‘‘You look lovely, all of you. It’s just, well, you know.’’
‘‘I shoulda known better.’’ Belle glared at no one in particular, spun on her heel, and like a mother duck led her brood from whence they came.
Ruby stared after them. How could you be so thoughtless, she scolded herself. Of course they would wear their best dresses, those brighter than butterfly dresses that scream out their former occupation. You know you wanted to wear your brick red traveling dress when you visited the townspeople, and only Charlie’s adamant advice kept you from that mistake .
But why do you let those old biddies here in town who won’t even talk to each other dictate what goes on here at Dove House? Who made them more perfect than us? She rubbed the spot between her eyebrows that was beginning to ache.
‘‘Sorry, miss, I shoulda seen that coming,’’ Charlie said in an undertone.
‘‘That was not kind.’’ Opal slit her eyes. ‘‘And you tell me we must always be kind.’’
‘‘I know.’’ Ruby sighed and shot Charlie a pleading look. ‘‘But I just want the other women to like them.’’
‘‘How can they like them when they don’t come to visit? Mrs. Robertson likes us and them too. And she’s nicer’n anyone in town.’’
Ruby sighed again. ‘‘What do I do? All I wanted was for us all to have a happy Easter.’’ Was that compassion she saw in Rand’s gaze? No, it couldn’t be. He must be laughing inside even if he has better manners than to show it. Why couldn’t he have come later?
‘‘Nothing now.’’ Charlie glanced to the door at the tinkle of the bell. Mr. and Mrs. Paddock, who owned the livery, closed the door behind them and shook the traces of snow off their clothing.
Charlie strode across the room, greeting the newcomers and inviting them to sit wherever they wanted. Church would be starting in just a few minutes.
‘‘You going to sing with me?’’ Rand asked Opal.
‘‘Uh-huh. We all sound real pretty.’’ Opal put special emphasis on all .
Ruby laid a hand on Opal’s shoulder, hoping to calm her sister.
‘‘Well, we do.’’ Opal’s look showed pure frustration.
‘‘Come on, help me tune this to the piano.’’ Rand pointed at the keys. ‘‘Hit a low E.’’
Wishing she could be assured that Opal wouldn’t spill any more of the family secrets, Ruby turned instead to greet her guests and breathed a prayer of gratitude when all the girls returned in total decorum.
Cold blew through the room with every subsequent tinkle of the bell, blowing away her fears that no one would come. When the seats filled up, they brought more chairs out of the cardroom.
Ruby turned as the opening chords of ‘‘Christ the Lord Is Risen Today’’ rolled from the piano, joined by the melody plucked from guitar strings. The guests quieted, the bell tinkled with the last of the worshipers, and hands shaking, Ruby made her way to the front of the room.
When the song finished, she stood and smiled. ‘‘Welcome to our first church service here in Little Missouri, and a blessed Easter to you all. Thank you, Opal, for the copies of our hymns for today.’’ Ruby held her papers up. ‘‘Do you all have copies of our songs? I know we have to share.’’ When no one raised a hand, she turned to Belle and nodded.
Daisy, Cimarron, and Opal took their places, Belle hit the beginning chords of ‘‘Up From the Grave,’’ and one by one the congregation joined the singers, gaining in volume as rusty pipes cleared and the music swelled.
They sang all four verses. Ruby could hardly believe her ears at the harmonies that surrounded her. Bass, baritone, tenor, alto, and even a strong soprano, the melody flowed on a river of beauty. After the third hymn, Charlie stood, the Bible open on his broad hand.
‘‘Today we are reading from the Gospel of Luke.’’
As he read the Passion story, Ruby fought to keep from crying. Christ died on that cross for me . She could hear
‘‘I shoulda known better.’’ Belle glared at no one in particular, spun on her heel, and like a mother duck led her brood from whence they came.
Ruby stared after them. How could you be so thoughtless, she scolded herself. Of course they would wear their best dresses, those brighter than butterfly dresses that scream out their former occupation. You know you wanted to wear your brick red traveling dress when you visited the townspeople, and only Charlie’s adamant advice kept you from that mistake .
But why do you let those old biddies here in town who won’t even talk to each other dictate what goes on here at Dove House? Who made them more perfect than us? She rubbed the spot between her eyebrows that was beginning to ache.
‘‘Sorry, miss, I shoulda seen that coming,’’ Charlie said in an undertone.
‘‘That was not kind.’’ Opal slit her eyes. ‘‘And you tell me we must always be kind.’’
‘‘I know.’’ Ruby sighed and shot Charlie a pleading look. ‘‘But I just want the other women to like them.’’
‘‘How can they like them when they don’t come to visit? Mrs. Robertson likes us and them too. And she’s nicer’n anyone in town.’’
Ruby sighed again. ‘‘What do I do? All I wanted was for us all to have a happy Easter.’’ Was that compassion she saw in Rand’s gaze? No, it couldn’t be. He must be laughing inside even if he has better manners than to show it. Why couldn’t he have come later?
‘‘Nothing now.’’ Charlie glanced to the door at the tinkle of the bell. Mr. and Mrs. Paddock, who owned the livery, closed the door behind them and shook the traces of snow off their clothing.
Charlie strode across the room, greeting the newcomers and inviting them to sit wherever they wanted. Church would be starting in just a few minutes.
‘‘You going to sing with me?’’ Rand asked Opal.
‘‘Uh-huh. We all sound real pretty.’’ Opal put special emphasis on all .
Ruby laid a hand on Opal’s shoulder, hoping to calm her sister.
‘‘Well, we do.’’ Opal’s look showed pure frustration.
‘‘Come on, help me tune this to the piano.’’ Rand pointed at the keys. ‘‘Hit a low E.’’
Wishing she could be assured that Opal wouldn’t spill any more of the family secrets, Ruby turned instead to greet her guests and breathed a prayer of gratitude when all the girls returned in total decorum.
Cold blew through the room with every subsequent tinkle of the bell, blowing away her fears that no one would come. When the seats filled up, they brought more chairs out of the cardroom.
Ruby turned as the opening chords of ‘‘Christ the Lord Is Risen Today’’ rolled from the piano, joined by the melody plucked from guitar strings. The guests quieted, the bell tinkled with the last of the worshipers, and hands shaking, Ruby made her way to the front of the room.
When the song finished, she stood and smiled. ‘‘Welcome to our first church service here in Little Missouri, and a blessed Easter to you all. Thank you, Opal, for the copies of our hymns for today.’’ Ruby held her papers up. ‘‘Do you all have copies of our songs? I know we have to share.’’ When no one raised a hand, she turned to Belle and nodded.
Daisy, Cimarron, and Opal took their places, Belle hit the beginning chords of ‘‘Up From the Grave,’’ and one by one the congregation joined the singers, gaining in volume as rusty pipes cleared and the music swelled.
They sang all four verses. Ruby could hardly believe her ears at the harmonies that surrounded her. Bass, baritone, tenor, alto, and even a strong soprano, the melody flowed on a river of beauty. After the third hymn, Charlie stood, the Bible open on his broad hand.
‘‘Today we are reading from the Gospel of Luke.’’
As he read the Passion story, Ruby fought to keep from crying. Christ died on that cross for me . She could hear
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