Marni's Measure (Brides 0f Pelican Rapids Book 4) Read online

  Braden drove the wagon right up to Miss Ella’s front porch pulling it to a stop by the stairs before climbing down. Lifting a hand he reached up taking Mrs. Simms’ gloved hand in his as he helped her to the ground.

  For a moment Marni’s dark eyes locked on Braden’s blue ones and the world seemed to stop, narrowing to only the two of them.

  “Mr. Braden, Miss Marni,” Minnie Jacobs called opening the door to see who had arrived. “Won’t you come in?”

  “I’m making a delivery Miss Minnie,” Braden said, “but when I saw Mrs. Simms walking I offered her a lift home,” he finished with a smile that seemed to reach Marni’s heart.

  “Well let me fetch you a few cookies for your trouble,” Minnie said.

  “No, I’d best be on my way,” Braden said, walking Marni to the bottom of the stairs and reluctantly letting go of her hand. “Mother sends her thanks for the bread the other day,” he said. “She thinks it is the best you’ve ever made.”

  Minnie smiled waving him off with a delighted grin. “Well don’t be a stranger Braden Prater,” she said, opening the door wider to let Marni in.

  Braden hopped back into his wagon and turned the old mare down Plum Lane toward Mr. Walker’s and finally home. He had been delighted to see the pretty young woman walking along Ottertail earlier, but had been shocked she had chosen to walk instead of ride. Surely a young woman like her would have asked Josiah to take her to town or ridden in on her own.

  Not only did Miss Ella have a fine stable of horses, but she also had a lovely carriage and surely Josiah could have driven if not Ella herself. In Pelican Rapids men or women would often be seen driving into town as needed. He couldn’t quite place what it was, but there was something different about the girl called Marni today. She had seemed more open and less wary.

  Could her past experience with men have made her untrusting? Perhaps her late husband had not been what he seemed before they had wed, or he had been a man with less honor than ambition.

  As he turned back onto Plum Lane, thoughts of the bright-eyed beauty filled his head as Braden moved down the lane to his ultimate goal.

  Chapter 10

  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32

  Ella Milton looked at the letter in her hand. It had been delivered by a runner from town only a few short hours ago and the missive had rather caught her by surprise.

  Mr. Abrams's note was rather insistent and to tell the truth some of his ideas were rather inspired. The miller had explained about Marni dropping in at the mill and how she had met Samuel. According to Abrams senior, Marni had been quite taken by his son, and he felt that perhaps a match between them would be just the thing.

  Ella toyed with the idea, turning the pros and cons over in her mind. Marni had worked happily at the mill back home and with knowledge of the workings of such an establishment, she would have much in common with Sam. Still, something didn’t feel quite right about the match. She would need to ponder the idea and pray about it before she did anything else.

  Perhaps she would have the Abrams over to dinner one night and see how things went. There was no need to discuss it with Marni at this point. This would be a scouting expedition to see if the path ahead lay clear or if the road would be rocky and rough.

  “Minnie,” Ella called rising and heading for the kitchen, “I think it’s time for a little dinner party,” she smiled as her longtime friend and housekeeper looked up delighted by the idea.

  “What’s we celebrating?” Minnie asked, “or is this more business than pleasure?”

  “I think we’ll call it a neighborly get-together,” Ella said. “I’d like to invite the Abrams, and perhaps Mr. Fife, and the Tomlins.” Miss Ella tapped her chin with a delicate finger her blue eyes crinkling around the edges. “Invite the Praters as well if they’re up to it.”

  Minnie grinned at her employer as she quickly started thinking of the food she could prepare. They had a nice summer ham in the smokehouse, and Josiah would surely be able to help her harvest a few of the better items from what was left of the kitchen garden.

  “Will you send invitations?” Minnie asked, “or shall I just pass the word?”

  “I think I’ll send the invites,” Ella said. “It’s time Marni gets to know a few of the folks in Pelican Rapids better.”

  The house hummed with excitement as Marni dressed for the dinner party. Miss Ella had only said she was having a few friends over to dinner, but the way Minnie was bustling to make everything perfect you would have thought the Mayor himself was attending. Perhaps he was for all Marni knew. She knew almost no one in this new town, and other than Braden Prater, she had little interaction with the people of the town.

