It certainly wasn’t the way she felt. She’d been giddy with excitement, wanting to experience everything with him. Get to know him. That was why she’d taken the long way to the river last Sunday. Challenging him to a boat race was perhaps foolish. Childish. But the rapids reminded her of happy times at the High Falls rapids before her world turned upside down.
Yet he wouldn’t understand that. The war didn’t change his world. Maybe Daddy was right to insist she find a Southerner to marry. Except there weren’t enough good men left to provide husbands for the women left behind. Certainly none like Luke Ferrell.
Luke didn’t share her experiences, so she’d have to concentrate on things they had in common.
But he confused her. He professed his love, but even when he’d kissed her, he’d pulled back sooner than she’d have thought a man in love would have. She must expect too much. He’d probably kissed many women in the past, and likely she didn’t compare favorably to more experienced women.
The truth was. It was her first kiss.
“That’s lovely, dear.”
Molly started, jerking her hands from the keys. She hadn’t heard Ella come up from behind. She twisted around on the piano stool. “Thank you. I hope you don’t mind. I miss playing.”
“Mind?” Ella was aghast. “You have my leave to play anytime you wish. I’m afraid I don’t play nearly as well as you.”
“Since you’ve been kind enough to invite me to stay here at your beautiful home until the wedding, and Minnie won’t let me do anything for her, perhaps you’d permit me to tune the piano.”
“You’re a piano tuner?”
“No, but when Mama purchased our piano, she hired a tuner to teach us how to tune it, along with the tools to do so. I still have them. Actually, the most important thing a piano tuner must have is a good ear for tone. He said I had a better ear than Mama, so the job fell to me.”
Ella put palm to cheek. “You have many hidden talents. Minnie told me you’ve made your own beautiful dresses and hats.”
Molly grinned and tugged the bodice of her mauve dress made of fine linen and batiste. “I re-made them from Mama’s old wardrobe. She had so many beautiful hoop dresses and matching hats. Many ladies sold their old dresses after the war. Had to, I suspect, but I was blessed to be able to keep Mama’s.”
“You did a magnificent job. Yes, I’d love for you to tune this old piano. I might be inspired to play again, though I’ve never played as well as you.”
Minnie came in from the kitchen with a tray. “Our first guests have arrived, just coming up the steps. I’ll bring them in here.”
Ella smiled as she got to her feet. “Molly, I’m so excited for you to meet Lottie, Rachel, and Marni. I invited Mandy Carter, too, since you two have gotten acquainted.”
A flutter settled in Molly’s stomach as it always did when facing something new. She hoped these leading ladies of Pelican Rapids would like her. Mama had been at the center of every social event in Juliette, and Molly knew these women set the rules of proper decorum for the town’s society. The men might hold the titles of power, but those women held everything together.
Feminine voices rising and falling in pleasantries preceded three guests into the parlor—two blonds and a brunette. All of them stood in line to hug Ella.
After they’d all been introduced to and hugged Molly, Minnie said, “I have you ladies’ tea spread out in the parlor.”
“Do you have any coffee, Minnie? I was up half the night with Cora.” Lottie’s question had all of them looking at her like she had three heads. Molly wondered who Cora was.
“Coffee, Lottie? When you could have tea?” Minnie spoke for all of them. Apparently, coffee wasn’t Lottie’s normal beverage of choice.
“Caleb says coffee helps you stay awake.”
“What’s wrong with Cora?” Molly asked.
“She’s teething, and both of us have to snatch sleep when we can. But I have a three-year-old son so I can’t snatch much sleep during the day.”
“Imagine having three teething all at once,” Rebecca said.
Molly almost dropped her teacup. “Oh, my. You have three children?”
“Triplets, but fortunately they’ve passed the teething stage.”
“You two are going to scare Molly out of getting married, bringing up the trials of motherhood.” Marni laid a hand on Molly’s forearm. “The blessings far outweigh the trouble children bring.”
“That’s so true,” they all agreed.
“I certainly hope it’s true, since I recently discovered I’ll be joining the ranks of motherhood next January.”
