Love takes wing (Love Comes Softly #7) (7 page)

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"Nonsense," Rand declared. "I won't sleep tonight anyway" and he chuckled.

"I s'pose yer pretty excited," agreed Belinda. "Guess I would be, too, if I was about to build my first house."

"The house has little to do with it," Rand informed her, leaving Belinda to puzzle over his statement.

"See ya tomorra night," Rand went on. "What time?"

"I . . . I guess we should make it . . . say six-thirty If thet's okay with you."

"Six-thirty" agreed Rand. "I'll be here."

Just before he closed the door, he turned back to Belinda. "Thank ya," he said sincerely, "for agreein' to walk on such short notice. It was bold of me to jest drop over. . . but I didn't know how else to see ya."

"It was nice to see you," Belinda heard herself saying and wondered at her frankness. Then with a smile and a tip of his hat, Rand closed the door and was gone.

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SEVEN

Supper

Belinda rushed through the surgery cleanup the next day so she might have plenty of time to make herself presentable. She had never been out to supper with a young man before, and her stomach was so knotted up just thinking about it that she wondered if she even would be able to eat.

Over and over she reminded herself that this was simply an opportunity for Rand to say thank-you for what he considered to be her part in nudging him toward his dream. Belinda quite successfully talked herself into its "common courtesy" aspect rather than seeing it as a social occasion, even though she still felt she deserved no such gratitude.

Luke and Abbie didn't look quite as convinced when Belinda explained to them the reason for her not sharing in their usual evening meal. They said nothing, but Belinda noticed the twinkle in Abbie's eyes as she nodded a bit knowingly toward her husband.

Aaron and Thomas, along with their older cousin John, who was there for a visit, didn't seem to catch the lack of special significance in the event, either.

"Why are ya goin' ta eat with a man?" asked Thomas. "Because . . . because he has asked me," responded Belinda. "He wants to say thank-you by taking me to supper."

"Can't he talk?" inquired Aaron.

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"Of course," Belinda answered, her cheeks flushing. "Then why don't he jest say it?" demanded Aaron.

"Well, he has said it."

"Then why do ya hafta eat over there? Why don't ya eat here with us?"

"Well, he . . . he. . . wants to say it again. . . in another way" Belinda felt flustered. How could one explain such a thing to children?

"I think it's dumb," put in Thomas.

"I think it's dumb," echoed Aaron.

"It's not dumb. It's . . . it's a . . . a social nicety;" argued Belinda. "A. . . a kindness. Mr. O'Connel is being' a gentleman."

The boys thought about that for a moment. Belinda was hoping she had finally succeeded in making them understand and was about to shoo them from her room so she could finish pinning up her hair in peace.

"Can I come, too?" asked Aaron.

Belinda stopped her pinning and spun to look at the young boy. His earnest eyes looked intently into her face.

"Not . . . not this time," she answered, trying not to seem unkind.

"Why not?" he insisted.

"Because . . . because . . . ya haven't been asked," Belinda said evenly.

Thomas reached out a hand to draw his younger brother back. "He don't got nothin' to thank
you
for, Aaron," Thomas reminded him.

Aaron reached a hand into a trouser pocket and pulled out a fistful of childish treasures. "I'll give him my blue marble," he offered.

"Don't ya understand nothin'?" put in the older, wiser John, who had been quietly listening to the whole exchange. "Aunt Belinda is goin' to eat with him 'cause she wants to. It's called

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courtin'. Pa told me. O'Connel says 'thanks' an' takes her to supper, then she says 'thanks fer the supper' by invitin' him to tea, then he says 'thanks fer tea' by takin' her on a buggy ride. It's called courtin'." John finished his factual recital while Belinda stood with her mouth open. She wanted to protest, but John already was gathering his two younger cousins and herding them toward the door.

"I still wanna go," insisted Aaron.

"People what's courtin' don't take nobody with 'em," explained John patiently.

"Why?" demanded Aaron.

