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Authors: Linda Weaver Clarke

Tags: #romance, #romance historical, #bear lake valley, #idaho

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BOOK: Edith and the Mysterious Stranger
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Edith was surprised by his frank reply. “Do you
dish out compliments so freely to every woman you meet?”

“Only the ones I’m impressed with,” he said with
a grin. “And your mother has talked about you so lavishly, that
after having seen you, I was quite impressed.”

Henry grabbed a trunk and carried it toward the
buggy. Edith looked at her mother and could see her mother’s
disapproval. She had gone a little too far with her spunk. This was
something that her mother had always talked to her about, and she
had not learned to curb her tongue. Martha had always told her that
she was too feisty for her own good. She wanted to immediately
defend herself but could see the look in her mother’s eyes. It was
a look that meant, “We’ll talk later.”

Edith gave a deep sigh. As she watched Henry
heft her trunk into the buggy, she wondered if maybe she was too
hasty in her judgment, but at the same time he had been much too
bold for his own good. More so than what she was use to,
anyway.

Edith knew that she was very picky when it
came to men. She took courtship and marriage seriously and she knew
what she wanted in a husband. In fact, that was why she hadn’t
found the right one yet, because she didn’t want to lower her
standards.

She was looking for someone that was sincere
but had a fun sense of humor, was confident but not overbearing,
intelligent but a down-to-earth straight-thinking fellow. He had to
be polite and mannerly but at the same time have a touch of romance
in the way he spoke to her.

These things were imperative in a relationship.
Edith was picky, but she wanted to be happy in marriage and these
attributes were important to her.

 

 

Chapter 6
Joseph, the Ranch Hand

 

Joseph was sitting on an old tree stump on
the Cozy J mending a saddle for Gilbert. The shadow of the barn
protected him from the heat of the sun and a cool breeze gently
ruffled his hair.

He was bent over the saddle and was
studiously working when an inanimate object hit his neck and
interrupted him. He unconsciously swatted his neck as if it were a
pesky insect and continued working on his project. After a few
moments, he felt another object hit him on his shoulder, and he
swatted at it, mumbling, “Pesky insects!”

When he heard giggling from around the
corner of the barn, he straightened his broad shoulders and
narrowed his eyes. He would recognize that laugh anywhere. He
continued repairing the saddle as if he had not heard the cheerful
laughter of young John, knowing that it would not be the end of the
little boy’s pranks and teasing.

When he felt something hit his back and then his
head, he jumped up, dropping his saddle to the ground, and said
loud enough for his tormentor to hear. “That does it! You’re gonna
get a whoopin’, little man.”

As Joseph turned around, he saw John peeking around
the barn, laughing uncontrollably. When their eyes met, John
screamed at the top of his high-pitched voice, the tension building
up as they stared at one another.

Joseph grinned as he took large strides toward the
little culprit, and John quickly turned on his heels and ran as
fast as his little legs would go, giggling and screaming
intermittently. Joseph knew exactly where he was going, the same
place he always went when they played this game of chase.

John dodged inside the barn, ran for the haystack,
and burrowed his little body into a pile of hay. Not making a
sound, he lay quietly waiting to be found.

Joseph strode into the barn mumbling, “Where is that
little mischief-maker? If I get a hold of him, he’s gettin’ a
whoopin’.”

John put his hand over his mouth, but it didn’t work
as the giggle burbled from his lips.

“Ah-ha!” Joseph said in triumph as he grabbed the
giggling boy by the leg.

A scream pierced the air with uncontrollable
laughter as Joseph pulled the boy out of the hay and began tickling
his mid-section.

“I’ll teach you a thing or two,” he said with a grin
as John doubled up with laughter.

“Stop! Stop!” he screamed.

Joseph grabbed John’s knee and tickled him as he
said, “What’s the magic words?”

“You can’t make me say it.”

Joseph stopped, picked the giggling boy up, and
threw him over his muscular shoulder. He turned on his heels and
headed out the barn door toward the trough, with a broad grin on
his face. His sky-blue eyes were laughing as he came upon
Gilbert.

