To Love and Cherish by Tracie Peterson

stop at the dining room on my way to the barn and see if the mail’s been dropped off.”
    â€œNo need. I’ve already been there.”
    Evan’s hopes plummeted. The happiness he’d felt only moments earlier vanished like a morning mist. “In that case, I’ll go get my work boots and go to the barn.”
    â€œYou might want to read this first.” Harland reached into his back pants pocket and removed an envelope. “I saw this on the table and took the liberty of picking it up. Didn’t reckon you’d mind.”
    Evan stared at the envelope, unable to believe his eyes.
    Harland flapped the envelope. “Well, you gonna take it or you want me to open it?”
    His heart pounded a new beat as he reached for the cream-colored envelope. “Thanks, but I think I’d rather do it myself.” Happiness that Melinda had finally written flooded him with unbridled joy. He felt like a six-year-old on Christmas morning until he stuck his finger beneath the seal. What if she’d written to tell him she no longer wanted him to write, no longer wanted him? He glanced at Harland.
    â€œWell, go on. Open it. Not looking inside doesn’t change what she’s already written.” The older man knew what Evan had been thinking. “Don’t let worry and fear get the best of you now that you got a letter from her.”
    Evan unsealed the envelope before he could give it further thought. He forced his gaze back and forth across the lines before looking up at Harland. “She says she’s sorry she didn’t write sooner, but she was waiting for guidance from the Lord.”
    Harland nodded. “That was wise. I think she’s a smart gal. What else?”
    â€œShe says she acted foolish and she loves me.” He grinned at Harland. “She also said—”
    Harland put his hands up. “That’s enough. You keep the rest private between the two of you. I just wanted to make sure you got good news. Didn’t want you taking off for Cleveland and leaving me here to take care of things on my own this summer.”
    â€œYou don’t need to worry about that any longer, Harland. I’m here to stay.”

    The day of the tea, as everyone in the Mifflin household had come to refer to June twenty-third, dawned sunny and mild. Quite perfect! At least that’s what Mrs. Mifflin had declared when she descended the stairs for breakfast. Mrs. McKinley had given her speech at Miss Sanford’s commencement exercises two days before, but since then she’d been resting in her rooms and taking her meals there, as well. Her two maids scurried in and out to request anything their mistress required. They were careful to make their needs known only to Melinda or to Mrs. Mifflin. Melinda wasn’t certain if they’d been advised against speaking to any of the other servants, but Sally had taken offense that they were ignoring her.
    Melinda was passing through the upstairs hall when Sally approached. “If Mrs. McKinley and her maids think me untrustworthy, maybe I shouldn’t be helping prepare for the tea. Neither of them will so much as acknowledge me.” Sally crossed her arms tight across her chest and tipped her nose toward the ceiling.
    â€œDo cease such talk, Sally. No one except Mrs. Mifflin has spoken to Mrs. McKinley. Besides, communication with Mrs. McKinley and her staff has nothing to do with your duties downstairs.” Worried the conversation might be overheard by the Mifflins’ prestigious houseguest, Melinda guided the maid toward the stairs. “Let’s continue this conversation elsewhere.”
    Once they entered the kitchen, Melinda directed Sally to a far corner where they wouldn’t be heard by the other staff—all of them busy preparing the delicate tea sandwiches and various pastries that would be served later in the day. “Right now you are needed here in the kitchen to keep the staff