Page 30 of Hank and Elsie
Torin held out his hand to his daughter. “Come on, sweetling. We’re going home.”
“Sure you don’t want to stay and meet them? You two would be welcome. Dr. Angus, Miss Taylor, and Miss Bailey seem like good people.”
Torin made a sharpcutting offgesture. “Good only until put to the test,” he said, his tone bitter. “I won’t take that risk.”
Hank’s stomach twisted. He knew Torin and Jewel would be better off enlarging their tiny circle of friends. But it wasn’t his place to say so.
Jewel cast an imploring look at the lake. “Feed swansss?”
Swooping, Hank placed a kiss on her head. “Not today, Jewel baby. Tomorrow.”
Taking her father’s hand, she waved at Hank. “Ba-ba.”
Since his hands were full of jars, he just smiled at her. Sadly, he nodded at Torin, wishing there was something he could say to banish the haunted look from his friend’s eyes.
But such was beyond his power.
After church,in preparation for their outing with Dr. Angus and Mr. Canfield, Elsie gratefully removed the too-tight-around-the-waist pink outfit and loosened her corset to don her more comfortable work shirtwaist and skirt. Then she placed the picnic basket on the counter, while Miss Taylor changed out of her church clothes.
At least, she was slightly more comfortable. Still in a tight corset. Still constricted. Still hard to breathe when she exerted herself too much. But, for the most part, that dreadful pinching pain was gone.
Into the basket, she placed sliced beef, cheese, and pickle sandwiches wrapped in waxed paper, two mason jars of sweetened sun tea, and the cookies Miss Taylor bought the previous day from the sweetshop.We have more than enough food to tide us over if Mr. Canfield’s offerings are scanty.
Miss Taylor emerged from her room, wearing a shirtwaist of ruffled pink cotton, paired with a rose-colored skirt. A straw hat with pink peonies circling the brim perched at a becoming angle on her head.
She and Elsie took turns using the bathroom before gathering shawls, reticules, and the picnic basket, and going downstairs and into the sunshine. They didn’t have long to wait on the steps before a beautiful black equipage pulled by a gleaming dark horse stopped in front. A buckskin horse, Hank Canfield’s apparently, was tied to the back of the surrey.
Dr. Angus flashed them a grin. He’d changed out of his black frock coat, into a shirt with a string tie and a leather vest and looked far more relaxed and lessstarchy.
“Oh my!” Elsie breathed, so excited she bounced on her toes. “I can’t believe we’re going for a drive inthat. I’ll have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not asleep and dreaming.”
“Let me oblige you.” Smiling, Miss Taylor gently pinched the girl’s arm. “There. You need to be awake so you can enjoy the company of those two handsome gentlemen.”
Exhaling a happy sigh, Elsie stood. She held the handle of the basket with both hands.
With athletic grace, Hank jumped down from the passenger side of the front seat. “Howdy, ladies. Good day for a drive in the park, eh?” He laughed and held out a hand for the basket. “What’s this? I have plenty of food. But I won’t saynoto more victuals.”
With a flutter in her stomach, Elsie gave him the basket.
He took the handle in one hand and hefted it, raising his eyebrows. “What’s in this thing? Rocks?”
She giggled. “Just you wait and see, Hank Canfield.”
“I’ll stow this in the back and switch the doctor’s bag to the front.”
Miss Taylor strolled forward to pet the horse.
Mr. Canfield flashed Elsie an easy grin. “I tied Chipper to the back. Might as well ride in the lap of luxury.” He ran his gaze over the surrey. “Yes, indeedy. A mighty fine vehicle for the mighty fine Zeus to pull.”
“His name fits, don’t you think, Mr. Canfield?”
“Call me Hank. Everybody else does.”
Elsie felt torn, still enjoying the thrill of being addressed asMissBailey. But also wanting to be on comfortable terms with this handsome man. Making up her mind, she tilted up her chin and smiled, pretending to act lofty. “I suppose I’ll grant you permission to call me Elsie.”
He placed a hand on his chest. With a teasing light in his eyes, he swept her a dramatic half bow. “I’m honored, Elsie.”
She giggled and elbowed his side, just like she did with her brother. “Oh, you.”
