A Love of Her Own (23 page)

Louise’s face turned pink. “Who would look at me no matter what I wore? Just look at me—I’m tall and bony without the womanly curves or the beautiful head of hair you have. Natalie is vivacious and pretty, and people are drawn to her.” Louise looked down at April, her bottom lip trembling. “You even look feminine in those jeans!”

“What! I can’t believe you’re saying that.” April reached up and touched Louise’s hair. “You have gorgeous thick brown hair with hints of auburn, but you have it so tightly wound up from the front of your forehead to the base of your neck that I wouldn’t be surprised if you have terrible headaches every day. I think you carry yourself with the regal look of a true aristocrat.”

“But I—” Louise sputtered, fingering the back of her chignon.

“No buts. Just keep quiet and listen to me, my friend.” When she saw the look of apprehension cross Louise’s face, she softened her tone. She didn’t want to hurt Louise’s feelings. “You are not old—no need to look that way. First thing we’re going to do is style your hair and make it appear softer.”

“Why? I’m not going anyplace tonight.”

“Doesn’t matter. We’re going to practice. You can always pull your hair back out of your way when you’re doing chores. But you can leave a few curls framing your face, even if you pull most of it back.” April hoped she wasn’t wasting her breath. “I’ll loan you something to slip on for now so we can get the full effect. Come Sunday or the next time you go out, you’ll have a new look. I think a little shopping is in order when I return from Billings.”

“I don’t know if Mother will agree to this . . .”

“Just leave that to me. Something tells me that Miss Margaret will be pleased,” April said while she began taking the pins from Louise’s hair. “Oh, and we will need to order you some different shoes for entertaining. Those brogans won’t do. I’ll even see you wearing jeans before you can blink. Then people will say, ‘Mmm, Louise is very modern!’ ” April stood with her hands on her hips, pretending to be a typical observer on the sidewalk.

Louise giggled nervously and sat down at the dressing table. “I don’t know about that,” she said, but she succumbed to April’s fingers as they worked their magic on Louise’s hair.

April and Louise walked into the parlor a half hour later, and Natalie’s jaw dropped when she saw her sister’s new look. April had to nearly drag Louise into the room with her timid modesty. She wore one of April’s new frocks with tiny white sprigs of flowers on a background of deep lavender moiré, with a neckline dipping below the collarbone. The sleeves of the dress ended just below the elbow with two rows of delicate lace edging. A light dusting of powder gave Louise’s face a softer look, and April had rubbed just a hint of rouge on her high cheekbones. Louise didn’t look like the same person who’d left the dining room earlier.

“Louise, is that you?” Natalie asked, rising from her chair and slowly walking to her.

“It is. What do you think?” Louise twirled around for all to see. It seemed her attitude had changed along with the clothes and new hairstyle.

Miss Margaret left her chair and touched her daughter’s face while leaning on her cane. “My . . . but you are so pretty, Louise. Let me look at you,” she said, holding her daughter at arm’s length. “Did you just buy this dress?”

Louise giggled. “No, Mother. It belongs to April, but it would be nice to own something like this and these heels too.” She lifted her skirt up just enough to show them her borrowed shoes. “These are a bit tight, different than what I’m used to.”

Natalie was so excited that she gave her sister a swift hug. “April, you have done wonders and brought out my sister’s natural good looks.”

Footsteps sounded in the hallway, and they all turned to see Dr. Mark Barnum and Beth walk into the room. Mark drew up short when he saw Louise. “I’m sorry . . . am I interrupting something?” he said as his eyes swept over Louise. He seemed embarrassed that he was caught staring.

Louise almost bolted from the room, but April stayed her with a firm hand on her arm. “No, we were just experimenting with my hair for the next social event,” Louise stammered. She stared at her toes, which peeked out from the edge of her skirts.

“That’s too bad. You look stunning!” Mark continued to gaze at Louise with open admiration. April watched Louise’s face, and her look seemed to say,
For the first time I’m proud of who I am.
Her cheeks flushed, and she murmured a “thank-you” that was barely audible.

“I have to agree,” Beth said.

Mark cleared his throat and said, “I was just leaving. I came to see how Willard is doing, and he’s getting a little stronger every day.” He bowed to Louise and then to the others, then bade them good night. April gave Louise a push, indicating that she should walk him to the door.

“Let me walk you out,” Louise said, following Mark to the front door.

April and the others stood motionless and listened to the couple’s brief conversation.

“I meant what I said in there, Louise,” Mark said.

Louise took his hat and coat from the hall tree and handed it to him. “I’m afraid I’m a little embarrassed to have you see me all dressed up with no place to go.” Her voice sounded weak.

He laughed good-naturedly. “Think nothing of it, Louise. I assume that all ladies practice with that sort of thing, and there’s no harm in it, especially when they turn out like you.” He plunked his hat on. “Well . . . I’ll see you around.”

“Good night, Mark,” Louise whispered and closed the door behind him. She leaned back against the door with a dreamy look.

Four heads peeked from around the door’s edge. “Were you all eavesdropping?” Louise scolded with a silly grin.

Miss Margaret pushed the door open wide to expose all of them looking guilty but laughing. “I guess we were at that.” She tapped her cane. “Looks like Mark got an eyeful tonight and will be back for more.”

Beth tilted her head sideways at them. “I talked to him about being his nurse today, and I got the impression from the lady he was with that he’s courting her.”

