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JACK TURNED THE WAGON away from the train station. He wanted to tell Alice to forget about Harry. He wanted to warn her to not let Harry break her heart—again. He forced a smile. “I need to run over to Erikson’s for those new paint brushes. Is there anything you need to do while I’m there?”
“I need to apologize to Lizzie for running out on her so abruptly yesterday.” Alice pulled a handkerchief from her skirt pocket and dabbed her eyes. “Sorry.” She sniffled and laughed a little. “Happy tears.”
Better to ignore her tears than to comment, since he couldn’t think of anything genuinely nice to say in return. “I’ll pop in with you, say hello. After I’m done at Erikson’s, I’ll pick you up again and we’ll head home.”
Alice nodded. She grabbed for her hat as it slipped out of place. “I must look a sight, running down the platform after a train, my hat flopping in the wind and my shawl dragging on the ground.” She straightened herself.
“You look very pretty. I doubt Harry cared one little bit about your hat and shawl.” Jack didn’t. All he saw was the pink glow of her cheeks, the sparkle in her eyes. He helped Alice down from the wagon and led the way to Lizzie’s front door.
“Hello,” she called out, knocking before letting themselves in.
Lizzie popped her head out the kitchen door. “We’re in here having coffee.”
Jack expected to see Fin sitting at the kitchen table. Instead, it was Betty. Alice hesitated. Her shoulders stiffened. He placed a light hand on her back for support.
“Good morning, Jack.” Betty had a smug smile on her face. “Good morning, Alice.”
Alice’s smile was as cold as a Wisconsin winter, and there was no denying the mistrust in her eyes. She turned to Lizzie and the warmth of summer returned. “How are you feeling?”
Lizzie hugged her. “I feel good, but it’s getting a little crowded in here. Should we move into the parlor?” She handed Alice a steaming cup of coffee. “Can I get you one, too, Jack?”
“No, thank you. I’m only going to stay a couple minutes. I have some errands to run while you girls visit.”
“All right. But you know where the pot and cups are if you change your mind.”
Jack took the plate of muffins from Lizzie and they made themselves comfortable in the front parlor. He didn’t need another cup of coffee, but he could take a minute for a muffin.
Alice set her cup on the end table. “Lizzie, I want to apologize for how I acted yesterday. Running out of here like that. I don’t know what got into me.”
Betty sipped her coffee and stared intently at Alice. “It was odd behavior on your part. Harry and I walked in, and you rushed past us like the house were on fire.”
He wanted to grab Betty and shake the daylights out of her. She knew exactly why Alice was so upset.
Lizzie glared at Betty, who shrugged in reply and took another sip of coffee. “Don’t give it another thought, Alice,” Lizzie said. “I haven’t.” She reached out and squeezed Alice’s hand. “You’re much happier this morning, though.”
“Yes, I was just talking to Harry.” Alice ignored Betty’s curious gaze. “At the train station.”
“What was Harry doing at the train station?” Betty set her cup down a little too hard. “Was he going somewhere?”
“Minneapolis. He accepted the job offer and has a meeting with his new boss tomorrow morning. He’ll be home next week, and we’ll set a wedding date then.”
“That’s wonderful!” Lizzie squealed. “We should start planning immediately. Maybe we can get married together. A double ceremony.”
“You talk to Fin. I’ll ask Harry when he returns.”
Betty fidgeted with her skirt. “Did he happen to say where he was staying?”
“The Minneapolis Arms on Hennepin Avenue. Why?”
“Oh, I was just wondering. Mother and I have stayed there before. It’s very nice. I’m sure he’ll find it to his liking.”
“I’m certain he will” Lizzie helped herself to a muffin. “Betty, are you feeling all right? You look a little flustered.”
Betty retrieved her coat from the chair. “I’m sorry, Lizzie, I have to go. I stayed too long already. I promised Mother I’d help her at the hotel today, but I wanted to check on you quick first. I can’t believe we almost lost you.” She turned to Alice. “If you need any help at all planning your wedding, let me know. You, too, Lizzie.”
Jack stifled a laugh at the way Betty’s hands shook so hard she struggled to button her coat.
“I hope you still plan on singing for us.” Alice bit into her muffin.
“I’ve been practicing for weeks. We’ll talk later. I really must hurry.”
Jack stood. “I have to go, too.” He wanted to keep an eye on Betty. “I’ll be back for you shortly, Alice.” He opened the door for Betty as Doc Peterson came up the front steps. They let him pass.
“Good morning, everyone.” Doc removed his hat. “I came to see how Lizzie’s doing this morning, but I’m glad to see you’re here, too, Alice. I have a question for you.”
“I’m feeling almost good as new, Doc.” Lizzie beamed with joy. “We were just talking weddings.”
“Wonderful! You look better every time I see you.”
