March 26

2 p.m.

Rosemary picked up the unused bolts of fabric and put them back in their spots along the wall, all in order according to color, of course. Behind her, Florence and Molly fussed with fabric and lace as they planned the perfect dress to make Florence this year for Easter. She would simply scream if one more order for a dress came in. Their line was already at least twenty long and only a mere week and a half until the holiday. After Dottie's "reopening sale" over three weeks ago, it felt like they were working nonstop on dresses of all sizes, shapes, and colors. Her fingertips were raw from all the sewing, mending, designing, cutting, and pinning she had been doing.

Rosemary put a bolt of gardenia green fabric back on the shelf, and touched the white satin next to it. Ah, yes, the bolt reserved for Elizabeth's wedding dress. She truly should take it to the back before someone bought it for a different project. She picked it up and walked to the back room. The days before the wedding were fading fast and Elizabeth wanted her dress done in time, she truly did need to come into the shop this week. The only problem? She hadn't seen hide nor hair of Elizabeth since Tuesday. What could she be up to?

After stowing the satin safely away, Rosemary came into the main room.

Florence stood there, dressed in a tailored plum dress with a matching feathered hat, and already she was riled up. "Can you imagine that?" Her voice was shrill. "Abigail and Frank just taking off to the courthouse like that, in such a rush, to get married in broad daylight?" The plum feathers shook with her every move.

Rosemary took this as her cue to approach the table. "Frank and Abigail eloped? It's about time!"

Florence looked down her nose at her. "I beg to differ. I think it is an act of absolute outrage!"

"Why would you say that?" Dottie picked up a pattern book and absently leafed through the pages.

"It is quite…" Florence lowered her voice, "scandalous that they left town without telling nary a soul. And on a Sunday no less!"

Rosemary felt a giggle lodge in her throat. Florence thought absolutely everything was scandalous.

Molly fingered a bobbin of their ordinary white lace. "They did take Elizabeth as their chaperone so it is not as if something indecent has happened."

"Oh, is that where Elizabeth is off to?" She took the bobbin of lace from Molly. "How much do you need?"

"A yard please." Molly said.

Rosemary unrolled the lace, measured it and cut it.

"I just don't think," a flush rose to Florence's cheeks, "that is the proper way for a preacher to get married. He ran away as if he has something to hide."

Dottie took the length of lace from her and rolled it tightly. "I do believe you are making too big of a deal of all this. Frank and Abigail, they are two adults who have decided to get married right away, without much hoopla. I honestly think it was an excellent choice."

Yes, she wholeheartedly agreed! But Florence looked as if she might need some more convincing. She reached out and motioned to the bolts of fabric on the table. "Have you decided, Flo?"

Florence sighed. "No, I just feel all out of sorts. I am not sure if I want this bright pink or the dainty daisies."

"I like the daisies." Molly handed her coins to Dottie who placed them in the register.

"And what of poor Elizabeth?" Florence nudged the dainty daisy fabric over to her.

Rosemary picked up the bolt of fabric before Florence changed her mind. "Will four yards do?"

"Make it four and a half." Florence pulled out her coin purse.

Rosemary unrolled several lengths of fabric and measured it against the ruler. "Why do you say, 'poor Elizabeth'?"

The tension oozed from Florence. "Why do I say 'poor Elizabeth"?" She snorted. "How would you feel if your best friend planned to outright steal your spotlight?"

Rosemary looked up in surprise. "Whatever are you talking about?"

Florence looked as if she was trying to refrain from a dramatic rolling of the eyes. "Must I remind you it's just two and a half months before her and Jack's long awaited wedding?"

"Now, no one is stealing anyone's spotlight." Dottie stepped away from the register. "In fact, I think that is the very reason Frank and Abigail left in such a hurry. They wanted to proceed with married life just as quickly as possible so they can be here to be of assistance as Jack and Elizabeth's wedding approaches."

Rosemary nodded and went back to her measuring. There it was, four and a half yards. She carefully cut the fabric and folded it.

Florence huffed. "But isn't that curious as well? What newly married couple does not want a lengthy honeymoon together?"

Rosemary handed the folded fabric to Dottie, who rang it up on the cash register. "That will be forty cents." As Florence shuffled around in her coin purse, Dottie continued, "Many people do not have the luxury of a long honeymoon."

Florence handed Dottie a few coins that she promptly took and placed in the register.

Rosemary folded the tape measure and placed it neatly in the middle of the table. "Will Elizabeth be returning soon?"

