Chapter Sixteen

 

Try as Sue might, she couldn’t figure Jake out. He was an enigma. He intrigued her in a way she didn’t want to admit. Was he really interested in being intimate with her? The idea pleased her in a way she didn’t anticipate. As much as she wanted to be mad at him for making her go through all that work and spreading all those lies about her, she was flattered that he pursued her so romantically afterwards. He made her feel beautiful and soft. She wasn’t even aware that she enjoyed receiving feminine gifts like flowers and perfume until he sent them to her. He cared about what she wanted and what she thought. He liked to talk to her, and she felt that she could talk to him about things she couldn’t discuss with anyone else. For the first time in her life, she felt desirable to a man. She wanted to be with him. She had lied to Ethan Bower. She wasn’t simply fond of him. She loved him. It seemed that he felt the same way. All of these thoughts went through her mind as she took a bath.

Of course, he acted as if nothing happened after she had gotten dressed. She was surprised to find that her new clothes were neatly hung in her closet again. She suspected that he had hidden them for the intent that she would have to wear one of her old dresses. After all the fuss he made about her impressing people to make him look good, he deliberately chose for her to be unimpressive to people. She didn’t understand him at all.

So after she got dressed, she went into the den and he smiled at her, told her she was nice to look at and went back to his work. She took out a book to read by the fire, but this night, she couldn’t focus on her reading. She kept looking over at him and she would catch him staring at her and smiling. She blushed and returned to her book. When he went to bed, he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek and told her to have dreams about him. The way he said it made her pulse quicken.

The next morning when she got dressed, she brushed her hair and thought of him. She looked at her reflection in the mirror. Perhaps there was something worth looking at. Maybe he was right. Perhaps she was desirable after all. She smiled at the thought. When she went down to eat breakfast, he didn’t read the newspaper. Instead, he asked her about her plans for the day.

“It’ll be like every other Tuesday,” she said. “I put books back on the shelves, update the card catalogue, and do the children’s story hour.”

“I hope you can find time for lunch with me in that schedule.”

“Haven’t I been doing so for the past two weeks?”

“Yes but I don’t take it for granted that you do. I know it’s not something you have to do but choose to do.”

“Where are you taking me today?”

“I thought I would let you decide.”

She chose a restaurant that she favored.

“I hope you won’t hold yesterday against me,” he said.

“Which part? Before or after I dumped pudding on your head?”

“The part when the men were here. I definitely don’t want you to forget what almost happened upstairs.” He grinned at her in a way that made her blush.

“I don’t understand why you insist on intentionally grossing men out when they come over here.”

He set aside his food and looked at her. “Don’t you get it yet? They’re coming by for you.”

“For me?” What was he talking about?

“You are a very attractive and wonderful woman, Sue. Men are noticing that now that you’re not wearing those old clothes and pulling your hair back into a bun. They want to court you as soon as our marriage is over.”

“So I’m only appealing because I’m married?” She found the idea offensive. Was her worth solely based on being Jake’s wife? Just because he had impressive taste men figured she would suddenly be worth something too since he picked her?

“No, you’re not only appealing as my wife. When you were at the dance looking to snag some poor, unsuspecting bachelor into marrying you in order to save your family’s farm, I noticed how beautiful you looked in that blue dress. And when we were on the dance floor, I thought the conversation went fairly well. You had a lot to offer. I can’t help it if the other men didn’t see it.”

“But you only married me to get your father’s inheritance.”

He shrugged. “I did wish to help you save your family’s farm but I would never have married just anyone. I did have to be selective in who I picked. And you were the only one worth considering.”

“One might think you mean those words.”

“That would be because I do.”

She found the revelation endearing.

“When I saw you in your wedding dress, I realized that you are an extremely beautiful woman. I should have expected the men to notice too. That’s when the men started coming by for you and sending you flowers.”

She blinked. “There really were flowers?”

He chuckled. “Yes. If you don’t believe me, you’ll find two trash bags full of flowers I hastily threw out yesterday before you came home.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“And take the chance you’d leave me for one of those men? I’d rather tell them horror stories about you. I’m a selfish man, Sue. I don’t like to share.”

“Who said you had to?”

“You say stuff like that and you wonder why I don’t want other men to get a chance to talk to you? As soon as they hear you talk, they’ll want more of you.”

She tried to dismiss his words as merely polite conversation but her heart raced with excitement.

He cleared his throat. “Well, I need to get to the publisher I mentioned to Henry.”

“You’re going to submit his poems?”

“I said I would if they were any good.”

“You are a good man, Jake. A person can depend on you to follow through with your word. That’s an important quality in a man.”

“There you go again. Didn’t I warn you that if you keep this up, I’ll fall in love with you?” He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll see you at lunch.”

She watched him as he left. She missed him already.

***

When she got to the library, she hung up her coat and was ready to take some books to the bookshelf when a bachelor walked up to her.

“May I help you, Mrs. Mitchell?” he asked.

She blinked. “Uh...no. I got it. Do you need something?”

He smiled at her. “My name is Brad Allen. I wanted to introduce myself to you.”

“Are you here to talk about Mr. Mitchell’s bank?”

