Several people stood just inside the restaurant, and Nell told them to sit wherever they wanted. When Molly, Lucy, and Rose walked in she was ready to seat them at a larger table until Ben strolled in. She pulled Molly aside and told her to sit at the small table at the back of the restaurant and sat Lucy and Rose near the windows. Ben strode straight to Molly’s table and sat down across from her.
“I’m sorry you and the ladies had to deal with Mrs. Willoughby. I haven’t been in town long enough to speak with her, but I heard she believes she’s the queen instead of the banker’s wife.”
Molly hid her smile behind her hand not wanting to appear unforgiving toward the nasty woman. “She is wealthy, and people listen to her. I learned long ago to ignore, but be kind to women who share her feelings. Growing up I had few friends. Mothers didn’t allow me to play with their children. I suppose they thought my mother might rub off on them through me. I’ve heard worse growing up. There were times I didn’t understand what the names meant, but I knew they were cruel. Early on, I learned to forgive people.”
“You are a kind soul, Miss Sullivan,” Ben said picking up her hand. “Seriously, Molly, I admire all you’ve been through and yet remained the person you are. I promise you one thing; our children will never be treated the way you were.”
“Children,” Molly gasped blushing a deep red from her cheeks down to her neck.
Ben leaned forward and whispered, “Don’t you want children?”
“Yes,” she stammered. “I don’t want to discuss them in public.”
Ben smiled. “You can tell me later. I have a surprise after lunch.”
Molly was about to ask what it was when Nell appeared to take their order. Both agreed on the roast beef dinner.
Children. He does love me. Thank you, God, for bringing this wonderful man into my life, Molly prayed while Ben watched her.
They sat and waited for their meals silently communicating with their eyes. Ben wondered if life could get better. Yes, once he married Molly if would be much better. He smiled at her, and Molly blushed again. He loved watching her blush.
When Nell set their plates in front of them, it broke their eye contact. Nell smiled knowingly and told them she’d be back soon to ask if they wanted dessert. Just as they finished, Sarah walked over and asked Ben, “Do you have any idea what Giles is up to? He told me to wait with Molly while you talk to Cal.”
Ben wiped his mouth and dropped his napkin on the table. “I’ll be right back.” He stood and disappeared into the kitchen.
Sarah took his chair and asked, “Do you know what they’re doing?”
Molly shook her head. “No, but Ben said we’d talk later more privately, but it’s cold outside. Where would we go and why are he and Giles so secretive?”
Ben appeared back at the table carrying a paper wrapped package in one hand and a jug and cups in the other. “Come on, Ladies. I think Giles is waiting for us.”
Sarah stared at Ben’s retreating back and asked Molly, “Was he carrying a whiskey jug?”
“I hope not. I don’t like whiskey. They can’t expect us to drink with them. Let’s see what they have in mind. You go first.” Molly smiled at Sarah.
They donned their coats and headed for the door. Sarah stopped and grabbed Molly’s arm. “Look, there’s a sleigh, and it has bells on it. They’re taking us on a sleigh ride.” Sarah rushed out the door and threw her arms around Giles’ neck.
Molly followed wearing a soft smile. She’d never been on a sleigh ride before. She rode horses and had ridden on carts, but never a sleigh. Sarah was right; there were bells on the sleigh. They’d jingle while they rode.
Ben walked up and held out his hand. “Lovely Molly, would you take a sleigh ride with me? Giles and Sarah will accompany us as chaperones although I don’t think we need them, but I will follow propriety’s rules.” His smile spread across his face, and his eyes sparkled with something Molly couldn’t identify. Joy? Mischief? Love? She knew he wanted to marry her but did he love her, truly love her?
“One minute, please.” Molly hurried to speak with Lucy and Rose. She handed the shop key to Lucy and told her, “I don’t know how long I’ll be out, but enjoy your day. Remember to lock the doors. Boots is still on the loose and if he shows up, shoot him.”
“I can do that,” Lucy assured.
Molly walked back to Ben and took his hand. She tried to hide her emotions as he helped her into the backseat of the sleigh. Happy tears prickled the backs of her eyes and she worried tears might confuse Ben.
