All That Remains

Chapter3

The noise of a door slamming reverberated through the house. In the parlor, Lorena dropped her eyes to her sewing and didn't bother trying to make small talk with Betsey to mask the muffled voices that could be heard from above. The girl looked bewildered but refrained from asking what her sister was so pent up about, at least until her mother returned.

Upstairs, Clara followed Sally into her room after attempts to talk to her through the closed door only resulted in a weepy voice telling her to go away. Closing the door quietly this time, Clara took a seat patiently by her daughter's form which was slumped on her bed.

"Sally, stop crying now."

"Why is she doin' this? She don't even love him!" cried Sally vehemently through her tears.

"Doesn't love him," Clara automatically corrected, then sighed. It was difficult to argue with the truth, but Sally's reaction to the news of Dish and Lorena's engagement was more about her own infatuation with Dish than Lorena's lack of feelings towards him.

"It's not fair," Sally moaned. After a few more gulping breaths she swiped her face with her hands and ceased crying.

"I know, my darling." Clara tucked Sally's hair behind her ears in a caress. She did not often show her daughters much physical affection – she'd lost much of that gentleness when her sons had died. But a girl needed her mother when her heart was broken for the first time, and Lorena's decision to marry Dish had done just that for Sally.

"Come downstairs for some buttermilk," Clara said, forgetting she was saving the milk for a cake she was planning on baking the next morning.

She walked a reluctant Sally downstairs, not surprised when she brushed haughtily into the kitchen, ignoring Betsey and Lorena in the parlor.

"What's wrong with Sally, Ma?" asked Betsey.

"Your sister's just fine."

Lorena glanced up and caught Clara's eye and was relieved when the older woman gave her a quick smile. Clara's smirk had more to do with the fact that Dish hadn't appeared inside the house all day, no doubt choosing to miss today's reading lesson in case Lorena wanted to tell him she'd changed her mind about marrying him. Clara wondered if they'd see hide or hair of him before the wedding.

Clara took her seat in the parlor even after Sally refused to join them. She decided to leave her daughter alone for a spell, and discussing wedding plans was not about to help lessen her misery.

"The preacher'll be making his rounds soon. I reckon he's due in a few weeks," Clara commented.

Lorena barely nodded and showed no interest in the announcement, unlike Betsey who beamed happily. Clara picked up a catalog that she'd collected in town and flicked through it, but her eyes frequently sought Lorena across the room.

"What are you going to wear?" Betsey asked. She was the only member of the family who could not contain her excitement at the thought of Dish and Lorena marrying.

Lorena glanced at her but only offered a shrug.

"We could make you a dress. I'd help. There's still time, right, Ma?"

"Time enough to make a dress, if that's what Lorie wants," Clara offered. "'Course we could always buy one in town."

"I got a dress," Lorena said sharply, wishing to cut short any further conversation on the matter. She cleared her throat and softened her tone after catching an amused look from Clara. "My lavender dress will do, I guess."

"But you always wear that…" Bestey started to argue, then bit back her words when Clara's expression was no longer so jovial.

"Your lavender dress will be just fine," Clara said.

Silence fell for a few moments until Betsey piped up again. "What am I gonna wear, Ma?"

Lorena rose abruptly from her seat and mumbled an excuse to leave the room. She headed for the kitchen, but realizing that Sally was in there still sulking, she chose the porch instead. She welcomed the fresh air, breathing deeply and trying very hard to erase the thought of the wedding from her mind.

Lorena looked over the yard to the lot where the men were breaking a horse. At least, Dish was breaking the horse, while Cholo and July shouted words of encouragement from on top of the fence posts. Lorena looked away. She hadn't spoken to Dish since he proposed the previous day.

Not for the first time she wondered if she had made a dreadful mistake. Sally was upset, and Clara didn't seem entirely supportive of the idea either. Lorena hated turmoil and that was all her decision had appeared to bring the family, save Betsey who was just excited at the thought of a wedding at the ranch.

She heard footsteps behind her and Clara appeared at her side.

"Making wedding plans?" she asked mischievously.

Lorena shot her a withering look and pressed her lips together. Clara smothered a smile and refrained from any more teasing.

"Sally will get over it, don't you worry. It's just a little crush."

"She hates me," mumbled Lorena.

Clara sighed. "No she doesn't, she's just feeling sorry for herself. She's too young for those sorts of goings on anyway."

Neither woman spoke her several minutes. The noise from the lot was the only sound to break the silence as the blazing afternoon sun started to turn the land orange.

"Do you think I'm making a mistake?" Lorie asked quietly.

Clara did not answer immediately. She turned to face Lorena, her head cocked to one side as she contemplated her.

"I think you both deserve to be happy. Perhaps, in time, you'll be able to make each feel that way."

"And until then?"

"You try not to make each other too miserable, I guess."

Lorena crossed her arms and felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. Clara's words were not exactly encouraging.

"I told him to shave off his moustache," she said after another pause.

Clara looked bemused. "Why?"

"I guess I was trying to make him a little miserable."

A stifled laugh was Clara's response. She covered her mouth with her hand and looked away, but after a few seconds she laughed out loud. Lorena, surprised at her reaction, watched her for a while, then a grin appeared on her own lips, followed by a soft chortle.

"He loves that moustache," Clara said between breathy giggles.

"I know."

Both women laughed anew until Clara slung her arm around Lorena's waist and wiped a tear from her eye. Lorena couldn't remember the last time she had laughed like that. It seemed inappropriate that it should be over the thought of making her future husband unhappy, but that was how it was.

"Maybe there's hope for you yet, Lorie," said Clara, giving her a squeeze. No stranger to teasing men, she couldn't help but approve of Lorena's decision to torture Dish a little. And maybe Lorena could grow to feel some affection for him, if she gave herself – and him – half a chance. Clara hoped with all her heart that she would.