Molly's Heart

by Marianne Spitzer

Alberta Willoughby blinked twice and blushed slightly; Rose stifled a giggle, and Lucy winked at Alberta. Lucy held out the plate, and Alberta took a cookie without a word and retreated into the dining room to find her husband.

  “I doubt that woman has ever been speechless in her life,” Rose said. “You’re good with people.”

  Lucy shook her head. “No, people are easy to confuse when all they think are bad thoughts. Tell them what’s good in their lives, and they don’t have answers. Try the pie; it’s delicious.”

  They sat and finished their tea and sweets before joining the others back in the dining room. As soon as they entered, a tall young man approached them. He looked straight at Rose and said, “Good evening, Miss Rose, my name is Adam Greiner. May I have the next dance?” Before she could answer a waltz started and he took her hand.

  Lucy walked over to Nell and said, “It appears Rose has attracted at least one young man. I hope she receives a letter from the man in the Montana Territory soon. She deserves a good life.”

  “You do, too, Lucy. I think you’ll both have happy lives.”

  The music ended, and Ben made his way to the front of the room and did his best to get everyone’s attention, but the laughter and talking continued until he whistled loudly. “Thank you, may I have your attention? As some of you know, Miss Molly Sullivan has agreed to be my wife.” His words were met with loud applause. “We are getting married on Sunday after services. You’re all invited.” More applause and whistles filled the room. “One more thing, Sarah Bowen would like a word.”

  Sarah walked up and took Ben’s spot. “Good evening, as most of you know, our dear friend Celia Paddon left Gentle Falls to marry a man in Wyoming. She and Mr. Clint Hastings will be married tonight at seven o’clock. That’s in less than five minutes. Since we can’t be there to witness her marriage, we can join her happiness by dancing to her favorite tune, Fur Elise. Molly will play the tune on the piano, and I invite all of you to dance.” Sarah watched the clock and at seven nodded to Molly, and the strains of the song filled the room.

  Couples danced, a few men danced alone, and Doubles rushed over to Henrietta who had been trying to hide in her lovely red dress all evening and insisted she dance with him.

  “You look beautiful,” Phineas said as Henrietta looked frantically around the room to see if anyone watched her.

  “What?”

  “I said you look beautiful. In that dress, you make my heart race, dear Henrietta.”

  “Dear?”

  “Yes, dear. Certainly, by now you know how I feel about you.”

  “What?”

  “Please speak more than one word to me. I care for you. Are we too old to court or can we simply go out to dinner and church or whatever couples do?”

  “Couples?”

  “I asked if we can court.”

  “Phineas, we’re too old to court. It’s foolishness. Courting is for young people.”

  As the song ended the room remained quiet until Phineas yelled, “You mean we don’t need to court. We can just be married. Pick a date, my dear.”

  Mortified, Henrietta whispered, “Next year.” She hoped it would quiet Phineas.

  “Yippee, we’ll get married next year. Hey, everyone, I think I can get Henrietta to agree to a New Year’s Eve or Day wedding. How about it, my dear. No? Maybe not, but she’ll marry me next year. She promised.”

  Henrietta paled and turned to leave the dining room. Phineas guided her to a small table and brought her a cup of tea. “Drink this; you’ll feel better.”

  Henrietta glanced at the cup of tea and wished for something stronger when shouts of, “Congratulations, Henrietta and Doubles,” filtered out from the dining room.

  The rest of the dance was uneventful. Couples danced, ate, and talked about the three weddings. Celia would celebrate hers in Wyoming while her friends kept her in their thoughts, Molly, and her friends discussed her wedding, and Henrietta did her best to avoid anyone who asked about Doubles and her.

  Chapter 23

  Molly woke to a sunny Christmas morning. She peeked out the curtain and mumbled, “Still no snow. Winter is late this year, but it will make for a lovely wedding if it doesn’t snow before Sunday.” She dropped back onto her bed. “Sunday, that’s only, oh my, tomorrow.” She threw off her blankets, pulled on her wrapper, and hurried into the kitchen where she found Lucy and Rose enjoying their morning tea.

  “Merry Christmas,” Rose said.

  Lucy followed, “Merry Christmas.”