“She certainly does.” Alice reached out for Lizzie’s hand. “So, what did you want to ask me?”
“I have to make a run out to the Otto Frank farm. He cut himself on a rusty nail the other day, and it’s become infected. I thought you might like to come see how to treat such an injury. Might come in handy one day.”
“Of course, but he can’t come into town? It would be so much easier for you to treat him in your surgery.”
Doc shook his head. “They like to keep to their own place. Some of the townspeople haven’t been as nice to the Franks as they once were.”
Betty snorted. “Who can blame people. The Germans were the ones who started this war.”
“How unchristian of you, Betty Young.” Alice clucked her tongue.
“The Franks are our neighbors, not our enemies,” Lizzie added.
Betty huffed and stuck her chin in the air. “Well, I can’t believe you’d agree to go out there after promising Harry you weren’t going to do anymore nursing. Perhaps it doesn’t matter when he’s not here to see.” She stormed out the front door.
Doc shook his head. He turned his attention to Alice. “I’ll pick you up later this afternoon. I have a few things to do first. The visit shouldn’t take long.”
“I’ll be ready.” She nodded with a smile.
Jack followed Doc out the door. He stopped and pretended to adjust the horses’ harness, buying himself time to watch where Betty was headed. He was right, she was up to something. When she got to the corner before her mother’s hotel, Betty stopped, looked around, and went into the telegraph office. Jack had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. There was only one person he could think of who Betty would need—want—to send a telegram. Harry.
And thanks to Alice, Betty knew right where to find him.
Jack waited outside the telegraph office. He fell into step alongside Betty as she hurried to her mother’s hotel.
“Who were you telegramming?”
“I’m not sure it’s any of your business, Jack Barnes.” She put her shoulders back and her nose in the air, but her nerves still showed in the slight quiver of her voice.
“Was it Harry?”
She tried to duck into the hotel doors, but he blocked her way.
“I thought Alice was your friend.”
“She is my friend. I don’t know what you’re suggesting, but you need to get out of my way. I’m already late.”
He stepped aside to let her walk past. “Just remember, Harry’s going to marry Alice.”
She spun around. “I might say the same to you. If Harry doesn’t marry Alice, she’d be free to marry you.” She closed the hotel door behind her, waving a smug goodbye through the glass, and disappeared into the restaurant kitchen.
When Jack returned to Lizzie’s, the girls were talking flowers and wedding cake.
Alice’s smile lit up the room. “You’re just in time to answer the big question for us.”
He swore to himself that if Harry broke her heart, he’d break Harry. “What question?”
“Vanilla or chocolate?” Lizzie asked. “I say vanilla, but Alice says chocolate.”
“Chocolate is Harry’s favorite,” Alice reminded her.
“But vanilla is yours,” Lizzie countered. “And mine. Wedding plans are much more important to the bride than the groom.”
Jack rested his chin in his hand and tapped a finger against his lips. “Hmmm. Such an important decision.” He paused. “Why can’t you have both? Make one layer of each.”
The girls looked at each other. “Perfect.” They laughed together.
“I hate to break up your wedding planning, ladies, but we have a couple roofs to patch before the weather changes.”
Alice stood. “Jack’s right. I have to go. Next time we’ll plan some more. I don’t even have a wedding dress.”
“I have the new Sears, Roebuck Catalogue. I’ll start gathering ideas. Once we know what you like, we can buy the material and have a copy stitched together in no time.” Lizzie smiled. “You’re going to be a beautiful bride, Alice.”
“Thank you.” Alice kissed her friend’s cheek and gathered her things. “So are you.”
* * *
JACK STEERED THEM OUT of town. “Did you and Lizzie have a nice visit?”
“She’s doing so much better we can go ahead with wedding plans.”
Jack forced himself to nod and smile while Alice proceeded to tell him everything they talked about. He wanted to be happy for her and Harry, but he couldn’t stop worrying about Betty. She was up to something, and he suspected it was not going to end well for Alice.
Alice shook her head. “I have to admit, you and Fin had me almost convinced there was something going on between Betty and Harry, but I’m not worried anymore. She’s just a little jealous of me and Lizzie.”
“Why would she be jealous?”
“Because we both have someone who loves us. Poor Betty doesn’t have anyone.”
He nodded. “I can understand. Everyone wants someone to love who loves them in return.”
When they reached the farm, Jack helped her down. “How about something to eat before we tackle those leaks?”
“Good idea. You take care of the horses. I’ll change clothes and make us some sandwiches.”
A few minutes later, Alice was at the kitchen counter wearing her father’s old shirt and trousers, a belt cinched extra tight to hold them up. He couldn’t hold back his laughter.
“What? You don’t like my new outfit? I worked very hard to make it appealing.” She did a little twirl then broke out laughing.
“Your parents would be horrified.”
