Mmm.” Pa’s face scrunched in a painful frown and he rubbed his chest as he looked across the supper table at Violet. “Maybe don’t put so much pepper on the pork chops next time, Violet. My dyspepsia is kickin’ up like a mule again.”
“I’m sorry, Pa.” Remorse filled her voice. “I’ll be more careful with my seasoning. Just scrape off some of the pepper and after supper I’ll fix you some soda water.”
Pa shook his head and wrinkled his nose. “Sodee water tastes bad and makes me belch. Just pour me a big glass of milk.”
Rose looked up from her plate. Since sharing her matchmaking schemes with Lillie Ann and Charlie, she’d contemplated how best to broach the subject of Nancy Martin to Pa, and this might be the best chance she’d get. Schooling her voice to a nonchalant tone, she speared a green bean on her plate with her fork. “I should ask Nancy Martin about a good remedy for your dyspepsia, Pa. Heard the preacher’s wife say she’s a wonder with her herbal cures, best granny doctor she’s ever seen.”
Pa’s wide brow wrinkled in thought. “Hmm. Nancy Martin. Is she the woman I’ve seen at church with the Newkirks?”
Rose nodded. “Bertha Newkirk’s widowed sister from over Salem way.” That Pa had taken notice of Nancy at all encouraged Rose.
“Yeah, Pa. She’s my new Sunday school teacher since Mrs. Ritz is waitin’ for the stork to bring her new baby,” Lillie Ann chimed in.
Rose strove to keep an indifferent tone to her voice. “Maybe we should ask her over for Sunday dinner tomorrow. Since she’s Lillie Ann’s Sunday school teacher, I think we should get to know her better.”
Her suggestion hung in the air without comment for a few seconds until Violet finally nodded her head. “That’s a wonderful idea, Rose. We haven’t had company for Sunday dinner in ages.”
Pa gave a slow nod and a grunt and went back to cutting his meat. “Suits me. I’ll leave it up to you girls to do.”
Rose fought the grin tugging at her mouth as excitement bounced around in her chest. Before supper Lillie Ann had whispered that she and Charlie had succeeded in getting Jamie Roberts to promise that he’d come Tuesday to ask Violet about borrowing her Shakespeare books. Rose’s matchmaking schemes appeared off to a magnificent start. Unable to suppress her glee, she stuffed a bite of pork chop in her mouth to hide her smug smile. Hopefully Nancy Martin would accept their last-minute invitation while Pa was still in the notion for visitors.
The next morning, in the churchyard, Rose climbed down from the family’s wagon, her anxious stomach roiling. What if Pa and Nancy took an immediate dislike of one another, or Nancy declined the invitation outright? Eager to extend the invitation and ease her suspense, she gazed about in search of Nancy Martin.
“You’re lookin’ pretty today.”
At Ty’s voice, Rose turned to see the Roberts family advancing toward them. Both the sight of her handsome sweetheart as well as the thought of one day becoming part of his family, made her smile. The friendship between their two families had grown so close over the years that Rose almost felt as if she were already part of the Roberts family. It was Ty’s pa, Bill Roberts who, at the news of Lillie Ann’s birth, had commented that “With all these sweet girls around, we should call this place Honeytown.” The moniker stuck, giving name to the little white clapboard church as well as Newkirk’s Honeytown Store. Rose’s heart still warmed remembering Bill and Dorothy Roberts’s gifts of food and other kindnesses when Ma died. To marry into the Roberts family felt as natural a progression to Rose as graduating from one school grade to the next.
“Thank you.” Returning Ty’s smile, Rose glanced down at her best yellow calico dress. “It’s what I wear most Sundays.”
“Reckon it is.” A grin moseyed across his lips. “How are you plannin’ to decorate your box for the box supper next Friday?” He cocked his head and a freshening breeze tousled his straw-colored hair. “I want to make sure I bid for your box.”
