Love Blooms in Winter (19 page)

He, on the other hand, always dressed for prestige and privilege. His tailored suits fit impeccably. His shirts were the newest fashion with stiff collar points, vests just so, and his trousers were exactly a fourth of an inch from the top of his polished square-toed shoes. Recently, he’d discarded the bow tie he customarily wore for a narrow bit of material with a knot at the top he referred to as a “four-in-hand.” Mae knew, though, that he wasn’t dressing for her. He dressed for business. She often felt underdressed and dowdy when she was beside him. Did she make him feel less of an important man with her sensible dress and understated preference for fashion?

“Oh, Mae, your hair’s pretty. I like your bow.”

“Thank you, sweetheart.” She glanced up at her tall little brother. “You look mighty handsome yourself.” A blush rose to his cheeks as she walked over to give him a hug. He was so special. “Let’s get the food we’re taking and head for the part—supper.”

By the time they reached the church, Mae’s festive mood was infectious. Laughter mingled with the scent of fresh-brewed coffee. She and Jeremy walked over to the food table and set their pies, cornbread, and pickled beets next to the other dishes. Easing the peach pie to the back, she lightly drew a napkin over it, praying it would go unnoticed until Tom spotted it. And Jake. She’d baked Jake’s favorite, custard. She’d even taken extra care to add additional eggs and the vanilla she’d purchased from a traveling salesman, who vowed there wasn’t a better bottle of flavoring to be found.

News of the gathering had obviously reached Lil. She showed up a few minutes later bearing an overflowing plate of fried pork rinds. Men’s eyes lit up like small children’s at Christmas. The Fourth of July had come to Dwadlo early this year.

A man scooped potato salad on his plate. “Shore sorry about that bull, Stewart.”

The farmer lifted a burgeoning plate and grinned. “Sorry I had to lose him, but I’m ten dollars richer and gained a whale of a supper outta him.”

Tom listened as talk turned to how they were going to move the locomotive, passenger, and wooden cars. He’d learned Dawdlo had one old ox that was on its last leg. It would take a full morning to round up enough animals to move the heavy loads.

Fisk approached, chewing on a piece of T-bone. “Lil has an elephant.”

Tom turned to face him. “She has a what?”

“An elephant.” Fisk licked the bone dry. “Circus train came through a couple of years ago. The old bull elephant they had took real sick, and they had to either dispose of him or leave him behind here in Dwadlo. They had about decided to shoot him, but Lil stepped in and claimed him before Pauline could.”

Tom couldn’t believe his ears. An elephant! Pulling at his collar, sweat broke across his forehead in the warm room. An elephant. God was good—Pauline wasn’t the one who had acquired the thing. “Where does she keep it?”

“She built it a mighty fine shelter. Heated and all. She nursed him back to health, and he took a liking to her. He’s harmless.”

“Elephants are wild animals, Fisk. They can turn on you.”

“Shoot, Tom. Lil rides that ol’ thing for fun when she takes a notion. Esau can do the job.”

“Esau?”

“The elephant. He can move your locomotive.”

“I don’t know.” Tom had never been around an elephant, and he wasn’t sure this was the right time to get to know one. Using oxen, horses, and mules had to be safer than having some gigantic pachyderm wandering around. What if the animal went out of control?

“Well, you can talk to her about it. She’s over there jawing with a bunch of the other women.”

Fisk moseyed on, licking his fingers. Tom couldn’t help wondering why the blacksmith apparently didn’t fear the elephant. Could it be possible that the answer to his prayers had been delivered by a circus? He just hoped the whole project didn’t end up turning into a three-ring show.

The old church was quite lively as festivities got into full swing. Harry Miller tuned his guitar and Miller Sands warmed up on his banjo. Tom was just wondering how much longer it would be until the storm hit when the sound of thunder rolled in the distance. He looked up to see Pauline approaching him. At least she’d discarded the bloody housecoat and replaced it with a clean dress. The tiny woman appeared to be in control of her faculties tonight. She extended her arm.

“Shall we take a turn around the floor, sonny?”

It was hard to believe the woman was so spry at her age. Smiling, Tom took her into his arms and swung her gently onto the dance floor. Her slight, thin frame still had a lot of life in it. Her steps matched his, faded eyes alight with pleasure.

“Oh, how I love to dance! Didn’t think I’d ever get the chance again.”

The lively atmosphere put a bold bounce in her step. Tom led her carefully around the other couples, his gaze searching for Mae. He’d seen her come in earlier carrying steaming dishes. Jake’s suit caught his eye, and he found a bright-eyed, flushed Mae in the lawyer’s arms. Something akin to jealousy stabbed him in the pit of his stomach. He focused instead on Pauline. “You dance well.”

Nodding, she chuckled, “I haven’t lost it, have I?”

“No, ma’am.” He turned her away from Jake and Mae. “You haven’t lost it.”

“You know, son.” She sobered, her gaze suddenly focusing on Tom’s face. “I still don’t think I know you from a hole in the wall, but if you are my kin, I’m right proud of it.”

He smiled at her and realized he may as well accept her as his aunt, even though he knew she wasn’t. It would be kind of nice to pretend he still had family. After all, he’d already decided he would make himself responsible for her financial security. “Me too. I wasn’t aware I still had kin, so I guess I should thank you. You’re a fine woman, Auntie.” God had perfect timing. He hadn’t thought he missed family until this very minute. A flush overshadowed the heavy rouge on her weathered cheeks.