Giles helped Sarah into the front seat, and the horses began to pull the sleigh. With the first movement, Molly heard the bells jingle. It was magical. Ben helped her spread a blanket across her lap for warmth and smiled that smile again.
Chapter 9
Mrs. Willoughby huffed when she saw Molly and Ben leave in the sleigh. “It’s disgraceful, Morton. You must do something.”
“Do what, dear?” Mr. Willoughby asked while slathering butter on a piece of bread.
“If you’d look, you’d see that our sheriff is taking that young woman, Molly Sullivan, on a sleigh ride.”
“That’s nice, dear,” he mumbled after taking a large bite of his bread. He loved the food at Callahan’s restaurant and wished his wife would allow him to enjoy it.
“Morton, are you listening.” She dropped her fork intentionally onto her plate to get his attention.
“Yes, dear. Miss Sullivan and the sheriff are off on a sleigh ride. Do you want to go on one? I could rent the sleigh.”
“Morton,” she insisted. “I don’t want to go on a sleigh ride. I want you to rid our town of women like Molly Sullivan and those trollops she has living with her.”
“Now, my dear, calm yourself. Remember what the doctor said. You’re getting yourself upset again. Miss Sullivan is a bank customer. She works for Sarah Bowen. Giles Bowen is one of the richest men in town. We’re not going to upset these people. Do I make myself clear?” He lifted his coffee cup and glared at his wife.
“Humph,” she mumbled. “We’ll see what the woman at church say about this.”
“Yes, dear,” he commented hoping his wife would remain busy doing church work and stay out of his business.
Alberta Willoughby smiled knowing she’d convince the other ladies at church to run Molly Sullivan and the two women living with her out of town. Now that the saloon burned down, they needed a new mission. She spied Minnie Masters and Henrietta Biggs having lunch and hurried over to invite them to tea the following afternoon. Both accepted, and Alberta smiled--her plan now set into motion. The rest of the invitations would be delivered that afternoon. When she returned to the table, Morton Willoughby continued to eat seemingly unaware of his wife’s absence.
~ * ~
When the sleigh was far enough from the eyes of the town’s citizens, Ben placed his arm around Molly and pulled her close. He whispered in her ear, “This is better.”
She laid her head on his shoulder feeling his warmth through all the layers between them or maybe it was just his breath on her neck.
Ben pulled her closer and whispered, “Will you attend the Christmas Eve dance with me?”
“Of course, I’d love to go. Do you think it might cause a scandal?”
“Are you still worried about what a few close-minded people think?”
“Mrs. Willoughby was angry after church, and she glared at me when I left with you.”
“You need to ignore that old uhh woman.”
Molly giggled.
“Her husband could try to have you dismissed. He sits on the town council,” she worried.
“Yeah, but so does Henrietta Biggs and she thinks the world of you. She makes me laugh. The men seem to be afraid to disagree with her.”
“She used to be my worst enemy until we were both abducted. Two idiots thought I was Sarah and decided to take Henrietta too since she was in the shop. They left us alone, and we got loose. They left a rifle behind, and I told her not to worry bec
ause I would shoot them.”
“Would you have shot them?”
“Yes, if it was the only option. I saw too many women beaten and worse while growing up in the brothels with Mama. No man was going to do that to me, and I wouldn’t allow them to harm Henrietta either.”
“You’re a remarkable woman, Molly Sullivan,” Ben whispered again and kissed her full on the lips. She was ready to pull away, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw Giles and Sarah huddled close. They weren’t watching, and she kissed Ben back with all the love she felt in her heart. He slid his arm around her waist to pull her even closer, but coats and blankets were too big of an obstacle.
Molly looked at him and smiled.
“Don’t smile at me that way. You won’t always have a heavy coat to hide in and once we’re married…” he kissed her again before she could say anything.
They cuddled and whispered for nearly an hour before Giles stopped the sleigh. The vast field covered in fresh snow spread out before them ending at the pine forest with its beautiful green trees contrasting the pure white snow.