“To be honest, ma’am, I’m here to talk to you. I understand your marriage is strictly business and thought you might be interested in a possible courtship once the annulment happens. Did you get the flowers I sent?”

She almost dropped the books.

He stooped down to help her so that her books stayed in her arms.

“But I’ve been a spinster for so long,” she said. “Why are you interested now?”

He sighed. “Sometimes men miss the diamond in their midst. At least for me, I didn’t realize how beautiful and nice you were until your wedding. Then I saw the play you directed and figured that there was more to you than meets the eye. I was relieved when I learned that your marriage wasn’t serious. Forgive me for being forward. I hope I’m not embarrassing you.”

Jake was right. How many men have been coming by and I didn’t even know it? “I don’t know what to say. I didn’t expect anyone to notice me.”

“I do not wish to put you on the spot. I thought if we just talked, it wouldn’t be so awkward.”

“I’m not sure, Mr. Allen. I am flattered, but I have grown to enjoy Mr. Mitchell’s company. It wouldn’t feel right to be friendly with you while I am married to him.”

“I understand, Mrs. Mitchell. I do not wish to make you uncomfortable. I regret that I did not take time to notice you before he did.”

“He only married me for his father’s inheritance.”

“He had more than enough money on his own, and considering how he didn’t associate with his father since he was ten, I imagine it was hard for him to take the inheritance. Anyway, he must have seen something in you that he liked in order to go through with the arrangement. And I’ll be honest. I’ve seen how happy he is with you and there are some of us who never thought he’d ever open up to any woman since Johanna Clarke broke his heart.”

“Who is Johanna Clarke?”

“He didn’t tell you?”

She shook her head.

“Mr. Mitchell was twenty when he began courting her. She was pretty, though not as pretty as you are, and she loved to entertain and go to dinner parties. The only thing she didn’t like to do was dance because she had two left feet. She wore expensive gowns. Her favorite color was pink and she loved frilly stuff. It wasn’t Jake’s style to go entertaining or go to dinner parties, but he would go to please her. He spent most of his time bored. I remember he used to bring his work along so he could slip off into another room. He’s just not a social person by nature but she was. He asked for her father’s permission to propose to her a year after he began courting her, but her father said he needed more money before he felt comfortable handing her over to him. Jake worked two jobs during that time and learned how to invest and accumulate wealth. He didn’t have much time for the dinner parties or the entertaining she enjoyed, and there were those of us, me included, who thought that he was relieved to be off the hook for going. When he was twenty-two, he went back to her father and made the same request, and this time, her father approved it. So Jake proposed to Johanna and she said yes. Their engagement was six months. He was excited to finally be marrying her.

“An hour and a half before the wedding, he wanted to know what musical piece she wanted for the first dance number, so he left the groom’s chamber without his tuxedo jacket because he figured he would be right back. Just as he rounded the corner to get to her chamber, he saw Patrick Stafford knock on the door. She still had the door closed, and he was telling her that she needed to call the wedding off because they loved each other. Johanna opened the door and came out and told him that she was only marrying Jake because of his money but planned to divorce him after a year so that she could get half of his money and be with Patrick. I have to hand it to Jake. He handled himself very well. He calmly went to the front of the church and told everyone that he regretted to inform them that he had decided to call off the wedding. Then he left.

“Johanna tried to talk to him but he refused to see her. Instead, he went to his house and stayed out of sight, except to go to work. For the longest time, all he did was go to work and go home. He did start attending the dances two years later so he could do business. A lot of business goes on at the dinner parties, but he refused to go to those or let guests into his home. Johanna ended up marrying Devon Hammond a year later and they moved to South Carolina. As far as I know, she’s been divorced twice, so Jake was better off missing that experience.

“Anyway, you can read the newspaper article from June 4, 1886. It covers the events of that day but it doesn’t say anything about Johanna’s conversation with Patrick. Patrick confessed to what happened that day a month later because he found the wedding ring on the floor where Jake had been standing. I think if you read the article, you’ll understand Jake better. Well, Mrs. Mitchell, I talked your ear off. I will go now. Good day.”

Sue nodded as he left. There was a lot she didn’t know about Jake. She decided to read the newspaper article after she put the books away. She laid the newspaper gently on the desk in the backroom and scanned through it until she found it in the Entertainment section where other weddings were listed.

The Wedding that Almost Happened

 

An hour before the wedding of Jake Mitchell and Johanna Clarke on June 3 at the First Baptist Church on Adams Avenue, Jake made the startling announcement in front of family and friends that he wouldn’t be marrying Miss Clarke. He gave no explanation for the decision and he showed up in front of everyone without his tuxedo jacket on, which demonstrated his lack of respect for his guests. Mr. Mitchell might be better off remembering in the future that when he goes out in public, he should be properly attired, as is befitting his social status. A heartbroken Miss Clarke, a beautiful bride, didn’t get the joy of being wed. She spent the afternoon being comforted, and no one knows why Mr. Mitchell left her at the altar.

 

Sue sighed and put the newspaper back in its proper place. She wondered how many bachelors were trying to get her attention and she didn’t even realize it. Jake noticed, however, and got jealous. She couldn’t imagine someone being jealous over her, and in a strange way, she was pleased that Jake felt she was worth being jealous over.

