A Love of Her Own (12 page)

Seated left of Louise were Willard and May Wingate, the boorish older couple who had traveled with her on the stage. The shy Beth sat next to Miss Margaret.

Willard stood as she approached the table. “What a nice surprise, Miss McBride!” he said, hooking his thumbs into his worsted vest. Its buttons threatened to fly off in all directions at any given moment from the taut pressure on the fabric.

“Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Wingate. So we meet again.” April took the seat next to Natalie in a chair that Willard pulled out for her. “I thought you would be staying with your family.”

May jumped right in. “Oh heavens, no! They have a full house. It’s much easier to stay here and have a room all to ourselves, isn’t it?” She squeezed the top of her husband’s hand firmly and smiled sheepishly at him.

“Yes, dear . . . unless you make my heart work overtime.” He winked at May, and her round face turned pink.

“Since you’ve met the Wingates, you probably know Beth Reed,” Miss Margaret said as she lifted her napkin.

Beth lifted her chin and, with a timorous look at April, said, “Good to see you again, April.”

“And you, Beth. Where is little Anne?” April asked.

“Sleeping well in my room. Thanks for asking.”

Natalie said, “Since we all have met, why don’t we say grace and then we can converse as we eat?”

“Excellent idea!” Willard said. “I confess I’m nearly starving.” “Then you’ll love Natalie’s chicken and dumplings,” Louise said. “She makes the best!”

April frowned inwardly. Having had that meal for lunch, she didn’t find it appealing. What she really wanted was a steak or roast with potatoes and gravy.

Miss Margaret said grace, and Louise served the steaming dumplings from a huge tureen in the center of the table while everyone passed their bowls to her. Louise passed warm rolls around the table. Ahh, hot bread . . . now that was April’s weakness. She could make a meal out of bread and strawberry jam. Surprisingly, the dumplings were light and fluffy and definitely better than what she had eaten at the café.

Conversation flowed about the mining and the town’s activities, and April was enjoying the warmth of Miss Margaret’s home. Louise asked her if she would tell them a little about herself.

April thought a moment before answering. “My father—and Josh’s father—raises the best cattle in Colorado. I guess you could say I’m a bit of a tomboy. I prefer riding horses and the outdoor range to being inside doing ordinary woman’s work.”

“What’s wrong with being a woman and doing household chores?” May said, a tinge of pink staining her cheeks.

“I didn’t say there was anything wrong with it. It just doesn’t hold
my
interest,” April answered. Natalie and Louise stared down the table, silent.

“Well, I never—” May sputtered.

Willard cleared his throat. “Doesn’t matter, dear, when she finds the right man, I’m sure she’ll settle down and become a wonderful housewife.”

“Oh, Mr. Wingate, I hardly think that will happen.” April hurried to assure him of how she felt. “Training horses and running cattle are more to my liking. I don’t need a husband to do that.”

“But surely you want a husband and family.” Louise’s wide eyes showed surprise at April’s admission.

“I wouldn’t say never, but I can’t see myself sitting home darning socks and washing clothes.” Suddenly April thought of earlier this afternoon as she and Billy had doused her clothes in the creek. She almost laughed out loud but hid her smile behind her napkin.

Willard grunted his displeasure at her remarks. “It’ll happen to you, just like it does to every female I know who wants to take care of her man and make him happy and give him children. A woman’s place is in the home.”

“That’s what I say too,” May said.

April shook her head. “No, I don’t agree that every woman wants to become a slave to a man’s desires and stay home tied down with children, wiping noses and changing diapers—sorry, Beth. Why, some women even go to college and become doctors or nurses or work in offices. There are other things in life than a man’s ego!”

“My! You just canned him like a cleaned peach, April.” Miss Margaret chuckled. “Perhaps we need to be clear that God wants each of us to aspire to our dreams and the abilities He has given each of us in order to have a good future. For some, that means family and children, and we are not to point fingers when someone else’s ideas don’t line up with what
we
think one should be doing.” She looked over at Beth, who was staring down into her plate with a face of stone.

April was acutely aware that she shouldn’t have made the remark about children, despite her brief apology. “Again, Beth, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it to come out sounding that way about children. I’m sure you are very happy being at home with your baby.”

“You have no idea what it’s like.” Beth’s face showed little expression as she pushed her chair back. “If you don’t mind, everyone, I need to go check on Anne,” she murmured, then turned to Natalie. “Thank you for the delicious dumplings.” She quickly left the dining room.

After dinner, Natalie rose from the table. “Anyone interested in Louise’s cherry pie?”

“Sounds like a delicious way to top off the meal,” Willard said.

“Then why don’t we retire to the parlor. We can have our dessert in there and relax a bit.” Margaret stood and the others did likewise.

“Mother, Natalie and I will bring the tray in a few minutes,” Louise said.

“What fine daughters you have, Miss Margaret.” Willard took his wife’s arm and followed Margaret into the parlor.

Margaret’s heart warmed at his words. “Indeed I do. I couldn’t ask for any better than my two girls.”

As they entered the parlor, she couldn’t help but notice the scorched spot in the shape of a flatiron on the back of April’s dress.
Dear me .
 
.
 
. first the tub of laundry and her torn dress, now
this. Whatever has April been up to? Not to mention that peculiar
smell mixed with rose water that clings to her.
It was very apparent to Margaret that April was indeed a free spirit. April caught her staring, but Margaret only gave her an amused smile.