“Isn’t it beautiful,” Sarah asked turning around in her seat.
Ben pulled out the whiskey jug and cups. “It’s time for something to warm us up. Nell sent hot tea and cookies.” He handed the package to Molly.
Sarah covered her smile with her hand. “We thought you brought whiskey.”
Giles laughed. “Wouldn’t that be interesting if we brought you two back to town drunk.”
Ben agreed. “That would be a scandal, and Molly and I would be at Preacher Reynold’s before we planned.”
“Oh,” Sarah gushed. “You finally proposed.”
Molly blushed and shook her head at Sarah. Giles laughed again.
“I never did propose officially. I assumed. That was wrong. I will take care of that the next time we’re alone, but I want to make it clear right now that I plan to marry this woman.”
Molly blushed more, Sarah smiled, and Ben poured tea into the cups. Giles reached for his cup and asked for a cookie. Molly unwrapped the package of sugar cookies. The four friends enjoyed their afternoon tea until a cold wind blew in from the northwest.
“Look at the clouds. We could get more snow. Are you ready to head back to town?” Giles asked.
“I could stay here all day if it weren't so cold,” Sarah answered scooting closer to her husband. “Oh, I nearly forgot. We’re having a party at our house on Friday evening. Dinner and music after if you’ll play the piano for us, Molly. Giles had his delivered last week, but he doesn’t like to play.”
“I’d love to play if you don’t mind some of the songs I know,” Molly asked nervously. “I never played distasteful music, but there are a few saloon songs men like. I do know some hymns and Christmas Carols.”
Sarah scooted around in her seat again. “Christmas Carols are perfect. Christmas is in less than three weeks. We’ll make it a Christmas party. What if we have a taffy pull? It would be fun.”
Molly worried what people would think of her attending a party with other townspeople. “Who did you invite?”
“No one yet. I’ll do that tomorrow. Maybe Minnie and Louis Masters, Pastor Reynolds and Rachel, Nell and Cal, Roy and Miranda, and Della. I don’t see much of her since school began.”
“If you ask Della you should invite Joseph. I think he may be sweet on her,” Molly suggested.
“If he’s the only single man, he’ll feel ambushed,” Ben advised.
“All right, we’ll have a big party. I’ll invite Judge Magarey, Henrietta, and Eloise. That should do it.” Sarah decided.
“Not Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby,” Molly inquired.
Giles snorted. “It wouldn’t be a party if Alberta Willoughby was there. It would resemble a wake.”
Ben tightened his arm around Molly, “Please don’t worry about that woman.” He kissed her forehead.
Giles turned the sleigh around, and they rode back to town. Sarah leaned her head on Giles’ shoulder, and Ben took the opportunity to kiss Molly again. He pulled her as close as the thick coats would allow and deepened the kiss. Molly kissed him back leaning closer. The sleigh slid on a patch of ice and Molly let out a frightened squeal before Giles righted their path.
“I’ve got you, darlin’,” Ben whispered, and Molly buried her head against his chest. She felt safe with this man. For years, she worried about the men that visited her mother and watched her with hungry eyes. In her dreams, she would find freedom and safety but never love. Who would love her? Molly closed her eyes and let her mind wander to a life of love with Ben.
Much too soon, Giles pulled the sleigh to a stop in front of his house. He helped Sarah walk safely to the door through the newly fallen snow and then drove the sleigh to the seamstress shop. Ben helped Molly from the sleigh and told Giles, “I can walk back to the office from here.”
Giles waved as he headed the sleigh toward the livery. Molly stood and listened to the bells jingle as the sleigh pulled away. She shuddered in the cold and asked Ben, “Would you like to come in and have a cup of coffee? I can make a pot in the back room. You don’t have to worry about anyone thinking you went to my living quarters and Rose and Lucy are upstairs to chaperone. I think your reputation is safe.”
Ben laughed. “You’re concerned about my reputation.”
“Of course,” Molly’s eyes danced with mirth. “You’re the sheriff, a man due everyone’s respect. I’m a woman of questionable behavior. Mrs. Willoughby is sure I’ll tarnish your reputation.”
