Chapter 25

 

He chewed himself up one side and down the other the entire ride home. How could he be so stupid as to let this happen? Taking Daisy Wright, of all people, to the dance. Now folks would think he was sweet on her. Worst of all, Daisy would think he was interested in her.

Sure, he could blame Addie. And she did help to put him in this spot, seeming to enjoy it, too, from the expression on her face. He should have stopped the whole conversation before it got so far. If only he didn’t get so tongue-tied whenever she was around, searching his mind for something to say. It was like all of his thoughts took flight, stealing any words he might utter. Well now he was going to pay for being so foolish. And it was all Addie’s fault.

He pulled into the barnyard and jumped down from the seat. Still disgusted, he stared at the hills in the distance, wishing he might saddle Patriot and take off for a day or two. Get his thoughts together. But he knew that all he would think about, no matter where he might go, was Addie. And for the moment, she was the source of all his trouble. At the thought, his temper flared again.

Adeline Fleming. He jerked the hat from his head and gave it a sling. It slapped the weathered barn wall and tumbled to the ground, sending a cloud of dust into the hot summer air. She was going to be the end of him. He needed to get her out of his life, out of his head. And especially out of his heart.

“Whoa, there!” Seth Murphy, pitchfork in hand, stepped out the barn door. He leaned the fork against the gray wall and stooped to recover the hat from the dusty ground. “What’s got into you, ruining a perfectly good hat?” He brushed off the brim and turned it upside down, staring at the band inside. “If I remember right, my wife and I, out of the goodness of our hearts, purchased this for you.”

Mark snatched it from his brother’s fingers. “If I recall correctly, you bought it for me because you ruined mine. And you still owe me a new belt. But I’m guessing you‘ve forgotten that, too.”

Seth shrugged and laughed. “I guess everyone remembers those incidents a little different,” he teased.

Mark turned away and began to unhitch the team of horses. He was not in the mood for conversation. What he needed was for Seth to move along home. His brother, however, seemed oblivious to his frame of mind.

“So what’s got you so riled up?”

Mark, fumbling to undo a buckle took a deep breath and turned around. Maybe, just maybe, Seth could be serious for a minute and help him out. “OK, I’ll tell you. But no laughing.”

Seth’s eyebrows shot up. “Why would I laugh?”

Mark wiped a trickle of sweat from his forehead and blew out a breath. “I’m taking Daisy Wright to the dance on Saturday.” There. He’d said it. Everyone would know soon, anyway.

The corners of Seth’s lips twitched, but he managed to hold back a smile. “I see. Are you doing this to make Aunt Della happy, or have you suddenly found yourself in love with Daisy?”

Mark shook his head. Talking to Seth was always a risk to your senses. He found humor where there was none. “I’d do a lot of things to make our aunt happy, but spending an entire dance with Daisy Wright is not one of them.”

Seth leaned against the wagon, seeming to settle in for the conversation. “Then why did you ask her?”

Mark threw up his hands. “I didn’t! I. . . I. . . she tricked me. Addie. . .”

Seth stood up straighter. “Wait a minute. Adeline Fleming was there when you asked Daisy to the dance? Were you trying to make her jealous? You know, that’s really not a good idea.”

Anger rose in his throat. Seth was as bad as Daisy, talking nonstop. “No! I didn’t ask her. . .it just. . . it just seemed that way. And before you know it, Daisy was saying that she’d love to go to the dance with me and Addie was saying how nice it was and how we made such a perfect couple.”

Mark watched as Seth nodded and turned away, He leaned forward against the wagon. His shoulders began to shake. A moment later the sound of laughter reached Mark’s ears.

Well that did it. “Just stop it. Go home and leave me be. I need to get these horses unhitched, anyway. And I’d thank you to let me make the announcement about the dance myself.”

Seth appeared to recover himself as he turned back to Mark. “What did you do to make Addie so mad at you? I’m only asking because that has to be what it is, Mark.”

Mark stared. “I didn’t do anything. I’ve always done my best to be a perfect gentleman, I‘ve never. . .” except for the kiss. Could that have had anything to do with the trouble she put him in? He had apologized, hadn’t he? And then, she had let out that long speech to him about how he was a man used to dirt and sweat and she was some sort of high class woman that was too good for him. If anyone was mad, it should be him. He was the one that had been insulted.

Seth hooted and pushed his hat back on his head, allowing his sunburned forehead to show. “You better give it some more thought, brother, cause you did something to irritate her.”

 

***

 

“Well I’m just so happy,” Della Murphy proclaimed, bringing another slab of cornbread to the table. “It’s about time you started looking to put some roots down with a nice girl,” she said, taking a seat across from Mark.

He knew she would be excited, but it was really too early to start marrying him off to the girl. “No ma’am.” He shook his head and reached for his cup. I’m just taking her to the dance. Just this one time.” If he didn’t stand up for himself better, his aunt would have him married to the girl in another month or so.