9

Miss Margaret stepped out onto the front porch, thanking God for His beautiful cloudless blue sky this September morning. Sighing deeply, she embraced the day and thanked Him for living to see another one, though she longed for her husband. On days like this, when her stiff knees didn’t want to carry her, joining him would be a blessed relief. She knew in her heart that God had a reason for her to still be alive. Two daughters who needed her, for one thing.

She’d been a spinster and had long given up on love when she’d met and married George. He had swept her off her feet, and right away they’d started a family. Maybe that was why she had such sympathy for Louise. Being the eldest daughter, she seemed to be destined to spinsterhood.
Well, not if I have anything to do with
it!
It was Margaret’s dream to have her daughters settled before the Lord took her home—as if she had any choice in the matter.

She turned to go back indoors and hoped the girls were up now and dressing for church. She wasn’t too sure about the rest of the boarders. She’d invited everyone at dinner last night and watched as April raised an eyebrow.

That April was quite different from the boarders she was used to dealing with. Maybe the hotel would have a vacancy and April would move back over there where she could be waited on properly, as she seemed to think was her due. Then again, Margaret was interested enough in April’s shenanigans to want to keep her around, if for nothing else but pure entertainment. Besides, she needed Margaret’s prayers.

Natalie and Louise met her in the foyer, all set to go to services. “Mother, April asked if we would wait for her. She’s changed her mind and decided to join us,” Natalie said with a doubtful look at Louise.

“Wonderful! As long as she doesn’t take too long. Nothing’s worse than walking into church after the preacher has started his sermon.”

“I told her not to take too long, but I don’t think hurrying is in her nature.” Louise twisted her lips together.

Natalie touched her mother’s arm. “Mother, I think you should say something to her about the condition of her clothes. Perhaps we should have her see about having them sent out to the laundry down the street.”

“There’s a peculiar smell that seems to linger too,” Louise said with a disapproving tone. She stood with her arms crossed. “I don’t want to be late today since I’m playing the piano—”

Margaret interrupted. “I know what you mean, Natalie.” She smiled up at her daughters. “I’m not too sure she would appreciate us being nosy. And Louise, we have plenty of time to get to the church before the service starts.” Putting a finger to her lips, she shushed them. “Here she comes. Now be kind.”

April joined them in another poorly pressed morning dress of pale green, its white collar curling up at one edge. “I’m sorry if I’ve kept you ladies waiting. I guess I sleep better than I thought in the toile bedroom.” She laughed.

Natalie pressed her gloved hand to her mouth to stifle a giggle as her eyes swept over April’s appearance.

“We must hurry now,” Louise said tersely. “Had I known we would have to wait for you, I’d have hitched the team to the wagon, but since we’re walking, we really must go or I’m going to be late!”

April rolled her eyes and gave Natalie a conspiratorial glance. “Isn’t it just a short walk to the church?” she asked, but Louise simply ignored her question.

“Don’t worry, April. Louise is not happy if she isn’t ahead of schedule, no matter what it is.”

“Humph! You’re not the one playing the music at church.” Louise proceeded to fling open the front door after giving her sister a sharp look.

“Girls, please! This is the Lord’s day. You
will rejoice
and be glad in it.” Margaret heard another “humph” escape Louise’s pursed lips. Her voice softened. “Natalie, fetch my Bible for me.” Motioning with a wave of her cane for them to follow Louise, Margaret stepped through the door.

It was only three short blocks to the church whose steeple was sparkling white against the cloudless blue sky. The adjacent cemetery was enclosed with a wrought-iron fence, and its tombstones were aged gray from the passing of time and harsh winter weather. Tall spruce trees, bent permanently from past Chinook winds, leaned against the fence. Several people were standing about in quiet conversation near the church entrance when Margaret and the girls arrived. Louise scooted on past them with a nod and hurried inside.

“Well, I declare! If it isn’t Morgan Kincaid in the flesh!” Margaret hobbled up to her friend standing at the top of the church’s broad steps.

The tall man turned, and a generous smile split his face as he reached out his large hand to Margaret’s small one. “Miss Margaret. Good to see you again.” Turning to Natalie and Louise, he said, “Hello, ladies.”

“Hello, Mr. Kincaid. Nice to see you taking some time off,” Natalie said.

“My sentiments as well,” Margaret agreed.

Morgan smiled back at them, then turned to April and asked, “How’s it working out for you living at the boardinghouse, Miss McBride?”

April crossed her arms. “It’s okay for now, since the hotel was full. After Josh returns, I plan on staying with him and Juliana at some point before I return to Colorado.”

“Really?” Morgan’s eyes squinted from the morning sun. “He has Andy and Nellie living with him. It might get a little crowded.”

“I daresay I have no idea who you are talking about.” April shrugged.

“I thought you met them at the wedding,” Margaret said.

“Did I?” April was looking around the church grounds as though she wasn’t interested in the couple staying at her brother’s ranch.

Morgan chuckled. “Well, if you didn’t, you will soon. Andy works for your brother herding sheep. Nellie is his wife. You’ll like them. They’re a sweet couple.”

“Is that so? I guess I’ll find out for myself soon enough.”

“Oh, I’m sure they’re inside the church already. I’ll introduce you afterward,” Natalie said.

The church bell pealed the hour, and they all went inside. Louise was playing the piano while everyone scrambled for a seat, and the preacher took his place at the podium to greet the congregation. The singing commenced, and after several hymns Reverend Carlson gave a message about putting others before your own needs, bringing an “Amen” or two from the crowd.