Sleigh Ride (Homespun) (4 page)

The door opened, and Bess called in.  “It’s me!”  Bess never knocked when she was expected, just as Millie didn’t knock at her home.  There was no need for either of them to stand outside in the cold when she knew perfectly well how to open a door.

After the introductions were made, Bess settled into a chair at the table and picked up her own sewing.  After her first visit with Millie, she’d taken to bringing her own sewing basket for their visits, because neither of them felt right about sitting with their hands idle when they could be getting something accomplished.  Their sewing went so much faster when they had each other to laugh with.

Bess turned to Charlotte.  “James is really excited about you being here.  He can hardly wait until Sunday morning to meet you.”

Charlotte smiled.  “I’m excited, too, but more nervous than anything.  I hope he doesn’t feel like he wasted his money on my fare.”  She liked Bess.  Her eyes seemed to dance with happiness.  She couldn’t help but be drawn to her.

Bess smiled encouragingly.  “Of course, he won’t.  He’ll just be proud he gets to be the one to beau you around while you’re here.  I do hope you two fall in love and you stay forever, of course.  I need a sister!”

Millie was pleased to see her friends getting along so well.  Of course, she’d known they would.  “Would you care for some cake, Bess?”

Bess grinned, her hand going to her slightly rounded stomach.  “I think Junior and I would be thrilled to have some cake.”  Bess was only a couple of months along.  The women joked constantly how their children would grow up and get married. 

Millie turned to Patience who was sitting quietly soaking in every word the three women were saying.  “Would you run down to the cellar and bring up a jar of blackberry preserves?”  Patience ran off to do as she was asked worried she’d miss some little piece of the adult conversation.  “Bess taught me to can this summer.  If you stay, we’ll teach you together.”

Charlotte smiled.  “I’d like that a lot.  I hope James won’t mind getting a wife who knows nothing about cooking.”

Bess shrugged.  “As long as you’re willing to learn, he won’t mind at all.  Of course, after a couple of months here with Millie, I’m sure you’ll be one of the best cooks around!”

Patience ran in then with the preserves.  Millie stood to get the cake, but Charlotte stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.  “Rest.  I’ll get the cake.”

Charlotte dished up a large slice for everyone.  “Should I get some for George and the boys?”

Millie shrugged.  Normally they didn’t come into the house while Bess was visiting, but she was certain they’d enjoy a piece of the cake as well.  “Yes, please.  If you don’t mind.”  She turned to her daughter, and saw she was already heading out the door to get her father and brothers.

They all had a cup of milk to go with the cake.  Millie turned to Bess.  “Were you too cold on the way over?  Do you want me to have George take you home in the sleigh?” 

Bess laughed.  “John dropped me off on his way to town.  He said he’d stop back for me on his way home.”  She rubbed her belly again.  “I need to be carrying a baby more often.  I like the special treatment.”

They all laughed.  “Don’t get too used to it,” George joked.  “I’m sure John doesn’t want to have to pamper his wife forever.” 

Bess grinned at the lighthearted teasing.  George and John had been neighbors since long before John and Bess had married.  “I’ll just be glad when we get all the sewing done for your baby, so Millie can start helping me with mine!”

Charlotte watched the lighthearted way everyone dealt with each other with a smile.  This was something she’d never seen in Boston.  There wasn’t as much work to be done, sure, but there also wasn’t this camaraderie that came from working so hard together, and helping one another.  She started thinking Minnesota looked like a good place to stay after all.

John knocked on the door while they were still eating their cake, so Millie invited him in for a piece.  Charlotte immediately jumped up to serve him when she saw Millie trying to get up out of the chair.  She wanted to laugh at her friend for the way she got up with her body at an angle belly first, but knew better.  Millie had been the prettiest girl in school back in Boston, and had never seemed particularly vain, but Charlotte was sure she wouldn’t take kindly to someone making fun of her ungainly movements.

John was tall with dark hair and brown eyes.  Charlotte found herself watching him and hoping his brother had similar looks.  She’d always been partial to men with brown eyes. 

