Unbridled Dreams (12 page)
“There wasn’t too much going on to keep Shep Sterling from flirting with
you,
” Minnie said. “And don’t deny it because Monte told me all about it.” She leaned closer and said quietly, “There wasn’t too much going on to keep Jason Zigler from proposing to Mollie.”
“What?!”
Minnie nodded. “I’m not supposed to tell anyone.” She glared at Irma. “And you’d better not. But—”
“But Mollie’s only . . . Jason can’t possibly . . .”
Minnie nodded “I know. Mollie’s only fifteen, and Jason can’t possibly support her. But he got a job with Mr. Cody’s cowboy band, and he’s asked Pa for Mollie’s hand. He says he’ll have enough saved to get them a place in a couple of years, and Mollie’s promised to wait.” Minnie sighed. “So in no time at all I will be Mollie’s old maid sister who can’t get a husband.” She swiped at fresh tears. “Which is probably the real reason I’ve been trying to talk myself into liking Orrin Knox. He’s very
. . .
eligible.”
“For heaven’s sake, Minnie!” Irma scolded. “I don’t know what you see in him.” She mimicked Orrin. “Ahem. I . . . ahem . . . think . . . ahem . . .” She kept it up until Minnie smiled and flicked the reins so Jerry would start for home again. When the buggy topped the last rise and the Mason ranch came into view, Minnie said, “You know, Irma, in a way this restless feeling I have is your fault.”
“
My
fault?”
Minnie nodded. “You’ve always had such grand ideas. I may not want to do a flying dismount off a horse in front of thousands of people, but you’ve got me thinking.”
“Well, for heaven’s sake, can’t you dream any bigger than snagging a husband?” Irma stopped short. “I’m sorry. That came out wrong. There’s nothing wrong with . . . if you really fall for someone . . . I’m not saying this right. I hope you know what I mean.”
Minnie nodded toward the ranch. “I adore every single person who lives in that house,” she said. “But I don’t think I want to live out my life there.”
“You’re eighteen years old, and you’re talking like your life is over.”
“Well, give me a while,” Minnie retorted. “I’m new at this dreaming stuff. And in case you haven’t noticed, I’m not like you. My parents aren’t rich, and I’m not going to finishing school. I can cook and sew, and that’s about it.”
“Too bad nobody in town needs any of
that.
” Irma smirked.
“Hey. I may not have a plan to travel the world, but I have checked for help-wanted notices in the newspaper a time or two. At the moment the only people advertising for a housekeeper are the Hertz family. And I’d probably kill Edna Hertz inside of a week, so taking that job is probably not a good idea.” Minnie chuckled. “Did you see the look on her face when Mr. Sterling said he’d show her around the Wild West grounds if she came to St. Louis?”
“I did,” Irma said.
“Do you really think the Hertzes will take Edna to see the Wild West?”
Irma shrugged. “I suppose it could happen. I think they have family in St. Louis.”
“Would Mr. Sterling really give her a
personal
tour?”
Jerry moved into a trot.
“Well,
he’s
in a hurry to get home,” Irma said.
Minnie let the reins go slack. Jerry kept going. With no further direction from Minnie, the horse pulled the buggy right to its usual spot just east of the older of the Masons’ two barns. He tossed his head and whinnied.
“I do believe he’s ordering up supper.” Irma laughed as she climbed down and began to help undo the harness. Minnie led Jerry inside, and together the girls brushed him down. Diamond poked his head over the half door of his stall while they worked and, with a bobbing of his head and a little whinny, demanded attention.
As the girls headed for the house, Irma murmured, “You know, from the way Edna hung on Shep, I bet she’ll do everything she can to talk her parents into taking her to St. Louis—whether they ever really said they would or not.”
Minnie teased, “Irma Friedrich, I do believe you are jealous.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Irma said as she stomped up the back porch steps. “Shep Sterling can
marry
Edna Hertz for all I care.”
“I couldn’t possibly,” Willa said, trying to keep the excitement from her voice.
“And why not?” Otto took the last bite of cake and set his fork down.
“Well, for one thing . . . Irmagard isn’t fully recovered yet.”
“Irma just took off across the prairie in a buggy. She most certainly does not need you to stay home and play nursemaid. She’ll be fine. And if her staying alone concerns you, we’ll ask Minnie to come into town and stay with her.”
“But you and I were supposed to have at least three dinner parties with investors in the next month.”
Otto nodded. “That was before Mrs. Cody stopped by the bank with this.” He tapped the elegantly scripted note that he’d brought home. “Think of it, Willa.
Chicago. Shopping.
The
theatre.
”
“Are you sure you wouldn’t mind?”
“Not only do I not mind,” Otto said, “I insist that you go. I know you, Mrs. Friedrich. At this very moment it is taking every ounce of your self-control to keep you in that seat. Your heart is dancing with joy. I can see it in your eyes.” He stood up and drew her into his arms. “So . . .” He wheeled her around the kitchen in an exaggerated waltz. “SHOP-two-three-PLAYS-two-three-NOW-two-three—PACK!”
Breathless with excitement, Willa laughed. “All right, all right. I’ll go. But promise me one thing.”
“I promise.”
“You haven’t heard what I want.”