  “Merry Christmas. It’s a beautiful day. I hope the weather holds through tomorrow,” Molly said.

  “I’m sure it will. Sit and have some tea. Then you can open your present.”

  “Present?”

  “Of course, I have one for you and Lucy,” Rose exclaimed a broad smile across her face. “I haven’t enjoyed a real Christmas in a long time. My Mama tried, but the saloon was open on Christmas and men liked to celebrate the day with someone, and she was usually busy. I spent most of my Christmas Day with the cook. They never worked there long, and we moved quite often, so I was never close to any of them. Usually, they did spoil me with special sweets and hotcakes for breakfast, but it was never like this. This year I have friends and hope for a future although I do miss Mama.”

  “I know, I miss mine, too,” Molly agreed. “My Christmas Days were much like yours. All our lives will be better soon. Let’s take our tea in the parlor and celebrate.”

  Molly’s small parlor wasn’t large enough for a Christmas tree, but the three women placed several pine boughs on a corner table decorated with a candle and a few of Sarah’s red bows. Molly closed her eyes and could picture a tree the size of the one in the hotel. Next year, she thought. I’ll have a large tree in my new home.

  Rose broke into Molly’s thoughts when she placed a wrapped package on her lap. “Open it,” Rose insisted.

  Molly carefully removed the wrapping and lifted a soft blue knitted scarf. “How lovely. When did you have time to do this? I see you most of the day and evening?”

  “I took a little time each night after we retired. Lucy sleeps soundly, and she never saw me,” Rose said and smiled when she handed Lucy a package.

  Lucy unwrapped her gift of a pretty red scarf. “I love this, thank you, Rose.” She set the scarf down and hurried from the room returning with two small wrapped packages. She handed one to Molly and the other to Rose.

  Both young women opened their gift of scented soaps and hugged Lucy for her kindness.

  Molly stood and said she’d be right back. When she returned, she carried two packages. She handed one to Lucy and one to Rose. “These are from Sarah and me. She said you should open them here rather than at her house later after dinner with a lot of people there. We hope you like them.”

  “But you gave us dresses,” Lucy said.

  Molly shrugged, “It’s Christmas.”

  Lucy pulled the wrapping off a beautiful blue shawl embroidered with small purple flowers and green leaves. Rose’s gift of a new nightdress trimmed with white lace and pink ribbon made her gasp and held it close to her chest.

  “We thought Lucy could wear the shawl to your wedding and you could wear the nightdress on your wedding night. You’ll have a little bit of us with you on your special day.”

  Rose blushed.

  Lucy stood and said, “It’s time I finish breakfast, so we are not late for services. I can’t wait to see the children’s play. I hear they can now say their lines without giggles or tears. Rachel and Della worked well with them.”

  An hour later, Ben met them outside the shop to walk Molly to church. Ben talked to her the entire way, but Molly’s thoughts were on the wedding. Her breakfast did flips in her stomach each time she thought about the following morning.

  Molly did her best to listen to Pastor Reynold’s sermon about the first Christmas and the blessing of the Lord’s birth. She heard each word and smiled but forgot it quickly as thoughts of the next time she’d be in the church floode
d her mind.

  The children were sweet and did their best not to make mistakes or step on each other’s costumes. The little blonde angel sang Silent Night and flitted from one side of the church to the other without incident. No torn costumes. As soon as the play concluded, Lucy hurried out to head to Sarah’s house to prepare Christmas supper. Everyone else stayed to enjoy cookies and hot apple cider before returning home to their Christmas celebrations.

  Cal, refusing to allow Nell to walk far in the cold, brought his wagon to church and he drove Rose and Molly to Sarah’s home. Callahan’s was closed for the day, and Cal looked forward to enjoying a meal cooked by someone other than himself.

  Ben needed to make his rounds and assure the residents of Gentle Falls were safe and secure. He promised Molly he wouldn’t be late and hoped he could keep his promise when he heard the shouting coming from the tents used as the temporary saloon. As he approached, two men wrapped up in a scuffle tumbled out of the tent onto the ground.

  Four more men followed them fists flying. Ben yelled for them to stop. After the third try, he pulled his gun and shot into the air. All six men stopped and looked at Ben. They fell over each other trying to get to their feet.

