Page 9 of The Marshal's Bride
Clearly, Sam hadn’t been as discreet as he thought. Now how did he convince Justine to take a chance on him? Or was it Marmee he had to convince?
Justine had just finished giving Hope her lunch and was about to put her down for a nap, when she heard the footsteps coming up the stairs to the apartment door. The entrance to her apartment was through the alley next to the livery, and up the wooden stairs that ran along the side of the building. There was no way anyone could discreetly climb them; they made enough noise to wake the dead.
Perhaps June forgot something,she thought.
“Stay here, poppet,” Justine said, wiping Hope’s mouth before heading towards the door. She opened, expecting to see her friend walking up the stairs, but was surprised to see Ingrid Chapman with her head down, walking purposefully up the steps.
“Good afternoon, Justine,” Marmee Chapman greeted as she approached the top step. “I just wanted to come by and see if you had a few minutes to chat.”
“G-good afternoon. I wasn’t expecting you.”
“Most people aren’t, my dear.”
“Justine,” June called appearing from behind the steps. Spying Marmee she stopped. “Oh, I didn’t realize you had company. I’ll come back later.”
“I was coming to see you next, June. Why don’t you come up as well? We can have a cup of coffee and a nice visit. If that is all right with you, Justine?” Marmee stood by the door expectantly.
“Uhm.” Justine chewed on her bottom lip for a moment. She was starting to feel that today was just one thing after another, but conviction licked at her spirit. Perhaps this was the Lord’s way of reminding her that she was not alone in solving her problems. The people of Flat River had welcomed her with open arms, after all. “Of course. I was just putting Hope down for her nap, so it would be a perfect time.” She held open the door and stepped aside to allow the older woman to waltz elegantly into the apartment.
“How are you doing today, Justine?”
“Good. Yourself?”
“Doing well. I just left Weston over at the sheriff’s office. He was having quite a conversation with the marshal.”
“I can’t imagine what about.”
“Hello, Marmee,” June replied breathlessly as she rushed in the door, pushing the two women forward. She looked once more into the alley before quickly closing the door. “Justine. Want me to start coffee?”
“Where are your children?” Marmee asked. “Motherhood certainly agrees with you.”
A large smile crept over June’s face. Motherhood had cloaked June in a joy that Justine thought she long deserved. Now she waited to hear about when June finally figured out that she was not in fact infertile, her former husband had merely been a cad.
“Ranger volunteered to give them lunch and put them down for a nap. I took it as an opportunity to sneak away while I knew Hope would be napping too.”
“Well don’t let me interrupt your time together then.”
“It’s not an interruption. Something must have brought you to visit. Please come in.” Justine moved to the kitchen where Hope was playing with a rock she had brought from the park. Checking the water in the teapot, she placed it over the burner to boil. “Would you like tea instead?”
“I would love a cup of tea.” Marmee took off her bonnet and gave her dark curls a shake. “I woke up with the desire to check in with June and see how she was settling into her new roles, and you were on my heart as well, Justine.” Marmee walked around the table, as Hope reached out her chubby hand, proudly showing off the rock in her grip. “Hello, poppet. What a wonderful rock you’ve found!”
Hope offered a slobbery smile before hugging her rock close once more. Lifting her arms back to Marmee, the older woman lifted Hope up and bounced her on her hip. Justine was so thankful that she had come to Flat River. Now if only Hope would begin to speak. Other than her quacking at Sam, she often remained silent.
Marmee gave Hope a kiss on her head. “She smells like sunshine and warm grass. Still no words?”
“Only the duck noise that she insists on making when she sees Marshal Davis.”
“She is becoming more confident in herself. I’ve noticed that at church and even just a moment ago. Something to remember, Justine, a child whose needs are met lovingly and consistently, often does not feel the need to speak. When she has something to say, she will. As for the duck noise, I’m sure there is a story there that she associates with the marshal, and he does not seem to be bothered by it one bit.”
“I think it is adorable,” June was quick to add, as she placed a porcelain tea service on the table. “Are the biscuits still in the cupboard?”
Justine nodded, taking Hope from Marmee. “If I only knew what she was saying.” Kissing her daughter’s cheek, she cooed at the little girl. “Isn’t that, right? Let’s put you down for a nap. Your eyes are getting heavy. Say bye-bye to Auntie June.” Hope giggled and shook her head, showing four little teeth.
“Sleep well, darling,” Marmee said. “Let me help you, June. Tell me, how are things with Percival?”
“They are very new still. With the adoption, the funerals, and the moving, we are still adapting to each other. I am very thankful for his abiding presence,” June responded.
Justine listened to her friends’ voices as she walked down the hallway and placed Hope in her crib. Taking the rock from her hand, Justine replaced it with a soft dolly and then covered her daughter with a blanket.
