Her Heart's Desire (14 page)

Pleased by the compliment, he took her
by the elbow again and stepped a little closer to her as they
walked. “Tell me about planting. What exactly are your father and
brothers doing out there?”

While she answered his question, he
smiled in contentment. This was nice. He could see doing this for
the rest of his life. Well, maybe not coming out to visit her
family on the farm where he had to bear with the smells associated
with it. But he could see spending time with her, maybe walking in
a park, and listening to her. Perhaps some men didn’t want a woman
who was a chatterbox, but he rather liked it.

He tended to be quiet, and when he’d
been around other women, notably Ethel Mae, there’d been a lot of
pressure to figure out what to say. With Sally, he didn’t have that
problem. He could relax and enjoy the conversation while adding his
thoughts from time to time. Sure, he might be wondering how to
broach the subject of courting her, but he was sure he’d figure out
that one soon enough. For now, he’d enjoy the afternoon and listen
to her talk about her family. Maybe next time he saw her, he’d
gather the nerve to ask if he could court her.

Chapter Ten

Sally’s mother stopped the buggy in
front of Ethel Mae’s house on Tuesday. “I’m only taking you to town
as much as I am because you’re of marrying age, and I suspect Rick
has taken a liking to you. But it’s not fair to keep Jenny stuck in
the kitchen now that we’re into planting. Your father and brothers
get hungry during this time, and it’s hard to make enough for all
of them when it’s just one person.”

Sally turned to her mother and rolled
her eyes. “They’re always hungry. Being in the kitchen is all we
ever do, unless we’re doing laundry.”

“
Now, Sally, it’s not easy
for them out in those fields. Besides, you’ve been managing to get
quite a bit of free time in whenever you take an interest in a
young man.”

“
And I appreciate it,
Ma.”

With any luck, her mother’s sacrifice
wouldn’t be in vain. She very much wanted to be married to Rick.
Her elbow still tingled whenever she remembered how he touched her.
There was a good chance he might be interested in her. But she
couldn’t jump to conclusions. She had to find out what was going on
with Ethel Mae and find out what was going on with Samuel. She
still couldn’t believe Rick had talked to him…and about Ethel
Mae!

As she got out of the buggy, she
turned and smiled at her mother. “I’ll do my best to make sure Rick
becomes your son-in-law.”

Her mother chuckled. “I believe you
will. Now go ask Ethel Mae if you can stay here before I
leave.”

Nodding, Sally headed for the house,
catching sight of Hugh as he chased Vivian down the street. She
grinned. Poor Vivian. Being chased by boys at her age. With a sigh,
she hurried up the porch steps then knocked on the door. If only
she had the trouble of being pursued by Rick. Except, she wouldn’t
run away from him. She’d run right into his arms.

Just as she imagined what it’d be like
for Rick to kiss her, the front door opened. Breaking out of her
daydream, Sally smiled at her friend. “Surprise!”

Ethel Mae smiled in return and opened
the storm door. “And a pleasant surprise it is. Come on
in!”

“
Before I do, I wanted to
ask if I can stay with you for a couple days? My ma said it’s
alright as long as your parents say yes.”

“
Let me ask.”

Sally nodded and waited while her
friend went to talk to her parents. She heard a shriek and turned
her gaze back to the street where Hugh was holding a piece of paper
from Vivian who protested that she needed it back. Wondering if she
should intervene and help Vivian, she caught sight of an attractive
blond man coming toward the house. Her eyebrows furrowed. Who in
the world was he?

“
My parents said it’s fine
with them.”

Sally turned back to her friend, her
smile growing wider. “Perfect! I’ll get my carpet bag.” As she
hurried down the porch steps, she saw that the man was coming up
the walkway. “May I help you?” she asked, figuring he might be
wanting to sell something, except he wasn’t carrying a box of goods
to sell or taking a wagon with him wherever he went.