In unison, everyone’s mouth dropped, followed by talking all at once. “Does Braden know?”
“Of course he knows. I wouldn’t announce it before telling him. Actually, he guessed before I did and insisted I check with the doctor.”
Everyone hugged Marni again, offering their congratulations, then trekked into the drawing room and found seats.
Ella perched beside the table where Minnie had set the tea service. “While Minnie fetches Lottie’s coffee, I’ll pour for the rest of us. How do you take your tea, dear?” she asked Molly.
“Just sugar, ma’am.” She’d never heard of putting cream in tea, though a pitcher rested on the tray. If any ice was to be had, she’d have preferred to plunk a chunk in her tea. Otherwise, she’d just as soon have coffee along with Marni. She made a mental note to always have coffee brewing at hers and Luke’s home this winter. Taking the lovely rosebud china cup, she stirred with a silver spoon.
After everyone had been served, Mrs. Milton settled in her wingback chair. “Nothing warms my heart more than to see my brides in happy marriages with growing families.” Her gaze landed on Molly. “Do you want a large family, dear?”
The question startled Molly and her cup clattered as she set it on the table. Naturally, she’d given thought to having babies. What woman contemplating marriage didn’t? But she and Luke hadn’t had time to discuss the matter much. It was too intimate a thing to discuss in letters.
“Luke and I have decided we want more than one child. I would like a large family since my brother was fourteen and already away at school when I was born, so I grew up like an only child. My mother had difficulty, and I hope I haven’t inherited the problem.” Mama had given birth to three still-born babies before Molly.
“Don’t let that worry you,” Rebecca said. “None of the women in my family ever had triplets, or even twins, yet here I am.”
“I had always wished for more children, but God blessed me with Josiah and he’s filled my mother’s heart. Just wait on the Lord, dear.” Ella’s gaze swept the gathering. “You recall that Caroline thought she was incapable of bearing children due to contracting fever as a child.” Mrs. Milton sent a satisfied smile over her teacup. “She and her husband adopted two children and now she’s expecting one of her own.”
“She is?” Marni lurched to the edge of her seat.
“Who’s Caroline?” Molly asked.
“A cousin of mine from Atlanta,” Lottie said. “I got a letter from her last week. I’m so happy for her.”
Minnie returned with Marni’s coffee and stood back. “I have a sheet of paper and pencil to take down the wedding plans.” She pulled up a side chair.
“Good idea,” Mrs. Milton said. “Make a note for me to speak to Rev. Lawrence and Grace about the church. We want July the third.” She slid her gaze to Molly. “We hoped to have open invitations, if that’s agreeable with you, but we’ll reserve seats for any guests you and Luke wish.”
“The only one I’ve invited is Mandy Carter, but if it’s to be July third, she won’t be here. She’s returning to New York after this week.”
Each woman exchanged a look among them, then Lottie cleared her throat. “You know Mandy Carter?”
“I met her on the train. She came back to announce her nuptials to a dentist in New York.”
They all let out a collective breath and Marni said, “That
’s a relief. Poor Luke has been hounded by Mrs. Carter since he arrived in Pelican Rapids. We were so happy for him when he found you, Molly. Nothing but your marriage would put a stop to her harassment.”
“Didn’t you tell her, Ella?” Lottie asked.
“No, I didn’t think it necessary.”
“Tell me what?”
They all leaned in to her and Minnie looked up. “She’ll hear when she goes to the mercantile. No single man in Pelican Rapids has been safe from Mrs. Carter’s shenanigans. Most of them know how to steer clear, but Luke, being new to town, didn’t and fell into her trap.”
Lottie picked up the story. “She set her sights on Luke for her oldest daughter, Jenny, but Luke didn’t show any interest. Mrs. Carter said it was because Jenny has a wandering eye.”
“Truthfully, the problem with Jenny she’s extremely shy, probably embarrassed by her mother. However, Luke liked Mandy, and Mrs. Carter pressed her plans. We all thought they’d start courting, but they never did.”
