Mail Order Tangle, page 14
“Okay, but if there’s trouble, you step back in the house and protect the women.” He walked out the front door to await the visitors.
Grandpa followed and took his stand beside Kage.
As the three approached at a walk, they kept their hands in sight. When they reached the rail at the porch, they halted.
Kage nodded. “Mornin’.”
Virgie Cox, Olaf’s foreman, tipped a finger to his hat brim. “We ain’t here to hassle you. Raul and Pete want to keep their jobs. I come with ‘em to see they didn’t come to harm.”
“Virgie, why would you think they might? We never wanted a disagreement with Olaf.”
The foreman shook his head. “I worked for his parents and then him. Been there ten years. I’ve heard how he’s been cheated and passed over, how put upon he’s been. No wonder he lost his head after you attacked him.”
“You have the story wrong, Virgie. Hate to see a hard worker like you leave. Talk to folks around town, not just Olaf’s drinking buddies but other citizens. Try Mr. Doan, Doc Renfro, the sheriff, folks like that.”
“I might do that very thing.” He tipped his hat and rode away.
Kage watched him go, overcome with regret at Virgie’s misplaced sense of honor. The man was responsible for keeping Olaf’s ranch operating in spite of Olaf’s mismanagement. Without Virgie, the ranch would have failed years ago.
He exhaled and gazed at the two remaining riders. “You men plan to stay on and that’s good. Glad to have you.”
Raul Vega removed his hat. “Señor, we are your hands now and we ride for the brand. We will be loyal to you.”
Pete Schwartz nodded. “We ain’t had no part in whatever Lindquist’s been up to. We’re good cowboys, and we just do our jobs.”
“My grandfather and I were coming to see you this afternoon. You’ve made our day easier. Come into the house and we’ll go over your salary and duties.”
As the men followed Grandpa inside, Kage waved to signal Slim that everything was all right.
***
Ellie no longer trusted fate. She feared something would arise and prevent the day she longed for, her wedding. Not until she heard the minister’s pronouncement that she was Kage’s legal wife could she relax.
Inga tapped a pencil on the table. “I wonder if we’ve left anything off the list. I haven’t been involved in wedding plans since my own thirty-two years ago.”
“I doubt anything’s changed except the dress fashions.” Laura read over Inga’s latest list.
“And they change each fall. My gown is four years old, so the style might be out of date by now.” Ellie supposed she’d have to wear her green silk faile.
Inga smiled at her. “Not out here. We can’t keep up to the minute with fashion. Neither the time nor the need.”
“Do you think green will be all right? Queen Victoria wore white to wed Prince Albert, and now white wedding dresses are all the rage.”
After adding another item to her list, Inga looked up. “We tend to stick with what we have or what can be worn again. Your green dress is beautiful. I believe yours will be the fanciest dress anyone in town has seen.”
“Is it too much? I don’t want to embarrass Kage or you.” Thinking about all the changes she’d endured in the last year and a half overwhelmed Ellie. She put her arms on the table and rested her head on them. Tears pooled in her eyes.
Laura touched her shoulder. “Sister, what’s wrong?”
“For my wedding and beginning my new life with Kage, I hate having to wear clothes Daddy bought with his ill-gotten gains. We spared no expense when we commissioned clothing. You remember that one’s by Worth from Paris. But who knows what crime paid for those things?”
“Ellie, we didn’t know, dear. Refusing to wear our fine clothes won’t help anyone. We’re lucky we were allowed to take most of them with us.”
Ellie dabbed at her eyes. “I know. I guess I’m nervous about the ceremony going well and what people will think of me and if I’ll embarrass Kage.”
Inga laid down her pencil and stood. “Why don’t we look at my wedding dress? Perhaps you can wear the one I wore. Of course the style is old fashioned, but I thought it was very pretty.”
Their hostess patted her middle. “Too small for me now.”
In her room, Inga opened a chest that stood under the window. Carefully, she took out a muslin package. When she removed the wrapping, Ellie realized the sheet protected a dress.
