Chapter 20 – Fine New Feathers

The men gathered at Beauregard's the next day, as agreed. Bart loaded everyone in the buggy, then headed for the tailor shop in Little Bend. Sam sported a big smile on his face when he saw the Maverick clan unloading into his store. "Well, gentlemen, to what am I owed this honor? Bart, I haven't seen you in quite a while. You either, Bret. And who is this young man?"

"Sam, this is our Uncle Bentley and his son Beau, and his grandson Benny. Pappy you already know," Bret introduced everyone. "Pappy's gettin' married, Sam, and he needs a new suit."

"And just who is the fortunate lady, Beauregard?"

Pappy grinned and told Sam, with some pride, "Maude Donovan."

"You are indeed a lucky man, sir."

"I think so, Sam. I've waited long enough to do this. We need a suit for Benny, too. He's gonna spend a year with us out on the ranch when Bentley and Beau go back to Baton Rouge."

"Benny, take a look at that rack on the far wall and see if you can find anything you like." Sam turned to Beau. "At his age, I think he'll be better off in a suit that we can alter to fit him. In all likelihood he'll outgrow it by the end of the year. Anybody else need anything?"

Bart had been eyeing a soft black frock coat, displayed with a black and silver vest. "Sam . . . "

"I figured you'd find that one, Bart. Isn't she a beauty?"

Pappy had located a deep, dark navy frock coat with pants to match, and a navy and gold vest. "How about this, boys?" he asked as he held it up for his sons to see.

"That would look perfect on you, Pappy," Bret remarked.

"I agree, Pa. Try it on and let Sam see what he can do with it," Bart advised.

Meantime, Benny had found a dark forest green coat and vest, with tan slacks and a white shirt. He looked quite pleased with himself. His father looked just as pleased. "Here, Benny, step in here and try that on," Sam directed. He sent Benny back behind the curtain just as Pappy emerged wearing the dark navy.

"Wow, Pappy, that fits almost perfectly," Bart told him.

"Bart's right, Beauregard, it won't take much to make it perfect. Here, let me do some measuring." Sam had it looking even better within a few minutes. Just about the time he was finished with Beauregard, Benny emerged dressed in the forest green he'd chosen.

"I don't think you need anything changed, Master Benny. It seems to fit just like that."

Bret was standing next to his brother, shaking his head. "You're gonna buy it, aren't you?"

"You know I am. It's too beautiful to pass up. Don't you want anything?"

Bret shook his head. "Nope. I've already got two new ones hangin' in my room. Beau, how about you?"

"No, Bret, I really don't need anything."

"Sam, do you think this fits alright the way it is?" Bart asked.

"I think I could take it in just a little. Here, like this," and he pinned the coat just a bit more snuggly.

"That is better," Bart decided. "Okay, Sam, can we get this all in a week?"

"I don't see why not, Bart. Come back a week from today, and I'll have it all ready for you."

XXXXXXXX

"My goodness, ladies, I had no idea we'd have so many of you!" Annie LaSalle remarked when she arrived at Bart's house and found Maude, Doralice, Ginny, Dani and Abby. "And who is the bride-to-be?"

Maude stepped forward. "That's me, Annie. And I don't want white."

"How about something in a cream color? Then we can dress each of the ladies in a different pastel."

"What do you think, Doralice?" her mother asked.

"I think that would be really pretty, Mother."

Annie pulled out a sample of aqua silk. "This is perfect for you, Doralice."

"It's gorgeous," Dani told her.

"And this would look wonderful on you, Ginny," Annie offered as she held up a mint green silk.

Ginny nodded and pointed to the sunshine yellow for Dani. "That's your color, Dani."

Dani agreed and took the pink silk that Annie handed her. "For Abby."

"My goodness you ladies were easy. Now what styles do we want?"

That was a little harder, but each one settled on one of the designs Annie showed them, and they spent the next two hours measuring and making minor changes. All of a sudden Maude let out a small gasp and grabbed Annie's wrist. "Oh my goodness. We almost forgot. Lily Mae, come in here, please."

Lily Mae took a few minutes but finally appeared in the front room. "Lunch is almost ready, ladies."

"Lily Mae, you come over here and look at this fabric. You need a dress, too!" Maude exclaimed.

"Oh, no, Maude, I surely . . . "

"Yes, you do," Maude interrupted. "What about this light blue for yours?" Maude picked up a piece of fabric that was as soft as the sky on a spring day and offered it to Lily.

"That's beautiful!" Lily exclaimed. "I've never seen anything so pretty."

"Then that's settled. Let Annie measure you."

"But Miss Maude, lunch . . . "

"Lunch will wait, Lily. THIS is important."

XXXXXXXX

"Momma, me and Belle wanna know something."

"Yes, Maudie, what is it?"

"How come Abby got a brand new dress and me and Belle didn't?"

"You both are gonna get new dresses, Maudie, the difference is I'm gonna make yours and Belle's."

"You are?"

"Yes, ma'am. Matter of fact, I'm gonna start them this afternoon."

"What color are they gonna be, Momma?"

"What color would you like them, Maudie?"

"Belle would like hers lavender, and I would like mine the same, only darker."

"Let's see, I've got some of both colors right here." Doralice pulled a long swatch of both shades out of her sewing box. They matched perfectly, only one was several shades darker than the other. "What do you think of these?"

"They're beautiful, Momma. I think they'll be just perfect."

"Well, missy, I need you to stay here so I can measure you. I need your sister, too."

"Thank you, Momma, for making us dresses for Grandma's wedding."

"You're welcome, sweetheart."

"We'll look like a rainbow, won't we?"

"The prettiest kind, my love."