Chapter 18
Butte Meadows, Nebraska - May 1874
Violette wrinkled her nose as Gabrielle meticulously pinned up her long hair in a complicated style. "Why are we going to church?" She asked, eyeing the hairpins with suspicion.
Gabrielle chuckled, a single braid escaping her hairstyling efforts. "Because we were invited by the McClouds, and I thought it would be interesting to see how a normal family spends a Sunday morning."
Violette's frown deepened. "Are you saying we aren't normal?" She questioned, her voice laced with a hint of hurt.
"Definitely not normal," Gabrielle teased, tossing a simple blue calico dress at her sister. "But normal can be a bit boring, wouldn't you agree? Now hurry up, we don't want to be late."
A flicker of excitement sparked in Violette's eyes. "Do you think Buck will be there?" She asked hopefully.
Gabrielle shrugged, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "It's possible, I suppose. Though I wouldn't expect him to be a Christian."
Violette's brow furrowed in confusion. "Are we Christians?"
"We both were baptized as babies," Gabrielle explained, her voice softer. "Mother sent me to a Catholic school for a while when I was younger."
Violette's gaze drifted to the window, a pensive expression settling on her features. "Do you believe in God?" she asked after a moment of thoughtful silence.
Gabrielle hesitated. "I wouldn't say I'm an expert on scripture or church services," she admitted honestly. "But yes, I do believe in something bigger than ourselves. A higher power, maybe."
They finished dressing in comfortable silence, the weight of Gabrielle's words hanging in the air. Stepping outside, they set off for the short walk to the church. A warm smile bloomed on Gabrielle's face as she saw the McCloud family holding two seats near the back for them.
The last time Gabrielle had set foot in a church, she was a young girl attending a formal Catholic service. This small, Protestant church, with its simple wooden pews and friendly atmosphere, felt entirely different. She stole a glance at Violette, noticing the mixture of curiosity and bewilderment on her sister's face. A pang of guilt twisted in Gabrielle's stomach. Suddenly she felt as though she had failed her sister. Perhaps she should have introduced religion into their lives.