Page 72 of Beyond Montana's Sky
“Cain’t wait much longer.”
“Bear and I had already planned to go to Concord.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You’ll go toBoston.Alone. Bear can join you later. You both can pay a visit to your kin in Concord after you’re betrothed to Mrs. Grayson. Perhaps, she’ll want to go along.”
“You have mighty big plans for me.”
“You’re just now noticing?” She made a shooing motion toward the door. “Unless you want to wash dishes, get out of my kitchen.”
Being a smart man, Cai hurried out the door. Since the wind was still blowing cold, and he wanted some solitude, which the barn wouldn’t provide, he strode around to the front porch to Aurie’s sunroom. He took a seat in the rocker next to the empty bed frame and ponderedMormor’sadvice.
Despite his feelings for Edith, he’d considered her a liability as a ranch wife—one whom the others would resent for not pulling her fair share. The idea that she had different skills to offer, or for that matter, she didn’t need to doanythinghad never crossed his mind.Well, the babies idea had.Same for his living away from the ranch for months. Well, he’d dreamed of travel, of course. Didn’t everyone? But dreams weren’t real life.
He’d seen Edith’s social status, her living in Boston, as an unsolvable impasse—as solid as a mountain range between him and her. ButMormor, with a few smacks and some pithy words, showed him the pass through the mountains.But do I want to journey over that pass?
His inclination was to lasso Edith, hogtie her, and haul her back to Sweetwater Springs.I probably should court her first. But what do I know about courting a Boston belle?
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
A week before Christmas, Edith had a rare afternoon to herself, for she’d persuaded Mildred to leave the house and take her granddaughters shopping for presents. Henry was at Grayson Enterprises, and Ben attended school.
Once her mother-in-law left to pick up the girls, Edith retired to her bedroom to sit by the fire, give herself a chance to reflect on the last two busy months, and maybe write in her journal.
Winter in Boston was a hectic social scene. The whirlwind of social activities never seemed to stop. She had her choice of invitations to attend literary or musical evenings, teas, dinner parties, and balls. She’d developed a cadre of suitors, all enjoyable in one way or another. But none of the men particularly sparked her interest.
When Edith first returned to Boston, she expected to spend a few months living with the Graysons before moving into a house of her own. Now, she accepted that plan wasn’t possible for the foreseeable future. Henry and Mildred were too dependent on Ben and to a lesser extent on Edith.
She’d discovered Mildred cried most days. Sometimes, she wouldn’t leave her bed. Henry retreated to his place of business for long hours, and all his energy was focused on training Ben.
The strained relationship between Edith and her in-laws melted away in their need for comfort. Indeed, they appeared touchingly grateful for her support and her encouragement of Ben spending time with them. He gave them a purpose and a reason to smile.
Until returning, Edith never realized how she’d adjusted to the slow pace of Sweetwater Springs. If asked a year ago, before Maggie and Charlotte’s arrival, she would have said her life was boring, and, in reality, perhaps at times it was. Now, she’d discovered, benefits could be found in a moreprimitive—as she used to describe Sweetwater Springs—and unfettered existence.
As the weeks passed, Edith continued to miss her friends, especially Maggie, even though she diligently cultivated local friendships. She paid calls on Victoria, who remained on bed rest due to her pregnancy. One day, she even went with Hermione to call upon her cousin’s friends, although that was a mistake she wouldn’t repeat.
Also, she developed a relationship with Sylvia. However, the woman was too busy and content with her large family to socialize much. Young children and other domestic problems kept interrupting Edith’s visits to the Markham residence. But she persisted in building the friendship. She’d learned her lesson on the importance of making the effort.
She’d become closer to her sister-in-law. Julia, a lost soul without her husband, leaned heavily on Edith, who tried valiantly and often futilely to prop her up. Like Mildred, she, too, often spent time in bed, leaving the care of the girls to their governess. At long last, her sister-in-law showed signs of an improved appetite and regained some of her lost pounds.
Edith spent a lot of time with her nieces, who were desperately in need of attention and distraction. She knew all too well how children suffered from the death of their father and a mother withdrawn from grief.
Although she couldn’t go back in time to change how she mothered Ben, she could be present for the girls in a way Julia could not. They played board games. She taught them to sew and helped them make doll clothes. They had dress-up tea parties, serving milk instead of tea to a variety of dolls.
A soft knock sounded on the bedroom door.
“Enter,” Edith called.
Mary opened the door and stepped into the room, balancing a tray over one arm. “Cook’s sent up fresh baked sugar cookies and tea, Mrs. Grayson,” she said in her Irish accent.
“How thoughtful. Please thank her.”
“A letter’s come from Montana.” Mary set the tray on a small table near Edith’s chair and held up an envelope.
Maybe Cai has written.The thought lifted her spirits. Edith extended a hand for the letter. “Thank you, Mary. You can leave the door open.”
“Yes, ma’am.” The girl left.
A glance at the envelope told Edith the letter was from Maggie, and a tiny pang of disappointment, which she firmly squelched, pinched her chest.
