deep green silk fabric, and recommended it as the perfect selection for her.
Macia looked at Mrs. Johnson and shrugged. “You see? Green!” Macia grinned at Garrett. “My father also believes green is the perfect color for me. With both you and my father in agreement, I suppose I’ll have no choice but to select this piece.”
Garrett’s eyes sparkled. He took her by the arm as his aunt moved to assist another customer. “I was hoping you’d also agree to have supper with me this evening. I know I’m breaching proper etiquette, but I hope you’ll forgive me and agree.”
Macia laughed. “Since you’ve discovered the perfect piece of fabric for a new gown, I believe I’ll be able to overlook your impropriety this one time.” The grandfather clock in the corner of the store chimed the hour. “I had best be getting home lest Mother worry. I’ll expect you at . . . say seven o’clock?”
Garrett nodded. “Until then.”
Macia had gone only a short distance when the sound of Lucy’s voice caused her to stop and turn. The girl raced at full tilt, her braids blowing behind her like tails on a kite. Though nearing fifteen, Lucy neither appeared nor acted much older than an eleven- or twelve-year-old. Conceivably it was the lack of a woman’s influence in her life, or perhaps she merely wanted to remain a little girl for a while longer. In any case, during Macia’s absence, it seemed as if the clock had ceased ticking for Lucy.
Macia waved. “Slow down, Lucy!” She could envision the girl flying headlong onto the hard dirt-packed street.
When she finally reached Macia’s side, Lucy leaned forward and gulped in deep breaths of air. Her braids fell across her shoulders, and her cheeks resembled two ripe tomatoes. When she’d finally recovered, she grasped Macia’s arm. “Thank you for waiting. I’ve wanted to come and visit, but Jeb said it wouldn’t be seemly. Then when I heard you talking in the store . . .”
Macia’s mind reeled as Lucy’s lips continue to move. She didn’t hear the girl’s words. Instead, her thoughts were consumed by how much Lucy might have overheard. Would Lucy tell Jeb or Fern that she’d been inquiring about a housekeeper? If Fern discovered the news, there was no telling what repercussions might follow. And if Lucy told Jeb, he’d surely think Macia was behaving in a contemptuous manner.
Lucy tugged on Macia’s hand. “Well, what do you think?”
“A-a-about what?”
An exasperated sigh escaped Lucy’s lips. “You haven’t been listening, have you?” An indulgent smile crossed the girl’s lips when Macia shook her head. “I’ve been wanting to come and visit and wondered if now might be a good time. We don’t have to tell Jeb that we plan to remain friends.”
A peddler’s wagon approached, and Macia pulled Lucy aside. Macia gathered her wits about her and quickly agreed. “I’m pleased you stopped me. If you’d like to accompany me back to the house, I have several gifts for you. One from each of the large cities I visited in Europe. We can have a cup of tea, and I’ll tell you a little about all of those places.”
“Oh yes!” The girl’s braids bounced up and down.
Too late, Macia remembered Fern would be at the house. She hesitated, unsure what to do. If she withdrew her invitation, Lucy’s feelings would be injured. Furthermore, what difference could it make to Fern if Lucy came for a visit?
Lucy’s gentle tug pulled Macia from her thoughts. “Is Fern leaving town? Is that why you asked Mrs. Johnson about a new housekeeper?”
Macia swallowed hard. Her conversation with Mrs. Johnson had likely caused Lucy concern that yet another person she’d grown to love was going to slip away. No matter the repercussions, Macia knew she must set the girl’s mind at rest. More than anything, Lucy needed to hear the truth.
Giving the girl’s hand a gentle squeeze, Macia explained Fern was not planning to leave Hill City. “But I think both Fern
Macia looked at Mrs. Johnson and shrugged. “You see? Green!” Macia grinned at Garrett. “My father also believes green is the perfect color for me. With both you and my father in agreement, I suppose I’ll have no choice but to select this piece.”
Garrett’s eyes sparkled. He took her by the arm as his aunt moved to assist another customer. “I was hoping you’d also agree to have supper with me this evening. I know I’m breaching proper etiquette, but I hope you’ll forgive me and agree.”
Macia laughed. “Since you’ve discovered the perfect piece of fabric for a new gown, I believe I’ll be able to overlook your impropriety this one time.” The grandfather clock in the corner of the store chimed the hour. “I had best be getting home lest Mother worry. I’ll expect you at . . . say seven o’clock?”
Garrett nodded. “Until then.”
Macia had gone only a short distance when the sound of Lucy’s voice caused her to stop and turn. The girl raced at full tilt, her braids blowing behind her like tails on a kite. Though nearing fifteen, Lucy neither appeared nor acted much older than an eleven- or twelve-year-old. Conceivably it was the lack of a woman’s influence in her life, or perhaps she merely wanted to remain a little girl for a while longer. In any case, during Macia’s absence, it seemed as if the clock had ceased ticking for Lucy.
Macia waved. “Slow down, Lucy!” She could envision the girl flying headlong onto the hard dirt-packed street.
When she finally reached Macia’s side, Lucy leaned forward and gulped in deep breaths of air. Her braids fell across her shoulders, and her cheeks resembled two ripe tomatoes. When she’d finally recovered, she grasped Macia’s arm. “Thank you for waiting. I’ve wanted to come and visit, but Jeb said it wouldn’t be seemly. Then when I heard you talking in the store . . .”
Macia’s mind reeled as Lucy’s lips continue to move. She didn’t hear the girl’s words. Instead, her thoughts were consumed by how much Lucy might have overheard. Would Lucy tell Jeb or Fern that she’d been inquiring about a housekeeper? If Fern discovered the news, there was no telling what repercussions might follow. And if Lucy told Jeb, he’d surely think Macia was behaving in a contemptuous manner.
Lucy tugged on Macia’s hand. “Well, what do you think?”
“A-a-about what?”
An exasperated sigh escaped Lucy’s lips. “You haven’t been listening, have you?” An indulgent smile crossed the girl’s lips when Macia shook her head. “I’ve been wanting to come and visit and wondered if now might be a good time. We don’t have to tell Jeb that we plan to remain friends.”
A peddler’s wagon approached, and Macia pulled Lucy aside. Macia gathered her wits about her and quickly agreed. “I’m pleased you stopped me. If you’d like to accompany me back to the house, I have several gifts for you. One from each of the large cities I visited in Europe. We can have a cup of tea, and I’ll tell you a little about all of those places.”
“Oh yes!” The girl’s braids bounced up and down.
Too late, Macia remembered Fern would be at the house. She hesitated, unsure what to do. If she withdrew her invitation, Lucy’s feelings would be injured. Furthermore, what difference could it make to Fern if Lucy came for a visit?
Lucy’s gentle tug pulled Macia from her thoughts. “Is Fern leaving town? Is that why you asked Mrs. Johnson about a new housekeeper?”
Macia swallowed hard. Her conversation with Mrs. Johnson had likely caused Lucy concern that yet another person she’d grown to love was going to slip away. No matter the repercussions, Macia knew she must set the girl’s mind at rest. More than anything, Lucy needed to hear the truth.
Giving the girl’s hand a gentle squeeze, Macia explained Fern was not planning to leave Hill City. “But I think both Fern
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