“
Oh, Sally, he’s here to
see me,” her friend called out.

With a glance between Ethel Mae and
the young man, Sally grew even more confused. She didn’t recall her
friend taking a suitor.

“
Ethel Mae is correct,” he
said and tipped his hat. “I’m Samuel Dixon.”

“
Samuel Dixon?” she dumbly
repeated, flabbergasted for the first time in her life. Rick had
told her Samuel really did exist, so she should have been prepared
for it…except she wasn’t!

Ethel Mae rushed over to them. “I’ll
explain more later, Sally, but I met him last week.”

“
Yes, and she was my
beautiful companion at the play on Wednesday,” he added, winking at
Ethel Mae.

With a blush, she shrugged. “It was a
lovely play. You would have enjoyed it, Sally.”

Did Rick know that Ethel Mae had gone
to a play with Samuel? Sally shook her head and stared at her
friend before turning her gaze back to Samuel. Good heavens. Who
knew he not only existed but was also the type who appealed to her
friend?

Samuel chuckled and looked at Ethel
Mae. “I thought you said Sally was a talker.”

“
She is. Usually.” Her
friend touched her arm. “Are you alright?”

Forcing her mind off of Rick, Sally
cleared her throat and nodded. “I’m fine. I just… I mean… So,
you’re Samuel? And you’re here to see Ethel Mae?”

Her friend sighed. “Why don’t you get
your carpet bag? Your ma’s waiting for you.”

Deciding that was a good idea, Sally
turned and headed for the buggy where her mother sat with an
expectant look on her face. “She said I can stay,” Sally told
her.

Her mother retrieved the carpet bag
and handed it to her. “Why are you so surprised? You’ve stayed over
at Ethel Mae’s before.”

“
Yes, I know. It’s just
that Samuel is courting her.”

Her mother laughed. “I don’t see what
that has to do with your staying over.”

“
It doesn’t.”

She debated if she should tell her
mother about Samuel being made up but then turning out to be real.
It was confusing enough without trying to explain it, so she
decided to keep quiet about it.

“
I’ll see you in a week,”
her mother said.

With any luck, this was the week where
Rick would profess his undying love for her and ask to court her.
“I’ll see you then, Ma.”

Waving to her daughter, she released
the brake and directed the horse down the street. Sally turned her
attention back to Ethel Mae who was laughing at something Samuel
said. She blinked and took a good look at them. There was no doubt
about it. They were interested in each other. Her friend was
blushing and grinning. He looked equally smitten with her, if the
way he focused only on her and nothing else was a good indication
of his feelings for her.

Well, Rick had one thing right: Samuel
was charming Ethel Mae in a way he never could. But that still
didn’t mean Samuel was better than him. Even for all the charm
Samuel possessed, Sally much preferred Rick’s shy nature instead.
Yep. There was no doubt about it. Rick was still the better of the
two, and it was to her advantage her friend didn’t
agree.

Exhaling, she put on a smile and
headed over to the two lovebirds. Clasping her carpet bag in front
of her, she waited for them to notice her.

“
It was a lovely play,”
Ethel Mae told him as she twirled a stray strand of her hair
between her fingers. “The characters were witty. I can’t remember
the last time I laughed so hard.”

“
I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Since you found the play to your liking, perhaps you’d like to take
a walk with me in the park this Saturday around noon.”

“
What does that have to do
with the play?” she teased.

“
I can be witty if you give
me half a chance.”

She giggled and swatted at his arm.
“Oh you! I already know that.”

Sally watched the exchange, fascinated
that they were so enraptured with each other that they didn’t even
notice her.

“
So will you delight me
with your company this Saturday?”

“
I’d love to, but I can’t
leave my friend here by herself.” She turned to Sally who was
surprised she did know she was there after all. “She’s staying with
me until Sunday. However, if you wanted to come over for supper on
Sunday, you may.”

“
I look forward to it.” He
glanced at Sally. “It was nice meeting you.”