“Oh, such a pretty color.” Ellie could see herself wearing this gown.
The black and purple plaid silk taffeta dress had flowers woven into the fabric. Black roses were in the purple squares of plaid and tiny white ones in the black stripes. Lace trimmed the edge of large over sleeves with sheer lace under sleeves. Two large buttons with tassel trims appeared to anchor the over sleeves to the garment but Ellie could tell the buttons were merely decorative.
Inga held up the dress. “The top sleeves are called pagoda style. I thought them exotic and unusual. I have always loved this dress, though I didn’t have much occasion to wear it.”
Ellie held it up to her. “The fabric appears new. I think it might fit, don’t you?”
Inga delved carefully into the chest. “There’s a black belt called a corselet. Oh, here, I’ve found the thing. Ellie, please don’t think because I’ve offered that you’re obligated to accept. But if you think this would do, please try on the dress. Slip behind the screen if you’re shy.”
“I’m not reluctant, just nervous. If this beautiful gown fits, I’d be honored to wear this as my wedding dress. I have to be sure it’s large enough so I won’t damage the seams.” She unfastened her blue and white checked muslin and stepped out of it.
Laura took her garment and laid it across Inga’s bed. “Let me help you.”
Carefully slipping her arms into the sleeves, Ellie eased the dress up her shoulders.
Inga stood to the side watching. “Will it close? Is it too large?”
Ellie fastened the front closing bodice with a hidden placket. “What delicate lace in the collar and under sleeves. Is it imported?”
“By my own mother. Her dress didn’t survive, but she saved her wedding veil.”
Laura reached to pull the corselet around Ellie. “Everything fits.”
When Ellie turned slowly then faced the two women, Inga’s hands fluttered to her throat. “Oh, you look lovely. What a beautiful bride you will be for my Kage. Look in the mirror.”
Ellie stepped in front of cheval glass. “How different I look. The entire dress is beautiful. Oh, Inga, thank you for letting me wear this.”
Inga nodded. “Perhaps someday your daughter or the bride of your son will wear it.”
Tears pooled in Ellie’s eyes. “Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”
She hugged Inga. “I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done for us. Especially teaching me the chores I need to be a rancher’s wife.”
Inga wiped her eyes but she smiled. “Selfish of me, because I want you girls to stay with me. You have become my daughters.”
Laura clapped her hands. “Enough sentiment for now. Ellie, we must get you out of this and get on with our planning. You have to finish embroidering those pillow cases for your hope chest.”
Ellie slid off the beautiful gown and donned her day dress.
Laura continued. “The wedding and reception require more thought. The Johanssen family is well respected and I’m concerned about feeding all the people who’ll show up.”
Ellie thought the food would work out. “I’m only concerned that I don’t trip or do something that will embarrass myself and Kage. I want the wedding to be short and flawless.”
Chapter Eighteen
The day before their wedding, Ellie was surprised when Kage returned from town driving a two-seat buggy with Thor tied behind. A matched pair of chestnut horses pulled the conveyance that was enclosed to protect riders from the elements.
Kage handed the ribbons to Slim and hopped down, a grin splitting his face. “Grandpa and I decided it was time you ladies rode in comfort. Olaf’s old buggy isn’t large enough for all of us, so we ordered this one from Bastrop.”
Inga, Laura, and she rushed off the porch to inspect the new luxury.
Inga touched the leather seat cushion. “Oh, son, what an improvement this will be over the wagon. Can we afford it?”
The thickly padded seat had button tufting and looked to Ellie as comfortable as an easy chair. “We’ll be riding in style to church.”
He beamed at her. “Easy enough to drive that you three women will have no problems. You’ll be able to visit other homes, shop in town, go wherever you wish.”
Laura nudged him with her elbow. “Better than the wagon we arrived in.”
He chuckled. “That’s true, though I know how much your sister loved the wagon.”
Ellie pretended she would hit him and he jumped out of her reach. “But now we have two buggies. Isn’t that extravagant?”
Bert shook his head. “The Lindquist buggy needs quite a bit of care. Besides, it’s only large enough for two. I figure Kage and I’ll drive the old one to the church tomorrow then you and he can take the small one home.”
Kage slid his strong arm around her and pulled her snug against him. “I can hardly wait until we’re man and wife and the reception’s over. We’ll have a grand life together.”
She turned to lay her head against his muscular chest. “I know we will. I’m eager to start our life together, too.”
Laura said, “Okay, you two can make moon eyes at each other later. Right now, we have a lot to do so everything will be ready tomorrow.”
Early the next morning, Ellie awakened. Whether from nerves or excitement, she hadn’t slept well. Sliding from bed, she hugged her arms.
Her wedding day. At times she’d doubted this day would arrive. She thought back to the time she’d come here and how disappointed she’d been in the ranch. Now the same place fulfilled her every desire, including her handsome fiancé.
As quietly and quickly as possible, she completed her toilette. When she’d dressed, she slipped out of her room and padded to the kitchen. She’d thought she’d be the first up, but the smell of coffee greeted her. Kage and Bert were seated at the table with their cups.
“Good to see my wife-to-be is an early riser so she has longer each day to work at pleasing me.” Over his coffee cup, his blue eyes twinkled.
“Good to see my husband-to-be plans to get up early enough to make coffee for me each morning.” She poured some of the brew for herself and started preparing biscuits.
Bert chuckled. “Good to see you two happy. Makes me feel years younger. I can’t wait until you have babies running through the house.”
“Bert, give us a few months, won’t you? At least nine or ten.” She met her fiancé’s gaze and he winked at her.
Her soon-to-be grandfather chuckled. “From what I overheard a while back, might not take the whole nine months from the wedding. Lots of premature babies born that look full term, you know.”
Ellie’s face heated as if sunburned. How embarrassing for his family to know she and Kage had been intimate. She couldn’t look at Bert or Kage. Thank heavens her sister chose that moment to enter.
Laura tied on an apron. “Here you are, Ellie. I looked in your room, but you’d already left. Excitement give you trouble sleeping?”
Ellie tilted her nose in the air and faked an air of indecision. “Oh, I was trying to decide if I wanted to go through with the wedding. Might decide to go elsewhere.”
Kage faced her. “Hey! You promised me you’d never leave. A promise is a promise.”
Bert pointed at his grandson. “As you found out. You kept your promise after all, and it does my heart good.”
Inga took her usual chair. “I don’t know when I’ve slept better, but I need coffee.”
Laura carried the pot and a spare cup to the table. After she’d served Inga, she refilled the men’s cups. “We’d better leave by eleven. I’ll fry up a chicken and pack lunches to eat once we’re in town.”
“I’m making extra biscuits.” Ellie had the dough rolled out and was cutting the biscuits with the open end of a can before she dipped them in melted fat and plopped then in the pan.
Kage’s face was solemn, but his eyes twinkled. “In case we need to chuck them at someone?”
She made a face at him.“You’ll never let me forget those awful biscuits, will you?”
He shook his head and chuckled. “Probably not.”
The morning disappeared quickly. Soon ten o’clock arrived and the women strolled to Inga’s room to dress. Hers was the largest space and she’d invited the other two women to share preparations there so they could help one another.
In her petticoat, Ellie styled Laura’s hair in an upsweep that featured rolls of curls on top and a few strands curling around her face. “You look so pretty, sister.”
Laura turned her head to the side and back. “You’ve created a becoming style for me. I’ve never worn curls upswept like this instead of a chignon.”
Inga gazed at Laura’s reflection in the mirror. “I hope you’ll wear that hairdo again for special occasions. And I hope one of you can make mine look half as good.”
“Ellie, you work on Inga while I make sure these roses are stitched tight for you.” She displayed half a dozen lace flowers and a length of black ribbon.
“Where did you get the lace?” Ellie asked. Her thoughts scattered, though she tried to focus on Inga’s hair. How grateful she was to this sweet woman. To her sister. In fact, right now she loved everyone in the world.
Laura held up a rosette. “Remember that chemise I ripped accidentally last week? I couldn’t sew the thing up without making it too small in the bust, so I removed the trim and made bandages of the garment.”
Inga met Ellie’s eyes in the mirror. “I suggested lace flowers for your hair to match the trim on the dress.”
“They’ll be striking. I can hardly wait for my turn at the dressing table.” Ellie peered at the results of her effort for Inga.
The older woman appeared years younger than she must be. Her thick, light blond hair’s texture made for easy managing. She was a beautiful woman still in her prime.
“You have a permanent job, Ellie.” Inga stood and moved out of the way.
Laura brought the artificial flowers and laid them on the dressing table. “I hope I can do you justice. I’m so nervous you’d think I was the bride.”
Ellie feared answering because she didn’t want to remind her sister that Matt had gone to Idaho without her. “Our dresses will look good together, won’t they? Inga, your brown dress is lovely but I wish you had a happier color to wear.”
“Since my Edrik died, I haven’t worn bright colors. Mostly brown and black. Now that I have a lovely new daughter and the prospect of grandchildren, I’ll start sewing more cheerful colors.”
Laura looked over her shoulder at Inga. “You said I could be your daughter, too.”
Inga hurried over to hug her. “And so you are. I don’t know how I survived without either of you here. Although I was contented, I’m so much happier now. You two have livened up this ranch house and made it a cheery home.”
Bert called through the door. “Fifteen minutes until time to leave. Kage and I are going now. Slim will drive you three when you’re ready.”
Laura stuck a hairpin in the final rose and stood back. “What do you think?”
Ellie’s hair was arranged similar to the way that was popular when the dress was new. Tight curls piled atop her head, but long sausage curls dangled from one side. Rosettes and a black ribbon were woven through the top curls.
“Oh, sister, you did a wonderful job. I’ve never had such beautiful hair. Let’s dress and get on our way.”
They’d spent half the previous day ironing their dresses. Ellie requested Inga personally iron the wedding dress for fear she or Laura might damage the silk taffeta. Now they donned their fine clothing and gathered their gloves, parasols, and purses.
Slim waited by the porch. “Hooeee, I must be the luckiest man alive gettin’ to ride with three beautiful ladies. The other boys went on ahead to help set up the tables and such.”
Ellie smiled at him. “Looks as if this would be a good day for rustlers to hit the ranch.”
Slim chuckled as he helped her climb into the buggy. “That it would, Miss Ellie, but I think they’ll all be at the wedding. Leastwise, we’re countin’ on that being the case.”
When all three women were seated, he climbed in and cracked the ribbons. The horses started at a clip. In spite of the speed, the buggy was comfortable—especially compared to the stagecoach or wagon.
Slim controlled the reins as if the job was simple. “Heard that half the county’s showin’ up. Might be standin’ room only at the church.”
Inga nodded. “Some might just come for the reception. Food and socializing are big draws, you know.”
Laura looked askance. “You mean some people only come for the reception? Isn’t that rude?”
“Not at all. Folks know about how many the church will seat, so those who want to express their good wishes, but don’t know the couple very well, usually skip the ceremony. Especially the men. If he wasn’t the groom, you can bet Kage wouldn’t be there, nor would Bert.”
As they approached town, Ellie’s feeling of breathlessness increased. She thought her happiness must be glowing from her face like a lantern. Certainly, she’d never been so content.
The green trees appeared darker, the flowers prettier, the road smoother. The breeze was so gentle it cooled her skin without mussing her hair. Overhead, a few cottony puffs of clouds drifted lazily in the deep blue sky. What a glorious day. She could float up to the clouds on a wave of happiness.
At the church, Slim stopped in front of the parsonage. He helped each of them down then drove over to park by the buggies that had arrived earlier. People strolled about the grounds conversing.
Ellie, Laura, and Inga stepped up to the parsonage door.
As Inga knocked, she whispered, “In case you’ve forgotten, the minister’s wife is Bess Witt.”
