s right, but I love the dress anyway.”
“So do I. It makes your complexion absolutely creamy.” Clara had worn the dress once before to a tea at Mrs. Gladstone’s home and, from what Mama had said, received many compliments on it.
While Clarissa worked on Clara’s hair, Molly removed her own yellow-gold dress from the wardrobe. This one didn’t have a bustle, but several layers of fabric attached with a large bow to the waist in the back. She tied her petticoats about her waist then sat on the edge of the bed and pulled white silk stockings up over her legs.
Alice and Juliet raced into the room and plopped on the bed. Alice tilted her head and peered at Clara. “Oh, my, Clara, you are beautiful.”
Clara’s cheeks turned pink, but she smiled at her reflection in the mirror. “Thank you, sweet Alice.” She turned and hugged Clarissa. “I can’t believe you did this. I love it.” Clarissa had woven lavender ribbons through her hair, then pinned it into a glorious mound on top of Clara’s head. Tendrils of hair kissed the nape of Clara’s neck and danced against her cheeks.
“It does look nice even if I say so myself.” Clarissa swished her hands. “Now shoo, and go get that dress on. Alice, Juliet, why don’t you go help her?”
Alice bounded off the bed. “Oh, can we, Clara? Can we?”
At Clara’s nod the two little girls scampered from the room, their giggles filling the air. Clara shrugged then grinned and followed them.
Clarissa sank onto the dressing stool, the hair brush still in her hand. “I wish I felt as happy as they sound.”
“I know. I do too. I’ve been so foolish to avoid being alone with Stefan this past week, but I just don’t trust my heart right now.” The thought of his leaving tomorrow brought chills to her blood and regret to her heart. How could she feel this way about someone like Stefan? A soldier of all things.
Clarissa sighed in sympathy. “Andrew did ask Father about writing to me, and I couldn’t believe he agreed. I shall look forward to and cherish every letter I receive from him. Mother warned him that his letters must be friendly without any other nuances, whatever that means.”
It meant declarations of love or any other such sentiment, but no sense in telling Clarissa now and spoiling everything. Her mother would most likely read those letters, so she could tell if Andrew was getting too amorous. Molly breathed a prayer of thanks that her own mother wouldn’t pry like that. But would Stefan even want to write to her after th
e way she’d all but snubbed him the past week?
While Clarissa finished her preparations, Molly strolled over to the window in her stocking-covered feet and stared at the street below. A number of Stoney Creek citizens wandered about either at a leisurely stroll or at a determined pace to reach some destination. A figure below caught her attention. Tom raced down the sidewalk and to the buggy Papa had arranged for tonight.
Oh, dear. If Tom was headed to pick up Faith, then Stefan and Andrew would be on the doorstep very soon. She whirled around and searched for her slippers. They didn’t have time to spare. “Hurry, Clarissa. Stefan and Andrew will be here any minute. I just saw Tom leave to go get Faith.”
Clarissa stood and moved to the bed and the velvet jewelry case there. “I’m all ready, but I need your help to fasten my necklace.”
After securing the pearls at Clarissa’s neck, Molly checked her appearance. She reached up and positioned the tendrils falling in front of her ears. Everything had to be perfect tonight.
A few minutes later Mama opened the door to announce the young men had arrived. Molly gasped at her mother’s beauty. Ordinarily her hair was twisted into a bun on the crown of her head, but tonight red gold curls trailed down from a coiled mass at the crown. Two green jeweled pins matched the emerald green of her dress, and Mama’s eyes glowed with joy. Molly stood speechless, admiring her mother.
Mama tapped her ivory fan on her fingertips. “Come, girls, no time for any more primping. You don’t want to keep them waiting.” Her taffeta skirts swished and crackled when she turned and headed back downstairs.
Molly blinked her eyes and shook her head to clear it. Papa would be the envy of every man at the party tonight. Then one glance at Clarissa reminded her that Andrew would be the same with her on his arm. Well, Stefan would just have to be stuck with plain Molly.
She and Clarissa hooked arms and headed to meet their escorts for the evening. At the bottom step, Stefan stood gazing up at Molly with such intentness her breath caught and tightened her throat. The sight of him again in full military dress, his sandy hair perfect, and eyes the color of sapphires, made her resolve melt like ice in the June heat.
He reached for her hand to assist her on the last step. “You are beautiful this evening. Heads will turn with you on my arm.”
Her heart skipped a beat then pounded. Almost the exact words she’d used for Clarissa and Mama. She’d never measure up to them, but as long as Stefan looked at her like that, she’d be happy.
Everyone began talking at once and gathering up shawls and hats before strolling out to the carriages waiting on the street. Stefan assisted Molly up into the backseat of the surrey Andrew borrowed from his father for the evening. The ride would only be six blocks but the men had insisted they didn’t want the ladies to walk that far in their finery, and that suited Molly fine.
