His Secondhand Wife. Cheryl St.John
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Название: His Secondhand Wife
Автор: Cheryl St.John
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Историческая литература
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“We’re having dinner with my parents this afternoon,” Charmaine told her, and slipped her arm into the crook of Wayne’s. “And a croquet match. I’m going to let him win this time.”
Estelle found Kate and took her arm then, and Kate wished the young people a goodbye. Their way of life was as far away from hers as the sky was from the ground where she walked. She’d spent her growing-up years laboring to make money for food and a place to live, and she’d earned her way by washing clothes for people just like these. She’d be willing to bet these young women had never had to want for anything. They went directly from comfortable homes with their parents to good marriages.
Kate didn’t begrudge them a thing. She simply had nothing in common with them.
Or with Estelle and the Huttons as it turned out. Estelle’s cook had prepared rack of lamb, string beans and something called a Caruso salad with lettuce, tomatoes and a tangy sweet fruit topped with paprika and oil dressing. Kate speared a piece of the fruit. “What is this?”
“Why, it’s pineapple, dear,” Estelle replied.
Kate closed her eyes. “It’s incredible.”
“You’ve never tasted pineapple before?” Rose Hutton asked.
“No, ma’am. I expect there’s a lot I’ve missed. But I’m enjoying learning now.”
“I’m trying to convince Katherine to live here with me,” Estelle told the Huttons. “She seems to feel an unfounded obligation to Levi’s stepbrother.”
Estelle’s home was elegant, no doubt about it. Kate had never seen furnishings so plush or rooms so ornate. Everywhere she looked there was another painting or vase or Oriental rug or brocade settee. But none of the rooms seemed as comfortable or as welcoming as the room Noah had given her. The opulence here didn’t appeal to her as much as the serenity of the ranch house she wanted to think of as her home. She didn’t want to have to explain her reasons to Estelle again. She’d already told her she didn’t want to live in the city.
She couldn’t think of much else to say that afternoon. The time seemed to drag. Once the Huttons had gone, Estelle sat her down in the parlor. “There is talk,” she said.
“What kind of talk?”
“About you being on the ranch alone with that man.”
“We’re not alone. There are hands.”
“Not living in the house, there aren’t. It simply isn’t proper. You shouldn’t be living alone with him.”
“I guess I don’t know much about proper. All I know is he’s kind and I like living there.”
Estelle clearly didn’t approve of her reply. When she had her groomsman take Kate home, Kate was grateful for the escape. If that’s what Sundays would be like, maybe she didn’t want to go to town in the future.
She changed into a day dress and read in her room for an hour or so before she went downstairs and found a tin of tea. She had just brewed a pot when Noah entered the kitchen.
“Good evening. Would you like to join me for a cup of tea?”
He glanced at the pot on the table. “All right.”
She took out two cups and poured the tea, setting one at the spot he preferred.
He took a seat.
She studied his carefully averted face, wishing she could see him better. “Sugar?”
“Yes.”
She watched him dip a spoonful and stir. Picking up the cup, he took a sip. Raw meat indeed.
“I saw many of the folks who were here for Levi’s funeral today. Most were friendly. Some stared and whispered though. I met Annie’s cousin and a fellow named Wayne. Appears they’re sweet on each other.”
He acknowledged her chatter with a nod.
“Estelle’s home is lovely. Her cook made us an elegant dinner. Lamb, can you fancy that? And I tasted pineapple for the first time. It’s the sweetest fruit I’ve ever had.
“The hillsides between here and town are bright blankets of purple aster. It’s early for those, don’t you think?”
As though he thought he should reply, he said, “Might be early.”
“Estelle made us an appointment tomorrow with Annie Carpenter.” She set down the cup she’d been holding. “I have to confess that I’m not entirely comfortable about having a lot of new clothing made for me.”
“You need clothing.”
True, she didn’t have dresses to fit her growing figure, but the garments certainly didn’t need to be expensive. She wouldn’t be wearing them but for a few more months. “I was thinking I could ask Annie to show me how to help her and I could do some of the sewing myself.”
“Estelle sets store by Annie’s work.”
“And I’m sure it’s worthy of the praise, but I could make up for some of the cost by helping.”
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