by Linda Ford
“And Miss Sylvie just left. She has a lot to say about Mr. Cartwright.”
“It’s just as Reese says. Nothing in this town is private.”
“Should it be?” Lisa waggled her eyebrows. “Is there something you aren’t telling me?”
“If there is, I’m sure Jimmy of Sylvie or a dozen others will inform you.”
“I’d sooner hear it from you.” They made their way to the back room.
“You know everything I know and probably a whole lot more.”
The topic was left as they practiced.
She returned home in time to help prepare supper. It would be nice to have biscuits made again by Reese, but she hadn’t invited him to join them for the meal lest anyone think there was more to their acquaintance than there was. People like Lisa, Sylvie, Jimmy, her sisters, her parents and likely the entire population of Glory and most of those in the surrounding area.
They hadn’t said anything about practicing again with Reese and she wouldn’t be the one to say she wondered if he’d come. She and Eve were playing a duet for the show so after supper, they went over to the church. Josie came along and leaned against the piano, tapping her toes to the lively music Victoria and Eve had chosen.
Josie suddenly straightened and looked to the back. “Well, look who’s joining us.”
Victoria continued to play as she glanced to the door. Reese. He’d come. And why she should think it was to see her, she couldn’t say. Except his gaze sought and found hers as he called a greeting.
“I know you girls have your parts down solid but I’m a little shaky on mine. You see, cows aren’t all that fussy about what notes I sing.”
He joined them at the front and stood behind Victoria. “Am I interrupting?”
“Not at all,” Eve said. “And it’s true, you can use the practice. Vicki, play the hymn.”
“What hymn?”
Eve nudged her. “The one the four of us are singing, of course.” She leaned closer to whisper. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing. I didn’t follow your meaning is all.”
She must not. Could not.
She couldn’t say what she meant. Only that her heart thumped like she’d run all the way from the river. And her thoughts felt as scrambled as eggs thrown at a brick wall.
Chapter 5
The next day dragged on leaden feet as Reese tried his best to keep his hands and mind occupied with work. By midafternoon, he had done everything Mickey had for him to do.
“Run along and amuse yourself,” the man said. “Maybe go visit that Kinsley gal Sylvie says you’re interested in.”
Reese held back a sigh. He’d not spent much time in a small town before, and the way everyone poked their noses into each other’s business both annoyed and amused him. On one hand, it was good to know that they looked out for each other and that Victoria was protected by the whole town. But it might also be nice to go walking with a girl without everyone discussing it and deciding what it meant. In the end, he simply accepted it as being what it was. “Think I’ll go for a ride and have a look at the country.”
“Suit yourself. The country’s nice, but nothing compared to that pretty little gal.”
Reese wasn’t about to argue, but he knew Victoria and the others would be busy preparing for the evening. Likely making fried chicken and cake for their box lunch. Besides, he had no good reason for hanging about.
He saddled Thunder. “You’ve been brushed until you shine. Good for Jimmy.” They rode out of town to the east then turned north. Some of the land he rode through would border his ranch and he wanted to get a feel for the lay of it and any neighbors. He liked what he saw. “Thunder, we are going to have us a home where we can live and—” Love. He stopped before the word that sprang to his mind could come from his mouth. “I don’t foresee love for me.” But try as he would, he could not keep from picturing Victoria. Sure, she was pretty and talented and nice. But if he ever fell in love, he wanted it to be with someone who would offer him forever.
How could he expect that with someone who could be snatched away by her father any day? Or forget him if her memory ever returned? No, life with her would be full of uncertainty.
He glanced at the sky. Time to get back to town though he’d been slowly making his way that direction for the last few minutes. He took Thunder to the livery barn and cared for him. Then he made his way to the river, found a secluded spot, and had a cold bath.
Mickey had let him move into a room in the loft of the barn, and he went there to don his almost-new clothes and brush his hair into submission.
“You ready?” Mickey called. “We could walk over together.”