When John and Bess stood to leave, Bess gave Charlotte an impulsive hug.  “I sure hope you’ll end up being my sister in law!”

Charlotte smiled.  “I hope so too!”  Of course, she’d have to decide that later.  She couldn’t exactly marry someone just because she wanted a sister.

Sunday morning came all too soon for Charlotte.  She wanted to meet James, but she was so nervous about it, she wasn’t sure if she could sit still for the church service.  Before leaving Boston, she’d taken a portion of her meager earnings and purchased enough fabric for a new dress.  She’d worked painstakingly on it for two weeks, and had finally finished up the hemming on the train on the way to Minnesota.

After the breakfast dishes were done, she’d slipped into the girls’ room to change into her dress.  It was a forest green and she had a new bonnet to go with it.  She carefully wove her hair into an intricate braid and set the bonnet on top.  She wished there was a mirror here to see into, but there wasn’t a single mirror in the house.

She went into the main room where Millie was braiding Grace’s hair while Patience looked on.   Patience looked up and smiled.  “You look beautiful!”

Charlotte grinned.  “Thank you, Patience.”  She looked to Millie for a response.

Millie nodded.  “You look very nice, Charlotte.  James will be happy he sent you the tickets.”  Millie could see how nervous her friend was, and hoped she’d be able to calm down before they arrived at the church.

Charlotte was almost floating on the compliments.  George looked at her and nodded.  She hadn’t expected a compliment from George.  He wasn’t the type to compliment a woman who wasn’t his wife.  She doubted if even Millie heard compliments from him about her appearance very often.

“We need to leave in five minutes.  I’ll go hitch up the team.”  Both boys, in their Sunday best, followed George outside to help. 

Charlotte watched them go.  “Are they ever any real help to him?”

Millie smiled.  “They will be in a couple of years.  Right now, they’re still learning.”  She finished the braid.  “There.  You look very pretty, Gracie.”

They all bundled up in their coats and walked out to where the sleigh was waiting.  George carefully helped Millie into the seat and handed Grace to her.  Charlotte sat in the back with the boys.  “I’m going to have to make a bigger sleigh if we have any more children.”  George gave Millie a look of love that made Charlotte want to sigh aloud.  She wanted someone who would love her the way George loved Millie.

George made sure they were all tucked carefully under the quilts.  The ride to church would be way too cold without the covers on them.

Charlotte was nervous the whole way into town.  The boys chattered with her about their friends they’d see in church, and how much they loved Sundays.  Their nonstop litany helped to calm her nerves, because she had to think of something other than meeting James.

Once the sleigh was stopped in front of the small church, Charlotte saw Bess standing with John, and a man who must surely be his brother.  She led them over to the sleigh, and made the introductions in her quiet sweet voice.  James offered his hand to help Charlotte down from the sleigh. 

James had dark hair and brown eyes, which thrilled Charlotte to no end.  She loved brown eyes.  His hand was firm, but gentle, as he helped her down from the sleigh.  He tucked her arm through his and led her toward the church, not leaving her with Millie to make introductions.  She couldn’t believe he was being so bold.  She’d expected Millie to introduce her around, but maybe James felt the need to introduce her to let everyone know he’d be courting her.

He introduced her around quickly.  There were only about fifteen families in the church and several single farmers.  There were no single females of marriageable age at all.  It would be nice to have other young females to make friends with, but it made sense there were none.  If there had been, there’d have been no need for her or Millie to come out here.

She shook Pastor Jenkins’s hand and smiled.  Unlike Millie, Charlotte had always loved going to church, and she’d accepted Jesus as her savior at a young age.  She told Pastor Jenkins she was looking forward to his sermon.  He stepped up to the pulpit, and she wondered if James was going to keep her with him through the service.  She’d never seen a courting couple sit together at church, but maybe things were different out here.

James led her back to Millie and promised to see her after the sermon.  She breathed a sigh of relief when he returned her.  He seemed nice, but very proprietary, and it made her nervous.