“Not at all. I remember Mom wearing Dad’s clothing the year the spring thaw left the entire farmyard covered in several inches of muck. She said trousers with tall boots were much easier to work in, and much less revealing, than if she’d tied up her skirts.”
“I don’t remember that.”
“It was years ago when we were little. I didn’t remember it myself until I saw myself in the mirror.”
“You look like her.”
Alice’s smile faded. “Dad always said the same thing.” She set a plate of cheese sandwiches and a pitcher of milk on the table.
Jack helped himself. “And he didn’t have a problem with his wife dressing like a man?”
Alice’s smile returned. “Oh, no. He said women have been dressing like men for all kinds of reasons over the centuries. He figured as long as she didn’t go into town dressed this way, it was really quite practical—under the circumstances.”
“Your father was a lucky man.” Jack finished the last of his milk and returned the pitcher to the icebox. “Let’s go. Daylight’s burning.”
* * *
ALICE SECURED A BAG of roofing shingles over her shoulder and tucked a hammer under her belt.
“Do you have nails?”
She patted her front trouser pocket, smiled, and scurried up the ladder like a squirrel climbing a tree. Jack followed behind her. He hated that she had to do this for him. It wasn’t so bad when her father went on the roof. Then it was two men working together to get a job done. This way it was a woman having to help him do what he couldn’t do by himself.
“All right.” She knelt on the roof and reached down to give him a hand up. “Tell me what to do.”
“You see those loose shingles over there?”
“Yes.”
“If they’re whole, just nail them down flat. If they’re cracked or crumbling, you’ll have to pull them off and replace. We’re checking for any spots that might leak. You keep working around to the right.” He pointed. “I’ll head left, and we’ll meet in the back.”
Alice crawled over to the spot where he pointed. The first shingle was merely loose. She slid it in place, dug a few nails from her pocket, and pounded them in one at a time until it was tight. The next one was cracked down the middle.
Jack looked over his shoulder from time to time to see how she was doing. “Great job,” he hollered across to her. “You’re fast.”
“Thank you, boss.” Alice giggled.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d swear you’ve been climbing on roofs all your life.” He laughed to himself. He wouldn’t be surprised.
An hour later and they were done. Alice wiped her sleeve across her forehead. “I think that’s all of them.”
“We can do the house next. There shouldn’t be as many leaks there, if any, but we’d better take a look to be sure.”
She followed him to the ladder and waited for him to go down first.
“Alice Armstrong! What in the world are you doing on the roof, and in men’s clothing, too?”
Alice looked down over the edge of the roof. “Betty?” She waited for Jack to reach the ground so he could steady the ladder for her. “I wasn’t expecting to see you again today.”
Jack had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach.
Betty’s lip curled. “You have something on your cheek.” She pointed.
Alice rubbed the back of her hand over the left side of her face. She laughed when her hand came away with a dirty smear. “Hazard of the job.”
“A little soap and water.” Jack didn’t take his eyes off Betty. “That’s all.”
“My goodness,” Betty huffed. “What would Harry say if he saw you right now? I can’t imagine it would be anything nice. You’re really going to have to learn how to be the right kind of lady if you’re going to be Harry’s wife.” She smirked.
Alice’s smile disappeared. She paused and pulled herself up straight. “This is a farm, Betty, and Harry is well aware what it takes to run a farm. The kind of work needing to be done every day.”
“Yes, but Harry also knows the difference between men’s work and women’s work. Repairing the barn roof is not women’s work—especially while wearing men’s trousers. Of course, I suppose exceptions have to be made when the only available man is unable to do the work by himself.”
Alice gasped and Jack clenched his teeth. If this were Harry saying he was less of a man, Jack wouldn’t hesitate to punch him in the face. But this was a woman.
“Betty, why are you here?” Alice’s tone was short. Jack rarely saw Alice angry, but she certainly was now.
“Mother was wondering if you’d be using the restaurant for your wedding cake and dinner. I told her I’d find out for her.”
“You should have telephoned. You didn’t have to come all the way out here.”
“I tried calling, but no one answered. I guess you were too busy climbing around on the barn roof.”
“Tell your mother I’ll come talk to her as soon as Harry returns and we set a date with the Reverend. Now, if you don’t mind, Doc’s going to be picking me up soon, and we still have to inspect the house roof.” Alice walked away, dismissing her friend.
Jack smiled and nodded. “Be careful with your ride back to town.” Betty climbed into her buggy and steered the horse around.
No, this wasn’t going to end well for Alice. He’d have to be sure and be there to catch her when she fell.
Alice moved the ladder over to the house and leaned it against the side by the kitchen door.
“Ready to go? Alice?”
She stared at the ground, not moving. “When did Betty stop being my friend?” Tears formed in the corners of her eyes.
“I don’t know.” He pulled her close and rested his chin on the top of her head. “I don’t know.”