His words struck her like a splash of cold water and she gasped. She’d completely forgotten about the coming box supper. “I—I haven’t decided yet.” Her answer held enough truth to assuage her guilt without admitting the event had skipped her mind. More importantly, the box supper would provide an excellent opportunity to get Violet and Jamie together. “I’ll have Lillie Ann tell Charlie how Violet and I plan to decorate our boxes.”
“Miss Hamilton.” A man whom Rose didn’t recognize strode toward them, his arm raised in a hailing gesture. Sporting a grey seersucker coat, white boater hat, and dark tie, he looked to be in his mid-thirties.
Violet turned from her conversation with Dorothy Roberts to greet the man with a wide smile. “Mr. Anderson, how nice to see you here.” She proceeded to introduce him as Edmond Anderson, the new singing schoolmaster.
Mr. Anderson doffed his hat, sending a strong whiff of lanolin to Rose’s nose and revealing a thick shock of rust-colored hair that matched his well-clipped mustache.
While the man seemed pleasant enough with a quick smile and lively brown eyes, Rose would rather avoid an invitation to his singing school, which she had no interest in attending. Looking to both sidestep the unwanted invitation and find a moment to talk to Ty about her matchmaking plans for the box supper, Rose mumbled a greeting then excused herself in the same breath.
She slipped her arm around Ty’s and tugged him to a secluded spot near the back of the wagon. When they were out of earshot, she lowered her voice to a whisper. “Ty, you need to make sure that Jamie bids on Violet’s box next Friday.” Though tempted to remind him of his failure to deliver Violet for the dance with Jamie at the wedding reception, Rose decided that scolding him wouldn’t enhance her chances of getting his help Friday.
“I’ll have Violet tie a sprig of violets to the ribbon decorating her box. That’s how you’ll know it’s hers.” She gave him a conspiratorial smile. “Lillie Ann says Jamie has already agreed to call on Violet this week and ask to borrow some of her books.”
Ty’s eyes sparkled. “You’re a wonder.” Grinning, he shook his head. “The way you’re goin’, we could have a double weddin’ by this fall.” Planting a quick kiss on her cheek, he turned and loped off to talk to Bob Newkirk and Si Thompson.
Rose resumed her search for Nancy Martin and her gaze locked for a moment with Jamie’s. The intense look in his blue eyes caused her heart to make a funny hop. Had he overheard her conversation with Ty? Or had Charlie spilled the beans about Rose’s matchmaking plans to his eldest brother? No time to worry about that now. Giving him a weak smile, she glanced around the churchyard until her gaze lit on Nancy Martin, who stood talking with Selma Ritz. Rose started toward them as fast as good manners allowed.
“Mrs. Martin,” she called, hoping to stop the two ladies now headed toward the open church door.
“Rose Hamilton, isn’t it?” Turning a pleasant smile to Rose, Nancy offered her hand while Selma murmured a greeting and headed into the church. “I’m looking forward to visiting your family today.” Nancy glanced across the churchyard where Violet and Pa stood talking with Bill and Dorothy Roberts.
Rose’s cheeks warmed. Violet must have already offered the invitation. A nervous giggle popped from her lips and her face turned even hotter. “I’d come to invite you, but I reckon Violet beat me to it.”
“Actually she didn’t.” Nancy’s green eyes sparkled and, for the first time, Rose took a close look at the woman she hoped would become her stepmother. Trim, with neat brown hair peeking from beneath her crisp gray bonnet, Nancy Martin exuded a quiet charm that put Rose at ease. Nothing she saw made her want to abandon her matchmaking plans between Nancy and Pa.
“Oh, then Lillie Ann must have.”
“No, your father asked me.” Nancy’s smile widened and, unless it was a shadow cast by the woman’s bonnet, Rose thought she saw Nancy’s cheeks pink.
Dumfounded, Rose groped for an intelligent reply. “P–pa asked you?”
“Yes.” A troubled look flashed across her eyes. “But if my visit today will cause you and your sisters extra work—”
“No. Not at all.” Keen to allay Nancy’s concerns, Rose’s words popped out quicker than she would have liked. She tempered her tone. Best not to look too eager. “We’re all very much looking forward to your visit.”