"Yes," Florence looked quite pleased to pass on the information. "The rumor is she is to return on the stage tomorrow with Cody."

"Oh good." Rosemary clapped her hands. "In that case, the new couple will be on their own for a few days before their return. That's plenty of a honeymoon, especially for two busy individuals such as they."

Molly fiddled with the length of lace she had just purchased. "I don't feel that any of this is our business."

Florence took the fabric from Dottie, obviously not regarding Molly in any way. "I still say the elopement is much too rushed." Her eyes gleamed with mystery. "Perhaps it is a way to cover up a scandal from Frank's past."

Rosemary shook her head and walked to the door. Although it was nice to stay on the up and up about the entire goings on in Hope Valley, she'd had about all she could handle of Florence's suspicious attitude. She opened the door. "Thank you for coming to visit."

Florence, never one to take a hint, stayed glued to her spot. "I actually need to take a good look at your pattern book."

Oh bother. She closed the door with a whoosh and exchanged looks with Dottie. They would not get one lick of work done today with Florence in store.

Dottie picked up the book and her eyes lit up. "You know what? You can borrow it!" She handed it to Florence.

"No, no. I think I'd like to sit here and look through it." Florence settled into an open chair.

Molly must have sensed the tension for she said, "Uh…Florence, I really do need to check on my roast in the oven."

Florence looked up from the book, her face deflated. "Oh, well, if we must go, we must." She turned to Dottie. "Are you sure it is okay if I borrow this?"

"Oh, gladly!" Dottie walked them to the front door.

Rosemary opened the door again. This time, all four of them walked out onto the boardwalk.

Florence put the pattern book under her arm. "I'll return it promptly." She took a step off the boardwalk. "Oh—" she abruptly turned around. "I forgot to mention about another matter of import. I have noticed-" Florence wiggled her eyebrows, "Harriet getting quite cozy with our sheriff as of late."

Rosemary felt her stomach tighten and she wished more than ever that Florence had left some time ago. She'd been dreading the day when the topic of her mother and Bill would come up. "Oh?" She decided to play dumb.

Florence, always one for a good romance, smiled. "It seems there is quite a spark developing between the two of them."

Rosemary felt all of their eyes on her, waiting. "If you mean by the horse and buggy ride they shared last Sunday after church, well, it was merely a gentlemanly thing to do."

Florence handed Molly her book and fabric and proceeded to pull on her gloves, finger by finger. "Well, gentlemanly or not, I do believe the sheriff is finding himself quite smitten."

Rosemary couldn't argue with that. Anyone with two eyes knew that the sheriff was smitten with her mother.

Florence finished pulling on her gloves. "I guess it is none of my never mind if the man makes a ninny of himself."

Rosemary gasped.

"Florence!" Dottie reprimanded.

Molly twisted the lace in her hands. "Oh dear… I don't think Florence meant to imply that Bill's being with your mother is foolish."

Rosemary grunted. "It just sounded like she did."

Dottie moved to stand between them, mostly facing Florence. "Now I know you have a bee in your bonnet because Ned hasn't come calling lately, but this is no way to treat a friend."

Florence sniffed and straightened her hat. "This conversation has nothing to do with…Ned." A betraying look of sadness passed across her face.

Molly pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to Florence as if they had had this conversation numerous times this past week. "He is away on business. I am sure once he returns he will come calling. Don't worry."

Florence lowered her eyes. "So perhaps it has been bothering me a wee bit. It's just… It's been years since I have been properly courted. I mean… what if Ned is already losing interest? What if I truly am an outright bore?" She sniffled into the handkerchief.

Rosemary couldn't help the giggle that escaped her lips. "You a bore? Never. In fact, I think the man, if he knows what is good for him, better invest in a good pair of shoes to keep up with you."

Dottie laughed. "That or some ear plugs."

Rosemary bit her lip, willing the laughter to stay put. For all the things Florence was, she was definitely not a bore, uninteresting, or easy to pass over. She was exactly what someone like Ned needed in his life. Obviously she just needed a bit of encouragement. She'd find her way.

Rosemary placed a hand on Florence's elbow. "Flo, You are a wealth of knowledge when it comes to who belongs together. And, as anyone can see, the two of you belong together. You just have to give things time." Dottie and Molly nodded their agreement. "Men don't like feeling under pressure, but rather prefer to feel as if they are a knight in shining armor." She tapped her chin. "Knight in shining armor… hmm…" She snapped her fingers. "I have just the plan."