The first weeks Melanie Brooks spent in her new house were the busiest in her life. She would lay in bed beside her snoring husband as the sun rose, waiting until the golden sunshine spread across the quilt causing Howard to finally awaken. She cheerfully made his breakfast every morning, counting down the minutes until he would go and unhitch the buggy and leave for the bank. Then she could really enjoy herself, sorting through their belongings, making the small house her very own home. Melanie was so happy of a morning that Howard even overlooked the fact that the eggs were burnt and the coffee too weak. Her good humor was worth the sacrifice of a good meal in his estimation. They had only just been married after all and eventually she would learn, he magnanimously decided.
Melanie wandered out into the yard as she watched Howard's buggy disappear over the rise in the road, and turned her attention to the overgrown garden by her dilapidated fence. In time she would restore them to their former glory, planning rows of fresh vegetables and another garden where she would grow only bright, colorful flowers to fill the house with life. As she filled her lungs with the fresh morning air, Melanie felt truly alive for the first time in her life. The West was everything she imagined it would be, just as beautiful and just as exciting. Though their living conditions were now meager and her knowledge of practicalities when it came to running a household were minimal, Melanie did not wish herself back in her parents' grand house in the city with servants to see to her every need. She had waited her whole life for this, and did not regret for one moment the sacrifices she had made to get here.
Howard was far too busy with the takeover at the bank to interfere with her much. He would only half listen to her plans each night as he pored over the endless books he brought home with him, grunting his approval at the changes she had made to the house. Melanie did not mind, in fact it was just what she hoped for. If he remained disinterested in her activities then he would stay out of her way. She hoped the long hours at the bank would continue.
She did not have all her time to herself of course. Some afternoons Howard would come home to fetch her and then begin an endless round of calls on the townspeople, as he was eager to ingratiate himself with the business families of Sweetwater. He relied on their patronage, and it was only proper that the wife of the new banker should accompany him on these social outings. Melanie understood this and played her part, chatting amiably with merchants' wives as the men stood in the next room discussing business. She had not missed the dull company of such people, for they were the same people she had known in Minneapolis. Polite conversations and overly sweetened tea were not her idea of a day well spent. Not anymore, she thought to herself with a smile.
On each of these long afternoons Melanie would feign interest in the conversations about city fashions and the town happenings, while she secretly plotted and planned new additions to her house. Luckily the women she met did not seem to notice - they were thrilled that there was a new member in their circle, and a stylish young thing at that. The younger women envied her elegant clothes while the elders respected her good breeding and charming manners. In no time at all Melanie had more promises of visits and invitations to dinner than she knew what to do with. She could not make these women understand that she would be quite content to live out her days on her little farm without interference from the rest of the world. But if it helped her husband's business Melanie was prepared to sacrifice this wish as well, for if Howard's business went well, the more time he would spend a the bank. Nearly any sacrifice was worth that.
Their first Sunday in Sweetwater, the Brooks adorned themselves in their best church-going clothes and rode into town. Most of the townsfolk converged on the small whitewashed church each week, though not all went for religious purposes. Sunday was an excuse for the farmers and their families to come into town, the one day of the week when they could not work without feeling guilty. Some of them had to work of course, just to make ends meet, but even they tried to come into town at least one Sunday a month, no matter if the journey there and back took them all day. It was an opportunity to meet with friends, to gossip and discuss business, to simply be around other people. For the Brooks it was the perfect place to meet the people of Sweetwater.
As soon as the short sermon was over, the real socializing began. Howard immediately disappeared from Melanie's arm as he cultivated new relationships with the prominent farmers of the area, leaving her to the mercy of the town matriarch. Melanie was introduced to countless women whose names and faces she forgot immediately, and found herself agreeing to be part of committees and sewing bees she had no intention of honoring as it meant precious time away from her house. However she soon learned it was easier to agree than to refuse these women, who would not entertain the notion for a minute that she would rather not join them. When the conversation turned to the problem of the new school master who was far from living up to his expectations, Melanie hastily excused herself and made her escape. She peered through the huddled groups and eventually spotted Howard talking to another man by a wagon, so she moved to join him.
"My dear, there you are, I was beginning to wonder what had become of you," Howard beamed falsely, and Melanie did her best to return the expression. She knew when it came to business, Howard forgot everything and everyone else. Perhaps if she was especially nice to this prospective client she could convince him to return home sooner, she thought.
