Bella's Vineyard by Sally Quilford

not responded to her statement about loving Gloria. Or,
she thought, maybe it was her own wishful thinking.
    They rode in
silence for a while, and then both started speaking at the same time.
    “Is Gloria…?”
“How are you settling…?
    “Sorry, you
first,” said Bella.
    “No, ladies
first.”
    “I just wondered
if she would be coming to join you soon.”
    “As a matter of
fact, I wrote her just yesterday and suggested it. It’s not as uncivilized here
as I thought it might be. I reckon I could build us a nice house somewhere near
the town.”
    “Wonderful,”
said Bella, feeling it was anything but. “It’s a pity she couldn’t be with you
tonight, for Amelia Peterson’s engagement party.”
    “Will you dance
with me instead?”
    Bella very
nearly made a comment about being a consolation prize but swallowed it back.
“Yes, of course. It will save me from being a wallflower.”
    “I don’t think that’ll
happen.”
     
    Andrew was in a
contrite mood when Bella collected him from the jail. He looked dirty and
unshaven, not quite the gentleman he thought himself to be.
    “I’m sorry for
my behaviour last night, Marshal,” he said, holding out his hand to Vance.
    “Forget it,”
said Vance. “I just hope I don’t have to offer you the hospitality of the jail
in the future, Mister Tennyson. Will you be at the Petersons’ place tonight?”
    Bella hoped
Andrew would not want to go. He was so unstable of late, she feared what might
happen. “Of course. Mrs Peterson asked me when I met her in town. I couldn’t
possibly let my sister go out amongst the wolves of Milton alone. Besides,
Mister Griffiths is going to be there, isn’t he? I met him yesterday. He’s a
good man, with a lot of ideas for rejuvenating Milton. I’ve got some business I
want to discuss with him.” Bella and Vance exchanged concerned glances. She
shuddered when Andrew added, “Mister Griffiths is rather taken with you,
Bella.”
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter Five
     
    The Petersons
had spared no expense in making their daughter’s engagement a special occasion.
When Bella and Andrew arrived in the buggy, they passed by trees filled with
fairy lights. In the meadow behind the Peterson’s sprawling one-storey house,
there was a marquee, and outside a stage had been built, and a dance floor laid
on one of the few flat pieces of ground in that part of the foothills.
    Stirring banjo
music flowed through the air, along with the thump of boots on the wooden
floor, and a few cries of ‘yeeha’.
    Bella, wearing
the white lace gown, had made a special effort with her hair, pinning it
loosely at the sides. The rest hung down her back in golden tresses.
    “This is more
like it,” said Andrew, admiring the Peterson’s home. “I was beginning to think
we’d moved to live among savages.”
    “I’m sure you
would get that impression if all your time is spent in the saloon.” The words
were out before Bella could stop herself. She had meant not to reprimand Andrew
for his behaviour, mainly because she was tired of hearing the querulous tone
in her own voice. She was grateful when he ignored her. It seemed that he did
intend to be on his best behaviour. She only hoped it would continue.
    “Actually
dearest,” said Andrew, pulling the buggy into the corral set aside for visitor’s
vehicles, “I wanted to talk to you about something. I know you’re a
kind-hearted girl who makes friends easily, but people are talking.”
    “Talking?”
    “First of all
about the Marshal. He seems to have made a pet of you, and well, he’s…”
    “Don’t even say
it, Andrew.” Bella’s temper began to flare.
    “Now, of course,
it doesn’t matter if you’re just friends with someone. I’m not bigoted, you
know that dearest, but, well, I wouldn’t want a man like that to marry my
sister.”
    “Then you have
no need to worry,” said Bella, in strained tones. “Vance is already engaged to
someone else.” The words sent tiny arrows shooting