Charlotte sat very still and listened intently to the sermon about women being helpers to their husbands and praising God by the way they take care of their homes.  She determined then and there to learn as much from Millie as she possibly could, so she could do what she needed to do to take care of her home after marriage.  Even if she didn’t marry James, she would eventually marry, and the skills she’d learn would be invaluable.

After the sermon, James appeared at her side.  “May I take you for a sleigh ride this afternoon?  I know it’s cold, but I’ll keep you well covered.”  James seemed nervous as he asked, which surprised Charlotte.  She felt like his paying for her ticket had purchased some of her time.  Even if she’d met him and had known immediately she would never marry him, she would have felt the need to spend time with him.

She looked to Millie.  “Would that be okay?  Do you need me for anything?”  She knew Millie would agree, but she felt like her first priority was helping out with Millie’s family if at all necessary.  She could see dark circles forming under her friend’s eyes even though her load had lightened considerably since her arrival.

“Go ahead.  I can handle my family for a day.”  She looked to George.  “That’s okay with you?”

George nodded.  He didn’t like the idea of a woman under his protection going out alone with a young man, though.  “You’ll need to take Patience with you as a chaperone.”  Patience couldn’t be a proper chaperone, of course, but she was better than nothing.  Millie certainly wasn’t up to going for a long sleigh ride, and he wouldn’t leave her without adult help.

Patience was off giggling with one of her young friends.  Charlotte looked in her direction and smiled.   She was such a dependable young girl it was good to see her laughing and having fun when the opportunity arose. 

Charlotte met James’s chocolate brown eyes then and nodded.  She was glad Millie had warned her about needing a chaperone for their drives.  “I’d be happy to go.  What time will you call for me?”

James seemed to consider the question for a moment.  “Around two?  That’ll give me time to eat lunch and then head over.”

Charlotte looked at Millie for a moment wondering if it would be okay to invite James for lunch.  She didn’t know what her friend had planned, though, and decided she’d save that for another time.  “Two sounds good.  I’ll be watching for you so you don’t have to leave the team out in the cold.”

Charlotte spent the drive back to Millie’s staring out at the landscape.  It was cold, but spending a few hours with James would be worth the cold.  He was better looking than she could have hoped for.  She couldn’t believe her luck.

They had a cold lunch of bread with jam.  Halfway through lunch, Millie asked, “Before you go, would you be willing to help me get supper started?  I want to make a large pot of soup, but I have a hard time standing long enough to peel the vegetables.”

“Of course.”  Charlotte was slightly annoyed, because she’d wanted to wear her pretty new dress for the drive, but she’d have to change into a work dress now.  She needed to help Millie, though.

“I have a huge apron you can wear, so you won’t have to change your clothes.”  Millie smiled at her friend, knowing what she was thinking.

Charlotte was instantly ashamed.  Millie’s family was providing for her and all they asked was for a little help in return.  She should be doing everything with a smile and acting thankful she was given the opportunity.  “That would be nice.”

Once Charlotte and Patience had done the lunch dishes, Patience went down to the cellar and the two of them began peeling carrots and potatoes.  Millie turned to George.  “I hate to ask, but would you mind bringing some peas and some salt pork up from the cellar?”

George dropped a kiss on top of his wife’s head.  It was the first sign of affection Charlotte had seen them exchange and it made her feel a lot better for her friend’s lot in life.  She could tell Millie was very happy here with her new family, but for the life of her, she couldn’t figure out why she enjoyed working so hard for children who weren’t even her own.  Millie was a much more loving person than anyone back home had given her credit for.

Millie sat at the table, and once each carrot and potato was peeled, it was given to Millie who chopped it up quickly and efficiently and dropped it into a huge pot for the soup.  By the time two came around, the pot was in the center of the stove and Millie knew she’d be fine just stirring it occasionally.  She hugged her friend tightly.  “Thanks for helping before you left.  Have a great time!”