Her conversation with Mr. Allen did give her many things to consider as she sorted through the card catalogue to add the new books that just arrived. At least now she understood why Jake spent so much time worrying about making a good impression to people. He was always immaculate and he took great care in keeping his things immaculate. You never know when someone’s going to write a horrible article about how you failed to make a good impression. She had to hand it to him. He did play things cool in public. He managed to act so casual about so many things. And I fly off the handle at a moment’s notice. So he had a reputation for being heartless and she had a reputation for being a nag. He was right. He was like Elinor and she was like Marianne in Jane Austin’s Sense and Sensibility. She smiled as she recalled that conversation on their wedding day.

She checked the clock and decided it was time to get ready for the children’s story hour. On her way to the room, Mrs. Walker stopped her.

“Is something wrong?” she asked the older woman.

“No. I wanted to tell you that you have a floral bouquet. It is in the backroom.”

More flowers from another bachelor? She wasn’t sure she wanted to see them. “I’ll see them after I do the children’s hour.”

“Are you sure? They’re from Mr. Mitchell.”

She paused on her way to the room. She turned to go in the other direction.

Mrs. Walker chuckled. “He might win your heart yet.”

Sue decided to ignore her as she entered the room. They were red roses. Of course, they would be red roses. After all, he gave her red roses in New York. She smiled. He was predictable and stable. She could depend on him to be there for her if she ever needed him. She picked up the card. Dear Mrs. Sue Mitchell, I’m sorry about yesterday. It was not my intention to hurt your feelings. You have every right to be upset. I just ask that you don’t shut me out of your world. I’ve grown accustomed to you and I like it. I’ve been looking for someone like you all of my life. Your husband, Jake.

She shook her head in amazement. He obviously did care for her.

“Will you forgive me?” someone asked.

She recognized Jake’s voice. She turned to him. He stood in the doorway and smiled at her.

“I thought you already knew I didn’t hold a grudge against you,” she replied, surprised that he would show up so unexpectedly.

He shrugged. “I thought it was only fitting to make a formal apology.”

“Oh. Of course, I forgive you. But don’t do it again or who knows what else I’ll dump on you, and I will do it in public for everyone to see.”

He walked over to her and lightly kissed her. “Then I definitely won’t do it.”

She sighed. “I can’t say that I blame you though. Someone named Brad Allen came by to ask if he could court me. I didn’t even know the men were coming to see me like that. I assumed they wanted to ask me about your bank.”

“What did you tell him?”

“I told him I was flattered but couldn’t see myself talking with him in such a way as long as you and I are married. He was actually accepting of the whole thing.” She decided not to explain their conversation regarding Johanna Clarke. She could tell that Jake didn’t wish to discuss the past, and she respected that. Instead, she continued, “I don’t think he’ll be coming back, at least to me. If he wants to do business with you, then he’ll go directly to you.”

“He’s already a customer at my bank.”

“Really?”

He nodded. “He’s a good man. I suppose if I wasn’t already married to you, then I’d have some tough competition on my hands.”

She blushed. “No. He’s not my type.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You mean there’s a type you look for? Tell me what he’s like and I’ll persuade him to leave you alone.”

She laughed. “I kind of like the type of man who’ll chase me up the stairs and kiss me even though he’s covered in pudding.”

“You liked that?”

“But you can’t tell anyone. I don’t want men coming to our home running through the place covered with my cooking.”

“Your secret is safe with me.”

“And I’ll tell you another secret,” she whispered slyly.

“What’s that?”

“You give up too easily.”

His eyes widened.

She glanced at the clock. “I’m late for the children’s story hour. I better go.”

“I’ll join you,” he said as he followed her to the room. “Then we’ll go out for lunch.”

Belinda was standing by the door. She looked unusually sad.

“Can you give me a moment?” Sue asked him.

He nodded and entered the room.

“Belinda, is something wrong?” She stood close to her friend so no one would overhear them.

“I need to talk to someone, and you’re the only person I trust,” Belinda replied.

“Can it wait until I’m done?”

“Yes, I suppose so.”

Sue sighed. She didn’t feel right going through the hour while her friend looked distraught. “Hold on. I’ll be right back.” She walked into the room and stood in front of the expectant women and children. “I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind coming back this afternoon? I have a personal matter to discuss with a friend, and I don’t think it can wait.”

The children grumbled in disappointment.

“I’ll lead the story hour,” Jake volunteered as he walked to the front of the room.

“But I didn’t think you liked children,” she whispered.

“Well, your brother Luke is alright. How bad can it be to tell them a story? I’ve seen you do it.”

“Alright. If you need help, I’ll be right outside the door.”

“If I can handle a room full of grown men, I can handle women and children. I’ll be fine. What story were you planning to tell today?”

“The Three Little Pigs.”

“That’s easy. Go on ahead to talk to Mrs. Hawke. She looks like she could use a friend.”

She turned to her audience. “Would it be acceptable to you if Mr. Mitchell led the story hour today?”

The kids cheered and women nodded their agreement.

“Good luck,” she told Jake before she left. She urged Belinda to follow her to a table close by but away from other people so they could have some privacy. “What is it, Belinda?”

Belinda shifted uneasily in her seat. “I’m thinking of leaving Jim and going back to my parents.”

