Chapter Four
"Oh Nick—it's beautiful." Rionach looked at the newly redecorated bedroom at the back of the shop. A large brass feather bed and a chiffonier, blanket chest and rocker filled the room.
Nick looked at the rocker and found a loose spindle.
"I will fix that for ya. Came from the last foreman's house and they had six kids. Pretty broke in."
"I expect so," she giggled with a rare youth in her voice, still looking around the room in awe.
"Mother set to it as soon as they got back from San Francisco. She and Audra made the curtains and the pillows. The kitchen is right this way."
Rionach said another prayer of thanksgiving. Not only did she have a job with regular pay, she was sharing profits for the next two years for her naturalization. Victoria and Sally had redone the back of the shop into a bedroom for her and Aine to share. Sally was still going to stay at the rooming house until the wedding with Posy then hey would be at the big house after the wedding until Heath finished their home.
An oak ice chest box was under the counter and running water came from a shiny black pump. Sally had told her Heath had put those in first when she moved to Stockton.
Heath had surprised her; she had only been concerned with the fabric and sewing room at first. Jarrod had arranged for a water closet to be put in off the storefront for customers and her to use during the day.
Brand new dishes from the mercantile were on the dry sink; the stove had been sanded and repainted. There was even a geranium in the window. And table cloth on the round table with four mismatched chairs. She thought it was the loveliest home she had ever seen; it was hers.
She smiled at the bright red blooms and Nick came up behind her. He wanted to touch her so badly but his mother's admonition wrecked his thoughts—-and "damn apples spilling all over the rail car and that look in her eyes."
"Silas brought that over. Said you liked tending them on the sleeping porch."
"Such a kind man. Nick, I have never had a plant of my own—that sounds so silly. But—"
"Rionach, nothing's silly that brings that light to your eyes." he blurted out with too much emotion.
She recoiled for a moment, looked him deeply in the eyes, and gave him a soft smile.
"Thank you. And I shall thank Silas too."
Nick relaxed seeing that Rionach was trying to overcome what fear gutted her soul.
He changed the subject, "Mother arranged with Mrs Percy to bring eggs and milk to the house. She will stop by and make a schedule."
"Oh Nick, your family has thought of everything."
He gave her his signature grin, "We try ma'am. It's important that you get a good start in Stockton. Now I am hungry. Those biscuits before dawn didn't quite stick to my ribs. Let's go grab a bite before we set up the account at the mercantile."
"I am a bit hungry myself." and she reached for his arm and patted it.
"Let me get my hat."
He wanted to whoop with joy but he restrained himself.
"Gentling is working. Now I just can't mess it up."
—-&—-
EJ came into town with Victoria to meet Reverend Stacy and plan the wedding with Sally. Heath was pushing for a quick date but the rest of the family reminded him of what that looked like.
She stopped by Jarrod's office first and immediately recognized the look on her fiancé's face.
Victoria did too. She smiled to herself, "EJ is perfect for him—he isn't going to get away with his secrets or brooding with her around."
"Elisabeth, Jarrod, I am walking to the church. I have quite a bit on my mind. See you there—later?"
"Yes ma'am."
She closed the door behind her and winked at Esther.
"Yes, EJ is going to be quite the fire to my proper son, I believe. He needs it." she smiled as she got back into the rig. She snickered again thinking of the story on the way to town.
"How did you get the name EJ?" If you don't mind me asking."
"Well, when I was twelve. I wanted to be a writer and my teacher confided that women weren't allowed to write under their own names many times —-so if they wanted to be successful, a pen name was necessary. George Eliot was really Mary Ann Evans. Silas Marner was written by a woman. I started writing all my essays and stories under the name EJ Washington. I submitted one to a magazine contest for—-boys. It won. As soon as my brothers found out, they never let me forget and now even my quite proper parents slip and call me EJ. Now my oldest sister, she was married at that time and tried to convince my family, I should be sent off to school for shameless behavior—-she sighs when she hears EJ. She corrects them every time, "Elisabeth Jane, please." Now that I am an adult, we are quite close but when I was younger, I did everything I could to annoy her."
Victoria laughed loudly, "I can't wait for you to meet my sister Jane. Believe only half her stories of our childhood."
EJ impulsively leaned over and hugged her future mother-in-law. Victoria teared up and returned the gesture. They chatted the rest of the way.
"Do you still write?"
EJ only looked away for a moment, "Yes. A ladies column for art in the city. I have published several national pieces on art in national magazines."
"I would love to read them." Assuming the hesitation was modesty.
"Of course, my mother and father bought every copy in the city. Even my sister claims that column."
—-&—-
Reverend Stacy and Victoria sipped coffee by his cozy fireplace.
"Ephraim? Before everyone gets here—"
He sat his coffee down and looked over intently. She only used his first name when they were alone.
"Yes, Victoria."
"Something is very wrong with Heath."
"The wedding? Is he ill? Sally?"
"I don't believe he is ill. And Sally is the best thing that ever happened to him. He dotes on little Posy and he will be the best father. They need each other. When she moved to Stockton, he confided the plan was to wait a year and then marry. Something happened in San Francisco with all the trouble and Rionach—I don't think it had anything to do with that sweet child though. "
"Well, forgive my frankness. At his age—he may be, let us say, anxious to begin, uh wedded bliss."
Victoria roared, "Oh Ephraim. You and I both were young once—-I would hope that was the case—"
He smiled, "But your no mother's heart tells you something else is wrong."
"You know me well," she sighed, "He is at odds with Jarrod and Nick. He's always been my most mumpish son—-with good cause of course. I get the feeling Jarrod knows but Nick doesn't. He even asked me if I knew what was bothering Heath. Sally just looks hurt—-she loves him and will do anything to help—obviously he's not listening to anyone but his gut."
"One's gut, as you said, might be just indigestion and not necessarily correct."
"That's my fear. Usually the three of the boys work through it. He's not listening, it appears."
"Well, this gives me something to ponder on when we visit in a few minutes."
"I haven't minced my words. A quick wedding causes tongues to wag. Sally has said as much herself and he won't listen. We are here to set a date for the wedding."
The bell rang and the housekeeper answered it.
"Reverend, your guests are here."
"Bring my friends in. We have a wedding to plan." and he looked knowingly at Victoria.
He whispered, "I shall do my best."