No Place for a Lady (21 page)

Crystal bounced along in the buckboard, urging Bess over the
rugged trail toward the Johnsons' soddy and humming a tune
on this cloudless day. Her sanguine nature kept her from feeling
down for long. The only visible motion in the bright azure sky was
two blue jays showing off their wings in the brilliant sunshine.
Though the misty mornings in the South took several hours to
burn off, Crystal never failed to marvel that in the Rockies, every
morning dawned bright and clear.

She was grateful for this ride alone, for it gave her time to think
and delight in every new plant and flower she came upon. Bear
grass, or-as Rusty said some called it-squaw grass, was blooming. What appeared to be conical, white clusters from a distance in
the meadow were striking white flowers atop their slender stems.
Amazing to her was the fact that they bloomed every five to seven
years. How lucky she felt to be able to behold their cream finery.
Rusty had told her the leaves were used by Indians to weave fine
baskets, and whenever the squaw grass was flowering, the young
mountain bluebirds were fledging. What a sweet thought.

Consider the lilies of the field, how theygrow; they neither toil nor spin ... That verse had been a comfort to her since Kate's death.
Crystal realized again that she need not worry. Her future was in
the hands of the very One who had ordained all of her days.

Rusty had adopted her, taken her under his wing, and she
couldn't have been more grateful. The tough cowpuncher was
taciturn and doggedly independent. He embodied a keen wisdom
that living on the land had afforded him. Yes, he was becoming
very dear to her.

Once she had asked him why he hadn't married Kate. He'd said
she was still in love with the memory of her dead husband, but
sometimes he felt like she was beginning to return his feelings.
Besides, he'd been working the Aspengold outfit for twelve years.
He didn't have much to offer her. Crystal had been stunned to
think it had kept him from marrying her all those years. So tragic.
Amazing how men thought.

Crystal believed that true love was hard to come by. Which
made her stop and examine her own feelings. What was she truly
feeling about Luke? Jealousy? Why in the world was she drawn to
a loud, flirtatious, pigheaded cowpoke? Well, he'd made his decision to marry April, and though it left a dull ache in her chest,
she wasn't certain that it was love.

She supposed April would be at the quilting circle today as well.
They had been working on a quilt for the reverend, and today they
would be discussing the upcoming church bazaar.

The outlying buildings of the Johnson farm came into view, and
Crystal flicked the reins across Bess's back. She guided the buggy
to a stop alongside a sharp black surrey with red velvet cushions
that she recognized right away as April's.

The front door of the soddy was propped open, and Crystal walked inside. Emily sat her cup and saucer down and greeted
her warmly.

"Crystal. Come in. We were just getting started" Emily guided
her to the kitchen table where coffee and warm muffins were laid
out, and poured a cup for her.

The ladies sat in a semicircle at the one side of the large room
that served as Sara's parlor. The other side served as the kitchen.
Chattering dwindled as Sara exchanged pleasantries with Crystal
and pulled her toward the group. Beth drew up another chair for
Crystal, seating her next to Flo. "I believe you know everyone
here, am I right?"

Crystal glanced around the circle of familiar faces and nodded.
Alice smiled in her direction, and April's lips curved upward in
a smile, although her eyes remained cold.

Mary, in her no-nonsense fashion, took control of the meeting.
"As I was saying, this year's bazaar is to be the biggest and best.
We will be trying to raise money for a new organ:' She shoved
her sliding spectacles up the bridge of her nose.

"We'll also need to buy new hymnals this year. The ones we
have now are breaking apart at the binding;' Sara added.

April tossed her silvery-blonde hair across her back and leaned
on the edge of her chair. "Mrs. Franklin, maybe my father could donate most of the money for church. Don't you think so, Mother?"

Alice flashed her daughter a dumbfounded look. "Well, I ...
couldn't speak for your father ..:" Her answer dangled in the
pregnant silence of the room.

"But that would take all the joy and purpose out of having our
yearly church bazaar in the first place, April:" Mary voiced her
disapproval, puffing up her stout bosom.

"She's right, April. The community looks forward to the bazaar
every year." Alice seemed to have found her voice again.

April's face colored pink, and she sat back in her chair.

"As I was saying, there's much to do in preparation. I'll need
someone to head up a committee of able-bodied men to see that
the booths are erected. Do I have any volunteers?" Mary scanned
the room.

"I can see to that;' Sara said. "Charles is very handy with a
hammer, and I'm sure we can recruit other members to help out
when they hear that there's food involved" She laughed heartily,
and others joined in.

Mary flashed Sara a grateful smile. "Wonderful. Ladies, it's
not too soon to decide what you can contribute to help out. Any
needlework, such as quilts, aprons, etc., will be needed, and of
course, any fruit preserves and jellies are always a bestseller. And
I hear that Crystal makes a delectable apple pie:"

"Who told you that?" Crystal grinned with modesty.

"I did" Everyone turned to look at Flo, whose ample frame
draped over the edge of her chair. Her dress sagged like a swing
between her spread legs. "Carmen told me herself." She fanned
her flushed face with her apron. "Told me she just might garner
my blue ribbon."

"That's not likely. We all know Flo's Cafe has the best pie in
these parts;" April blurted out.

"And just what is your specialty, April?" Crystal asked, sipping
her coffee.

April gave her a smug look. "Oh, I'm accomplished at a good
many things" April's mother shifted nervously in her chair.

Emily stood and began collecting coffee cups, apparently trying to divert the growing tension. "Ladies, we'd better get on with the
job at hand. We should be able to get this quilt top pieced and
then break for lunch, which Flo has graciously provided for us
today from her cafe."