Rebecca joined in. “Mrs. Carter said it was because Mandy’s teeth were bad. She agreed that Mandy would go to stay with her grandparents in New York and see this dentist. I’m sure that must have galled Mrs. Carter that Mandy fell in love with the dentist.”
Molly nodded. “Mandy said her parents were against the match because they didn’t want her moving so far away.”
Ella lifted her teacup. “Isn’t that a silly excuse?”
“No, I understood. I had the same problem with Daddy. He didn’t want me to leave Georgia. I want to see Mandy before she returns to New York to see how her parents received the news of her engagement.”
“I still don’t understand why Mandy’s folks wouldn’t be happy she’d found her true love,” Rebecca said. “And a New York dentist must be better situated financially than a farmer.” She put a hand to her mouth. “Not that Luke isn’t doing well for himself.”
“She doesn’t want them to leave.” That comment had all of them staring at Molly. She shouldn’t have said anything, but now that she had, an explanation seemed in order. “Mandy and I talked about it. Her mother, maybe her father, too, wants them to stay at home, never to leave to get married. My father is the same. He was always talking about finding me a fine young man to marry—someone worthy of me. Then the man he’d introduced me to was someone who was totally unsuitable. That’s what Mrs. Carter is doing. She ought to let her daughters choose their own mates.
“The problem is, for Mandy and me, we love our parents, and it’s hard to break away. I still feel badly about sneaking out of the house without saying good-bye, but I didn’t have the courage to confront Daddy. At least Mandy managed to do that much, so she doesn’t carry the regret I do.”
Ella reached out to touch her arm. “Oh, Molly, I’m so sorry you left your father on bad terms, but you were right to break away. As the Bible says, a man must leave his parents and cleave to his wife and if that’s so, it stands to reason the wife must leave her parents also.”
“I know it was the right thing to do, but I still carry regrets. You’re all planning a grand wedding and all the while I’m thinking, I don’t have anyone to give me away.”
Lottie set her coffee cup down after one sip and a grimace. “Oh, honey, don’t worry about that. Caleb will be honored to walk you down the aisle.”
“Or Braden,” Marni added.
“Thank you. You’re very kind.” The last word ended on a sob and tears filled Molly’s eyes. She hadn’t heard from Daddy, although she’d left Mrs. Milton’s address in the note she’d left him and had sent a letter from Chicago to let him know she’d almost arrived at her destination.
Maybe a letter hadn’t had time to get here from Georgia. She didn’t know how slow the mail could be, but it had been nearly two weeks since she’d arrived. Surely a letter could have gotten here in this time.
“Ladies, would you please excuse me. I’ll be pleased with anything you wish to plan and truly appreciate it, but I feel that I must…be alone right now.”
Chapter 12
Is there not a time of hard service for man on earth? Job 7:1
When Luke got to the outskirts of Pelican Rapids, even Reckless wanted to turn toward Ella Milton’s place. The ladies would be having a tea for Molly, planning their wedding. Luke didn’t care about the details of that day except the part when they’d say their I-dos.
Frustration settled in his stomach like a rock. If he didn’t have to finish the house he wouldn’t have agreed to wait even the two weeks Molly asked for. He sent a worried gaze toward the darkening skies. That’s all he needed—a thunderstorm. The roof wasn’t on yet.
He hadn’t put in a lick of work in the fields today, having worked on the roof and framing until he’d run out of nails. Mr. Jensen would expect him at the sawmill in another hour, but that gave Luke time to stop by the mercantile and buy some nails and check with Mandy on the drapes. She’d volunteered to sew them and present them as a wedding present.
As soon as the bell jingled and he stepped into the store, Mrs. Carter fell on him. “We weren’t expecting you today, Luke. Mandy hasn’t finished with the drapes, but they are beautiful. Our finest brocade—deep blue. Mandy’s favorite color. The mister and I were happy to donate the fabric, though it’s our most expensive drapery material.”
