A Gathering of Memories (30 page)

“If the smell in here is any indication, you ladies are very good cooks.”

“Hello,” Ross called from the porch, and very shortly all five of them were gathered around the kitchen table enjoying chicken and dumplings.

Conversation was light and if Ross and Mandy were not as comfortable as they once would have been, it did not dampen anyone’s spirits or detract from the delicious meal.

Coffee was served on the front porch as a lovely breeze blew away any remaining mosquitoes. Grandma Em and Preston had the younger people laughing with stories from their days as kids.

“We were such rascals,” Preston began as the evening neared an end. “I remember when I was about ten we decided to put a snake in the teacher’s desk. Well, I was the idea man, and none of the other boys ever seemed to notice that I came up with the plans but never got my hands dirty, so to speak.

“Well, I was the delegator on this job and for a very good reason: I’m scared to death of snakes, always have been. Well, I instructed a particular boy to find the snake, and set the time everyone was to meet at the schoolhouse. Then under the guise of watching for the teacher, I stayed well away from the actual snake handling.

“It was ’long about mid-morning and I guess we weren’t very bright, because it never occurred to us that the snake could get out of the desk. The teacher had opened her desk several times and still there was no scream.

“I remember it was right in the middle of spelling. Faith Lambert, the best speller in class, was up front, and I looked down to find our snake curled up, calm as you please, right next to my foot.

“I came out of my chair as though my pants were on fire and nearly jumped into the lap of the kid in the next desk. It didn’t take long for the teacher to catch on for whom the snake was meant, and she knew who the instigator had been. At the time, I didn’t recognize the look, but I realize now what a terrible time she had keeping a straight face when she said there would be no punishment because she was sure I’d learned my lesson. I thought the other guys would never let me live it down.”

Everyone had tears of laughter on their faces as they pictured the dignified Preston Culver jumping through the air in fear of a snake.

“You wouldn’t get along very well with Levi, Mr. Culver,” Mandy told him. “He loves snakes. The last one he found he named Henry and wanted to keep it in the house. I thought Amy was going to faint.”

“And I thought Silas would be in a heap of trouble,” Carrie added. “He laughed about the whole thing after the boys went outside. Amy wasn’t very happy with him. She made Mandy check the boys’ pockets for days after that.”

The evening was a great success, and the girls went up to bed tired but content. Mandy had resigned herself to the fact that there would be no future for her and Ross. And with that knowledge, she prayed constantly about getting over him. The evening had gone better than she’d hoped. He had been kind without being too personal. He’d obviously come to the same conclusion as she.

At first she was sorry he was coming to supper but then the practical side of her emerged and she knew she’d be seeing him at family functions for a long time. There was no use in putting off the inevitable.

“Mandy, I forgot to tell you—I’m sorry if I interrupted anything Thursday night between you and Ross.”

“Don’t apologize, Carrie. You did interrupt, but it was for the best.”

“Did he kiss you?”

“Almost.”

Mandy’s impressionable sister absorbed this in silence.

“Is it wrong to kiss before you’re married?”

“I don’t know,” Mandy answered honestly. “I don’t think it’s a good idea if you’re not committed to each other.”

“And you don’t think you and Ross will be committed in some way?”

“I thought for a time we might be, but my feelings are stronger than his, and every time I turn around I get hurt. Maybe I’m expecting too much. We can’t always control our hearts, and there isn’t much I can do about the fact that Ross doesn’t share my feelings.”

“I’ll pray for you, Mandy.”

“Thanks, Carrie.”

“Uh, Mandy, did Mr. Culver say Pete was coming back tomorrow?”

Mandy turned and stared at her sister in the lamplight. Carrie’s voice had been almost strained in an effort to make the question sound casual.

“Carrie, is there something you want to tell me?”

Carrie only looked back at Mandy and bit her lower lip. Mandy went over and sank down on the edge of the full-size bed where Carrie was already beneath the covers.

“It’s awful, isn’t it?”

“Yeah,” Carrie agreed.

“I’ve fallen for someone who doesn’t feel the same. And you like someone who’s too old for you.”

“He’s only 22, same age as Ross.”

“And you just turned 15, Carrie.” Mandy’s words were muffled by the nightgown she was slipping over her head, but the logical tone in her voice came through loud and clear.

When she emerged, she heard Carrie sigh. Mandy blew out the lamp and crawled into bed beside her. Carrie’s voice was a little frustrated when she spoke.

“You’re too practical, Mandy. To hear you talk, you’re not bothered or hurt by any of this.”