“It doesn’t matter. If it will keep that smile on your lovely face, consider it done.”
“Don’t let Irmagard brood. Keep her busy.”
“Done,” Otto promised.
Willa smiled. “Do you suppose that little milliner’s shop is still there? The one right up the street from Marshall Field’s? Remember?”
“
Remember?!
” Otto sighed. “My dear, a man does not forget the day his honeymoon ended and the realities of married life set in.”
“Was it that awful?”
“It was delightful. I wanted to buy you every hat in the place. But that was when reality set in.”
“What reality was that, pray tell?”
“That I was going to have to make a
lot
of money to keep my beloved in hats.”
They joked about a hat allowance for the upcoming trip as they cleared the dishes and finished tidying the kitchen.
Later that evening, with Otto snoring at her side, Willa lay awake as the moon climbed in the sky and cast silver shadows on the bedroom floor. When she finally drifted off to sleep it was to dream of owning one hat and living in a tiny house with a faithful husband named Otto who had no interest in an endless quest for more of everything.
M
AY HE KISS ME WITH THE KISSES OF HIS MOUTH
!
Song Of Songs 1:2
NASB
Not long after Minnie and Irma arrived at the ranch, eight-year-old Maggie Mason came bounding into the ranch house kitchen, her brown eyes wide with excitement. “He’s here. He’s here!”
“Who’s here?” Irma asked as she put the roses she’d brought with her from home into fresh water and set them on the kitchen table.
“Buffalo Bill. Pa’s gonna sell him some more horses.”
“Hold on there,” Irma said. “Uncle Charlie’s selling off more horses?”
Maggie nodded. “Uh-huh. We don’t need so many and we can use the money. That’s what Pa said.”
Irma frowned. Did Daddy know Uncle Charlie was pressed for funds? Maggie was still jabbering excitedly about Buffalo Bill’s beautiful horse as Irma stepped to the door and looked toward the barn. Maggie was right. Bill Cody had ridden over on a sleek, well-muscled bay with a flowing mane and tail.
“You can come out to the barn,” Maggie insisted. “All the other girls are helping in the garden. Ma has plenty of help. Isn’t Mr. Cody’s horse beautiful? Do you think I could pet him? Ma won’t mind if you come,” Maggie insisted. “She knows you and me like horses better’n anything.”
Irma followed Maggie out onto the porch just as Uncle Charlie and Monte and Ned Bishop converged on the showman from various points on the ranch. And then, just as Irma was reaching for a basket so she could head for the garden, Shep Sterling rode in.
“Oh . . . my . . . goodness,” Maggie crowed as she grabbed Irma’s hand. “Come
on,
Irma.”
For some reason, Irma felt the need to catch her breath—and glance in a mirror before she left the house. Her heart thumped. “You go on,” she said. “I’ll check with your ma first.” As Maggie charged out of the house and toward the visitors, Irma watched, thinking of her conversation with Minnie about Edna Hertz hanging on Shep’s arm. She’d been a little dishonest. It really
had
bothered her to see Edna flirting with Shep. And the idea that Edna might get to tour the Wild West show grounds was absolutely maddening. She glanced over her shoulder at the roses sitting on Aunt Laura’s kitchen table. And smiled. Edna might be a flirt, but Shep had brought white roses to Irma. Ducking into Miss Viola’s room, Irma peered at herself in the mirror, despairing over what the wind had done to her hair on the way out to the ranch.
Momma was right. I should have worn a hat.
“Hey, Irm,” Monte called from the back door. Irma could hear his boots clomping as he crossed the kitchen toward the stairs leading to the second floor of the house.
“I’m here,” Irma said, and ducked out of Miss Viola’s room.
Monte turned around. “Thought you might want to come out and watch. Pa decided he could part with a few more of the stock, and Bill Cody and Shep are here to take a look.” He nodded toward the upstairs with a grin. “Guess you could borrow my stuff again. If you want to change, that is.”
She put her hand to her aching side. “Thanks, but truth is, the buggy ride out here was enough adventure for me for one day.” She smiled. “And I promised to help in the garden. I’ll have to check with your ma before I head out to the barns.”
“She won’t mind,” Monte said. “And you know it. In fact, if you show up to garden when there’s horse trading going on, she’ll be wanting to send someone for the doc.”
“What?”
“Well, if you choose picking peas over horse business, she’s gonna think you’re sick.”
“Very funny,” Irma said. “All right. But I have to . . . check on something first.” There was no way on earth she was going to let Monte Mason know that she wanted to fix her hair before being seen by Shep Sterling.
Monte nodded at the bouquet on the table. “Does Minnie have an admirer in town we should know about?”
“Those are from Shep,” Irma said. “I mean, he brought them to me. He stopped by the house before the luncheon.” She could feel her cheeks turning red. “They’re a peace offering directed at Momma more than anything.”
“Did it work?”
Irma sighed. “Not really. When she said I could come home with Minnie, I figured she’d throw them out if I gave her half a chance, so I—” She was explaining too much.
Monte grinned. “When you’re finished primping we’ll be down at the south corral. And in case you’re interested, Ma sent Mamie up from the garden with an invitation for Bill and Shep to stay to supper. And they accepted.”