  Choosing one of her finer dresses, Marni donned a wheat-gold gown with a narrow waist and wide skirt. Her mother-in-law had purchased it for her years earlier, and though she had filled out from the girl she had been, she still fit the golden gown perfectly. Marni had never felt the need for finer things, but Jordan’s mother had good taste and an understanding of how to comport one’s self in social affairs. She had schooled Marni over the years, and as a businesswoman, she had kept to the standards her mother-in-law had desired.

  Examining herself in the tall mirror on the far wall, Marni agreed that the color suited her. Her dark brown hair, tinged with mahogany red highlights, made her pale skin look creamy, and her chocolate eyes glistened enjoying the opportunity to dress up for something special. Gold had always been a good color for her, and tonight was no exception. The excitement of the night permeated the whole house and as the cool air from her open window brushed her skin she shivered with delight.

  Making her way down the stairs Marni looked into the library where Miss Ella was conversing with Minnie. Ella was dressed in a blue silk trimmed in white lace, and the color made her eyes seem to glow.

  “Have you had word from the Praters?” Ella asked. “Josiah said last night that he had heard Mrs. Prater was under the weather again.”

  “I haven’t heard,” Minnie replied, “but I’ll wait until everyone else arrives before takin’ the plates away,” the cook said.

  “Thank you, Minnie,” Ella said, spying Marni near the door. “Don’t you look lovely,” Ella said, rising and displaying her own lovely gown. “That color becomes you.”

  “Thank you,” Marni said, grateful for the compliment. She was no longer a blushing bride of sixteen and wondered if the dress might be a little too out of style, but she couldn’t bring herself to spend the money on something new. For all, she knew Miss Ella had a groom chosen for her that lived further west where any kind of gown would be next to useless.

  A knock fell on the door, and both women turned toward it as Josiah hurried down the stairs. “I’ll get it, Mother,” he said, hurrying to the door and opening it.

  “Oh hello,” The girl that Marni had seen at the mill a few days earlier said stepping through the door and looking around her expectantly, followed by an older couple who smiled and greeted Miss Ella and Josiah warmly as Minnie retreated to the kitchen.

  “Carl, Arlene, Lorna Lie, I’d like you to meet Marni Simms,” Ella said, introducing everyone as Josiah took hats and wraps. “Mrs. Simms is my guest here for a while.”

  “Didn’t I see you somewhere?” Lorna Lie asked, wrapping a golden curl around her finger as she shook hands with Marni. “You look familiar.”

  “You brought a sack of grain to the mill the other day when I was there,” Marni said. “It’s nice to see you again.”

  “Oh yes, I remember now,” the girl said, her blue eyes bright with recognition. “Sam was busy filling a sack for you.”

  Marni opened her mouth to correct the young woman, but Lorna Lie continued. “I wonder where Sam is now?” the girl asked. “I’m sure he said he was attending tonight.”

  Ella ushered her guests into the parlor offering them tea, coffee, or lemonade as they all introduced themselves. The Tomlins had a farm on the other side of the river, a
nd Mr. Tomlins had made a bit of money in shipping during the war. The farm, though prosperous was more of a hobby now.

  Another knock fell on the front door, and Josiah answered it once more, this time escorting the miller, his wife, and son into the parlor.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Abrams,” Ella said, greeting them. “I’d like you to meet Mrs. Simms,” she smiled watching the interaction between her guests. “I believe you’ve already met Sam,” she added watching as the young man absently shook hands with Marni.

  “It’s a pleasure to see you again,” Marni said, greeting each one.

  “Hello Samuel,” Lorna Lie said, smiling at the handsome young man. “Did you have a nice drive over?”

  Ella Milton handed off drinks to her guests watching the interactions of each one. Marni had been pulled into a conversation with Mr. Abrams and his petite wife as they chatted about the work at the mill while trying to engage Samuel in the mix.

  Lorna Lie hovered near Sam like a moth near a flame, and each time she plucked at his sleeve to ask a question or interjected a question, Mr. Abrams senior would scowl, attempting to draw Sam back into conversation with Mrs. Simms.

