A Wife by Christmas (7 page)

“It’s just me, Mrs. Davis. I decided to take a walk before bed.” He straightened his clothes and walked toward her.

“Mr. Colbert? I didn’t even see you leave the house.”

“You were busy with your tea. I’ll be in shortly.”

“All right. Good night again.”

Once the door closed. Ellie joined him, picking leaves out of her hair, dusting off her dress. Her bun trailed down her back, half in, half out. A smudge of dirt smeared her chin, and her eyes were bright with laughter. The woman was missing something in the brain. How could she possibly find this situation funny?

“Come, I’ll drive you home.” He put his hand out.

Ellie’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh. The envelope. I forgot to get it.”

Max put his hand to her lower back and escorted her to the Oldsmobile. “It was never in my room to begin with. It’s in the top drawer of my desk at school.”

Chapter 6

“Your hair is messed up.” Ellie eyed him as he took her elbow and they walked to the automobile.

Max frowned and smoothed it back.

“You’re never messed up. You’re always perfect.”

He smiled at her. “I’m far from perfect, Ellie.”

She regarded him. Not just the messed up hair. He seemed different. Rather than lecturing her, he’d helped her solve a problem. Maybe. “Are you still planning on seeing Mr. Ridley?”

They reached the automobile. Max helped her in, slid in behind the steering wheel, and turned to her. “Stealing is a serious matter.” He raised his hand when she began to protest. “Let me finish. Even though he has a good reason for what he did, he still needs to be disciplined.”

Max put his goggles on and cranked the engine. “I won’t speak with the boy’s father. I will, however, visit with John again and assign him some chores to do around the school.”

“He just got a job with the livery.”

“No matter. We can work around that.” He glanced in her direction as they bounced along the rutted road. “He has to be punished.”

Ellie stewed on that as they rode. She enjoyed riding in an automobile. Uncle Jesse had one and he even let her drive it once. Her gaze drifted to Max’s serious face. No doubt, he’d never let her drive his automobile. Probably something that wouldn’t appear on his ‘approved’ list of activities for female teachers.

He stopped in front of her boarding house, turned off the engine and glanced at his timepiece. As she reached toward the handle, he snapped his goggles off and touched her arm. “You have another ten minutes. I’d like to talk to you about something.”

She settled back in the seat and faced him. No matter that he’d tried to smooth his hair, it still hung over his forehead, giving him a softer look. Would he kiss her again? Did she want him too? He’d raised her curiosity on what happened between a man and a woman. She knew the bare bones of it, but no one ever told her about the exciting and pleasurable feelings that would consume her. Every time she asked her sister, Rachel, she simply blushed and told her she would find out when the time came. Everyone still thought of her as the baby of the family.

“You are continuing to collect items for Christmas baskets, aren’t you?”

She glanced at her lap and picked invisible lint from her coat.

“Ellie. Look at me.” His voice rolled off her in soft waves, not the harsh tone she’d been used to. What was going on here?

She forced herself to meet his gaze. “I couldn’t stop. I’m sorry, but my students were so excited about doing the baskets, and we have a long list of families who will be thrilled to get one of them.” Her voice rose with excitement. “We have food, sweets, warm gloves and scarves, and for the families with children, we’ve managed to collect small toys.”

Max pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m not comfortable with you going into strange houses to deliver baskets. I’m going to ask you a question, and I want an honest answer.”

She tilted her head and waited.

“If your uncle knew what you planned to do, would he approve?”

She opened her mouth to respond, and then stopped. That was something she’d never thought about.
Would
he approve of her going into strange houses in questionable neighborhoods? A vision of Jesse’s tight-lipped glare after he’d caught her at several escapades gave her pause. “No. He probably wouldn’t.” Her shoulders slumped.

“Then I’ll go with you.”

“Excuse me?” She swore he’d offered to go with her.

“When the time comes to make your deliveries, I will drive you.” He shifted in his seat and cleared his throat. “Now I’ll walk you to your door.”

