Page 47 of My Heart Will Find You

“Just a rumor spread by Mrs. Ellis.”

“So you like our little town?” Cornelia asked demurely.

Etta and Max exchanged looks. This wasn’t the woman they’d seen earlier, the one wielding a riding crop.

“I’m thinking of building a house here.”

Etta remembered the photos of Garrett in the book of Kansas ghost towns. It was bare land. Not one building had survived. “No!” she said too loudly, and they all looked at her. “I mean, Garrett depends on the railroad, doesn’t it? If the rail connection is moved to, say Wichita, Garrett might disappear.”

They were staring at her. She had told too much, but she couldn’t stop. “Kansas City,” she said. “It has trains and cows both.” She knew that from all the movies she’d watched with her father. They were still staring at her in a way that made her uncomfortable. “And Cornelia can design a house for you.”

To Etta’s great relief, they looked at Cornelia.

“Can you do that?” Bert asked.

“I believe I can.” She was beautifully modest.

Etta took a bite. “Italianate. Two stories, round-topped windows, porch across the front and to one side. Simple, not gaudy. Timeless.” Of course she was describing Henry’s family home.

Yet again, everyone looked at Etta as though she was a freak.

Max saved her. “So how do you like your food? Etta cooked everything.”

Etta braced herself for Cornelia to say something about “old and plain” women, but she said nothing.

Max also waited, seeming to expect Cornelia’s comment. When there was nothing, he said, “Here! Have one of these.”

In all the turmoil, Etta had forgotten the pitcher of margaritas. Strawberries, lime juice, and tequila. Delicious and lethal. Max filled the glasses. He hesitated at giving one to Alice, but Etta gave him a look to not leave his sister out. Alice had had enough of being excluded.

The drinks on their relatively empty stomachs took away the tension. Alice frequently cut looks at Max and Etta as though they were traitors, but she made a funny story out of her and Freddy’s trip to get vegetables.

Bert was the first to understand. “You mean Freida from the Red Dog?”

“Yes. I hired her to work for us.”

“You did what?” Max sounded threatening.

Cornelia said, “Don’t you dare use that tone with her! Alice is my friend and you took her away from me.” In her anger, she was coming out of her seat.

Even though he’d just met her, Bert put a hand on Cornelia’s wrist. It was like he’d applied a tranquilizer to her, and she sat back down.

It’s funny, Etta thought.Two people can say the same things, yet one enrages you and the other one soothes you.“You are always welcome here,” she said to Cornelia. “I know Alice misses you very much.”

Cornelia turned to her. “Thank you.” She paused a moment. “I’m sorry about today. I...” She didn’t finish.

“Forgiven,” Etta said, and everyone except Alice smiled.

The rest of the meal was pleasant. Bert practically hired Cornelia to design a home for him. Anything to get to see her again. Max kept smiling at Etta with thanks and relief. Cornelia acted like a vestal virgin for Bert, but she also pulled Alice into every conversation. Etta got the idea that being deprived of her girlfriend was half the reason she’d been so angry at Max. After all, there was an unwritten law that boyfriends couldn’t interfere with girlfriends.

After dinner, they sat in the pretty parlor to listen to Sally sing. “Isn’t she—” Bert looked at Max.

“From the Red Dog.”

Bert gave a quick glance at Etta, then Sally. “You may have stopped going there, but you seem to have brought them home with you.” He walked away before Max could reply.

Throughout the performance, Bert and Cornelia sat close and looked at each other often.

It was late when they left, and Bert insisted on driving Cornelia home. He tied his horse to her buggy and they left. Max, Etta, and Alice waved goodbye to them.

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