She tried not to show her shock. “But why?”

“Because it suddenly occurred to me that Mr. Mitchell treats you with more respect than my husband treats me.”

“Jake is not Jim and I’m not you. The way we approach marriage is bound to be different from the way you and Jim do.”

She shook her head. “I was so humiliated at the restaurant. I couldn’t even talk to you on the veranda. I had to stay with him the entire time. And Mr. Mitchell stood up for you when Jim was blatantly rude.”

“Jim and I will probably never get along, Belinda, but that’s no reason to leave him. Before I married Jake, you told me that you were happy with the way things were between you and him. Was that true?”

She nodded. “I was until I saw the way your husband treats you. You don’t have to worry about how you act or speak in public. I do.”

“Have you told Jim that you would like to have more of a say in what you do?”

“No. I don’t think he’ll listen to me.”

Lord, I don’t know what to tell her but divorce is such a painful decision. Is there any way she can avoid it? “I want you to prayerfully consider something before you leave him. You have two children, and children are better off with a mother and a father. Sometimes love is something you feel but feelings are volatile. They change so easily. Most of the time, love is a choice you make. Jim isn’t a bad man, Belinda. I may not like him but he has made you a good home and you have been happy with him. He does work hard to support you and the children and he does treat you like you’re delicate. You have always been more soft spoken and gentle than me. Your personality is that of a peacemaker, and you don’t like to make decisions.”

“And you’ve always been a tomboy. You didn’t mind telling everyone your opinions, even when they didn’t like what they would hear. You were always headstrong and decisive.”

“Jim and I would never get along like you and Jim do.”

“I wouldn’t get along well with Mr. Mitchell either. I don’t know him very well but from what I heard, he tends to like people who aren’t afraid to be bold. He doesn’t like guessing what another person is thinking.”

“So it seems to me that you are well-matched for Jim. It may still be good to tell him that you would like to make some choices for yourself. If you choose not to, then that is fine. Only you can decide what is best for you and Jim, but I urge you to consider the consequences of any decision you make. What seems like an easy solution today can be heartbreaking in the future.”

“You’re right, Sue. And Jim does have wonderful qualities I forgot about.”

She was relieved her friend was beginning to recall those. “Think on those things then. You know what the Bible says: it does your heart well to think on the good things.”

“Thank you, Sue. You’re a good friend.” She hugged her.

“You are too.” Sue heard an eruption of laughter coming from the children’s story hour room. “I have to see what’s so funny. Do you want to come along?”

“No. I think I’ll go see Jim.”

“Good. Work things out as best as you can.”

As soon as Sue reached the room, she couldn’t believe her eyes. Dignified, compulsively neat, and aloof Jake was being bombarded with children who insisted on climbing all over him.

“Oh come on.” He laughed. “You mean, no one can knock the brick house down?”

Apparently, he was the brick house and the kids were supposed to be the big, bad wolf. Sue chuckled as she watched them do their best to knock him over. Finally, the oldest boy who had been playing a pig, shoved Jake forward. Sue watched in amusement as Jake stood his ground and asked, “Is that the best you can do?”

Three women stood up and helped the boy knock him over.

“And I thought women were the fairer sex,” Jake replied.

The young kids continued to climb all over him.

“Break it up,” Sue intervened. “He has to take me to lunch.” She went over to him and helped him up.

“My hero,” he greeted when he saw her.

“Jake, you should go home and change your suit,” Sue said when she saw how wrinkled it got from the kids’ good-natured assault.

He glanced down at his suit and did his best to smooth it out. “I’ll survive. Let’s eat.”

She stared at him uneasily as the women and children left.

“What?” he asked.

“Do you think that’s a good idea? I mean, important people will be at the restaurant.”

“Does it bother you that I look like this?”

“No. I actually find it refreshing. You look human.”

“Then I can handle whatever other people think. I don’t know about you, but I’m famished.”

She couldn’t believe he was going to go out in public looking so unkempt.

He took her hand and led her out the door. “I want to tell you my version of The Three Little Pigs while we have lunch.”

***

That afternoon, Mrs. Walker called Sue over to the front desk while she was putting some books away. Sue finished putting the last book on the bookshelf and walked over to the older woman who was smiling at her.

“What can I do for you, Mrs. Walker?” she asked.

“I need you to help Miss Stallone deliver some new books to the ladies’ luncheon at the college campus. Mrs. Monroe and her group wish to donate some new books to the library there.”

She nodded and helped Miss Stallone carry the boxes to the carriage waiting for them. She sat across from Miss Stallone who was grinning from ear to ear.

“I take it things are going well for you and Ben York,” Sue noted.

She blushed. “I try not to be obvious about it.”

“Be obvious about it, Betty. You should enjoy it. Ben is just as infatuated with you as you are with him. He’s not really interested in books. He comes by the library to see you. He’s a good, honest man, and I think you two will do well together.”

“Thank you, Sue. You’ve always been a good friend.”

She chuckled. “That depends on who you talk to. Mr. Wilkins won’t go near me.”

“I did see him do the sign of the cross when he walked past the library the other day. He won’t even go near Mr. Mitchell’s bank. He’s afraid you’ll be there.”