The morning flew by, and the group of women chattered,
laughed, and traded stories while their fingers rendered perfect
tiny stitches on a basket pattern quilt. Crystal enjoyed this new
feeling of friendship, of women working with a single purpose
that derived pleasure at the same time. But at times throughout
the day, she caught April watching her.

While Emily and Beth spread blankets over the grass for their
guests, Flo passed a large box of fried chicken around, and the
women had their lunch under a large cottonwood tree. The subject
of a bridal shower for April came up, and a cloud descended over
Crystal's otherwise bright day.

"I would like to give April a shower soon, and you're all invited;'
Mary remarked.

April's head shot up. "Oh, how thoughtful. Thank you:"

"You're welcome"

Flo leaned over and whispered in Crystal's ear, "The reason
Mary even considered it at all was for her dear friend Alice. Certainly not for her snooty-nosed daughter, who has everything in
the first place."

Crystal didn't respond. Gossip was not ladylike, and while she
didn't care for April, she didn't want to talk about her either.

"The store will be a little cramped for space, though;' Mary
continued.

Crystal wanted April to know that it didn't make any difference who she married, so she offered her ranch to have the shower at. Emily and Beth exchanged quick looks but said
nothing.

"Are you sure?" Mary asked.

"Quite. In fact, I insist. Just let me know what week you decide."
Crystal looked over at April and said, "Has a date been set for
the wedding?"

"No, but I'm sure it'll be soon. You'll be the first to know." April
continued picking at the chicken leg on her plate.

Flo licked her fingertips and wiped her mouth, then shot Crystal a quizzical look. "Reckon that'll be after the roundup then.
Luke said you're going on the trail drive, Crystal."

An audible gasp sounded from April. "What? Why would you
want to go on a cattle drive?"

Did he tell Flo everything? "I want to learn ranching from the
ground up," Crystal replied.

"A trail drive can be very dangerous, dear" Sara clicked her
tongue against the roof of her mouth.

"I intend to be careful. Luke and Rusty know what they're
doing. I'm already learning how to handle the horses and the
cattle-enough to have a lot of respect for them."

The somewhat mollified Sara pursed her lip into a tight, thin
line. "Do be careful. A stampede can get mighty out of hand. Men
are sometimes gored by frightened steers"

"I'm sure she'll be looked after. And she'll be in the company
of some mighty fine-looking men;' Beth declared.

Mary and Emily laughed, but April obviously didn't see the
humor at all. "Still, you really don't have any business out on a
cattle drive alone with a group of men" It was obvious that she
meant Luke.

I promise to mind my p's and q's, April;' Crystal teased.

Flo chuckled. "Yours are not the ones she's worried about"

April stood, brushing the crumbs from her skirt with her long,
thin fingers. "Ma, we'd better get a move on. Luke promised to
ride over tonight for dinner:"

"Dear, you didn't tell me he was coming" Alice's brow furrowed.

April appeared flustered and started gathering her things.
"Well, perhaps I forgot to mention it. But now you know," she
snapped at Alice.

Crystal felt a sudden pang for the delicate Alice. Maybe it was the
way April spoke to her with that dictating voice. She would never
have talked to her mother the way April did. As if Alice couldn't think
for herself. She was beginning to dislike April more every minute.
In her heart Crystal knew that she should be at peace as much as
possible with all people, but it was not going to be easy with April.

The sunny afternoon came to a close with Alice and April's
departure, and soon afterward, Mary and Flo, who had ridden
in together, followed suit. Crystal helped the Johnson girls pick
up the remains of their picnic, then prepared to leave.

"I enjoyed the day, Mrs. Johnson;' Crystal said, giving her a
quick hug.

"Call me Sara, that way I don't feel so old."

"In that case, I shall. I hate for the day to end"

"Me too" Emily sighed. "I was hoping to get a chance to talk
with you:'

An idea quickly formed in Crystal's head, and she suggested
that Emily ride back with her and spend the night. "That is, if
you can spare her, Sara:"

"Oh, please, Mama, could I?" Emily pleaded.

"Well ... I suppose we can do without you for one day. What
do you think, Beth?"

"Let her go, Ma. I'll tend to her chores. Besides, I think there's
someone at Aspengold she wants to see:" Beth rolled her eyes
upward with a knowing look.

"Beth!" Emily looked horrified, and her face flamed paintbrush
red.

Sara ignored the comment. She waved her hands toward the
door. "Go on, get your things. Crystal doesn't have all day to stand
here lollygagging"

Luke and the boys were sprawled across the front porch, some
in rockers, others on the steps, when the wagon turned down the
drive to the house. Luke sat on the porch rail, leaned against the
stout post, and chewed on a toothpick, hat pulled down across
his eyes. Seeing Emily in the wagon, he shot a look in Jube's direction to observe his reaction. Jube stiffened momentarily but
removed his dusty hat and smoothed his unruly hair. Crystal's
bubbling laughter drifted ahead of her. She appeared to be in a
much better mood today than usual. He wished he knew why it
was that when women got together, they always found something
to laugh about.

Springing down from the wagon, Crystal surveyed the group.
"Looks like you boys are waiting for the cook. I brought home a
guest, so supper will be a little late tonight:"

Jube hurried forward and helped Emily with her carpetbag.

"What a nice surprise" He took the bag from Emily, and she gave him a shy smile when he took her elbow. "This is worth
waiting for supper any day."

Crystal stripped off her leather gloves and turned to Curly.
"Please see to the buggy while we get supper going" Turning to
Luke, she advised, "Better get a move on, Luke. I believe April is
expecting you for dinner tonight, and I don't believe she likes to
be kept waiting"

Luke swung his long legs over the porch rail and pushed back
his hat. His eyes narrowed. "Tonight? I don't remember telling
her that:"

"It's perfectly all right to forget things when one is in love;'
Crystal said.