  Although she couldn’t place it, something was definitely off about this arrangement, and Ella was sure she would pin it down by dinner’s end. A half an hour of refreshments and chatter later, and Ella was more certain than ever that things were not going to plan, and she nearly sighed with relief when Minnie called everyone to the dining room for their meal.

  Chapter 11

  A merry heart doeth good like a medicine but a broken spirit drieth the bones. Proverbs 17:22

  Braden hitched Milly-Bell to the wagon and loaded the box of potatoes into the back. He was already running late for the dinner party at Miss Ella’s but his mother had insisted on him taking the box with him to drop at old Mr. Walker’s place later.

  Braden had no intention of staying to eat, but he wanted to let Miss Ella know that his mother wasn’t up to attending and his father wouldn’t go without her. He hoped it wasn’t an imposition on Minnie getting such late notice, but there hadn’t been any time to stop earlier.

  Slapping the reins on the bay mare’s hip, Braden urged the reluctant horse to move out and away from her cozy barn. He would stop at Mr. Walker’s place then hurry on to let Miss Ella know that the Praters would not be in attendance. If all went to plan, he would be there and back in less than an hour avoiding any inconvenience to Ella, Minnie, and her guests.

  Rubbing a hand across the back of his neck Braden chafed at the loss of the invitation, and another chance to see Miss Marni, but life was life, and you had to go with what came your way. With his mother not feeling well Braden had encouraged his father to stay close to home while he had started harvesting the potatoes on his own.

  For a moment he wondered what it would be like to sit in Miss Ella’s fancy dining room with the lovely Mrs. Simms, but he pushed the ridiculous notion from his mind as soon as it arose. He was a country bumpkin, to the young woman’s more refined ways. Perhaps she was a girl from Tennessee, but she was obviously used to having the funds to pay her own way. She didn’t need a poor dirt farmer dogging her footsteps and getting in her way. Miss Ella would find her the man of her dreams, and she would be gone before Braden even knew it.

  Still, the wish to see the lovely Marni again didn’t dispel easily, and he smiled letting her image dance before his eyes.

  Milly-Bell snorted shying sideways with a bump as another horse dashed across the road in front of her and Braden dragged on the reins with a harsh “Whoa.” It looked like Mr. Walker’s horses had gotten out again, and he thought of several harsh words he’d like to use over the situation. Mr. Walker had told him several times that he would hire him to fix his fence, but had never done it. Instead, Braden guided the quiet mare to the side of the road and set the brake on the wagon as he hooked the reins over the seat, letting Milly-Bell graze while he stepped into the dew damp grass.

  “You might as well have a bite to eat,” he said, climbing from the seat and giving Milly-Bell a pat. “At least one of us shouldn’t miss supper.”

  Shaking his head he stepped out into the wilted cornfield on the other side of Plum Lane and began searching for the wayward horses in the dim light of an autumn moon.

  “Miss Ella,” Minnie whispered from the kitchen door beckoning to her employer with a dishcloth.

  Ella Milton looked up shocked at Minnie’s summons, as a bolt of worry shot through her. “If you’ll excuse me,” she said to her guests, placing her napkin on the table and rising. “I’ll only be a moment.”

  Ella stepped into the kitchen a few seconds later and gasped as her eyes fell on Braden Prater standing in her kitchen smelling of horse, his best coat covered in some sticky residue.

  “Good heavens,” Ella gasped. “Whatever happened to you, Braden Prater?”

  “I’m sorry to disturb you at dinner,” Braden said, dropping his eyes as he stood in the middle of the room trying not to touch anything. “I was on my way here to let you know that Ma and Pa aren’t up to joining you. I’m sorry for any inconvenience it put you to,” he finished looking between to the two women.

  “Never mind about that,” Minnie chided eyeing him suspiciously. “What in heaven’s name happened to you?”

  “I’m afraid Mr. Walker’s horses got out again, and I had to get them all back in the fence but with no rope, I had to use my hands to hold the animals and,” he hesitated, looking sheepish again, “well they slobbered all over me.”