“I have a hard time believing I am really that intimidating.”

“You only scare people who have wronged you or those you care about. You’re the kind of friend anyone is fortunate to have.”

“Well, I suppose I had good practice with brothers who gave me a lot of grief.”

Betty looked out the window. “Here we are.”

Sue frowned when she saw that they had stopped in front of the Commons. “Shouldn’t we go to the library?”

“Oh, the luncheons involve food. It’s when the ladies eat their lunch.”

“At three in the afternoon?”

She shrugged. “I suppose Mrs. Monroe likes to eat late.”

“Apparently so.”

Once they got out of the carriage, they took their boxes into the Commons where Mrs. Monroe was hosting a lunch for ten other women. The large room was two stories high. The staircase led to a hallway where administrative offices were located. The lower level was a meeting place for students or faculty. Today, it was the center of Mrs. Monroe’s luncheon. She had placed a variety of appetizers, main dishes and a large three layer cake in the center of the table with the words “Congratulations to Mrs. Edwards on her son’s graduation.”

Sue had forgotten that Mrs. Edwards’ son had completed his studies at the college. She wondered what a graduation party had to do with new books for the library. She shrugged and walked over to Mrs. Monroe who was chatting with Mrs. Evans and Belinda who looked much happier than she had earlier that day. Sue waited for Mrs. Monroe to finish talking before asking her where she wanted the books to go.

“Do you see that room over there in the corner?” Mrs. Monroe pointed to a small room. “Can you put them there?”

Sue nodded and went to Betty to tell her where the books were to go when Mrs. Monroe interrupted her.

“Actually, can you put the books away yourself, Sue? I could use Betty’s help with setting out the chairs.”

“Alright,” Sue replied. “Betty, if you’ll put your box over on the edge of the table, I’ll get it on my next trip to the room.”

Betty did as instructed.

Sue took her box into the room and stopped when she saw a brunette about her age on a stepladder who was reaching for something from the top shelf. The woman wore a pink frilly dress with flowers and lace on it. Sue momentarily shuddered but set the box on the table. The room was a storage room for decorations for parties that took place on the campus.

“Do you need help?” Sue asked the woman.

“Yes, I think I do. Mrs. Monroe asked me to get the balloons and told me they were way up here.”

“I reach for books in the library all the time. Let me get them for you.”

The brunette nodded and stepped down from the stepladder.

Sue climbed up the stepladder and frowned. “There aren't any balloons up here.”

Suddenly, the door closed.

“And someone just locked us in,” the woman said as she unsuccessfully tried to open the door.

“It must have been an accident.” Sue knew it was pointless but she tried to open the door too. She loudly banged on it. “Hello! We’re locked in here!” She waited but nothing happened. “Well, Mrs. Monroe knows we’re in here, so she’s bound to come get us.”

“That’s true.”

They found a couple of extra chairs stacked in the corner, took them out and sat down.

Sue cleared her throat and glanced around.

“You know Mrs. Monroe?” the woman asked.

Sue nodded. “Yes. I tell her children stories at the library. I don’t recognize you. Are you new in town?”

“No. I used to live here but moved away. I live in Chicago.”

“So what are you doing here?”

“Well, I suppose I can tell you since you aren’t with the luncheon group. I heard that Jake Mitchell recently got married because of his father’s inheritance, but the marriage was really a business arrangement. Since he’s willing to get married after all, I figured I would start talking to him and softening him up so when the six months are up, he’ll be interested in a real marriage to me.”

Sue shifted uncomfortably in her seat. It suddenly occurred to her why Jake went through such extreme measures in order to ward off her potential suitors. She took a deep breath. She wasn’t as good at dealing with people in a calm and rational manner as Jake was, but she was going to try. “To be honest, the marriage he’s in is actually going better than anticipated. It doesn’t seem that an annulment is going to happen after all.”

“Oh, I heard about his wife. There’s no way she can compete with me. She was a spinster for so long that she’s unappealing to men. She wears dirty, old clothes and pulls her hair back in a bun. She has a reputation for being a nag. The only reason Jake even married her instead of someone else is because she wouldn’t stop going to the bank and bothering him. The inheritance came at just the right time. At least he got her to shut up, though her family deserved to be thrown out if they were careless enough to let their debts get so high.”

“Really?” I would like nothing more than to pull your hair out, you little witch! “Since you don’t live in town, how can you know so much about the situation?”

“My parents still live here. They tell me what is going on.”

“I see. So, they told you about Mr. Mitchell’s marriage and his wife.”

“Right. I’m here to gather more information from the women at the luncheon. They should know the details better than my parents. I hear that Carrie Monroe is the wife of Jake’s closest friend, Justin, so she should know the most about what Jake is like now. Belinda Hawke is here and she is Sue’s closest friend from childhood. They should be the best two people to go to about this.”

“It sounds like you have everything carefully planned out.” And it’s completely wrong.

“I have to be careful. I expect that there will be some resistance when I finally see Jake.”

“Really? Why is that?”

“I was engaged to him at one time but for some reason, he got cold feet and called off the wedding at the last minute. But that was many years ago. He’s obviously willing to get married now.”