“Oh, my. You take my breath away. A man hasn’t said anything like that to me in… come to think of it, I don’t recall the last time.”

“I can’t believe that. You’re a lovely woman, Pauline. I bet you have had your fair share of admirers.”

“Well, yes. I’m sure I have.”

She sighed and twirled like the fanciest-reared lady and settled back gently in his arms. Even now he could see that she was once a pretty woman. In her day she’d probably had many a suitor.

“I was a looker, sonny boy.”

“I just bet you were.” Pauline was in sound mind tonight, and he figured she wouldn’t want trite responses. “Time can only steal your body. It can’t touch your soul, and you’re a good soul.” Her toothless grin warmed him, and he was suddenly glad he’d come to Dwadlo.

“Are you married, Tom?”

“Never had the time, Aunt Pauline.”

“I understand. You seem like a bright boy. You’ll settle down one of these days.” Her eyes fixed on Mae. “Now, there’s a good woman, but, dad gum it, she’s taken.”

“Yes, ma’am, I know.” The music changed, slowing to a waltz. Still moving about the floor with Pauline as his partner, Tom studied Jake. The lawyer looked just like every other dandy Tom had ever seen. He was a man who liked to flaunt his social position, and Tom was well aware he could offer Mae a good life as Mrs. Jake Mallory. The stuffed shirt would probably build her the fanciest house in town, and their kids would be well-educated. And, unless he missed his guess, the attorney would try to send Jeremy off to one of the fancier institutions in the East, but he’d never achieve his goal. Tom hadn’t been in town long, but certainly long enough to know that Mae would fight Mallory tooth and nail to keep her brother with her.

“Do you find Jake handsome?” he asked Pauline. He couldn’t judge such matters, and women’s taste in men often stumped him.

Pauline turned her head to study the man. “Yes, he’s quite attractive. Always been good to me.” She pressed closer and whispered in Tom’s ear. “I don’t think he likes my animals, but then who does ’sides me?” Throwing back her head, she cackled.

Grinning, Tom stifled an involuntary sneeze at the mere thought of dog and cat hair, and he moved to the sounds of the guitar and banjo, letting her laughter wash away his cares.

The past couple of days had been rough, but thanks to a dead bull, the evening would restore the town’s mood. They would realize that the inconvenience of the accident was small. The rail would be repaired, the town wouldn’t go under, and life would go on.

If Jake wasn’t an imbecile, he would eventually get around to asking for Mae’s hand. After a week in Dwadlo, Tom almost didn’t want to go home, but he would return to Chicago to bury himself in his new position. Work long hours. Grow old alone. He laughed to himself when he thought about this morning’s service. Maybe he would purchase a robe, butcher a bull in it, roll in the dirt, and then wear it to church. That would shake up Chicago.

He nodded to Dale, who waltzed past gingerly holding Widow Freidman in his arms. A chuckle slipped out. Growing old. A sense of humor would help. His gaze turned to Mae and Jake again, and he watched her face flush with exertion. What would it be like to hold the woman God had waiting for him? To spend the rest of his life with his wife in his arms? Smile at her. Allow his love to seep through his gaze and saturate her like thick molasses until she openly longed for him the way he desired her.

He hadn’t exactly been looking these past years, but he would have noticed if the right woman had crossed his path. To date he’d yet to find someone he longed to talk to, to hold. Someone he felt he couldn’t bear to be separated from… until Mae. The memory of passing years that had flown by too quickly closed around him. His aching muscles told him he wasn’t getting any younger. And to make matters worse, the only woman he wanted to court belonged to another man.

The music stopped and his stomach growled. What he really wanted was some of that peach pie Mae had made.
^“
Auntie, could I interest you in something to eat?”

“Eat? Is it time to eat again? Well, land sakes, it is dark outside, so let’s head for the food.”

He’d watched when Mae pushed the peach pie to the back, but covering it had done little good. Most of the slices were gone, but he managed to grab the last piece before Fisk got to it.

“Sorry, my friend, but that’s my piece of pie. Peach is my favorite.”

“I like any kind, so you can have it.”

Tom took his first bite, and it was the best he’d ever tasted. He was savoring the sweet taste when a huge clap of thunder shook the church and folks spooked. The storm was too close. A man opened the door, and folks rushed to have a look outside. Tom set his pie down and listened while husbands called to their wives to pack up their food and get ready to leave. The music died away, and the scramble to clean up and get families home turned fast and furious.

Squeezing his arm, Pauline pulled him down to whisper in his ear again. “I see the way you look at Mae, sonny. It’ll happen one of these days. As sure as the good Lord grows green grass, it’ll happen for you too.”

The only answer he gave her was a smile. He ushered his newly acquired aunt to the back of the room to retrieve her untouched dish. He needed to see her safely home before the storm broke.

Enthusiasm swept the crowd the next morning when Tom and his crew started for the work site. Fortunately, Dwadlo had escaped the worst of the weather. He was thankful the storm had dumped only a couple of inches of icy pellets. He figured folks to the north got the worse of it. Maybe the Lord did indeed have His hand on this tiny community.