by Kari Trumbo
“Why would I do that? I ain’t got no reason to stay. I told you I’d help you with your important work so I could stay near my Pa until he got better. Now that we’re done, I’m heading out.”
“What about your pa? I know he ain’t better.” Josiah hooked the pulley onto the other plow, destined for Yellow Medicine. They had come in on the train and had been delivered to his house earlier that day. If he’d been there, he wouldn’t have to reload them. “I can pay you. The work’s good and steady. It isn’t quite working with horses, but it’s better than cows.” Josiah heaved. The heavy plow inched its way up.
Beau strode over and added his weight behind it, pulling the heavy machinery up and over the lip of the cart. “My pa don’t care whether I come home at night or not. I doubt he’ll be around much longer.” Beau looked away.
“It’s up to you. The work is here if you want it. Take a day to think about it. I already went to the bank and told them to put your pay in your account.”
Beau nodded and tipped his hat, leaving through the large, open front.
~~~
Penny pulled the petals off a mum that Josiah had bought from the greenhouse in the Loop when he’d delivered a load there. He had given it to her father to pass along to her, but he’d made no move to tell her or her father what he’d been doing, nor had he asked for her hand.
“He loves me…” She plucked a petal. “He loves me not…” She plucked another.
“I don’t think Josiah would like to know what you’re doing with the flower he brought.” Ruby sat next to her.
“He isn’t ever going to fully trust me. If he were, he’d have done it by now, so what does it matter?” She plucked another. “Drat. I don’t remember which I was on.”
“He loves you,” Ruby said.
Penny yanked all the petals out. “He loves me not.” She threw open the window, tossing the petals and stem outside.
“Don’t be angry. He’s been working every day and hasn’t even come home a couple days.”
Penny gawked, wide-eyed. “You mean you’ve been to see him? You know what he’d doing all the time and you haven’t told me?”
“I didn’t want you to be jealous or angry.” Ruby hung her head. “I didn’t see much of him at all. I was stopping by to see what was taking so long for him to come ‘round and I heard him talking to another man. He was quite handsome and I, well, I forgot the whole reason I’d gone over there. When the other man turned to come out, I hid and only came out after he’d left.” She flushed a pretty pink.
“Who was it?” Penny grabbed Ruby’s hands.
“I don’t know his name. He’s tall, dark, and mysterious, that one.”
Penny clapped her hands together. “You must mean Beau! He works for Josiah. Oh, I’ll have to introduce you. He lives with his father right now, just two houses behind us.”
“Don’t tell me that or I’ll never sleep again. I’ve been meaning to ask you. I don’t like staying here without paying for anything, but I don’t have any money. Do you plan to return to the coffee shop when you fully heal?”
Penny tilted her head and chewed her lip. “As much as I used to enjoy working there, I don’t want to go back. You are welcome to talk to Mable about it. It doesn’t pay much, might not even be enough for a room. She does have an extra room upstairs, though. Lily considered renting it a few months ago.”
“I’ll ask her. Thank you so much, Penny. I don’t think you’ll have to wait on Josiah too much longer. Be patient. In the long run, you won’t even remember this time.”
Penny nodded and her thumb again tried to twirl the ring that wasn’t there.
~~~
Josiah tied his tie and frowned. He’d done his best to stay busy and let Bill Hanover cool off but the long her waited, the more aloof Bill got. He seemed to have made the wrong decision once again. Shrugging into the one nice suit coat he had, he checked his teeth one last time. He’d asked Bill earlier for a chance to talk and Bill had invited him to dinner with the whole family. As much as he wanted to have Penny in his arms forever, he still didn’t feel the need to tell Penny about his deliveries. He didn’t want to take the chance that she might not approve. He thought she might, but you just never knew with people, even those you knew.
He sighed and grabbed his hat, slapping it against the dresser to get the dust off of it from his last drive and slipped it on his head. It didn’t take him long to walk the few houses down to the Hanover house. All the lamps were bright on the main floor, giving off a happy glow. He knocked on the door. Bill answered it.
“Good, you’re early. Come on in.” He pulled the door open wide and showed him in.
Josiah pulled his hat off and stepped in the door. He could see Sarah, Geraldine, and Ruby flitting about the kitchen finishing the meal. “Thank you for having me, sir.”
“Let’s go in my office for a minute, son.” Bill put his hand on the back of Josiah’s neck.
His first thought was to shrug off the hand, but he held back. Bill held the key to his happiness. He’d put up with a little discomfort to get it. He let Bill lead him to a small, closed-off room to the left of the kitchen. Bill led him in and closed the pocket door with a soft thud.
“Josiah, it has taken you a while to come talk to me. Have you changed your mind about my Penelope and if so, what exactly do you expect me to do? My daughter will come first, let me be perfectly clear.” Bill sat behind his desk.
Josiah wasn’t sure if he was welcome to sit or not so he paced behind the chair on the opposite side of the desk. “I love Penny, sir. I was just worried that you were still angry with me. I wanted to give everyone a chance to cool down and for Penny to heal. Surely she got the flowers I sent over for her.”