When John saw his father, he yelled “No! No! Help,
Pa! Joseph’s got me. Help!”

Joseph chuckled. “This little culprit has it comin’,
Gil. It’s about time I taught him a lesson. He’s gonna take a
little swim.”

John looked at the trough with widened eyes and
sobered as he begged, “I’ll say it. I’ll say it.”

“All right. I’m waitin’.”

“Joseph is the best bronco rider on the ranch.”

“Only the ranch?” Joseph said in feigned
disappointment. “Is that the best you can do?”

“Joseph’s the best bronco rider in town.”

“Just our town?” he said as he stopped in front of
the trough.

“No, no! Don’t do it,” John screamed as he eyed the
water in the trough. “The best in the country!”

“Now that’s better.” Joseph laughed as he lowered
John to the ground, and knelt beside him. “All right, little man.
Now what? I’m waitin’.”

John smiled and swung his little arms around
Joseph’s neck and hugged him tightly. Joseph picked him up and held
him, grinning the whole time.

Gilbert was shaking his head with wonder. “The
things you do just to get a little praise.”

“Hey! I’ll take what I can get.”

Gilbert chuckled. “You already know you’re the best
bronco rider in the valley.”

Joseph smiled approvingly. “Thanks, boss. By the
way, I’ve got some extra tomatoes in my garden. Want some?”

Gilbert nodded, wondering if it was good
timing to ask him about meeting Melinda’s cousin. Would he be good
for Edith? She was a wonderful woman with great qualities, but she
never gave a guy a chance. First impressions were important to her.
Would she look twice at Joseph, a farmer? Gilbert wasn’t sure.
Perhaps he would give it a day or two before springing it on
him.

“I think a nice ripe tomato sounds
delectable. Ours aren’t on yet.”

“Follow me!” Joseph said as he swung John
onto his shoulders and headed toward his farm.

John leaned down and kissed Joseph on the
top of the head and then wrapped his little arms around his
forehead.

As they walked toward the west, Joseph noticed
the sun was setting over the mountains, leaving a pinkish glow in
the wispy clouds above. A couple swallows circled a tree,
protecting their young, and the gentle lowing of cattle could be
heard in the distance. What a beautiful day! Joseph felt lucky to
live in such a blessed little community as this.

 

 

Chapter 7
Henry’s Visit

 

It was Sunday and the family was seated around
the table all except for William who was still feeling under the
weather. He was still in bed recuperating.

“Please pass the roast beef, Martha,” Henry said
with a smile.

As Martha passed the platter, she hoped that
inviting Henry over was a good idea. This way her daughter could
learn more about him. She had tried it once with Melinda and
Gilbert, so why not with her own daughter?

As Henry dished a portion of meat on his plate,
he said, “Edith, your mother told me that you did all the cooking
tonight. I’m really impressed with your skills as a homemaker.” He
smiled. “Well, taking into consideration your career, that is. It’s
hard to find a lady with such skills who has a career.”

Then he looked at her up and down and smiled.
She looked absolutely lovely in her white muslin dress.

He cleared his throat and
added,
“By the way, did I tell you how
nice you look this evening?”

“Yes, Henry, you have. Several times.”
Looking at her mother and seeing her disapproval, Edith quickly
changed her attitude and forced a smile. “Thank you very much for
your compliment. You’re very sweet, Henry.”

When Henry touched her hand affectionately
and smiled, Edith gently pulled her hand free, feeling
uncomfortable with his boldness. Why didn’t her mother understand
that she needed to do this herself without any help whatsoever? She
would eventually find the right man without anyone’s help. But no,
this was too much to expect from the Matchmaker.

As a child, she used to be amused by her
mother’s efforts as she watched her pair up couples. She had made
many couples happy, not to mention Melinda and Gilbert. In fact,
Edith used to think it was quite romantic. But tonight, it was far
from romantic.

“So, you’ll sing for me tonight, of course,”
Henry said as if it was an order, rather than a request.