Sue forced herself not to show any reaction. So this is Johanna Clarke. She took a deep breath to calm down. “So, you’re sure that you would be better for him than Sue Lewis?”

“Well, I am clearly more feminine and attractive. My looks charm lots of men. Certainly, you know the power good looks have over a man. You’re a decent looking woman.”

“Who knows? I might even be Mr. Mitchell’s type.”

The woman laughed. “As nice as you are, I seriously doubt that.”

“Why?” Sue noted that her irritation was beginning to show in her voice despite her best effort to remain pleasant.

“Well, though you are appropriately dressed, your mannerisms is not that of the wealthy class. I suspect, from looking at you, that you manage quite well financially and may even have a few respectable friends. However, you don’t have the proper upbringing for the duties that befall his current status. There are dinner parties to go to and guests to entertain. You have to know how to socialize. Also, you may look feminine but you act masculine. You bang on locked doors and yell. You just dropped that box of books on the table instead of gently placing it down. You’re crossing your arms and you speak too loud. A true lady has refined manners. These are things that will impress people. A man in Jake’s position will clearly want a wife who possesses the more feminine qualities his peers will expect her to exhibit.”

“Then that Sue Lewis woman must be shameful. One has to wonder how he can bear to be seen in public with her.”

“Oh, he was always a little soft. He had a rough childhood. His mother didn’t have a lot of money, so he had to work his way up to the wealth he currently possesses. I suppose he felt pity for Sue and decided to help her out. His mother almost lost their home when his father left, so I think he recalled that experience when Sue Lewis gave him the sob story about her family almost being foreclosed on.”

“Apparently, he’s very good to those he pities.”

“I wouldn't know. I just got here yesterday. I will find out what Sue Lewis is like and what he’s done for her during this luncheon.”

“Did Mrs. Monroe invite you to this luncheon?”

“Actually, she did. I was on my way to Jake’s new bank when she met me on the street. She said that it would be a good idea to get the inside story on how to win him over before I saw him.”

That doesn’t sound like something Mrs. Monroe would do. I thought she was happy that Jake and I were married. Sue pushed aside her hurt feelings and said, “That’s very kind of her.”

“I was surprised. It’s not like we ever got along or anything, but maybe she’s seen the way Sue Lewis treats him and wants better for him.”

“And you would treat him better?”

“I would be the perfect wife. Like I said, I can give anyone a good impression. I won’t ever embarrass him in public. I heard about the wedding, and to be honest, I don’t buy that it was a planned skit the Lewises did. I think those poor people really don’t know any better than to fling food around and let disgusting animals run across the room.”

“I wonder why he dares to go out to eat with her or dance with her? He would be better off shutting her up in the house.”

“I’m sure she nags him until he takes her out. Otherwise, no one would want to be around her. What a pitiful creature.”

“Uh huh.” Sue tensely smiled. “Of course, a poor spinster is nothing more than someone to pity. She couldn’t offer anything of value to a man.”

“Not really. Why do you think it’s just a business arrangement? Even though he’s soft-hearted, he does have his limits.”

“What one considers limits, another might call respect. At least, he isn’t using her.”

The woman lowered her tone as if revealing a secret. “That’s my secret weapon. I’ve been married two times and men need physical intimacy. Since he’s not getting it from her, I can turn on the charm and offer it if he marries me.”

“He’s managed for thirty-five years without doing it.”

“Which is why he’ll be that much more vulnerable to me.”

“I don’t agree with you. I’ve seen him do business, and he keeps a very cool head no matter what situation he’s in. Well, perhaps that wasn’t true with Sue Lewis. He did have to call a guard to throw her out of the bank.”

The woman cringed. “That’s even more of a reason for him to get rid of her. She must be a real shrew.”

“She is. She doesn’t let anyone get away with anything.”

“He can do a lot better.”

“Maybe he doesn’t want to. Maybe there’s something he sees in Sue that he doesn’t see in other women. If you’re here to gather information, I’ll give you some right now. He treats Sue very well. He praises her and treats her like a princess. He’s not only handsome but he’s generous, trustworthy, loyal, fun, and intelligent. He really is the ideal man and I feel sorry for you since you were so wrapped up in money that you missed the real treasure you could have had.”

“Money is the one thing he was always good at making. Why, he’s quadrupled his net worth over the past thirteen years and with his father’s inheritance, he doubled what he had quadrupled. A woman could live very well off of his income.”

“Then it’s too bad you’re a depreciating asset.”

She gasped. “Excuse me?”

“You may be a beautiful woman who knows how to dress and act like a lady, but you’re only going to get older. Your looks will fade and so will your charm. Then what will be left but a lonely, bitter old woman whose only purpose in life was to rob men of the best years of their life, not to mention their pocketbooks?”

Johanna jumped up and knocked on the door. “Someone get me out of here!”

“That’s not how you get someone’s attention. This is how you do it.” She pounded loudly on the door. “Get me out of here before I pull her hair out!”

“You wouldn’t,” she hissed.

“Wouldn’t I? I’m the nag who received Jake’s pity.”

“You’re Sue Lewis?”

“No. I’m Sue Mitchell, and I guarantee you that we’re not getting an annulment, so you are wasting your time.”

She looked amused. “You don’t have what it takes to fit in.”