“I’m coming.” He hurried down the narrow stairs and gaped at his boss. The man he was used to seeing was tall and rangy, with a wild mop of dark blond hair. He was usually dressed in bib-front overalls that looked like they were made for a much larger person. This man had brushed his hair back and tied it with a length of leather. To Reese’s surprise the color of Mickey’s hair was several shades paler than he thought. He had shaved off the stubble he usually had on his face except for a neat moustache. And his clothes were so new they had crisp creases from being folded.
“Nice shirt,” Reese said. It was red and white striped.
“Yup. Got new trousers too.”
“You look mighty fine, Mickey.” He clapped the man on the back.
Mickey grinned widely then shook his head. “Ain’t nobody going to look at me when I come in with you at my side.” He looked Reese up and down. “’Course it will be the young ones like Miss Victoria who will be looking at you. It will be older women who might give me a second glance. I’m the age for widows and spinsters.”
Side by side they made their way to the church.
Reese wondered if Mickey had a special widow or spinster in mind. The evening looked about to turn even more interesting than Reese originally thought.
They reached the church where the talent show was going to be held. Tables and chairs had been set out in the yard for the meal and bits of gingham hung from the trees.
“Loves real festive,” Mickey said.
They went into the church. Eve tended a table where she took the admission fee and for twenty-five cents registered those who were taking part in the show. Reese paid his fee then he and Mickey found a seat about halfway up the aisle.
Victoria played the piano as people entered. She watched those arriving and smiled at Reese. Of course, she smiled at everyone. No need for him to think she favored him above the others.
Not that he expected it. Or wanted it. No sir. His heart was sealed secure. The lock named Betty. The key that turned the lock keeping the door closed was named Trust. He’d vowed trust would not be squandered again.
That left Victoria barred from his heart. Simply put, she was pretty and appealing, but not someone to trust. He didn’t know if she was a Hayworth or a lookalike. He didn’t know why she was here or if she knew more than she admitted. He recalled her reaction to saying she had amnesia and, although he found it hard to confess, he wondered if she was an accomplished actress.
Certainly not someone whom he trusted enough to hand the key to his locked heart to.
The church was soon full with men standing at the back and others crowding to the windows to be able to hear.
The preacher went to the front. “Welcome to you all. It seems strange for me to stand here and not have a sermon prepared. But wait, who says I don’t? After all, it’s a talent show, and I like to think preaching is one of my talents.”
A disgruntled murmur swept across the audience.
The preacher laughed. “Don’t worry. No sermon today.”
Reese chuckled and met Victoria’s gaze. She shook her head slightly as if to say her pa was trying to be funny and had failed.
Mr. Kinsley continued. “As you probably all know, this event is meant to raise funds to build a school for the town. We’ve done a number of things in the past and you’ve all faithfully attended,
taken part, and contributed your money. We—my daughter, Victoria, especially—are hoping this event will bring the funds to the place we can order the materials and get the building up. I’m sure you all agree this is important for our town.”
Everyone clapped.
“Now let’s get started. While I bent your ear Josie and Eve have put all the entries together and created a program.” Eve hurried up the aisle and handed her pa a sheet of paper. “First, is my four daughters singing a song they have composed together.”
Lots of clapping and cheering as the four girls stood up. Victoria hummed a note and, without the accompaniment of the piano, they began a slow, haunting melody about love lost. Then suddenly the tempo changed, and the words indicated that the lost love had been found.
Reese wondered how much of the lyrics had been Victoria’s. But wouldn’t her worries be the opposite? Finding love and then losing it.
Several men recited poems as did two ladies who spoke with such fervor, Reese noticed several of the women in the audience wiping their eyes.
Victoria and Eve played their piano duet.
Then the preacher announced, “We have another quartet—Eve, Josie, Victoria and a newcomer, Reese Cartwright.” He shook the sheet of paper. “I can’t wait to hear this one.”
Many laughed as he sat down.