The lines between Nancy’s eyes relaxed and her smile returned. “I’m looking forward to it, too.”
As she walked into the church with Nancy, Rose could scarcely contain her delight. Perhaps matching Nancy and Pa would prove a far easier task than she’d imagined. Thank You, Lord! Forcing a restrained smile, she sent the silent prayer heavenward, chased by a petition that God would continue to smile on her matchmaking efforts.
Later, at the Sunday dinner table, Rose fought to tether her rampant joy as the answer to her earlier prayers played out before her eyes. Pa and Nancy sat across the table from each other laughing and talking like old friends, already calling one another by their first names.
“I know just the thing to fix your dyspepsia, John.” Nancy smiled up from cutting a piece of roast chicken. “Rhubarb, goldenseal, Peruvian Bark, cloves, and ginger, all pulverized and taken with milk after a meal should do the trick,” she said with an emphatic bob of her head. “I’ve never seen it fail.” She sent Pa a bright smile. “I’ll put the concoction together and bring it to church next Sunday, if you’d like.”
“Or maybe you could bring it to the box supper, Friday,” Rose said. “That is, if you’re planning on attending the box supper.”
Nancy’s eyes widened. “I must say, I hadn’t given it much thought. But yes, yes I think I will take a box. I understand the money raised will go to missions, and I’m all for that.” She gave Pa a smile and forked a piece of chicken into her mouth.
“Any idea how you will decorate your box?” Rose kept her gaze fixed on her plate.
“Hmm. I do have some bright blue ribbons in my sewing box.”
At Nancy’s muse, Pa perked up.
Nancy lowered her voice and her lips tipped up in a sly smile. “Or perhaps I shouldn’t have mentioned that,” she murmured, sending Pa a shy glance before returning her focus to her dinner plate.
By the time they bid Nancy farewell, Rose had begun mentally planning Pa and Nancy’s wedding. Lillie Ann seemed enthralled with the woman, and Violet remarked on Nancy’s sweet personality and nice manners. As for Pa, his distracted demeanor and almost giddy mood mimicked a young swain in love—at least to the extent that a middle-aged man with graying hair and expanding girth could resemble a young swain.
By the middle of the week, Pa’s several trips to the Honeytown store convinced Rose that Nancy Martin would soon become her stepmother. The thought made her smile as she lugged the front room carpet out the front door for a much-needed beating. Pa had smiled and laughed more since last Sunday than he had in the five years since Ma’s death. And, true to her word, Nancy had gifted him with a concoction that seemed to have cured his dyspepsia, gaining both his appreciation and affection.
While more than pleased with her matchmaking progress concerning Pa and Nancy, Rose’s efforts with Violet and Jamie had yet to yield success. Despite Lillie Ann’s insistence that Jamie had promised to come on Tuesday to ask Violet about borrowing her Shakespeare books, yesterday came and went without any sign of him.
Disappointment slithered through Rose as she yanked the rolled-up carpet down the porch steps with an exasperated huff. Unlike Ty, She’d never known Jamie to renege on his word. That, coupled with his penchant for books, suggested that he was avoiding their farm. When pressed, Lillie Ann had insisted that Charlie hadn’t revealed Rose’s matchmaking plans to Jamie, but Jamie’s failure to appear made Rose wonder.
Rose’s arms ached with her attempt to load the heavy carpet onto the wheelbarrow in order to roll it to the clothesline. “Ugh!” She let the furled rug drop back to the ground, sending up a plume of dust. With the back of her hand, she swiped at her hair that had pulled loose from the knot at the back of her head and straggled into her sweaty face. Maybe she should wait until Pa returned from the store, or at least until Violet returned from the schoolhouse, where she’d gone to attend a meeting about the summer singing school.
“Looks like you need some help.”
At the male voice behind her, Rose whirled around to face Jamie Roberts.