“Did we? I often wonder if we weren’t thinking more of ourselves, not her.” Her gaze slid toward the window. “Losing Penelope hurt so very much.”
Harold covered her hand with his. “I believe you’re right. We were so frightened of losing Heidi we may have overreacted.” He swallowed a bite of toast and wiped his mouth. “She’ll be all right. Clarence is a good man. I’m confident he’ll treat her well.”
Men are so thick headed. Mary closed her eyes, then stood. If she didn’t leave immediately, she would blurt out everything. “I’m going to fix Heidi a bath.”
****
Heidi stood in front of the mirror in her bedroom, and ran the towel over her wet body. She dropped the cloth, and turned sideways, then clasped her hands on her belly. Can you hear me, little one? Mama will take good care of you, I promise.
“Heidi,” her mother called from the other side of the door. “May I come in?”
Heidi pulled on her dressing gown. “Yes.”
This time her mother appeared more nervous than earlier in the morning. She chewed on her lower lip, and twisted the pearl ring on her finger. “I wonder if I should wear my blue brocade dress, or maybe something else.”
“You’ll look lovely, Mother. The blue brocade is beautiful, and you’ll be the perfect mother of the bride.” Heidi attempted a smile.
“Thank you.” Mother cupped her cheek, and gave her a light kiss. “But I think you should probably begin to dress. I’ll help you.”
Heidi turned to the clock on her dresser. Nine forty-five.
****
Nine forty-five, and the train sat on the tracks in the middle of nowhere. They hadn’t moved in fifteen minutes. About halfway from Guthrie to Oklahoma City the blasted thing slid to a stop. Michael rotated his neck, and frustration mounted, at the only information the conductor had provided to the passengers. A problem on the line. And no, he had no idea when the train would start up again.
Michael shifted in his seat, and tapped his fingers on his thigh. He should have taken the train last night. Except the last train had departed before he’d left Jesse and Tori’s house. Or maybe he should have ridden his horse. Or left much earlier, and driven his buggy.
“Something needs to be done about these trains.” The man seated to his left grumbled and turned to Michael. “I ride trains all the time, and about once a week one breaks down.” He shook his head.
“What happens when they break down?”
“One time we sat for over an hour before they managed to fix the damn thing.”
Michael’s heart sped up. “An hour! I need to be in Oklahoma City before eleven o’clock.”
“Then you’d better start walking, young man,” he chuckled.
By ten-fifteen, Michael exited the train and jogged away. Overhead, the sun beat down. He shrugged out of his jacket, then hung it over his arm. He shadowed his eyes with his hand, and glanced off in the distance, then smiled. About three quarters of a mile to the east, a farmhouse came into view. Maybe he could borrow a horse from the farmer. He squinted at his watch as he trotted in that direction. Ten-twenty.
****
“Dear, I don’t feel so good. I think I’d better lie down.” Mary glanced at the clock in her bedroom. Ten-twenty. Where is Michael?
Harold fastened the buttons on his boots and stood. “Lie down? Mary, it’s almost time to leave for the church.”
“I know, but I feel so faint.” She raised the back of her hand to her forehead, and closed her eyes. “I’ll rest here for a little while.”
“All right. But don’t rest too long. You still have to dress.” He left the room.
Mary hopped off the bed and paced. What had happened? Michael assured her he would catch the seven-thirty train, and be here in their house long before they left for the church. He should have arrived by now.
A soft knock interrupted her. “Come in.”
Heidi peeked around the corner. “Papa said you’re not feeling well.”
Mary stumbled back to the bed and sat. “Yes. I feel so…faint. I must be suffering from over excitement.”
Heidi approached her, the skirt of her wedding dress fisted in her hands. “You do look somewhat flushed.”
“Yes, I don’t know what afflicts me, actually. I think if I rest for a bit I’ll be fine.”
“All right.” Heidi regarded her as she headed to the door. “I’ll leave you to dress.”
“Yes, you do that dear. I’m sure I’ll be fine in a little while. In fact, I’m sure everything will be fine in a little while.”