  “Listen, if the fighting doesn’t stop, I’ll close the saloon. It’s only open because Underwood asked his bartender to watch over it so the men in town would still have a place to drink. I can put an end to it right now. From here on out, fighting is not allowed. I’ll ban anyone caught fighting from the saloon, and if there are more problems, I’ll close it down. Understood?” All the men nodded. “Good, pass the word.”

  Ben turned and headed back across the tracks toward town thinking that was easy. He didn’t get dirty which was a good thing. The last thing he needed the day before his wedding was to worry Molly about his job. He strolled through town checking locked shops and peering in the darkened windows to be sure they were empty. Satisfied the town was secure, he picked up his pace and hurried to Sarah’s. When he approached the house, he could hear the piano and sounds of singing coming from within. He smiled as he paused a moment to listen to his friends singing Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem.

  Ben knocked on the door, and Giles invited him in. The aromas of baked ham and potatoes greeted his senses as he removed his hat and coat. He followed Giles into the parlor and joined in the carols. He watched Molly play the piano and his chest puffed with pride. That was his talented, beautiful bride to be. In twenty-four short hours, they’d be husband and wife. His wife. How did he manage to become so blessed? After his years riding with Charlie, he never believed he deserved anything good, much less Molly. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and kiss her in front of everyone. When she finished playing, turned and smiled when she saw him, he needed to restrain himself from gathering her up and taking her home.

  “Ben, that didn’t take long. I take it the town is secure?”

  “Yes, it is. All quiet and it better stay that way tomorrow.”

  Everyone laughed.

  “Don’t laugh. I’m serious. I’ve deputized Joseph and Luke from tonight through Monday.”

  Giles slapped him on the back. “Smart move. If you’re staying in town, you want someone covering you.”

  Before Ben could reply, Lucy called them to eat.

  The table was laden with more food than they could eat in three days. “If I keep eating like this, I won’t be able to sit my horse,” Ben laughed. “Between the feast last night and the reception tomorrow along with this meal, I’ll have to stop eating for a while.”

  “That might be a good idea. Have you asked Molly if she can cook? I neglected to ask Sarah.” Giles smiled and then frowned when he saw the look in Sarah’s eyes.

  “I didn’t learn to cook, but I learned to sew which serves me well. It will also serve me well if I am alone. Remember that, husband. I could do quite well alone,” she frowned at him, but her eyes sparkled with love and mirth.

  “I will remember that, wife.”

  Cal burst out laughing. “I’m certainly happy I don’t have to worry about that. Nell knows I am the only one who can take care of her.”

  “What?” Nell stammered. “It was just the other day that Minnie Masters suggested I open a bakery. I could do quite well. People in town buy all the loaves I make for Minnie, and we always run out of bread at the restaurant.”

  Cal’s wide eyes stared at her and then his plate as he considered her statement.

  Giles brought them together, “It’s time to say Grace and enjoy our meal before our wives leave us.”

  ~ * ~

  Molly rolled over and stretched. Her warm bed felt snug, and she nestled down until she remembered it was her wedding day. Her eyes flew open, and she leaped out of bed catching her foot in the sheet and tumbling to the floor. Rose and Lucy ran in the room asking her if she was all right. She sat in the middle of the floor laughing. “Yes, I’m excited and fell.”

  “Try and walk. All you need is not to be able to walk down the aisle,” Lucy suggested.

  Molly stood, “I’m all right.”

  “Good, now I’m starting breakfast and Rose is going to help you start a bath. You need to bathe, wash your hair, eat while your hair starts to dry, then dry your hair so Rose can style it, then dress, and get to church in two hours. Hurry.” Lucy spun and left the room.

  Molly stared at her. “Come on,” Rose said pulling her arm. “Lucy will come back barking orders if we don’t hurry.”

  “It’s my wedding day. Shouldn’t I get to enjoy it?”

  “Of course, but not if you’re late. Lucy has this planned down to the minute, and Nell and Sarah will be here soon to help you dress.”

  “All right,” Molly gave in and followed Rose to the bathing room. Rose started the water running into the tub. “You wash up, and I’ll help Lucy. You have the choice of three new soaps. There’s rose, lavender, or lemon verbena to choose from. You could mix all three. Each smells beautiful.” Rose hurried out and closed the door.

