Loving Eliza (27 page)

“I did see some stra
nge looking meat in that house,” she joked.

Addy laughed and picked up her glass. 
“I’m glad you don’t have to work for her anymore.  I know she doesn’t pay any of her workers a fair amount of money.”

“Is that why you asked me over for supper as much as you did?”

She grew serious.  “I worried about you.  I looked for a better job but couldn’t find one, and I feared you’d never accept an offer for me to take you in and house you here.”

“You’re right.  I wouldn’t have.  I’m much too stubborn.  I wanted to prove I could make it on my own.”

“It’s a good thing John got you when he did.”

Eliza glanced at her friend, wondering just how much Addy really understood about the situation but deciding it was best to leave some things unasked.

“I’m also relieved nothing happened between you and Troy.”

“No.  I only went with him to Charity’s party because I wanted to eat.”

“Was it that bad?”

Eliza didn’t like to think about it.  Every time she did, she recalled how close she’d come to selling her body for money.  She never realized temptation could creep up on her like that.  Forcing th
e memory aside, she said, “
I never would have married Troy.”

“Of course, until Old Willy met Daphne, he was interested in you as well.  I guess you could have had your pick of any of the available men you wanted.”

“Maybe, but there was only one I wanted to be with.”

She smiled.  “And I’m glad
for that.”

Eliza returned her smile.  “I am too.  I never knew that love could be this wonderful or that I could be this happy.”

“John’s sure not complaining.  You two go well together.”

“You’re right.”

“And I’m glad you came to your senses before it was too late.”

Eliza agreed with her on that one too.  Few things were as fulfilling as finding a man like John, someone who knew all about her and loved her anyway.

Addy stood up.  “Now, come on.  I want to show you your wedding gift. 
We got you and John a rug.”

“How did you know we needed one?”

“I remember you mentioned that shortly after you arrived in town.”

“You have a good memory.”

“Well, come and see it.  I think you’ll be pleased.”

Eliza got up and followed her to the other room.

T
hree week
s later when
the photographer was due to come to town, Eliza took the time to put her hair up in a fashionable hair style.
  She even had on her best dark blue dress for the occasion.  This would be permanent, something that she would always look back on and remember with great fondness, so she wanted to look her best.  When she was happy with the way she looked, she left the bedroom t
o find John who was sitting in a chair at
the kitchen
table
with one of her books open.

“Are you able to understand all of that?” she asked.

He looked up from the book and shook his head.

“Give it time.  It’ll come to you.” She picked up a hat and put it on her head.  She hoped it wouldn’t mess up her hair.  She decided she wouldn’t wear it when it came time for the photographer to take her and John’s picture, but for now, it would have to do.  She turned to her husband and smiled.  “You’re wearing the same clothes you had on when we met.  It suits
you
very well.  When I look at the picture, I’ll always remember the first time we met.  I thought you were annoying in some ways but sweet in others.”

He raised an eyebrow at her.

“Well, in some ways you were annoying.  You wouldn’t leave me alone.” She walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.  “But that was also sweet.  Thank you for not giving up on me.”

He softly kissed her before he stood up and retrieved his hat from the table.

“I can’t wait to see the picture when it’s ready.  Can you?”

He shrugged.

She sighed.  “I guess pictures are a female thing.  Alright.  I’m finally ready and we’re not running behind.  I did good today.”

Smiling, he followed her out of the house.  On the way to town, she spent the time discussing how they might stand o
r sit for the picture.  She
always liked pictures.  It was a picture that allowed her a tangible connection to her son, and now a picture would be the thing to tell the world that she and John did live in this place.
  She had a hard time sitting still.  For once, the trip to town seemed to take much too long.  He seemed amused by her
eagerness
, but she
didn’t pay
his teasing glances any mind.  The fact remained that this was a perfect day. 
The day was cool enough to enjoy it, and the sun
shone brightly. 
Yes.  It was perfect.

When John parked the wagon on the edge of town, she didn’t have the patience to wait for him to help her down.  By the time he reached her side, she was already on the ground.  She adjusted her dress and took his elbow.  “Maybe we should see what Addy and Frank are up to before we leave.  What do you think?”

He nodded.

It wasn’t hard to find where the photographer was.  In front of the general store was a line of people waiting for their pictures to be taken, and the photographer was busy setting up his equipment
.  Eliza and John took their spot in line.

“It looks like the whole town came out for this,” she told John.  “Well, at least mostly everyone.”

She didn’t see Harriet Lube anywhere, and that was a relief.  She figured she’d have to run into the grouchy woman at some point but was more than happy to delay that event.  However, she did see Troy there.  He sat across the street talking to two men.  He glanced their way and she quickly looked away.  She hadn’t spoken to him since the night of Charity’s dinner.  In church, she and John sat on the other side of the room, and Troy had left them alone. 
Still, she couldn’t shrug off her unease whenever she did see him.  She felt that she should apologize for leaving him as abruptly as she had but didn’t know how.  It was much too awkward.