****
Brows furrowed, Heidi left her mother lying on the bed, and crossed the hallway to her room.
Mother certainly behaved strange today. She hadn’t once mentioned the letter from Clarence. In fact, seemed to have completely forgotten about it. Where yesterday, she displayed outrage, today she seemed happy, and almost…excited.
Heidi sighed and sat on the small stool in front of her dressing mirror. She pivoted, absorbing all the sights and smells of her room. The bed she’d slept in since childhood, the blue and purple flowered wallpaper she and Mother had picked out together. Tears welled in her eyes. If only she were leaving her treasured room for something better.
Clarence had purchased a house, one she had no intention of living in. He resented the fact that she hadn’t stepped over the threshold, and had no interest in decorating. She snorted. Decorating. With Papa’s money, no doubt. Well, he could decorate the blasted place himself.
Not caring if she wrinkled the beautiful dress, she meandered to the bed, plopped down, and swung her legs over. Heidi reclined against the pillows, tilting her head to stare at the ceiling. As always, Michael drifted into her mind. What was he doing today? On a Saturday, he would be in the shop for the morning. Did he even know today she would marry Clarence? Would he care?
She rolled over and glanced at the clock. Ten thirty-five. Soon Papa would come to escort her to the buggy. She fumbled for her handkerchief and allowed herself the luxury of one more cry, not caring if she showed up at the church a blotchy-faced bride.
****
Ten thirty-five. Michael shook his head as he tucked his watch into his pocket. He’d finally arrived at the front door of the farmhouse. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, and slid into his jacket. After giving himself a couple of minutes to calm his breathing, lest he scare these people, he knocked on the door.
Frantic no one answered after knocking twice, he turned to check the barn when the door opened. A short, elderly woman peered out at him. “Yeah?” Stains covered her cotton gown, and she wore broken men’s shoes on her feet.
“Good morning, ma’am. I wonder if your husband is home?”
She stepped onto the porch, spit tobacco juice from the side of her mouth, then swiped the brown liquid dripping down her chin. “Been buried in the back yard now for going on ten years.”
Dead, I hope.
“I realize this is a strange request, but do you have a horse I could borrow?”
She narrowed her eyes. “Now, why would I be keeping a horse just so’s you can come along and borrow it?”
Michael’s shoulders slumped. “You don’t have a horse?”
“Nope.”
“Do you happen to know if someone nearby has a horse?”
“Yep. My son does.”
“Does he live far from here?”
“Nope.”
Michael took a deep breath, to keep from shaking the woman. “Where does he live?”
She widened the door and jerked her head back. “Right here.”
He brushed past her, and shook the shoulder of the man snoring on the broken-down sofa. “Excuse me, sir.”
The man gave one large snort and opened his bloodshot eyes. “What?”
“Sir, I understand you own a horse.”
“Yeah. Who wants to know?”
Michael went down on one knee to look the man in the eye. “I am in desperate need of a horse. I would very much like to borrow
yours.”
The man narrowed his eyes, where they almost disappeared in his fleshy face. “Who are you, and why should I lend you my horse?”
“My name is Michael Henderson. I’m a pharmacist, and I own a store in Guthrie.”
“Why do you need a horse so bad? Where’s yours?”
Michael leaned away from the foul breath emanating from the man. “I was a passenger on the way from Guthrie, but the train broke down, and I really need to get to Oklahoma City.”
“Ain’t that too bad.” The man rolled over, facing the back of the sofa.
“Wait!” He grabbed the man’s shoulder. “How about if I buy your horse?”
The man peered at him over his massive shoulder. “How much?”
“Twenty dollars.”
“Twenty-five, and you got a deal. I’ll even throw in the saddle since I can’t ride ‘em anymore.”
Michael stood and peeled off the bills, then shoved them into the man’s hand.
“Ma, show Michael Henderson−the pharmacist here−where the horse is.” He returned to his position facing the back of the sofa and let out a snore before they even left the house.