“That’s mighty nice of you and Mr. Carter. I appreciate it—and Mandy, for sewing them. Molly likes blue, too.”
“Who?”
“Molly Stewart, my fiancée. She said she met you at the train station.”
Mrs. Carter’s brows rose and a mirthless chuckle broke from her open mouth. “Oh, yes, I remember. She was on the same train as Mandy. I’d never have imagined a woman that fancy to settle on a little farm way out here. I couldn’t help thinking she must be running from something. Have you been able to find out what?”
Of all the gall. He strained to keep his voice civil. “Molly isn’t running from anything. She wanted a home and family. Same as me. We corresponded for months before deciding to get married.”
“Ah, yes. Letters. Words on paper seem so much more sincere than in person. Have you spent much time with Miss Stewart since she arrived?”
Blast the woman. She knew how to take the starch out of him. “We’ve dined with Mrs. Milton and attended church.” He wouldn’t even mention their ride. That would lead Mrs. Carter to another insult. “I’ve been busy getting the house ready and Molly has been busy planning the wedding.”
“Well, you’ll be able to spend more time with Mandy. She’ll have to go out to the farm to measure the curtains and help you finish up on the inside. There are certain things only a woman knows how to do.”
“I thought Mandy was leaving last week to return to New York. I won’t hold her up none.”
“You won’t be holding her up, dear boy. She isn’t leaving.”
Not leaving? Why? He almost made the mistake of asking. “I just came in for some nails. I have to get that roof on before it rains.”
“How much do you need?”
“Ten pounds should do it.”
She pressed a hand to her mouth and shook her head. “Oh no, I just remembered we don’t have any nails. Not roofing nails, only a pound or two of regular nails.”
“What? You always have nails.”
“It’s been hard getting in building supplies lately. You recall those winter storms we had. Folks have been mending damage all spring.”
“How long will it take to order more nails?” Luke frantically searched his brain for other sources. Maybe Dag had a supply.
“Two weeks at the earliest.”
“That’s too late. I’ll have to find them elsewhere.”
Mrs. Carter pulled a long face. “I’m so sorry. Here—take some peppermint sticks to your new lady friend. Maybe some sweets will soften her disappointment in having to delay the wedding. She does like sweets, doesn’t she?”
He drew in a tired breath. “Yes ma’am, I think so, if her preference for sweetened
tea is any indication.”
“Let’s hope she doesn’t like sweets too much. That’s what ruined Mandy’s teeth.”
He rolled his eyes to the ceiling. “Molly’s teeth are beautiful—strong and white.”
Mrs. Carter wasn’t deterred. He should know—everyone knew—she always shot back. “They rot from inside and back. Have you looked in back?”
What? The woman was crazy. “She’s my bride, not my horse,” he ground out.
“That’s what you say now, but you liked Mandy, too, before her teeth went bad.”
“Mandy’s teeth had nothing to do with it. We were just friends. Why can’t you accept that? You can’t just match up people the way you like.”
“Why not? Ella Milton has been doing it for years.”
Luke clenched his jaw hard enough to crack. The woman was beyond endurance. “Good-day, ma’am.” He stalked out without taking the peppermints.
He hadn’t gotten a dozen steps down the boardwalk when the doorbell jingled. “Wait, Luke.”
Recognizing Mandy’s voice, Luke swung around on his heel. She lugged a gunny sack with both hands. “Your nails.” Huffing with exertion, she offered the sack to him.
“Thank you, Mandy. Mrs. Carter said she didn’t have any.”
“She wants to delay your marriage to Molly and will try anything to do so.”
“Why?”
“She still thinks you should marry me.”
Yeah, that was obvious, but when would the woman accept the truth? “She said you weren’t leaving. You haven’t changed your mind about marrying your dentist, have you?”
“Heavens, no.” She sent a wary glance over her shoulder and lowered her voice. “Just don’t mention anything to Mother. She’ll just cause more trouble. I’m going to leave right after your wedding—slip away in the night like Molly did.”
Molly's New Song (Brides 0f Pelican Rapids Book 5) Page 7
