West Winds of Wyoming by Caroline Fyffe

she’d seen better days. One ragged carpetbag was all she carried, and she switched the bag back and forth as if the thing were heavy.
    “Who is it?” Nell asked. “She must have come in on the train and walked the quarter mile from the depot. She looks tired.”
    “No.” The word came out of Jessie slow and shaky. “It can’t be.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

    O h, yes siree, it can be. And it is,” Mrs. Hollyhock said in a conspiratorial tone from her spot on the picnic blanket. Nell leaned in to be able to hear. “That’s Beth Fairington, all right. For those of you who don’t know her, she was my clerk back in Valley Springs, in the mercantile—that was afore she run off with some smooth talker passing through town.” The old woman’s face hardened, then the firm line of her mouth faded away into sadness. “Didn’t even have the mind to tell me afore. Near broke my heart at the time. I didn’t even know if she was still alive. I’ve sent many a prayer to heaven on her account.” Mrs. Hollyhock’s tone held censure and affection at the same time.
    “Seems she found you, Violet,” Jessie said under her breath. “I wonder what she’s doing here.”
    Jessie’s face had all but gone white. Chase scowled.
    “What’s she doing here?”
    “Can’t say as I know, but it won’t be long afore we find out.”
    Mrs. Hollyhock was right. The woman had spotted them on the hill. Her dress, made of some sort of heavy fabric adorned with fancy stitching around the sleeves and plentiful brown buttons up the front, appeared stifling. The cream-colored ribbons of her bonnet fluttered in the warm September breeze. A strawberry splotch on each of her cheeks told Nell she wasn’t as composed as she tried to appear.
    “What’s wrong with her?” Nell asked quietly. “I mean, from the sound of it, there isn’t any love lost between you two.”
    “Malicious mule of a woman, why—” Chase rumbled.
    Jessie and Mrs. Hollyhock gasped. Jessie lunged and pressed her hand against his mouth, successfully shushing him. Charlie started to laugh.
    Jessie leaned forward. “She’s a horrible gossip, and didn’t think twice before saying unspeakably mean things about people in Valley Springs. But, I guess we should at least give her a chance. It’s the Christian thing to do. Maybe she’s changed her ways and wants to start over. And Violet likes her well enough, isn’t that right?”
    Mrs. Hollyhock’s brows couldn’t go any higher.
    Jessie’s head tilted in question. “Violet?”
    “That’s right, dearie. Now hush up. We don’t want Beth ta think we’re gossiping about her.”
    “Violet?” Beth Fairington stopped a few feet away. Her eyes darted around the group before returning to Mrs. Hollyhock. “Is that you? I can’t believe we’ve run into each other after all these years.”
    Mrs. Hollyhock, unable to do anything but, climbed to her feet with some help from Charlie. The two women embraced. Nell overheard a few whispered words exchanged.
    Charlie leaned down and tapped Nell’s shoulder. “What do you say we take a walk?”
    She set down her plate. “That’s a good idea.”
    He held out his hand to help her up. When she placed her palm in his large one, a tickle as soft as a snowflake danced in her belly. She could daydream all she wanted about Charlie, but his asking about Brenna told her everything she needed to know.

    Relief rippled through Brenna when Mr. Lloyd approached the side of the schoolhouse where the quilt hung. Wouldn’t be too much longer and this day would be over. She sat beside Mr. Hutton on some brown chairs, and was ashamed to say she’d not dredged up the courage to ask him about Maddie going to school. She hadn’t confessed about the math books, either.
    “May I have your attention, please?” Mr. Lloyd called through cupped hands. When he motioned to Brenna expectantly, her insides frosted over. “Mrs. Lane? Would you like to say a word or two before we select the winner of this