The older woman led him from the door, across the sagging porch, to a makeshift lean-to. An animal that may have been a horse at one point, looked up at their approach, swishing its tail.
Michael’s stomach dropped. The horse’s middle drooped, and flies buzzed around its head and eyes. The stench from where the poor animal stood in his own waste almost equaled his former master’s breath. “How old is this horse, ma’am?”
“Don’t know, but he’s your problem now.” She spit once more, and pointed to a worn out saddle leaning against the weathered boards of the farmhouse. “That there’s your saddle.” She turned and shuffled back to the house.
Michael rested his hands on his hips and regarded the horse. Lord, I hope the poor animal makes it to Oklahoma City before he dies. He looked at his watch. Ten minutes to eleven.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
“Mary, it’s ten minutes to eleven. If we don’t leave this very minute, we’ll be late.” Harold glared as she fumbled through pieces of jewelry strewn over the deep green coverlet on their bed.
“I know, dear, but I can’t attend the wedding without my favorite earrings.” She swirled her fingers through the mess. Where is that man? My God, if Michael doesn’t come in time, Heidi will actually marry a monster. No. I won’t let it happen. I’ll have to do something, anything, to delay this disaster.
“Papa?” Heidi stood in the doorway to her parents’ bedroom.
Harold turned, and his face softened. He wiped a tear from his eye, and walked up to her. “Don’t you look lovely.” His voice broke as he raised a palm to her cheek and caressed it. “You are the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen.” Quickly recovering, he added, “Except for your mother, of course.”
“Oh, Papa, I love you so much.” Heidi threw her arms around his neck.
Father and daughter embraced for a moment, then he kissed her on the forehead, and she moved away.
She peered around him. “Mother, is everything all right?”
“Yes, dear, I need to find my earrings.”
“Mary, choose another pair, we have to leave.” Harold grabbed her by the elbow and moved her forward.
“Never mind, I don’t need earrings after all.” Mary smiled at her husband. “Give me a few minutes to put these all away.”
Heidi stepped forward. “I’ll help.”
Mary waved her off. “No, dear. You won’t know where they go. Why don’t you return to your room and relax for a bit.”
“Relax?” Harold regarded her with raised eyebrows.
Mary rested her fists on her hips, and faced him. “Really, dear, you’re being most unpleasant today.”
“Unpleasant?”
She shook her head. “And stop repeating everything I say. Go on downstairs, the both of you, and I’ll join you in a minute.” She laid her palms on Harold’s and Heidi’s lower backs and edged them to the door. “A minute.”
Mary continued to smile until the door closed. Then she scooped up the earrings, and tossed them into a drawer. She paced, wringing her hands. What in heaven’s name am I going to do? She stopped, inhaling deeply. I must pull myself together.
With shaky fingers, she patted her hair, then moved to the mirror over her dresser and smiled at her reflection. “It will be fine. Michael will be here.”
“Mary!” The shout from below brought her up short. She’d think of something.
She pushed a pin into her hat as she descended the stairs. “Here I am, dear. My goodness, but you’re impatient today.”
“Impatient?”
“You’ve done it again, repeating my words.” She sailed past him and out the front door.
Harold glowered and strode down the steps. He helped Heidi into the buggy, and turned to Mary, who stood next to him, studying her feet, a frown on her face.
“What’s the problem now?”
“I’m wearing the absolutely wrong shoes for this dress.” She turned to Heidi. “Don’t you think so? What about the cute little black ones I bought last week?”
“I don’t remember those shoes.” Heidi frowned.
Mary tapped her chin. “No. Black would not do for a wedding.” She smiled brightly. “I know. My lovely little shoes with the stitched pearls.” She turned to Harold. “They are so charming, I know they would look nice with this dress. I’ll be right back.”
She hurried away, as Harold shouted. “For heaven’s sake, woman, what is wrong with you today?” He flipped open his watch and growled.
Mary raced upstairs, her gaze sliding to the clock she passed in the hallway. Oh, God. It’s getting late. She entered her bedroom, then twisted her handkerchief as she paced. Maybe Michael was sick. Maybe injured somewhere. What could she do? She stopped abruptly when a thought slammed into her brain. Had Michael changed his mind? Had Senator Cochran forbidden Michael to allow his name to be besmirched?