"I dunno. They jest don't. They always jest. . ."

The voices faded down the staircase, and Belinda could hear no more. She turned back to her mirror, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Her brush was still in her hand, and with trembling fingers she finished her hair. She noticed that her cheeks were flushed, and she prayed she would regain her composure before Rand arrived. It seemed that young John had undone her whole carefully thought-out explanation for the evening.

Rand was there promptly at six-thirty. Belinda heard Thomas answer the door and hurried from her bedroom before the young boys might have a chance to question him or make any inappropriate comments.

Only a few minutes' walk brought them to the town hotel, and as Rand had already spoken to the dining room host, they were quickly seated. Belinda then had the difficult task of deciding what she would like for supper. Her head was not working well. Over and over the words of her nephews chased around her brain.

"Might I suggest the fresh lake trout?" Rand asked, and Belinda quickly nodded. Fish would be a nice change and it would also save her the task of deciding.

After their order was given, they had too much time to just

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sit and feel uncomfortable, to Belinda's way of thinking. Rand seemed perfectly at ease, and Belinda couldn't help but wonder where he had found his confidence.

She could think of absolutely nothing to say and felt very foolish just sitting there studying the hands that fluttered nervously in her lap.

"Did ya have a busy day?" Rand questioned, and Belinda drew a deep breath, thankful for something to talk about.

She explained briefly some of the events of her day and then asked him about his activities. Rand smiled as he described how he and Mrs. Kirby had gone over and over the house plans.

"Things are far from settled," he informed her. "She still isn't sure jest what she wants."

"Best not to rush her then, I guess," spoke up Belinda. "Buildin' a new house takes a great deal of thinkin'-on fer a woman. She'll want to be sure it has all the things she's been dreamin' of. If they are left out, she will keep thinkin' of them after she's all moved in, and wishin' that they'd been added. Ya wouldn't want yer first customer to be eternally dissatisfied."

"Where'd ya git so smart?" Rand teased with a chuckle. Then he went on, "I've been thinkin' the same thing. In fact, I talked to Mr. Kirby. Said thet it might be wise to give his wife more plannin' time. Wilson wants a storage shed built, and they need a new barn at the livery. Maybe I'd best start there before I take up on thet house."

"What did Mr. Kirby say?" asked Belinda.

"He agreed--rather reluctantly. I think he's jest anxious to git this buildin' over. I'm sure he's heard nothin' but 'new house' fer the last several months."

From then on, conversation was much easier. In fact, Rand was interesting to talk to and soon had Belinda completely at ease. They talked about the small town, the new developments, the hopes for its future now that the railroad came through, and the

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need for another doctor, and they laughed over some of the memories of their shared school days in the little country school.

In no time, it seemed to Belinda, their plates of food arrived. As they enjoyed the tasty meal, the conversation continued. All too soon supper was over and there was really no reason to linger.

"Thank ya," Belinda said sincerely as Rand led her from the dining room. "That was very nice. And now yer 'thank-you' is more than paid in full."

Belinda's thoughts went back to John's comment. Her simple "thank-you" did seem inadequate. She felt she owed Rand more than that. But even as the invitation to tea lingered on her lips, she refused to utter it. This was not a courtship. This was one friend expressing gratitude to another. She would not consider it to be any more than that.

They walked home slowly, enjoying their chat and the stroll. "Where are yer two nieces?" Rand asked. "Wasn't one going back west?"

"Yes. Melissa. But it turned out that Amy Jo went, too. She was to be gone only a few months, but her visit has been extended on and on. She still isn't home."

"You must miss 'em."

"Oh, I do."

"Will Amy Jo be back soon?"

"I hope so. It seems such a long time . . . but I fear. . . I fear she might not come back at all."

"She likes the West?"

"More than the West. She's found a young man out there," Belinda said simply.

"Is she thinkin' of marryin'?" Rand asked in surprise. "She hasn't said . . . but I'm thinkin' she is."