As he headed for the sidewalk, Sally
gave her friend a knowing smirk. “Who would have thought you’d
really fall in love with Samuel Dixon?”

“
It’s ironic, isn’t it?”
she whispered, her eyes still on him. “He has to be the most
attractive man alive. I thought for sure once I went to the play
with him, he’d lose interest and move on, but he came by the next
day and we talked for a couple of hours. It didn’t even seem like
hours. Time flies by so fast when he’s around. I swear, I lose all
track of time.”

Sally understood what her friend
meant. “The same thing happens with me whenever Rick’s
around.”

“
It’s nice to know that
when I need help, you two will run to my aid,” a very disgruntled
Vivian snapped.

Surprised, Sally and Ethel Mae stopped
talking and turned their wide eyes in Vivian’s
direction.

Vivian held up a wrinkled piece of
paper and shook it in their faces. “I was screaming for you two to
help me, and both of you ignored me.”

“
We didn’t hear you,” Ethel
Mae replied.

Sally decided to keep quiet since she
had noticed Vivian’s distress but got sidetracked.

Vivian’s face turned red. “I’m not
surprised since you were falling all over yourself to talk to
Samuel.”

Ethel Mae gasped and put her hand to
her throat. “I wasn’t falling all over myself to talk to
him!”

She rolled her eyes. “My private
thoughts were in danger of being read to the entire
public.”

Sally sighed. “It’s one piece of
paper, Vivian.”

She turned her angry eyes to Sally.
“One piece of paper that came out of my journal. That horrible Hugh
came up behind me while I was writing in it and tried to steal
it.”

“
Maybe you should let him
read it,” Sally said. “All you do is go on and on about how much
you hate him. If he reads it, he’ll understand how much you detest
him, and maybe then he’ll leave you alone.”

Vivian stomped her foot on the ground
and huffed. “You’re missing the point.”

“
I don’t see
how.”

“
My point is that you
should have come and helped me.” Her head snapped in her sister’s
direction. “And you, too! I would have helped you. In fact, I
already did. I told Rick everything you wanted me to, and when I
needed you, you ignored me.”

Sally groaned. “You should just let
Hugh read what you think of him. It’ll be good for him to see that
you’re serious about hating him.”

Vivian lifted her chin in the air and
crossed her arms. “I see how things are. Let me make something
clear to both of you right now. I will no longer be at your beck
and call. If you want to get Rick to do or not do something, you’ll
have to do it without me.”

As she stormed off down the street,
Sally looked at Ethel Mae with raised eyebrows. “There goes one
unhappy girl.”

Her friend sighed. “I think she
secretly likes Hugh.”

“
Really?”

“
Have you ever noticed she
only leaves the house when he’s either outside or looking out his
window?”

No, she hadn’t, but she’d have to take
Ethel Mae’s word for it. At the moment, however, she had more
important things on her mind. “You like Samuel Dixon?”

At the mention of his name, her friend
blushed. “Isn’t he wonderful?”

“
I suppose…”

“
I was shocked when he
showed up here and told me his name. He ran into Rick, and
apparently, Rick told him about me. But we don’t have to worry
about anything. Samuel figured it out and isn’t telling Rick we
made up the name Samuel in order for him to take an interest in
you.” She giggled and clasped her hands together. “He’s much better
than Vivian made him out to be, isn’t he?”

“
I can see why you like
him,” she admitted.

“
Isn’t he
wonderful?”

Sally laughed. “You already asked me
that.”

“
Did I?”

“
You know, Ethel Mae, I
can’t recall a time when I ever saw you blush so much over
someone.”

She pressed her hands to her cheeks
and giggled. “I feel silly, but I can’t help but think of how
wonderful he is.”

Rolling her eyes, she put an arm
around her friend’s and led her toward the house. “Why do I have
the feeling I’ll be hearing the word ‘wonderful’ often while I’m
here?”