No. Now that Michael knew about Clarence’s treachery, he would find a way. She had to have faith in how much he loved Heidi. Taking a deep breath, she slowly descended the stairs.
Harold stared at her wide-eyed. “Mary, you’re wearing the same shoes.”
“I know, dear. They look fine. Don’t you think so? Should I change them?”
Harold opened his mouth to speak, closed it, then opened it again. Firmly gripping Mary’s elbow, ushered her into the buggy. “I hope you realize your daughter will be late for her wedding. It’s already after eleven o’clock.” He took his seat next to her and slapped the horse’s reins.
****
After eleven, and Michael had just reached the outskirts of Oklahoma City. The horse panted and wheezed, seemed ready to drop dead. He headed for the first livery he came to, and slid off the beast. “Can you keep this animal here for me, and lend me a decent one?”
A tall, lanky man walked toward him, wiping his hands on a filthy cloth. “For a price.”
Michael reached for his money clip. “How much?”
“Depends. Where ya goin’?”
“Do you know where the First Methodist church is on Rockwell?”
“Yeah, about three miles west, then ‘bout half a mile north.”
“Great. I won’t be long, then. How much?” He began to count off bills.
“Five dollars for the rest of the day, but you’ll have to leave me twenty as a deposit.” At Michael’s narrowed eyes, he added, “But I’ll return fifteen to you when you return the horse.”
“Fine.” Michael handed the man two ten dollar bills, and looked around. “Where’s the horse? I’m in a hurry.”
“You young folks is always in a hurry.” The stable master shook his head and led Michael past a few stalls and pointed to a chestnut mare. “Right there, all saddled up.”
Michael muttered his thanks, grabbed the animal’s halter, and led him outside. He swung his leg over the back of the horse, and headed awa
y from the stable. His heart thundering like the horse’s hoofs under him, he pulled out his pocket watch. Eleven-ten. Fear knotted his stomach as he raced toward Rockwell Avenue.
****
Heidi clutched her papa’s arm and took her first steps toward the altar. A wave of dizziness swept over her, and she grabbed onto him for support.
If only he’d supported her when she told him numerous times she didn’t want to marry Clarence. And why had he been so easily convinced she’d changed her mind? Men were so thick-headed.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes.” She spoke through cracked lips. Her mouth felt dry as a desert, and her head pounded. She’d taken a treatment of Belladonna before she’d gotten dressed. But still she couldn’t fill her lungs with air. This was it. In the distance, Clarence stood alongside the Pastor, flashing a bright smile that caused Heidi’s stomach to roll.
Oh God. Don’t throw up now.
Her knees shook the entire length of the aisle. Tears stood in her eyes, and she had the overwhelming desire to scream and run from the church. Maybe Clarence wouldn’t send the information to the newspaper, after all. He could have been bluffing. She took in a shuddering breath, and glanced sideways, into the cold eyes of Gloria. He’d invited his mistress to their wedding!
No, Clarence wasn’t a man who would bluff. He had too much to lose, and everything to gain.
When they reached the front of the altar, the Pastor smiled warmly at her, and bellowed, “Who giveth this woman in matrimony?”
“I do.” Papa stated, his voice ringing throughout the church.
“Wait.” Mary stepped from the pew and joined her husband at the altar. “Don’t I have a say?”
The Pastor’s eyes grew wide. “Uh, yes, I guess you would. I never had the bride’s mother pose that question before.”
“So ask me.”
“Do you give, err, giveth this woman in Matrimony?”
She tilted her head, and studied the pastor. “What does that mean, exactly?”
Her father bent close to Mother’s ear. “What the devil is going on here?”
She regarded him wide-eyed. “Why, I’m only interested in the ceremony. I mean, didn’t you ever wonder exactly why they ask that question?”
A Prescription For Love: An Oklahoma Lovers book Page 24