"Melanie, this is Mr. Morgan, he owns a horse ranch not far from us."
The young man held out a large brown hand and smiled warmly at her, removing his hat.
"I am very pleased to make your acquaintance, Mr. Morgan," she replied, giving him her best smile and paying little attention to Howard.
"The pleasure's mine, ma'am, but please call me Kid. Everyone else does." His face was open and friendly, the faint trace of a Southern accent in his gentle voice.
"As I was saying," Howard piped up, "we must get to know each other better, now that I am taking over from Mr. Johnson at the bank."
"I'm sure we will, Mr. Brooks," said Kid, far more impressed with the banker's wife than with him. At least she was sincere in her greeting. "We're your closest neighbors after all. If you need anything, Mrs. Brooks, we'd be more than happy to help. I know that the old Wilson place was getting a little run down."
"Thank you," Melanie began, and stopped with a gasp when something thumped into her legs, sending her hard against Howard's arm. She glanced down in astonishment and saw a small boy racing around them, throwing up dust with his tiny, booted feet. Kid swooped down and snatched him into his arms before the boy could do anymore damage.
"I apologize for my son, Mrs. Brooks, he just loves the spectacle of Sunday church," he said with a grin, holding the boy upside down for a moment.
"Indeed," muttered Howard with disdain.
When his giggling subsided Kid righted the boy and introduced his son to the couple. "This is Jamie, our eldest."
"How do you do, Jamie?" laughed Melanie. Though she had little interest in other adults she adored children, and this young boy was worthy of adoration. He looked so much like his father too, though he could not have been much more than three years old.
"A sweet child," Howard commented off handedly, eager to get back to the business conversation he and Kid had been having before. But all that was forgotten as his wife engaged the child in idle chatter, laughing at his frank and innocent responses. He sighed impatiently as Morgan seemed far more interested in talking with his wife about nonsensical things rather than the business at hand. Any hope of the latter was abandoned when another woman approached them, a sleeping baby in her arms.
"I'd like you both to meet my wife, Louise," said Kid, his arm encircling her slender shoulders. "This is Mr. and Mrs. Brooks, they've just bought the old Wilson place. Mr. Brooks is Lucius' replacement."
"Hello, I'm happy to have finally met you. I'm sorry I haven't been able to call earlier but I've had my hands full," beamed Louise, nodding to the dozing baby. She was particularly pleased that the new arrivals were close to her own age, rather than her older friends in the town with whom she had little in common. "I'm glad we finally have some new neighbors. You must come for supper."
"Why thank you, Mrs. Morgan, I'm sure we'd be delighted. I would be most interested to see your ranch too," Howard replied, far more interested in the property than its owners. The Morgan ranch was under mortgage after all, so it was only fitting that he inspect the land himself.
"I'd like that very much, Mrs. Morgan," said Melanie, a little embarrassed at her husband's eagerness. She knew his reasoning and hoped that his preoccupation with matters of business would not alienate this young couple. At least the Morgans did not seem interested in them purely out of curiosity as did so many of the other townsfolk. And they had the most beautiful children, something which endeared them to Melanie immediately.
"Why not come back with us now? There's no time like the present," came Kid's invitation. "You'd be more than welcome."
"Well, if you're sure we would not be intruding on your day of rest…"
"Of course not, Mr. Brooks. I understand you wanted to see our property anyway, we'd be pleased if you'd join us."
Melanie looked to Louise for confirmation, and the young woman nodded enthusiastically. There was something about Louise Morgan that Melanie could not put into words. On outward appearances she looked like many of the other women in town, dressed in a simple skirt and blouse under her church-going bonnet. But there was a wild merriment in her eyes that Melanie was not used to seeing in her female friends. Louise was polite and as well spoken as any lady in town, but still there was something about her which separated her from the crowd. Melanie was keen to discover just what that was. Howard shook Kid's hand and agreed to follow them to the ranch in their buggy.
The Morgans departed with their small brood and Melanie watched as Kid carefully took the baby from his wife's arms while she seated herself in their wagon, Jamie already clambering on the backboard. The Kid smiled as Louise reached down for the sleeping babe, and the loving look that passed between them struck Melanie forcibly. Perhaps it's that, she thought with a trace of bitterness, she loves her husband. Melanie looked at Howard as he helped her into the buggy and wondered if she would ever feel that way about him. Somehow, deep in her heart, she doubted it very much.