Louise’s face fell. “Oh, do you know who she was?”

Beth tapped her chin with her finger. “Let’s see . . . Cindy, no Cynthia. She looked familiar to me.”

“Cynthia works for me in the afternoons, helping in the kitchen, if indeed that’s the same person,” Miss Margaret said.

“Was she a redhead?” Natalie asked.

“She certainly was, and she had her daughter with her in a wheelchair.”

“Then that’s Cynthia Hood,” April said. “Doesn’t mean a thing, Louise.” April hooked her arm in Louise’s. “Don’t you start worrying now, you hear?” But April knew that her words rang hollow, for Louise lost the playful smile she’d had just moments earlier.

17

It was all April could do to roll out of bed before dawn, but a promise was a promise. She staggered over to the water pitcher next to the sink.
Mother wouldn’t believe it if she saw me now,
getting up with the chickens.
She pulled her jeans and boots on, then slipped on a chambray shirt over her camisole and threw extra clothes into a saddlebag. Plucking her hat off the bedpost, she decided she’d need her duster since the early mornings were cool. She paused momentarily and then stuffed her Bible in her saddlebag. Never know when one might have need of it, although when, she didn’t know. They would be driving the coach for long hours to get to Billings in two days. She carefully tiptoed down the stairs, trying not the make any noise, but as she passed the kitchen, she smelled bacon and heard Miss Margaret humming.

“April, is that you?” Miss Margaret called out.

“Yes, ma’am,” April answered. She poked her head through the doorway to see Miss Margaret holding out a cup of coffee and a hot biscuit filled with bacon for her. The kitchen was warm with a fire burning in the grate.

April took the biscuit and coffee from her. “I had no idea that you were up this early, Miss Margaret.”

Miss Margaret gave a sweet smile. “I have always been an early riser, and I like to start my day enjoying the quiet. I thought you might need something in your belly before you take off on that long, harebrained ride.”

April took a bite of the fluffy biscuit and savored the taste of bacon inside. “Miss Margaret, you are just too good to me.” She smiled at the older lady, then drank some of the coffee. “Don’t you worry about me. I’ll be careful,” she said, polishing off the biscuit. April donned her duster, then hoisted her saddlebags over one shoulder.

“I hope so, or Josh will be angry with me for not watching out for you.” Miss Margaret gave her a stern look, one hand on her hip, the other one on her cane.

April gave her a quick peck on the cheek, thoroughly surprising Miss Margaret, then hurried out the door.

Leon climbed up to the seat of the stage toting his shotgun, and Morgan glanced around once last time, looking for April.
She said she’d be here. I’ll bet she’s still sleeping.
“Billy,” he said to his young helper, “when April shows—”

Billy touched the sleeve of Morgan’s arm and pointed to the sidewalk. April, holding her hat on, was practically running to reach them.

“Well, I’ll be danged.” Morgan let out a low whistle. “I really didn’t think she’d show.” Then he climbed atop the stage to wait for her.

“Aw, if Miss April said she’d be here, then I knew she would,” Billy said as April drew closer. “I’d rather be the one going with you.”

“Son, you will, and soon. But I like the idea that someone is back here in charge while I’m away. You and Will keep watch over everything now, you hear?” Morgan said, looking down at Billy’s shiny black hair.

“Yes, sir.” Billy looked down, dragging the toe of his boot in the dirt.

Breathing hard, April pulled up short and dropped the saddlebags from her shoulder to the ground. “Sorry, I’m exactly two minutes late by the boardinghouse clock. Miss Margaret made me wolf down a biscuit to hold me until lunch.”

Morgan pulled out the pocket watch tucked into the top of his vest and squinted to read it in the moonlight. “By my watch, you are five minutes late!”

“Quit splitting hairs, Morgan, and let’s get going,” Leon said, handing the reins to Morgan and laying his shotgun across his lap.

“I thought I was going to ride up there with you, Morgan.” April’s brow furrowed in her forehead.

“I never said when, April. Have a seat inside the stage and we’ll talk about it when we stop for lunch.”

April rolled her eyes at Billy, shaking her head.

“Just be glad you get to go, while I stay here,” Billy said. He picked up her saddlebags, then opened the door and threw them inside.

April got in and Billy shut the door. Leaning out the window, April said, “I’m sorry, Billy. I wasn’t aware that you weren’t going on the trip this time. I’ll be glad to teach you everything I learn.”

“It’s not your fault, Miss April. See you in a few days.”

“If you two will quit jawing, we can leave now,” Morgan said, hoping he sounded friendly. Then he cracked his whip, the team of horses leaned into the riggings, and the stagecoach jerked forward. April waved at Billy as he jumped back out of the way. Morgan had a twinge of regret that he was leaving Billy behind, but logic told him the boy had a lot to learn, even with his knowledge of horses. It was better this trip that he didn’t come because they would be transporting the strongbox of cash from Billings to Lewistown. No place for a kid to get in the way.

Morgan could hardly contain his joy that Lenora would be waiting for them in Billings. He missed her so badly that many nights he lay awake thinking about her lying next to him. But he understood that she’d needed to be in Mississippi for a while to take care of her parents, and then later to settle their affairs. He’d savored every letter from her, reading it over and over. He hoped she was missing him as much, and the thought brought a smile to his lips.