“That’s not what Jake told me last night.” She decided to let Johanna assume whatever she wanted from that comment. She banged on the door again. She grunted when no one opened it. She turned around and inspected the items in the room. She found a tool box in the corner under the table. She got down on her knees, crawled under the table and grabbed it.

“Is that your plan to stay with him? You’ll beg for him to keep you around?”

Sue gasped but managed to stand up with the hammer. “I don’t have to beg. He’s the kind of man who can look past the clothes and fake charm. He can smell a woman who’s after his money a mile away. You don’t have a chance. You’re too desperate. You know what they say in business, ‘never break a sweat.’” She took the hammer and slammed it against the doorknob.

“Your reputation didn’t do you justice. You’re an even bigger nag and far too masculine for any man.”

“I may be a nag but at least I love him for who he is and not for what he can give me.”

“I'll have him again. Your time is running up. You only have five months left.”

Sue slammed the hammer on the doorknob harder. “I’m trapped in here with a crazy woman. Get me out!” She tried to open the door. The doorknob was a little loose.

“I’m not crazy.”

“Anyone who would willingly let a man like Jake go is crazy!” Sue screamed. She banged the doorknob with the hammer again.

Johanna pulled her away from the door and angrily whispered, “You are making a public spectacle of yourself. Stop it!”

“Oh. So you don’t like to be embarrassed in public?” Sue raised her voice even more. “It’s too bad for you that I don’t mind attracting the wrong kind of attention. You don’t get the reputation for being a nag without upsetting many people.”

Johanna pulled on her hair. “I will be the one ripping your hair out if you keep this up. We need to quietly wait for someone to get us.”

Greatly annoyed, Sue reached up and grabbed Johanna’s hair. Only, Johanna was wearing a wig. Sue stared at the brown wig in shock as Johanna’s hands flew up to her hairnet.

Suddenly the door flung open. Johanna reached for the wig but Sue ran past Mrs. Monroe who was laughing with the other women. Johanna raced after her.

Sue stopped by the punch bowl and held the wig over it. “Does this bother you?” She dipped the wig close to the punch. “Oh no! I hope I don’t slip and accidentally drop it.”

“Give that back!” Johanna demanded as she walked over to Sue.

The women ran back to the table and watched the scene in amusement.

“Only if you go back to Chicago because you’re not welcome here. I don’t mind embarrassing you in front of important people.”

“What’s going on here?” a man called out.

All the women looked up to see a baffled group of men who had been attending a meeting in a room upstairs. Sue noted that Jake was trying not to laugh. The other men included Mr. Allen, Mr. Monroe, and a few financial administrators at the college.

“Is this what you were planning?” Justin asked his wife. “This is why you had to have your luncheon here at this time?”

Sue looked at Mrs. Monroe who shrugged. I've been set up. These women wanted me to let Johanna have it. But why?

Suddenly, Luke ran into the building, chasing his mouse. A cat and two dogs followed him. Mr. Martin, who volunteered at the animal shelter, was in close pursuit.

“Luke, what you doing here?” Sue demanded as the boy followed the mouse under the table which was covered with a lacy tablecloth.

Johanna screamed as the mouse ran over her feet. She jumped back and fell into the cake. Luke followed the mouse onto the table and ran over the neatly placed dishes. He didn’t mind stepping in the food. The cat ran over Johanna and after the mouse while a dog leapt over the punch bowl and snatched the wig out of Sue’s hand. Sue quickly backed up while another dog practically pushed her aside in his efforts to get the cat. Mr. Martin managed to grab one dog and put a leash on him.

Luke grabbed the mouse and grinned. “I got him!”

The cat pounced on his chest and dug its claws into his skin.

He screamed and threw the mouse at Sue who caught it.

Trevor ran into the building, out of breath. “Sue, Gloria’s in labor. We have to go to the farm!”

Sue dropped the mouse on a panicking and crying Johanna and ran over to her brother. “She is? When did the labor start?” She heard Luke yell something at Johanna and the men finally moved to action to save what was left of the luncheon while the other women stood by and laughed at the whole scene.

“I told Luke not to bring his mouse,” Trevor said. “I’m sorry, sis. He insisted on coming along on Trouble. I rode Double Trouble in. Luke saw that man walking the cat and two dogs and jumped off the horse to show the man his mouse. Then I had to chase Trouble down until I got his reins. Both horses are safely tied up at the light posts outside.”

Sue remained oblivious to the chaos going on behind her.

She shook her head. “When is Gloria going to have the baby?”

“Probably tonight. Her water broke an hour ago. I just got the doctor. Her water broke like a gush of water flowing out of a massive hole in a dam. I never saw so much liquid in my entire life. It was strange water too. I never smelled anything like it before. Anyway, Luke happened to be chasing his mouse under her legs when her water broke, and he got drenched. It was like that time when he got stuck in the heavy downpour we had two summers ago and we could wring out all of his clothes...”

“Put off the writer’s cap for a moment. I don’t want to know all the details.” She shook her head. Trevor could write a book about anything.

“Alright, bossy.” He rolled his eyes. "She wants you to be there for moral support. She’s scared.”

Johanna ran past them, clutching her wig to her chest and crying, and left the building.