The silence between her and Stefan became awkward, but she could think of nothing to say. Her tongue may as well have been cut out for all the good it did her at the moment. Being near him and feeling the warmth of his body next to hers threatened to unnerve her. Emotions she’d buried for almost a week pushed through to send heat racing through her veins. Tomorrow he’d be on a train back to Louisiana and then on to his regiment. This may well be the last time they’d be together for many years, and she’d do well to remember exactly where he’d be spending those years.
Stefan helped Molly down from the surrey. All during the ride, he’d kept silent for fear of saying the wrong thing. He wanted this last evening to be perfect, and the wrong words could ruin it. He’d never seen her as beautiful as tonight in the yellow gold that served to intensify the gold in her hair. Being around his mother and sister had given him an eye for fashion, and Molly’s dress tonight didn’t fit into any style he’d seen them wear, but it was perfect for Molly, and that’s all that mattered.
He tucked her hand under his arm and escorted her up the steps and into the town hall that had been transformed into a gardenland of beauty on this June evening. Where could they have possibly found so many flowers in this town? They were everywhere the eye could see and all in a rainbow of colors.
“Your mother did a wonderful job with the decorations.”
“Thank you. I think she and the ladies at the church must have stripped every garden in town for this many flowers. One thing I do know though, Mrs. Delmont and her cooks did the baking and cooking, so it’s going to be delicious.”
“If it’s anything like the reception at the theater last week, I look forward to it.” He led her to a table set up against the walls where guests would sit and eat around the perimeter of the floor cleared for dancing later.
Molly sat and arranged her skirt to minimize wrinkles. “I remember coming here for a party for my aunt Hannah when she first arrived in Stoney Creek. I was almost twelve, and Uncle Micah danced with me. I thought he was the most handsome man in town, and so nice to dance with a little girl when he could have his pick of the ladies.”
Stefan sat next to her, content to listen to her voice all evening, but then of course he’d enjoy having her in his arms for a dance as well.
His situation with Molly had given him more empathy toward Andrew and his feelings for Clarissa. He didn’t want Andrew to bring his sister to Stoney Creek so far from her family, but his desires would do the same thing with Molly. He’d be taking her away from her home and the family she loved to live on an army post away from most civilization. True, many of the forts had towns springing up around them, but not the one where he served in Arizona. If the territory ever became a state, it wouldn’t be a densely populated one.
More guests arrived and filled the tables. Their greetings and further chatter rang in the air, adding to the festive atmosphere. A raised platform served as a stage for the three men who would perform the music for the night.
By the time Dr. Whiteman proclaimed the food line to be open, it seemed as though everyone in town had stopped by to say their good-byes and wish the family well on its trip back to Louisiana. A few even wished him well and thanked him for his service to his country. He never tired of hearing those words. They served as fuel when he faced tough situations.
When the music finally started, Stefan whisked Molly to the center and held her a little closer than the dance actually called for, but he’d waited this long to have his arms around her and he didn’t intend to waste a minute.
Molly grinned up at him. “I’d say you were anxious to get on the floor.”
“It’s my first chance to have you to myself for a few minutes. We’ve been surrounded by people all week. I had begun to think you were avoiding me.”
Her eyes opened wide, and her back stiffened, but that gave him the answer. Had the idea of his being in the military been so repulsive that she could no longer bear to be near him? The idea chilled his heart. If that were true, then all hopes of courting her and hoping she’d change her ideas were lost.
“I’ve . . . I’ve been . . . um . . . busy with helping Mama with the party and taking care of the younger children.”
He stared into eyes that lacked the excitement and joy of the days before. He wanted to see that joy and sparkle again before he left, but how to manage that escaped him now.
She pulled her gaze from his and glanced around the
room. “Everything looks so nice. Your mother was such a great help to Mama. And it looks like everyone is enjoying the effort.”
Everyone but the girl in his arms who caused his heart to do all sorts of crazy tricks and sent his thoughts sailing to places they had no business being.
As soon as the music ended, he grabbed her hand. “We need to talk, Miss Molly Whiteman.” He headed for the door and forced her to follow him by holding tight to her hand.
“Stefan Elliot, let me go this minute. You don’t have to drag me, I’ll come with you.”
Something in her voice stopped him cold. People all around the room stared at them. He’d embarrassed her in front of her friends. He dropped her hand. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hurt you, but we do need to talk, please.”
She rubbed her hand that had turned red from the pressure he’d put on it. Remorse filled him and he wished he could take back every second of the past few minutes. When he stepped through the doors to the boardwalk beyond, she followed like she said she would.
Once they were at the corner of the building and away from the crowd, Stefan grasped both of her hands and held them to his chest. Words jammed in his throat as he searched her face for some indication of her feelings for him. Finally, he took a deep breath then exhaled. “Molly, this has been a difficult week. Every time I tried to get close to you, you’d find some excuse to move away. There’s so much I’ve wanted to say, but now we have so little time left for me to say all the things I wanted to.”
He strained to hear her answer, barely above a whisper.
“I’m sorry, Stefan. My head has been in turmoil all week with all the things going on. I do care about you, but you know how I feel about the military.”
Love Never Fails Page 12