“Yes, Sarah swept them off the porch two days ago.” Bill’s eyebrow crept up his forehead and smile dared to bend his lips.
“Swept them off … you mean she threw them away?” Josiah flopped down into the chair and sucked in as much breath as he could. The room suddenly felt devoid of sufficient air.
“Josiah, she’s been hurt. She thought you would come around right away and confirm her feelings. I don’t know what happened between you two when you found her, but she is a changed girl. She gets agitated at the slightest mention of you. I think she fully expected you to make her a respectable woman again within a day.”
Josiah felt the color drain from his face. “Have I missed my chance? Have I messed this up once again?” He looked to Bill for guidance.
“All we are waiting for, Josiah, is an apology for what happened the night you took our daughter, an explanation of what was so important, and a proposal. If you are willing to do all those things…” Bill reached into his front vest pocket. He pulled out something shiny and handed it to Josiah. His grandmother’s ring shone back at him.
“Thank you, sir. I had hoped to give her this one when I first asked, and then surprise her with a prettier ring on the day we married. Trouble is, I haven’t gotten to Billings lately with all my other deliveries, so I didn’t get one.”
“Penny loves that ring. I don’t think you need to worry about anything else. Don’t wait another day.”
Josiah stood as someone knocked on the door and called softly that supper was ready.
“Oh, Josiah.” Bill came around the desk and stood next to him. “I’ve already told Reverend Bligh he might be busy tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” Josiah coughed.
“Yes, tomorrow. I’m not waiting any longer for you to make an honest woman of my daughter, d’you hear?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Let’s go eat and you can do what you need to.” Bill patted him on the back. He felt his stomach churn. Bill led him to the seat at the opposite end of the table. Penny sat to his left and Ruby to his right. Bill led them in prayer, and then a quiet settled around the table as bowls full of food were passed around. Josiah took food, but none of it looked or smelled appealing. His mouth felt like he’d eaten wood dust.
“Josiah, why don’t you start by telling us what has been keeping you so busy the last few months?” Bill prompted.
“Yes, I…” He looked at Penny. She gave him an encouraging smile. She reached out her hand under the table and he took it, praying she would still want to hold his when he was finished.
“Sir I’ve been helping a church in Augustana. They provide transportation to black families who want a new life.”
Bill cocked his head. “So, sort of like the Underground Railroad before the war?”
“Yes, sir. The railroad shut down in about 1860, but almost thirty years later, they still aren’t really free. Many cities still treat them poorly. The families or groups I helped all left terrible conditions to come west. Many ride the train, but not all of them have the money to do so. The night I took Penny to help me, Beau and I had brought a couple to Rocks Peak. She’d had a fever for days and we didn’t know what to do.” He looked at Penny and squeezed her fingers under the table. She smiled back at him as he continued. “I’m sorry that I brought her out there, but I’m so glad she was able to help. That family is happy now with their own homestead.”
None of the family had taken a bite. They all looked at him, engrossed in what he said.
“I’m sorry, Penny. I should have told you, but I was so worried about losing you.”
Penny looked down. “I never would leave you over such a thing. I’m proud of you. Just please, never think you have to hide anything from me again.”
Josiah let go of her hand under the table and laid it out on the table, inviting her to do the same. She blushed and lay her hand in his.
“So, you’ve gotten your story and apology. Now there is only one important detail left.” Bill stood and poured a little wine in dainty goblets at the side of each plate. Josiah watched him add a little more than a drink to each cup. Penny looked nervously around the table. She looked as unprepared for this proposal as he felt. It was all wrong. This wasn’t how he wanted it to go, any of it.
“Penny, I’ve wasted time the last few weeks mulling over what I should say and shouldn’t when the truth is, there was probably only a few words you wanted to hear from me and they’re the same few I’ve been dying to hear from you.” He pulled her fingers to his lips and kissed them gently, aware that the whole Hanover family stared at him. “I love you, Penelope Hanover. Will you be my bride?”
Penny jumped out of her chair and sat on his lap. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him so hard, his head swam. He wasn’t sure whether he should enjoy it or try to stop it. Bill cleared his throat and Penny pulled back, her eyes a dark glossy green. She lay her forehead against his.
“I love you, too, Josiah Williams. It took you long enough.”
The table erupted in laughter as Penny took her seat and they all took a sip of the wine Bill had given them. Though the meal was now cold, no one seemed to care much. Josiah clutched his waist pocket.
Penny looked over at him. “Josiah, what’s the matter?”
“Things got so exciting after I asked you for your hand, I forgot to give you back your ring.” He patted his front and his eyes went wide. “It’s not in my pocket anymore.” He looked on the floor around his chair and the family checked the hall and Bill’s office, but the ring was gone.
Penny sat down hard in her seat and looked at her hand. “We can marry without a ring for now. It really doesn’t matter.”
Josiah could tell from the sound of her voice that she’d only said it to make him feel better. He led her out to the swing after the meal and sat with her wrapped in a blanket. Her parents sat in the parlor on the other side of the glass.