Ben held the door open, and Molly entered after peering over her shoulder worried someone might see them. “Come on into the back room. No one will see us.”
Ben admitted, “I like that idea.”
Molly hit him in the arm. “That’s not what I meant.” She called up the stairs, “Rose, Lucy; I’m back. Ben and I are going to have a cup of coffee down here.”
“All right,” Rose called back.
Ben and Molly sat at the small table used for customer orders and waited for the coffee to heat.
Ben leaned across the table and took Molly’s hand. “Courting in the winter is harder than I thought. The sleigh ride was enjoyable, but not entirely private. Callahan’s is usually crowded, Sarah and Giles’ party will have too many eyes, and everyone in town and the surrounding area will be at the Christmas Eve dance. This is not a romantic place, but at least we’re alone.”
He dropped to one knee, and Molly’s hand flew to her mouth.
“Molly Sullivan, you caught my eye the first time I saw you walk out of the mercantile and my heart the day you saved Doubles from drowning. I love you more than I ever thought I’d love anyone. Please put me out of my misery and be my wife. I can’t wait until next summer when we could have a private picnic to propose. Marry me, Molly.”
“Yes,” Molly stammered.
Ben jumped to his feet pulling Molly with him. He swung her around in a circle until she told him she was dizzy. When he set her back on her chair, he asked, “How soon should we get married? I have a busy week. The trial is Wednesday. How about next Sunday?”
“Oh, no, I love you, too, but it’s too soon. Sarah wants me to have a proper dress. She said she ordered the fabric. I need a few weeks. Christmas is coming. We’ll be too busy with the Christmas Eve dance and all the other festivities. I can’t possibly. Oh, Ben.” Molly’s explanation came out in one long breath, and she stopped to draw in air.
Ben stood and paced in a circle mumbling to himself before turning to her. “All right, but we’re getting married soon after Christmas.
As a matter of fact, we’ll be married the first Sunday after Christmas during services. I refuse to wait longer than that to make you my wife. Do you know what date that is?”
Molly stood and threw her arms around his neck. “You have a date, Sheriff Clay even if I’m not sure of the exact date.”
“Now that it’s settled,” Ben murmured in her ear. “I have something else to take care of, and he kissed her as if
his life depended on it.
When he finally let Molly catch her breath, she stammered, “We better have that coffee now. If you kiss me like that again, I won’t be able to think, and we need to discuss wedding plans.”
Ben grinned and led her back to her chair.
Chapter 10
Henrietta and Eloise decided to walk the short block to the Willoughby home. The bright sunshine melted the previous day’s snow, yet the road was cold enough to keep any snow melt from turning the road to mud.
“I wonder why Alberta is having a tea this afternoon? Her note read more like a request than an invitation. Usually, she would invite us right after Sunday services or during quilting circle. I think she has another one of her brilliant ideas,” Henrietta commented.
Eloise answered, “I agree, she must have a new plan for improving the town. Now that the saloon burned down, she must have found a new cause.”
They turned the corner, and the Willoughby house came into view. It was the second largest home in Gentle Falls, and when her husband denied her request to build a larger one, Alberta decided the next best thing was to decorate her home like no other. The white clapboard house had cornflower blue shutters. Its large wrap around porch was decorated for each holiday. In summer, the entire front yard was one large rose garden surrounded by a cornflower blue picket fence. Christmas was just around the corner, and the porch rails and posts were wrapped in evergreen boughs. A large wreath hung from the cornflower blue door and small wreaths decorated each window on the front of the house.
“It appears Alberta started decorating early. Remember last year when she tried to stuff a sheet with dry leaves to look like a snowman?”
Henrietta laughed, “Yes, and it scared people when the wind blew it down the street. I wonder what she’ll try this year.”
“I shudder to think,” Eloise said as she walked up the Willoughby’s front steps and knocked on the door.
Alberta Willoughby stormed into the kitchen shouting, “Jenny, did you finish the finger sandwiches the way I instructed? Where is my grandmother’s china plate? I told you to use it for the cookies. Have you done anything I asked? My friends will be here soon.”
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