"Isn't she younger than you?"

"A little."

"Do her folks think she's ready to be married?"

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Belinda laughed softly, a complete change from her former mood. "Do one's folks ever think a girl's ready to be married?" she joked.

Rand smiled, then surprised her by asking, "Do you .. .
you
think she's ready?"

"I don't know," responded Belinda slowly. "She was always kind of flighty--carefree--but she sounds more serious now. Maybe she is."

They walked in silence for a few more moments.

"Are you?" asked Rand quietly.

"Me? What?" pondered Belinda. She had entirely lost the thread of the conversation.

"Ready fer marriage?" he said simply.

"Oh my, no!" exclaimed Belinda, her cheeks flushing and her composure fleeing. "I. . . I haven't even thought on such a thing. I'm nowhere near ready. I . . . I . . ."

Rand did not press her but, seeing her obvious embarrassment, quickly changed the conversation.

"Luke has him a nice house. It has lots of special features. Thet's the kind of houses I want to build--'stead of just straight box type. Wonder iffen he'd be so kind as to let me peek in his attic someday to study the rafter structure."

Belinda was surprised at the sharp turn in subject but managed to say she was sure Luke wouldn't object. His house had been purchased, along with the practice, from the late Dr. Watkins.

With the talk back on safer ground, Belinda regained her composure and enjoyed the rest of the walk home.

She thanked Rand for the meal and the lovely evening, but she did not extend an invitation to tea.

"May I see ya on the weekend?" Rand asked, but Belinda was quick to turn him down.

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"I go to the farm for the weekends," she said. "It's the only time I get to see the folks."

"I understand," he said kindly. "Then perhaps I will see ya in church on Sunday"

Belinda nodded.

After he had left, Belinda chided herself for not being more hospitable. He was a fine young man and she could do with friendship.
But why, why,
she asked herself as she pressed cool hands to warm cheeks,
why do I get the feeling that he is thinking differently about it than I
am? Was there more to his simple question concerning her preparedness for marriage than he had expressed? Surely it was all in her head. She determined to put it from her thinking completely.

Rand was in his usual place in church on Sunday with a row of neighborhood young men and did not greet Belinda more than by doffing his hat and wishing her a pleasant good morning.

She saw him chatting with Clark for some length after the service, though, and was careful to keep herself busy with some of her friends.

On the way home Clark began to share the earlier conversation with Marty, and Belinda could not help but overhear.

"Thet young O'Connel fella is back. He's been learnin' the buildin' trade an' now wants to do his buildin' hereabouts."

"Thet's nice," said Marty agreeably."Does he think there'll be enough work?"

"He's already lined him up several jobs. Seems ambitious enough."

"Thet's nice," said Marty again.

"He was wonderin' iffen some of our young fellas might be interested in workin' fer 'im," went on Clark.

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"Some of ours?" asked Marty, taking a new interest in the conversation.

"Yeah. Clare's or Arnie's. Promised I'd ask."

"They're jest boys," offered Marty.

"Old enough to work. I was doin' a man's job by the time I was their age."

Marty nodded.

"Do ya think any of 'em might be interested?" she asked.

"Don't know," responded Clark. "But I'll mention it like I promised. Clare's Dan might be. Don't think he has him much interest in farmin'."

It was true. They had all sensed it.

"What do ya think Clare will say about it all?" asked Marty next.

"S'pose he'll want Dan to be a doin' what brings 'im pleasure," Clark responded and clucked to the team to hurry them

up.

Belinda thought the conversation was over. But Clark continued, "Good to see thet young fella back again. Seems like a fine young man. I'd be right glad to see Dan workin' with the likes of 'im." And then as an afterthought, "Now why ya s'pose Amy Jo couldn't have stayed on here an' taken up with 'im 'stead of goin' off west an' meetin' someone we don't even know?"

"Who knows the ways of the heart?" asked Marty, and the conversation finally took a different turn, much to Belinda's relief.