  Molly draped her wrapper and nightdress over the chair and stepped into the warm water. She slid down to wet her hair and lathered it with the lavender soap. She washed her body with the rose soap and used the lemon verbena on her face. The floral garden scent filled the room, and Molly hoped the scent would linger on her skin and hair. Molly rinsed her hair and slid down to soak in the tub for a few minutes when Rose knocked on the door. “Time’s up. Lucy says to eat breakfast. She made sweet cornbread.”

  Molly’s stomach rumbled. She didn’t think she’d eat after the previous night’s big meal, but Lucy’s sweet cornbread sounded perfect. Shortly after Molly finished eating, Nell and Sarah arrived.

  Rose insisted on brushing Molly’s hair dry while she ate her breakfast and soon Molly was back in her room being fussed over by all four of her friends. When Rose finished sweeping Molly’s hair into a stylish updo, she and Lucy left Molly to Nell and Sarah and decided they should take the time to dress for the wedding, too.

  Sarah brought Molly’s dress up from where she hung it in the storeroom away from the dust and dirt. It was perfectly pressed and more beautiful than Molly remembered even though she peeked at it the previous evening before going to bed.

  Sarah looked at Molly’s hair and said, “You need to step into the dress and then your petticoats. If we try and put them on over your head, we’d ruin your hair.” Molly nodded and did as Sarah suggested. With each passing moment, she became more nervous.

  “I’m doing this. I’m getting married today,” Molly whispered as Sarah buttoned the row of buttons up Molly’s back.

  “That you are, my dear.” Sarah turned her around and smiled. “The dress is perfect.”

  Nell looked out the window. “I see Cal coming with the wagon. He’ll take Sarah, Lucy, Rose, and me to the church. Your ride will be here any minute.”

  The ladies walked downstairs to wait, and Molly stopped to gaze in the large mirror in the back room. “I wish my Mama could see me now.”

  Sarah whispered, �
��I think she can.”

  “But, she was…”

  Sarah took her hands, “You told me she read to you from her Bible and taught you right from wrong. She sent you to Sunday services as often as she could. You prayed with her when she was ill. I think she made her peace with God.”

  Molly nodded afraid if she said a word, she’d cry.

  Chapter 24

  Giles insisted on picking Molly up in his buggy even though it was two short blocks to the church. He smiled at her and asked, “Are you nervous? You look a bit pale.”

  “Just a bit,” her voice quivered.

  He helped her in the buggy and advised. “Just take a deep breath and look at Ben as you walk down the aisle.

  Molly gripped his arm when she saw all the wagons, buggies, and horses around the church. “Is everyone in town here?”

  “Probably. Remember to breathe,” Giles smiled as he helped her down from the buggy.

  Molly did her best to breathe as she walked to the church. Sarah and Nell met her at the door.

  “You look gorgeous,” Nell admired. “I made you a bouquet of red ribbon flowers.”

  Rachel hugged her. “I knew everything would turn out well as soon as you left Underwood’s saloon. This is a big part of your new, happy life.”

  “Thank you,” Molly said fighting back happy tears.

  Giles took Molly’s coat and hung it on a hook in the back of the church. When Nell and Sarah took their places, Molly heard Rachel begin playing a lovely tune on the organ.

  “Ready?” Giles asked holding out his arm.

  “I think so.” She took his arm, and they walked down the aisle. Molly took his advice and looked at Ben’s face. She loved him more than she thought humanly possible.

  Ben thought his knees would buckle. Molly was more beautiful than she was the previous night. He swallowed wondering if he could speak.

  At the end of the aisle, Ben approached them and took Molly’s hand. She smiled at him as they took their place in front of Pastor Reynolds. She handed her bouquet to Sarah who stood a few feet to her left.

  Molly’s hands trembled with excitement as she held Ben’s hands and gazed into his eyes. Pastor Reynolds cleared his throat. Before he had the chance to speak, the doors to the church flew open, and a dirty, disheveled man shuffled down the aisle. The odor of liquor, tobacco smoke, and sweat permeated the air around him. “Stop this travesty,” he shouted.