Ellie continued to stare at him as he left the automobile, walked around the front, and opened her door. He put his hand out. She took it and her hand tingled, the sensation racing up her arm. Her heart did double time as she fixed her gaze on his face. He smiled at her.
Smiled!

Tonight she’d snuck into his bedroom, made it necessary for him to crawl out his own window like a thief, fell on him when she dropped from the ledge, and messed up his hair. Instead of the disdain she’d expected, he drove her home, offered to go with her to deliver her baskets, and then smiled.

They walked slowly up the steps. “Thanks, Mr. Colbert.”

“I think it’s time you called me Max. At least while not in school.” He gave her a lopsided grin. Her stomach clenched.

“Good night.” She hurried through the door.

Max returned to his motorcar and headed for home. Sweat beaded his forehead. This situation troubled him. The plan was to find someone to marry Miss Henderson to get her out of his hair, but every time he ran into her, it got harder to remember. Oh, she was trouble all right. No doubt about that, but her presence slowly peeled away the layers of protection he’d placed around himself.

He’d witnessed first-hand what his father had gone through with his fool-headed mother. As much as he loved her, like Ellie Henderson, his mother skipped from one crazy project to another. An upstanding businessman and respected member of the Chicago community, Joseph Colbert had rescued his wife from more than one debacle. Growing up, Max had always felt sorry for his father until the day he told him, with a besotted look on his face, that he loved his wife, not in spite of her peculiar ways, but because of them.

Not him. He had his life well planned, with no room for the lunacy of a wife. They cried, complained, and did all sorts of things to embarrass their husbands. Ellie. Practically a duplicate of his crazy mother.

It was time to present her with another prospective husband.

Max stood at the door and watched as the last students left the building. The dry spell had broken, and clouds dumped buckets of much needed water on Guthrie. It doused houses and people, and ran in the streets in rivulets, creating red mud everywhere. Two boys pushed each other until they were both rolling around in the muck, laughing.

Max winced. “Get up out of that mud and go on home. Your mothers will take a switch to you.” He closed the door and headed down the hallway to Ellie’s classroom.

Her lovely bottom rose in the air as she crawled under her desk. An unintended grin crossed his face. “Miss Henderson?”

“Oh.” She banged her head on the desk as she jumped. She backed out, rubbing her head, wreaking havoc with her hair. Face flushed, she climbed to her feet and smoothed her blouse, leaving a trail of blue ink across one breast. “I was looking for my good pen that rolled under the desk.” She held up a black fountain pen, chewed around the edge. Dark blue ink dripped from it onto papers on her desk.

“Ellie.” He nodded in the direction of the pen.

She placed the pen on the desk, and he watched the ink slowly run to the edge and drip onto the floor.

He shook his head in disbelief. “I’ve come to invite you to a Christmas Concert.” He held up two tickets. “It’s tomorrow night at the Guthrie Music Hall.”

“You want to go with me?” Her eyes were wide with surprise.

“Yes. It starts at seven-thirty. I will pick you up at seven o’clock at your boarding house.”

“Wait a minute. I may be busy tomorrow night.”

He raised one eyebrow. “Another Women’s Rights meeting?”

“Well no, it’s tonight.”

“Then are you busy tomorrow night?”

“Not exactly. I mean, I had some work to finish on my Christmas baskets.”

“Good. Then it’s settled. I’ll see you then.” He turned on his heel and left the room, the scent of rose water teasing his nostrils.

Ellie left her bedroom and walked down the hallway after Mrs. Beamer had tapped on her door and announced that ‘her’ Mr. Colbert had arrived and waited in the parlor.

He stood next to a gentleman of undetermined age. He was pudgy and soft, and reminded her of a stuffed bunny rabbit. His skin was stark white, his nose pink, and his eyes a pale color she couldn’t name. It may have been her imagination, but his unusually long ears seemed to move by themselves. He had a few lengthy whiskers growing on his upper lip. Not enough to be called a moustache, but nevertheless, there they were.

“Ellie, I would like you to meet Homer Snodgrass.” He turned to the man. “This is Miss Ellie Henderson, one of the teachers in Logan County High School.”