“I’m so sorry about the ring. I don’t know what happened to it.” He wove his fingers around hers.
“I don’t know what happened, but I don’t blame you for it. We’ll look more tomorrow in the light. It has to be somewhere and if Father gave it to you, it has to be in our house.” She smiled, looking at their hands. She gently touched his fingers, and even that tender touch reminded him that they had to be careful until tomorrow.
“Penny, you tempt me too much.” He took back his hand and draped his arm behind her on the swing.
She nestled in close to him. “I can’t help myself. Now that I’ve kissed you, I want to spend the rest of my days doing just that.”
He lifted her chin and indulged her for a soft caress on the lips with his. “I can’t stay another minute. I’ll be back here tomorrow at four o’clock. Reverend Bligh has already been told.”
She touched his lips with her thumb and he playfully nipped at her. “How is that possible? You just asked me.”
He smiled and stood up, unable to stay a moment longer with her. “Your father arranged it. He was waiting for me to come ask for your hand.”
“I’m so glad you did.” She wrapped herself in the blanket to make up for the loss of warmth from him. “Tomorrow, then?”
“Tomorrow.” He tipped his hat to her, leaving with a bounce in his step and a whistle on his lips.
Chapter twenty-four
Penny lay on the chaise lounge in the parlor. Her mother had insisted that today she wouldn’t do anything. Today was her day. Even though she wasn’t getting a wedding with the whole town and not in the chapel as she’d always hoped, she was having the wedding in her parlor with her family and close friends.
Lily arrived just after lunch and brought with her some flowers she had been growing in the window of her apartment. She’d wrapped them in a bunch with ribbon that trailed down. The bouquet was of tamed wild flowers and Penny loved it. Lily and Ruby sat with her and laughed the afternoon away.
Penny’s sister, Geraldine, brought in sandwiches about a half hour before the groom was expected. Penny had begged to wear the green dress, but her mother had not allowed it. It was bad enough her daughter was getting married under speculation. She would be married in white. A neighbor had let her use a gown. Sarah teared up at the continued tradition.
Penny sat in her borrowed dress with her two closest friends at her side. They heard men come in the front and Geraldine sent them in. James Cahill, Beau Rockford, and Josiah Williams entered the room. Josiah walked around the chaise and sat on the end near Penny’s feet. James went straight to Lily and kissed her temple, and then stood behind her chair. Beau looked at Ruby and stood stock-still. She turned to see who stood behind her and blushed clear to her blonde roots.
“Ruby Gresham, meet Beau Rockford.” Penny giggled at the two who couldn’t seem to string two words together.
Ruby stood and held out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Rockford.”
He stepped forward, took her hand and gently brushed his lips over her knuckles. “The pleasure is mine, Miss Gresham.”
Penny didn’t feel like correcting him and Ruby was, for once, too tongue-tied to do it. Beau invited Ruby to sit, and he stood behind her chair to wait for the ceremony.
“I’m so glad all of you could come on such short notice.” Penny looked around her. “Holston will close the shop a little early, so he’ll get here right before we start and of course, Geraldine, Papa, and Mama will be here.”
“We’re happy to be here for you, Penny. I’m sad that you never did get to pick out your dress. We’ve sat in the mercantile so often looking, it seems sad that we never got to pick anything for you.”
Penny reached out for Josiah’s hand. “When all is said and done, Mama was right. It is just a dress. I have lots of dresses and I never plan to wear a wedding dress again.”
James reached down and squeezed Lily’s shoulder. “Perhaps you could get Penny to continue to help you look for your own?”
The room got quite as he knelt in front of Lily. “I know you wanted to wait and get to know each other slowly, to grow in love with one another. Lily, I want you to know that I think of you as my one and only even now. Will you marry me?”
Penny gasped and jumped up. Josiah held her back from getting between the two.
Lily blushed a pretty
pink. “Yes, James. I will.”
He pulled a small gold band from his pocket and put it on her finger. “That one is for you.” He reached into his coat pocket and handed Josiah a small box. “And that one is for you.” He smiled.
Josiah breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, James. I knew I couldn’t make it all the way today and get everything done at my house before the wedding.”
Penny turned to him and grabbed his hands. “Your house? It’s finished?”
He smiled and nodded. “I only got a few basic things for inside today. I wanted you to be able to pick out your furniture.”
“Oh, Josiah. Thank you.” She threw her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek.
Reverend Bligh cleared his throat behind them. “Now, save some of that for after the I do.”
The whole Hanover family stood in the doorway behind the reverend and they waited for him to tell them each where to stand.
As the reverend spoke of happiness and health, Penny heard hardly a word of it. She was full to bursting with the excitement of joining this man, her man, Josiah Williams in marriage.
“Josiah, you may now kiss your—”
Penny threw her arms around his neck standing on the tips of her toes and kissed him. He pulled her close and she felt his heart against her own, matching rhythms beat for beat.
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I hope you continue reading the Cutter’s Creek series! Expect the next release in July by Annie Boone.