Edith was appalled at his attitude, and she
quickly shook her head. She sang when she wanted to and not because
she was ordered to. Besides that, she was not in the mood. Why she
was feeling so rebellious, she was not sure. She had sung for her
parents’ friends many a time. This was not an unusual request.
Perhaps it was Henry’s attitude. He had been such a know-it-all
during the whole evening, like some intellectual snob who was
always right.

Martha gently rested her hand on hers and
said, “Of course she will, Henry.”

And then she smiled at Edith as if she had no
other choice. Edith tried to smile back at her mother, but it was
another forced smile.

After the table was cleared and dishes were
done, they settled down in the living room to talk for a while and
let the food settle. As she listened to the intellectual jabber of
this educated man, she wondered what her mother saw in him.

Aside from not having the same opinions
about men, she and her mother got along terrifically. They could
talk about most anything. That evening, before their guest had
arrived, they had talked and laughed together. She had told her
mother what was happening in her life, and her mother was
supportive of her interests.

Edith snapped back to reality and tried to
listen to what Henry was saying, but not be bored at the same
time.

“So, you see,” Henry labored on. “Women
should have the right to vote in the East. I believe in the
equality of the sexes, as long as the women can have a meal ready
on time without delay, keep the house clean, and take care of the
children. That’s not a man’s duty or responsibility. When we get
home from work, that’s our time to sit and relax after a long hard
day. We all have our duties, and if women do theirs and we men do
ours, then we’ll all get along much better. We all have our place
in society. It’s going to take time for the eastern states to
accept equality, but they’ll come around.”

Equality? Was that his definition of equality?
Did he actually say that it was not a man’s responsibility to take
care of his own children and to not help around the house? That was
it. Edith had had enough.

She took a deep breath and exploded,

So, we have our duties and you have
yours?”


Of course.”

“I don’t like your definition of equality. How
about Melinda? Her husband cooks when she’s busy with the children.
Right now she needs the help because of her condition.”

“Edith, don’t get me wrong,” he said
patronizingly. “In times of emergency, one needs to make
exceptions. But women should never take advantage of a man’s good
heart or good nature.”

“Advantage?” she snapped impatiently. “Gilbert
helps her because he wants to, not because she demands it.”

Martha quickly interrupted, as if she were
trying to stop a fight that was ready to begin. “My dear, he
doesn’t mean to insult women. He’s only stating his opinion. That’s
all.”

“Well,” Edith huffed. “Then I’ll state my
opinion, as well.” She stood on her feet and took a deep breath as
she clenched her fists tightly. “Women need help with the household
chores at times. Do you think we have enough hours in the day to
get it all done, especially with children and other outside
responsibilities? Besides that, what’s wrong with a man taking care
of his own children? With a father’s helping hand, a child can make
the right decisions in life. You underestimate a husband’s role in
marriage. By the end of the day, a woman’s exhausted and needs her
husband’s help.”

The whole time Edith was talking, Martha was
holding her breath, waiting for what was coming next.

Edith pointed an accusing
finger at Henry and said,
“How many times
has a woman given up the idea of pursuing her talents simply
because her husband could not help with the household chores and
encourage her to work on her own talents so she could better
herself?”

The whole sentence came out in one long
breath. After she was done, Edith waited for a response.

Henry was speechless. He
drew in a breath of air and said softly,
“I see what you mean. I never thought of it that way before.
I didn’t mean to offend you.” Hoping to change the subject and the
wrath of this woman, he took a deep breath and asked
politely,

Would you mind singing for
me?”

At that request, she abruptly excused
herself by saying she had a full-blown headache.

Later that night, Martha
walked into her bedroom, sat down on the bed beside her, and
apologized.
“I’m so very sorry for what I
did. I shouldn’t have invited him over. I can see now that it was a
mistake. I didn’t realize you were so annoyed with him until
tonight. Please forgive me.”

Edith touched her mother’s
hand.
“It’s all right, Mama. I understand
that you’re concerned about me.”

BOOK: Edith and the Mysterious Stranger
9.2Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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