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Henderson. Mr. Colbert has certainly spoken highly of you.” He smiled. His teeth protruded in the front. Definitely a rabbit.

“Very nice to meet you, too, Mr. Snodgrass.” She glanced at Max with one eyebrow raised.

“Well, shall we go?” he said, avoiding her eyes and handing Ellie her coat.

“Have a good time.” Mrs. Beamer waved at them from the door.

Max escorted her and Mr. Snodgrass into the back seat of his motorcar. “Here’s a blanket to stay warm on the ride to the concert hall.” Then he slid behind the steering wheel, fastened his goggles, and cranked the engine.

Max always seemed to have a friend with him—but never the same one. His circle of acquaintances must be huge. She never would have guessed Max Colbert didn’t like to attend public events by himself, but there didn’t seem to be any other explanation. He must need the confidence of another man. Strange.

She relaxed as she settled against the soft leather seat. Even though Max had bullied her into going tonight, she was glad she’d accepted. Several of her friends had already attended the concert and spoke highly of it.

“Miss Henderson, may I say you remind me so much of my dear departed Agnes.” Mr. Snodgrass’s nose twitched.

“Oh, I’m so sorry. Your wife?”

“No. My Basset Hound. A true beauty.” He patted her hand.

“Dear God,” Max mumbled from the front seat.

“Yes, a beauty and very affectionate. Spent every night in my bed with me.”

A choking sound came from Max. “Homer, why don’t you tell Miss Henderson about your rock collection?” He turned to glance at Ellie who was biting her lip to keep from laughing. “Mr. Snodgrass has a beautiful collection of rocks from all over the territory.”

The man’s face lit up. “Yes, I do. You should see my collection, Miss Henderson. Every time my dear Agnes and I went for a walk, I would pick up a new rock. She was wonderful at sniffing out the most interesting ones. I remember one time...”

Ellie ignored the rest while he droned on about Agnes and his rocks. Where in heaven’s name did Max find these men? Somehow she couldn’t see him being friends with any of them. It’s almost as if he snatched them from the street and dragged them along for company. Could Max be that uncomfortable in a crowd? She sighed. He was certainly an enigma.

Christmas holly and bright lights decorated the outside of the concert hall. The cold air and festive surroundings put her in the right mood. People spilled from buggies and automobiles, wrapped in furs and jewels, laughing and chatting. She felt somewhat underdressed with her dark blue wool coat and hat, but the red and green bells she’d fashioned into earrings gave her appearance a holiday look, even if Max winced when he first noticed them.

Christmas drew near. With only another ten days, she needed to finish her baskets and get them delivered. Even though that’s what she should have been doing tonight, attending the concert thrilled her.

Max presented three tickets to the usher, and he led them to their seats. Very close to the front, an excellent view of the stage. Mr. Snodgrass went in first, then Ellie, followed by Max, who looked a bit agitated. They settled in their seats and studied the programs.

The orchestra tuned their instruments behind the red and gold velvet curtain. She looked around and inhaled deeply. Pine and apples.

“Miss Henderson?” Homer patted her hand again.

She turned in his direction.

“Agnes would have loved this concert.” He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye with his index finger. His pink nose had turned bright red.

Max shifted in his seat, clutching his program so tightly his knuckles turned white.

“Yes, she thoroughly enjoyed music. I play the piano, and whenever I’d settled on the bench to play a few tunes, she would lie down right alongside me and sing along.”

“Indeed?” Ellie gasped.

“Yes. I always thought her voice more alto, but whenever Mr. Atkins next door would come over to ask me to play a little softer, he said he found her tone to be a mystery.”

Max squirmed, adjusted his tie, pulled at his collar, his face now beet red. He turned to Mr. Snodgrass, about to speak, when the lights went out and the curtain rose.

The concert was wonderful, and Ellie enjoyed every moment of it. Familiar Christmas songs were interspersed with well-known classical pieces. The audience sat mesmerized as one tune after another drew warm applause.

Max sent Mr. Snodgrass to fetch two hot apple ciders during the intermission. He seemed to relax more once the man left.

“Don’t you want apple cider?” Ellie asked Max as Mr. