family.
“Heidi, you must come with me one night to our Women’s Rights meeting at the new library.” Ellie’s voice rose above the others.
“Michael mentioned the meeting to me. I think I would enjoy it.”
Rachel leaned forward. “I would be careful getting too involved with my sister, Heidi. She has some pretty crazy ideas about things.”
Ellie swatted her on the arm. “Stop it, Rach, you’ll scare her.”
“Who’s scaring you?” Michael pushed his plate away and leaned back, arms crossed.
“Nobody. I’m going to one of Ellie’s Women’s Rights meetings and Rachel warned me about Ellie’s crazy ideas.” Did he really think her so breakable he had to defend her at the supper table against a group of loving people?
He smiled the stomach-clenching smile that had the corners of his eyes crinkling. Her fingers itched to push back the hair falling over his forehead.
Tori picked that moment to carry in a birthday cake with brightly lit candles. She placed the cake in front of her son and rested her hands on his shoulders. Each person at the table expressed their good wishes for Paul in the coming year.
“I wish for you to be as happy as you are right now with your family,” Heidi added when her turn came, thankful her voice didn’t crack with the emotion raging through her.
Again the family impressed Heidi when the last piece of cake had been swallowed, and Jesse hopped up to help with the clean-up from supper. Michael worked as well, and Jesse handed dishtowels to his four children and instructed them to assist. In a very short period of time, everyone had returned to the parlor where Paul opened a pile of birthday gifts.
Relaxed and happy from the meal and the company, Heidi sat on the sofa, mesmerized by the flames from the fireplace. Jesse and Michael had retired to Jesse’s office earlier. Tori and Priscilla had their heads together, flipping through a women’s dress catalog. Rachel and Ellie debated some political point Heidi had lost track of a while ago.
“It’s getting late. We should probably go.” The sofa dipped as Michael joined her.
Heidi stretched like a contented cat. “What time is it?” The day had been so pleasant, time meant nothing.
“Nine o’clock.”
“Oh my goodness. I had no idea.” She dreaded leaving the warmth and comfort of this home, this family. For a while she’d forgotten her troubles. Her illness, her parents hovering over her, Clarence waiting for her to fail so she would return to her cold life and enter into an even colder marriage.
Michael rose and headed toward the coat closet. “Ellie, I’ll drive you home. We can drop you off on our way to Heidi’s house.”
“I have my wagon, Michael, I can drop her off.” Rachel crooked her finger at her son, Zander, who played on the floor with Benjamin and a collection of soldiers.
“Thanks, anyway, Rach, I’ll ride with Michael.”
Laughter, and the sounds of departures, echoed in her ears as they all descended the steps.
“Come any time for a visit, Heidi. We’d love to have you.” Tori waved at her from the doorway secure in her husband’s strong arms. She giggled as he nuzzled her neck.
Tears threatened once more as Heidi climbed into the buggy. Maybe she’d have fared better not to see the love and happiness in Michael’s family. The life she faced held no appeal, a bleak and empty existence. Either she married Clarence and had a cold marriage, or spent the rest of her life alone.
She shook herself. No. She would have friends, and a job. Eventually, she would rent a house big enough for her, and decorate her home how she saw fit. Perhaps she would investigate the Women’s Rights group Ellie had made her promise to attend and become a member. Her health would improve and she would be strong, capable, like the women in Michael’s family.
Maybe then he’ll be attracted to me.
I have to curb my attraction to her.
Michael chastised himself as he pulled away from Ellie’s
“Heidi, you must come with me one night to our Women’s Rights meeting at the new library.” Ellie’s voice rose above the others.
“Michael mentioned the meeting to me. I think I would enjoy it.”
Rachel leaned forward. “I would be careful getting too involved with my sister, Heidi. She has some pretty crazy ideas about things.”
Ellie swatted her on the arm. “Stop it, Rach, you’ll scare her.”
“Who’s scaring you?” Michael pushed his plate away and leaned back, arms crossed.
“Nobody. I’m going to one of Ellie’s Women’s Rights meetings and Rachel warned me about Ellie’s crazy ideas.” Did he really think her so breakable he had to defend her at the supper table against a group of loving people?
He smiled the stomach-clenching smile that had the corners of his eyes crinkling. Her fingers itched to push back the hair falling over his forehead.
Tori picked that moment to carry in a birthday cake with brightly lit candles. She placed the cake in front of her son and rested her hands on his shoulders. Each person at the table expressed their good wishes for Paul in the coming year.
“I wish for you to be as happy as you are right now with your family,” Heidi added when her turn came, thankful her voice didn’t crack with the emotion raging through her.
Again the family impressed Heidi when the last piece of cake had been swallowed, and Jesse hopped up to help with the clean-up from supper. Michael worked as well, and Jesse handed dishtowels to his four children and instructed them to assist. In a very short period of time, everyone had returned to the parlor where Paul opened a pile of birthday gifts.
Relaxed and happy from the meal and the company, Heidi sat on the sofa, mesmerized by the flames from the fireplace. Jesse and Michael had retired to Jesse’s office earlier. Tori and Priscilla had their heads together, flipping through a women’s dress catalog. Rachel and Ellie debated some political point Heidi had lost track of a while ago.
“It’s getting late. We should probably go.” The sofa dipped as Michael joined her.
Heidi stretched like a contented cat. “What time is it?” The day had been so pleasant, time meant nothing.
“Nine o’clock.”
“Oh my goodness. I had no idea.” She dreaded leaving the warmth and comfort of this home, this family. For a while she’d forgotten her troubles. Her illness, her parents hovering over her, Clarence waiting for her to fail so she would return to her cold life and enter into an even colder marriage.
Michael rose and headed toward the coat closet. “Ellie, I’ll drive you home. We can drop you off on our way to Heidi’s house.”
“I have my wagon, Michael, I can drop her off.” Rachel crooked her finger at her son, Zander, who played on the floor with Benjamin and a collection of soldiers.
“Thanks, anyway, Rach, I’ll ride with Michael.”
Laughter, and the sounds of departures, echoed in her ears as they all descended the steps.
“Come any time for a visit, Heidi. We’d love to have you.” Tori waved at her from the doorway secure in her husband’s strong arms. She giggled as he nuzzled her neck.
Tears threatened once more as Heidi climbed into the buggy. Maybe she’d have fared better not to see the love and happiness in Michael’s family. The life she faced held no appeal, a bleak and empty existence. Either she married Clarence and had a cold marriage, or spent the rest of her life alone.
She shook herself. No. She would have friends, and a job. Eventually, she would rent a house big enough for her, and decorate her home how she saw fit. Perhaps she would investigate the Women’s Rights group Ellie had made her promise to attend and become a member. Her health would improve and she would be strong, capable, like the women in Michael’s family.
Maybe then he’ll be attracted to me.
I have to curb my attraction to her.
Michael chastised himself as he pulled away from Ellie’s
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