“Good morning, John.  Good morning, Eliza,” a woman called out.

They turned and saw Alan Gray and Bethany Grooms behind them.

Eliza blinked in surprise.  “Why, Alan, you’re out in public.”

He chuckled.  “I’ve been known to get out once in awhile.  I don’t hide in my room all the time.”

“Oh I know, but you did keep to yourself a lot.”

“That’s before he met me,” Bethany said.

“Actually, I should thank you for introducing us,” Alan added.  “We’ve decided to marry come spring.”

“No kidding?” Eliza asked.

“We would marry today but don’t want to rush it,” Bethany stated.

“Well, that’s great,” Eliza said.  “Isn’t that great, John?”

He nodded.

Eliza grinned. 
“I’m happy for you both.  Now Alan can start living life instead of reading about it
.”

Alan laughed.  “I do still read.”

“Just not as often,” Bethany added.

Marshal Custer ran over to them, interrupting their conversation.  “Oh good.  I’m glad you’re in town,” he told John.  “I need you to fix
a
broken step in my house.  I was going to go out and get you, but since you’re here, would you mind doing it now?”

John glanced at the photographer and then at Eliza.

“I’ll talk to the photographer so he’ll take your picture first,” the marshal said.

John nodded and they followed Ralph over to the photographer who held a dry plate in his hand
.

“Corbin,” Ralph called out, getting the photographer’s attention.  “I’m the marshal here in town, and I have something that needs fixing in my house.  Now, this man John here is the only one qualified to fix it.  I was wondering if I could move him and Eliza to the front of the line so that he can tend to my home.”

Corbin gave her a good look.  “Eliza?  That’s your name?”

She shifted from one foot to the other, unsure of why the question unsettled her.  “Yes.”

He smiled.  “I thought you looked familiar.”

Her eyes grew wide.  No.  It couldn’t be.  No this far out west...in this small town.

“I’ll be happy to take your picture.  I’m just about ready.  Why don’t you two go on over there.  John, you sit in that chair and Eliza, you stand beside
him
and put your hand on his shoulder.”

She numbly followed
John to the platform with the light green curtain behind it.  She took a deep breath to settle the panic rising in her chest.  He wouldn’t come out and tell anyone
how
he knew her, would he?  Despite her slight trembling, she managed to stand beside John and set a hand on his shoulder.

John glanced at her, obviously sensing something wasn’t right.

She forced a smile.  “I’ve never had a picture taken before.” Her voice shook.  She hadn’t meant
for
it to, but it really couldn’t be helped.  A part of her past was behind that camera and could easily announce what she used to be to the entire town.  “Let’s just go home as soon as you’re done with that step.  We can come back another day to see Addy.”

His gaze shifted from her to t
he photographer and then back to
her.

She kne
w the question in his eyes.  Had
Corbin
been
one of her customers?  She hated answering it but knew she had to.  “Yes.  He’s from Omaha.”

“I need you two to look at the camera,” Corbin shouted out.

She forced her eyes on the camera.  All she could do was act as if nothing was wrong.  Maybe everything would be fine.  There was no reason to panic.  She focused on her breathing and counted silently.  Her hands steadied and she was able to give a slight smile when Corbin counted backwards from three to one.

After he took the picture, he called out, “I’ll have it ready by tomorrow morning.”

She breathed a sigh of relief as the next couple with two children were ushered forward.  She gladly stepped down from the platform.  One look over her shoulder told her that Corbin had turned his attention to the next people in line.  Maybe that was it.  Maybe there was nothing to worry about after all.

The marshal walked over to them.  “Will you come over and fix that step now?” he asked John.

She was aware that John glanced in her direction but she couldn’t make eye contact with him.  Even if he knew what she’d been and what she’d done, she just couldn’t
look at him at that moment.  For him to see one of the men she’d be
en
intimate with wasn’t something she relished.  She’d hoped that she’d never see any of those men again.

She didn’t know what else to do except sit in one of the few vacant chairs in front of the general store.  She didn’t feel like seeing Addy or talking to anyone.  She just wanted to wait for John and then go home.  After John left with Ralph, she settled into the chair and put her face in her hands.  She couldn’t c
ome back out
here tomorrow and face Corbin again.  She just couldn’t.  All she wanted was for the past to stay buried in the past.  Why did he have to come to town and stir up old memories?  Why couldn’t the past just stay there?  Maybe she could have Frank or Addy pick up the picture tomorrow.  Then she could avoid coming back while Corbin was still in town.

She wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly feeling vulnerable.  She wished she had brought the picture of her son but she hadn’t.  Glancing up at the crowd, she watched Corbin as he took another picture, acting as if nothing was wrong.  Well, maybe for him, nothing was wrong.  He, after all, had only seen her as a prostitute, and who knew how many of
those he’d visited in his time?
  Maybe it made no difference that she was there.  All he said was hi.  He hadn’t been rude.  If he’d wanted to come out and tell everyone what she’d been, he would have already done it, wouldn’t he?