Reese joined the others at the piano bench. Eve sat beside Victoria. Josie and Reese stood at their side, facing the audience. His voice cracked on the first note then Victoria smiled at him and he sang as they had practiced.
The song was over and, amidst clapping and whistles, he took his place by Mickey. “Didn’t know you could sing,” the man murmured.
“It’s mostly cows that hear me.” Victoria and Lisa slipped out the back. He supposed they were preparing for their entry.
After an elderly lady read a drab little story that Reese suspected she had written herself, Mr. Kinsley announced Victoria and Lisa.
They came in, dressed as old ladies. They sat on chairs and pretended to be rocking. It seemed they sat on the front porch of a house and observed the comings and goings of the townspeople. Both were hard of hearing, resulting in many hilarious misunderstandings.
When they finished, Reese clapped so hard his palms stung.
He already knew that Victoria had a keen sense of humor. It was one of the things he liked about her.
Before he could analyse that thought, the preacher announced, “Our final entry is Jimmy and his dog, Spot.”
The audience grew quiet as Jimmy led Spot to the front. There were several murmurs. Likely a few protesting the dog’s presence but no one spoke out as the preacher stood up front, his expression stern. Reese guessed everyone understood they were to treat this boy with kindness.
“My dog is right smart, ya know? Why, he’s smarter than lots of people.”
Reese chuckled along with many others. The boy probably had a good point.
“Spot can count and all sorts of stuff, but I know you won’t believe me if I don’t show you.” He proceeded to prove his point by asking the dog many questions such as how many marbles did he have in his hand? He pretended to shoot the dog with his finger and Spot fell down dead so suddenly that Reese laughed. The dog saluted, shook his head for no, and put his front paws on the chair and bowed his head to pray.
“Was that fun?” Jimmy asked the dog. Spot grinned and nodded his head. The crowd erupted in laughter and clapping. Jimmy and Spot were the stars of the evening.
On his way down the aisle, Jimmy whispered in Reese’s ear. “It’s the one with the big red bow and a ruffle around the top.”
“Excellent job, Jimmy and Spot,” the preacher said. “Now if we move out to the side yard, I think there is an array of box lunches waiting to be consumed. Of course, the men have to buy them first.”
As the crowd left the church, Reese waited for Victoria and fell in at her side. “A very enjoyable evening. Congratulations.”
“Thanks. It was fun.”
They gathered round the table holding the lunches.
Jimmy made his way through the crowd to Reese, his dog on one side and a worried-looking woman at the other.
“Mr. Reese, this is my ma. Mrs. Anderson.”
Reese nodded. “Pleased to meet you, ma’am. Your boy is a great help.”
Jimmy grinned at the praise. “Did you like what my dog did?”
“It was very entertaining. You must have spent a lot of time teaching him all those tricks.”
Mrs. Anderson chuckled. “They are never apart.”
Victoria and Mrs. Anderson exchanged greetings then the preacher called for their attention. “I’m happy to turn the auction over to Mickey.”
Reese leaned over to speak softly to Victoria. “The man is full of surprises.” He studied the box lunches on the table. Red bow and ruffles? Several had red bows.
Jimmy nudged him and tipped his head to the right.
Reese followed the boy’s direction and spotted a basket with a red bow and a ruffle just as Jimmy had said. He leaned back, prepared to wait until it was offered.
Mickey lifted a basket wrapped in a dish towel. He sniffed. “This smells delicious and has a good weight to it. Whoever buys this one will enjoy a good meal. What am I bid?”
The bidding was brisk with Mickey’s comments urging them on.
One after another, the baskets were claimed by the buyers. The preacher had said in order to keep it fair, the owner of the basket mustn’t reveal herself until the baskets were all sold and the buyers had paid for them.
Then a basket in a snow-white cloth was held up.
Beside him, Jimmy quivered and Reese knew this one belonged to his mother.
“What am I bid?” Mickey asked.
“Ten cents.” Jimmy called.