  Ella Milton lifted a hand to cover the grin tugging at her lips. The young man looked a sight, with his hair mussed and his coat drooled upon. “Well you come along with me and get cleaned up,” she said, reaching for his sleeve, and then thinking better of it, she motioned for him to follow. “We’ll get you cleaned up and you can join us for supper. We only just sat down as it is.”

  “No ma’am,” Braden protested. “I’ll head on home. You enjoy your dinner.”

  “Nonsense,” both Minnie and Ella exclaimed.

  “You take that coat off and I’ll fetch one of Josiah’s. It might be a bit snug across the shoulders, but you’ll manage. Minnie you see to it that he washes properly and find him a comb for his hair,” she finished rushing out the door without a backward glance.

  “Miss Minnie I think it’s best I go,” Braden tried again but the old cook had already grasped his elbow steering him to the sink.

  “Miss Ella says you’re stayin’, and you’re stayin’,” she snapped. “Now get washed, or I’ll use a scrub brush on ya.”

  Braden couldn’t help but grin at the threat, though he suspected she would carry through if need be. Instead, he stripped off his coat, rolled up his sleeves and plunged his hands into the sink of hot soapy water scrubbing all the way to his elbows.

  Five minutes later, his wet hair slicked down and a snug jacket squeezing his broad shoulders, Braden was dragged into the dining room where all eyes turned to him.

  “I’m afraid Mr. and Mrs. Prater weren’t able to join us,” Ella said, while Minnie added a setting at one end of the table. “Fortunately Braden was able to come, although he was delayed by a mishap at Mr. Walker’s Farm,” she finished with a smile.

  Braden looked down the long table feeling awkward and out of place until he met the dark eyes of Mrs. Simms. The curious smile on her lips zipped to his toes, and he found himself grinning shyly as he took in her lovely gold dress, noting how the color set off her dark hair and eyes.

  As others greeted him he walked to his place on the far side of the table and took his seat, pleased that he was seated near enough the young woman to be able to speak to her.

  “Braden Prater,” Lorna Lie said, turning to him and wrinkling her nose slightly. “What on earth happened? Is everyone all right?” Her last words were almost hopeful as she leaned forward making Braden lean back. “Sam, tell him to give us every detail,” Lorna Lie chimed with macabre curiosity.

  “It wasn’t much of anythi
ng,” Braden said. “Mr. Walker’s horses got out again, and it took me some time to persuade them to go back to where they belonged,” he said, looking across the table at Mrs. Simms. “I’m sorry to disturb everyone. I explained to Miss Ella that I’d just as soon go home.”

  “Nonsense,” Miss Ella said. “You’re a welcome addition to the table. Now we have an even number again. I always feel uneven numbers are unlucky.”

  Marni smiled at Braden, pleased at Ella’s genteel hospitality then turned to look at Mr. Abrams Senior as he spoke.

  “Mrs. Simms, I believe you were telling Sam about your home town,” he said, his dark eyes glinting in the lamplight. “Isn’t that right Sam,” he added his voice growing stronger on his son’s name.

  “What’s that Pa?” Sam asked turning away from Miss Tomlins with a frown.

  “Mrs. Simms was telling you about Vale Hollow.”

  “Oh, yes,” Sam agreed glancing at Lorna Lie but turning back to Marni when his father cleared his throat. “Tennessee wasn’t it?” he queried his tone dull.

  Marni nodded turning to address young Mr. Abrams. “Yes, I’m from Vale Hollow in Tennessee,” she offered. “It’s a smaller town than Pelican Rapids, but it sits at a kind of throughway along the valley and sees a good deal of travel when the weather is fine.”

  “And you ran the gristmill there?” Mr. Abrams prompted. “Was it a big business?”

  Marni turned back to the older man a tiny scowl marring her brow. “Yes, it was nearly as large as your mill,” she agreed. “It belonged to my late husband and his mother. She and I ran it after he left during the war.”

  Braden watched the young woman talking about her hometown and wondered at the scowl that appeared nearly every time Mr. Abrams asked another question. The man seemed far more interested in the workings of the mill than he was in the young woman’s story itself, but perhaps that was what passed as an acceptable conversation at a dinner like this.