Page 407 of Conveniently Wed
Then he seemed to come out of whatever emotions had held him. “I’ll look after the horses.” He swung down and grabbed the reins of Ella, who chomped on a clump of fresh green grass.“Let your parents show you around their new house, and I’ll be back to walk you home. Our place is just over the knoll. You’ll be happy to know it’s within short walking distance.”
So close. A leap of something akin to joy shot through her. She smiled to thank him, but he had already turned to go.
Gracie pulled at her hand. “Come see. We don’t have a ladder to our loft. We have real stairs.”
“It’s not a loft, silly,” Lucinda jumped in. “They’re real bedrooms.”
Ma’s face beamed. “Oh, Katherine, this is so much more than Pa or I ever expected.”
Amelia threw her arm around Katie’s shoulders, and they walked in together. “We even have a parlor to entertain.” She giggled. “Imagine that. And the best part is we’re close enough to visit each other.”
The outside had hinted at the transformation from poverty to comfort, but the inside confirmed it.
Ma bubbled over the new cook stove in the kitchen, the seating in the parlor, and the privacy she and Pa would now have. Upstairs, the girls ran from room to room, laughing and giggling.
“Take a look. We can see your house from up here.” Ma spoke above the noise of the girls and waved Katie over to a window.
A pang of guilt pierced Katie’s heart as she looked over the knoll and spotted her stately home. Yesterday, she had not lived up to her end of the bargain, and yet Josiah had done his part. Just the thought of a man’s kiss or hands on her body, after what happened in the woods, made a tide of goosebumps wash up her arm to the nape of her neck. How would she ever find the courage?
Ma’s voice cracked, and tears glistened in her eyes. “I don’t know how to tell you how much this means to Pa, your sisters, and me.” She raised a hand and smoothed it down Katie’s cheek.
Katie couldn’t keep from stiffening. Ma had displayed this kind of affection with the other girls, but rarely her. Her touch felt as foreign as Josiah’s.
“Please be happy, Katherine,” her mother whispered, her eyes pleading.
Katie turned toward the window, unable to answer. It was a little too late for Ma to worry about her happiness.
Ma sighed and pressed her hands together. “Tea. I can serve real tea with real sugar. Can you believe it?”
They all piled down the stairs into their new kitchen. Katie took a moment to soak in each face—all the happiness and delight. Ma and Pa gave each other a quick kiss. The glow on Ma’s face was bright enough to light up the room.
Aunt May’s story from the Bible of Daniel in the lion’s den came to mind. She would need that kind of courage to follow through with her plan that evening. Right there in Ma’s new kitchen, with her family gathered around, she prayed in silence.God, Daniel’s God, will you help me? Will you give me courage to…well, you’re God, so you know what I need to do.
“Ma says that we can’t bother you up at the big house, but I miss you already.” Lucinda threw her arms around Katie’s neck.
Gracie chimed in, “Why do you have to live in another house? This house is sooooo big.” She spread her chubby little arms wide. “We’ll share with you and Mr. Richie.”
Ma, Jeanette, and Amelia all chuckled.
“His name’s not Mr. Richie,” Lucinda corrected. “It’s Mr. Rich Man, cause he’s very, very rich.”
A giggle slipped from Katie’s lips. “Girls, his last name is Richardson, like your last name is Williams. His name has nothing to do with how rich he is. And I’m married now, Gracie. Mr. Richardson has a house of his own that he wants me to share with him. I promise I’ll visit you lots, all right, sweetie?” Shehugged them close, then distracted them with a tickle to the ribs. “Guess who’s goin’ get you?”
The game was on. Squealing in delight, they ran circles around her chair, begging for the big, bad bear to catch them.
“My goodness, the racket.” Ma put her hands to her ears, but a smile split her face.
As Katie raced around the room after them, she grabbed Lucinda and threw her over her shoulder. She didn’t hear Josiah and Pa enter the kitchen, but when she looked up to find them both watching her, she set Lucinda down with a plunk, which sent her sprawling.
“Ow.” The girl rubbed her bottom as she scrambled to her feet.
Katie bent down. “Sorry, sweetie.” She pulled her in to her side and hugged her tight. “The game is over for now,” she whispered.
Tiny hands grasped the folds of her dress as they hid behind her skirt and peeked out at the stranger who had cut their fun short.
“Hope you two won.” Josiah crouched down to their level.
Gracie stepped from behind Katie’s skirt. “We playin’ the big baaad bear game, and Lucinda gots caught but I didn’t.”