Mrs. Monroe came up to Sue. “I’m sorry I planned such a devious thing but no matter what I or the other women told Johanna, she wasn’t willing to leave. So I thought if I put you in a room with her, you would frighten her enough so she would go away. And I hoped that when she saw the men watching, she would be so humiliated, she wouldn’t even consider coming back."

“That was devious,” Sue agreed, but she smiled as she said it. “Of course, it was funny.”

She laughed. “I’m glad you have such a great sense of humor.”

“Really though, why didn’t you warn me that you were going to trap me in there with her?”

“Would you have gone to that room if you had known?”

“No.”

“There’s your answer.”

“Is that why Mr. Allen came by the library this morning to tell me about her?”

“Yes, it was. We asked him to tell you about Johanna so that you would be properly motivated to send her running back home.”

Sue shook her head. “I knew there was no way that so many men would be interested in me all of the sudden.”

Before Mrs. Monroe had a chance to respond, Luke yelled for help.

Sue turned around and gasped when she saw Luke dangling from the chandelier. “Luke, how did you get up there?” she demanded.

“The mouse ran upstairs so I followed him. Then he jumped down to the floor. I didn’t think. I jumped and grabbed onto the chandelier.”

She rolled her eyes as her brother explained the events. “Only you could get yourself stuck up there.”

Someone came up behind her and gently touched her shoulder. “I got it.” Jake smiled at her.

She sighed. “I’m sorry about all of this. I had no idea delivering library books to this luncheon was all a ploy to get me upset enough to send someone running off.”

“I know. Justin said his wife was up to something but didn’t know what it was until we heard all the commotion and stopped our meeting with Mr. Allen to find out what was going on.”

She was glad to see he was in a good mood about it.

He looked up at the scared boy. “On the count of three, let go of the chandelier and I’ll catch you.”

Luke nodded, and after Jake counted to three, he let go and Jake caught him.

“We got the mouse,” Justin and Mr. Allen said as they handed the boy the pet that was trapped in a small ball they found from the small supply room. “I think we finally got all the animals under control. Poor Mr. Martin looked so flustered. He doesn’t like so much drama.”

Sue looked around and noted that the animals were gone, as was Mr. Martin. “He definitely couldn’t handle my family then.”

“I knew I was doing you a favor when I told you to put that dress on in the library,” Jake said.

“What?”

“He was one of the men who was interested in you.”

She shook her head. That was why he insisted she wear that dress.

“Luke,” Trevor began as he walked up to them, “Pa is going to throw a fit when he hears about this.”

“As long as I have little Jake, I don’t care,” Luke replied.

Jake cringed. “You named that thing after me?”

“He sure did,” Trevor said. “He’s been calling the critter that ever since you ate those Rocky Mountain oysters.”

“Rocky Mountain oysters? Are those mollusks from Colorado?” Justin asked.

“It’s not what you think,” Jake shuddered. “I’ll explain later.”

“You really need to stop bringing that thing into town,” Sue told her youngest brother. “I can’t have you making a scene every time you show up.”

Mr. Allen laughed. “Are you kidding? That was a riot. It was better than the wedding skit your family did.”

"Your family must do their best work when they ad-lib stuff,” Justin agreed.

“I guess it was an interesting occurrence,” Trevor thoughtfully stated. “Sis, you’ll have to tell me what happened so I can write it down.”

“Are you men going to help us clean this mess up?” Mrs. Monroe called out as the women struggled to get the room back to its former condition.

Justin scoffed at her. “You planned this chaos. You clean it up. We have a meeting to finish.”

“I'll be up there in a minute,” Jake told him as the men headed up the stairs. “Sue will be with you in a moment,” he told her brothers.

“We can take a hint,” Trevor replied as he led Luke out of the building.

Jake turned to her and smiled. “You really think so well of me that you would take off another woman’s wig and threaten to throw it in the punch bowl if she didn’t leave?”

Sue grinned. “It was either that or tell her horrible things about you so she would stay away from you.”

He chuckled. “If it helps, while you were talking to Trevor, I told Johanna that I have no intention of annulling our marriage. I know I have a good thing going with you and I have no intention of blowing it.”

“I like being with you too.” She sighed. “I have to go to the farm. Gloria is in labor and I have to go help out. She’s been anxious during the whole pregnancy and asked for my support. Anyway, I wanted to let you know before I left.”

“You’re going to leave me here all by myself?” He frowned. He looked sad by the prospect.

“It will only be until Friday. I know we had planned to go out there this weekend but we’ll have to go out there another time. I want to be there for moral support, especially after the stillbirth of her last baby.”

“I understand. I’ll miss you while you’re gone. I would go with you if I didn’t have to take care of some business. I have a meeting with Mr. Brothers tomorrow. Then Daniel Riley is due to stop by the house tomorrow and I want to find out what he’s up to. Also, I have to sort through that envelope from Mr. Barnett.”

“It’s alright, Jake. I don’t expect you to drop everything to spend all your time with me. You have your own life.”

He shrugged.

“So I’ll be back Friday afternoon. And don’t worry. I’ll take the back way out of the house so no one will see me wearing pants.” She kissed him before she left. She tried not to let his disappointment affect her but she was glad he would miss her for she would miss him.