“I hurt, Carrie, believe me. I hurt.”

“Carrie, it’s wrong!”

“Well I’m not the least bit tired, and we’d be back and she wouldn’t even miss us.”

It was Sunday evening and the girls were having a whispered argument on the front porch. Grandma Em had claimed exhaustion and taken herself off to bed. Carrie, Mandy noticed, had energy to spare and was actually entertaining the idea of going for a walk at dusk without asking Grandma Em.

“You don’t have to come, Mandy.”

“I’ve a good mind to march right up those stairs and tell Grandma Em what you’re thinking of doing.”

“And she’d probably give me permission to go. I’m not a little girl, Mandy.”

Mandy threw up her hands in exasperation when she saw Carrie was determined.

“Mandy, I’m glad we came in to stay with Grandma Em, and I’m glad that Silas and Amy were able to take a trip. But the whole family stayed so long today. I don’t feel like I’ve been able to do anything fun here in town. I go to school tomorrow and then we go home.” She walked down the steps and turned back to look up at her sister.

“I’ll be back before dark. If it makes you feel better, you can wait here on the porch.”

It took Mandy a moment to see that she was really going. She glanced back at the front door and then moved down the steps to catch up with Carrie.

“How are your folks?” Ross asked Pete.

“They’re fine. My sister is now engaged, but they’re waiting until next summer to get married.”

“Next summer? Why so long?”

“I don’t know. I’d tell her no if I was Donald.”

“You and me both. The whole courting process is too painful to wait for the wedding
once
you’ve actually decided to take the step.”

“Yeah, that’s the way I feel. Why are we sitting out here on the porch? It’s getting dark and cold.”

“No good sense, I guess.”

“Who is that coming down the street?” Pete said then.

“It looks like Amanda and Carrie, but I can’t believe it would be.”

“Carrie Jackson!” Mandy said furiously. “I can’t believe you’re taking us right past Ross and Peter’s. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. We’re turning back right now. It’s almost dark.”

“Too late.” Mandy was too angry to notice that Carrie sounded regretful. Halting, the sisters watched as the men approached.

Ross had to stop himself from asking if Grandma Em knew where they were. They weren’t little girls and the hour wasn’t exactly late, but it was nearly dark and he had a sneaking suspicion Grandma Em was completely unaware of their whereabouts.

“What brings you ladies out this evening?” Pete asked casually, even as his own mind swarmed with questions.

Mandy wanted to pinch Carrie for getting them into this and then standing there as if she had no tongue.

“We’re just out for a walk. In fact we were just headed back, weren’t we, Carrie?”

“How was your weekend, Pete?” Carrie completely ignored Mandy’s question, and even when Mandy pulled on her arm, she did nothing more than stare at Pete.

“I had a nice time, Carrie, thank you. How are things with Grandma Em?”

“Fine.”

“Did you get your canning done?”

“Yes.”

There was a painful silence then, at least it was painful to Mandy, but she couldn’t help but notice how kind Pete was to Carrie. He didn’t treat her like she was some kid beneath his notice but talked to her in open friendliness.

“We really have to be going now.” Mandy gave Carrie no choice this time but pulled her around until they were headed back down the street.

“We’ll walk with you.”

“No!”
Mandy nearly shouted at Ross. She took a breath to try and calm herself. “Thank you, Ross, but we’ll get ourselves home.”

Holding Carrie’s arm in a grip that would probably leave bruises, Mandy led her away from the men. Peter and Ross exchanged one very brief look before starting after them at an unhurried pace.

They made no effort to hide their intentions to follow but kept a discreet distance between them. Every once in a while Mandy’s voice was heard rebuking Carrie. About halfway to Grandma Em’s Mandy figured their protectors were not going to go back, so she and Carrie came to a stop and let them catch up.

Pete walked in front with Carrie beside him, and Ross brought up the rear with a steaming Amanda at his side.

“I take it this little walk was not your idea?”

“No, it wasn’t! I have no desire to come around where I’m not wanted!” She was just angry enough, her pride smarting at
the appearance of coming to see Ross, to throw caution to the wind and say exactly what was on her mind.

“Amanda, did you ever think that the way things are between us hurts me, too?”

Not knowing what to say, Mandy didn’t answer. In all of her pain she hadn’t considered that Ross might be suffering as well.

They were at the house now, and Carrie’s hand flew to her mouth when she looked up to see Grandma Em on the porch. She was thankful for the darkness because she could feel her cheeks burning with shame.