“Ten cents it is.” Mickey looked across the crowd. “I have a bid for fifteen cents. Do I hear one for twenty? Twenty? Well, then—”
“Sixteen,” Jimmy called.
“Sixteen. Do I hear—I have a bid for twenty cents.”
Reese glanced to his right and left. He could not see anyone bidding but Mickey was far too kind a man to run Jimmy’s bid up.
“Twenty-one,” Jimmy called.
“I have a bid for twenty-five.”
Jimmy pulled the coins out of his pocket and counted them.
His ma leaned over. “Save your money. Let someone else buy the lunch.”
Jimmy curled his fist about the coins. “Twenty-seven cents.”
Mickey looked at Jimmy with an expression of regret. “Son, I have a bid for two dollars. Can you beat that?”
The crowd gasped at the price offered.
Jimmy shook his head.
“Then I claim the basket.” Another gasp and some titters at his announcement.
Jimmy looked surprised and then angry.
Reese figured the only thing stopping him from erupting was his mother’s hand on his shoulder and her soft words. “It’s all for a good cause.”
Then the basket with the red bow and ruffles was lifted.
“A very pretty basket,” Mickey said. “What am I bid?”
Reese waited, wanting to know what he would face for competition.
“Twenty-five cents.” Reese recognized Arnie from the previous Sunday.
“Thirty.” That was Teller, another cowboy from Sunday dinner.
“Thirty-five.” Reese didn’t recognize the bidder but he was another cowboy who likely had been at one of the Kinsley’s Sunday dinners.
Arnie, Teller, and the third cowboy bid back and forth.
“Forty. Forty-five. Fifty.”
The third cowboy dropped out.
“Fifty-five. Fifty-six.” The pair hesitated longer with each bit.
Reese guessed they would soon drop out too.
The pause between bids lengthened until Mickey was about to call, “Sold.”
“Five dollars,” Reese said, and a hush fell over the crowd.
Beside him, Victoria gasped
.
“Sold,” Mickey called.
From behind him somewhere, someone called, “That’a boy, Reese.” He recognized Sylvie’s voice.
The crowd laughed and clapped.
“Reese,” Victoria whispered. “What are you doing?”
“Buying a lunch in a pretty basket.” It pleased him to see her cheeks had become as rosy as a summer sunrise. “It’s for a good cause.” He leaned back, satisfied with the way things were going.
Soon after that the auction ended. Reese lined up to pay his money and then he claimed the basket.
He backed away from the table where Mr. Kinsley took the money and waited for Victoria though he was wise enough to pretend he looked about as if wondering who he would eat with.
Victoria stayed with her sisters even after Reese moved aside, holding her basket and looking around expectantly.
Eve gave her a questioning look. “Shouldn’t you join him? After all, he paid well to share your lunch.” She waggled her eyebrows.
“I’m going.” She took three steps in his direction.
Sylvie watched, waiting to see whose lunch Reese had purchased. She saw Victoria and plowed toward her. “I knew he had his eyes on you. You just be careful. Just because he’s young and handsome don’t mean he’s kind and honorable.” She joined Teller, who had bought her basket. She might not be his first choice of companion, but he wouldn’t regret the meal she’d prepared.
Victoria’s footsteps faltered as Sylvie departed. Did the woman know something about Reese that Victoria didn’t? Not that there was any way she could avoid him. She was obligated to share her basket of food.
There were blankets available for those who preferred to eat picnic style, and Reese scooped one up and led them to an open spot. They were close to Jimmy, his ma, and Mickey. Victoria wondered if that was intentional. She’d seen the way Reese had looked at Jimmy when Mickey outbid him and guessed Reese might be concerned how the boy would handle it.
They couldn’t help but overhear the conversation of the three nearby. Jimmy’s ma opened the lunch. Victoria’s father had asked a blessing upon the food, so no one had to wait to start.
Mickey looked into the basket. “This looks yummy. Before we start, I want to get something clear. Jimmy, I outbid you for two reasons. First, to let you save your money, and also because I wanted a chance to talk to you and your ma.”
