speak to Jasper over at the front desk.” After nodding to her family, he wandered off, but not too far, she noted.
“Mother, Papa, please let’s sit down.” She waved in the direction of the chairs.
“Young lady, you must do as your parents instruct and go on home with them. My Clarence has been beside himself since you left and wedding plans need to be finalized.” Mrs. Manfred fired the first shot in the battle.
Heidi glanced at Michael’s back. I can do this. “I don’t want to return home. I want to stay here and work at the pharmacy.” She held her hand up as everyone opened their mouths to speak. “Let me finish.” Drawing on every bit of strength she had, she continued. “I ask for you to allow me a month. One month. And then if you’re right, and I can’t handle a job, can’t take care of myself, then I will return home and plan the wedding.”
She glanced at Clarence and shuddered inside at the last part. After spending time with Michael, the thought of being married for the rest of her life to someone who thought so little of her angered and frightened her at the same time.
Everyone started talking at once. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Michael strolling back to their group, hands in his pockets. Her spirits picked up to have him on her side. She didn’t have to handle everything on her own.
“I’ve made my decision. I will stay here for at least a month.” She raised her chin, but shook so badly on the inside, her anxiety had to be noticeable to the rest of them. Never in all her twenty-three years had she defied her parents’ wishes. Never had she spoken up to Mrs. Manfred or to Clarence, either. Beads of sweat gathered on her upper lip. She swiped at them, and stood.
“Now if you will excuse me, I need to return home—my home here—and get some sleep.”
Clarence rose and even though he spoke to Heidi, he glared at Michael. “I will escort you.”
“I have my buggy outside, and since the night air isn’t good for Miss Lester, I will drive her home.” Michael tugged on his gloves.
Clarence’s hands fisted at his side, his cheeks bright red. “Since Miss Lester is my fiancée, I will come along for the ride.”
Michael nodded. “If you wish.” He pivoted in the direction of the others, who had stunned expressions on their faces. “Mr. Lester, Mrs. Lester, Mrs. Manfred. Have a pleasant evening.”
Heidi bit her lip to keep from laughing. She had one month. Time enough to convince them she could take care of herself. She pecked her parents on the cheek. “Mother, Papa, I will see you in a month.”
“Not so fast, little girl.” Her papa stopped her as she moved to leave. “If you insist in this foolishness, your mother and I will stay right here in Guthrie until you come to your senses.”
“As will I,” Mrs. Manfred added, nodding her head once.
Clarence took her arm and patted her hand. “You can expect to see me on Friday evenings, after I’ve finished my work week.”
Heidi groaned. Everyone checking up on her didn’t fall in with her plans. The whole thing had become a three-ring circus.
Chapter 6
Clarence pushed the batwing door of the saloon open and stepped up to the bar. “Whiskey,” he called out to the bartender, busy at the other end flirting with one of Miss Lizzy’s girls. He tossed his money on the bar and tapped his fingers on the worn wood. The entire situation irked. What the hell had happened to the girl? She’d always been so meek and accommodating, one of the reasons he’d agreed to marry her.
When Mr. Lester had approached him a while back with the proposition to marry Heidi and take ownership of his lucrative businesses, the idea seemed perfect. Clarence would pay Lester a healthy stipend each month, but the rest of the profits were his—to provide well for his daughter, Lester had emphasized.
Clarence had worked for one of Lester’s businesses for seven years and hated the day-in and day-out routine. He wanted
“Mother, Papa, please let’s sit down.” She waved in the direction of the chairs.
“Young lady, you must do as your parents instruct and go on home with them. My Clarence has been beside himself since you left and wedding plans need to be finalized.” Mrs. Manfred fired the first shot in the battle.
Heidi glanced at Michael’s back. I can do this. “I don’t want to return home. I want to stay here and work at the pharmacy.” She held her hand up as everyone opened their mouths to speak. “Let me finish.” Drawing on every bit of strength she had, she continued. “I ask for you to allow me a month. One month. And then if you’re right, and I can’t handle a job, can’t take care of myself, then I will return home and plan the wedding.”
She glanced at Clarence and shuddered inside at the last part. After spending time with Michael, the thought of being married for the rest of her life to someone who thought so little of her angered and frightened her at the same time.
Everyone started talking at once. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught Michael strolling back to their group, hands in his pockets. Her spirits picked up to have him on her side. She didn’t have to handle everything on her own.
“I’ve made my decision. I will stay here for at least a month.” She raised her chin, but shook so badly on the inside, her anxiety had to be noticeable to the rest of them. Never in all her twenty-three years had she defied her parents’ wishes. Never had she spoken up to Mrs. Manfred or to Clarence, either. Beads of sweat gathered on her upper lip. She swiped at them, and stood.
“Now if you will excuse me, I need to return home—my home here—and get some sleep.”
Clarence rose and even though he spoke to Heidi, he glared at Michael. “I will escort you.”
“I have my buggy outside, and since the night air isn’t good for Miss Lester, I will drive her home.” Michael tugged on his gloves.
Clarence’s hands fisted at his side, his cheeks bright red. “Since Miss Lester is my fiancée, I will come along for the ride.”
Michael nodded. “If you wish.” He pivoted in the direction of the others, who had stunned expressions on their faces. “Mr. Lester, Mrs. Lester, Mrs. Manfred. Have a pleasant evening.”
Heidi bit her lip to keep from laughing. She had one month. Time enough to convince them she could take care of herself. She pecked her parents on the cheek. “Mother, Papa, I will see you in a month.”
“Not so fast, little girl.” Her papa stopped her as she moved to leave. “If you insist in this foolishness, your mother and I will stay right here in Guthrie until you come to your senses.”
“As will I,” Mrs. Manfred added, nodding her head once.
Clarence took her arm and patted her hand. “You can expect to see me on Friday evenings, after I’ve finished my work week.”
Heidi groaned. Everyone checking up on her didn’t fall in with her plans. The whole thing had become a three-ring circus.
Chapter 6
Clarence pushed the batwing door of the saloon open and stepped up to the bar. “Whiskey,” he called out to the bartender, busy at the other end flirting with one of Miss Lizzy’s girls. He tossed his money on the bar and tapped his fingers on the worn wood. The entire situation irked. What the hell had happened to the girl? She’d always been so meek and accommodating, one of the reasons he’d agreed to marry her.
When Mr. Lester had approached him a while back with the proposition to marry Heidi and take ownership of his lucrative businesses, the idea seemed perfect. Clarence would pay Lester a healthy stipend each month, but the rest of the profits were his—to provide well for his daughter, Lester had emphasized.
Clarence had worked for one of Lester’s businesses for seven years and hated the day-in and day-out routine. He wanted
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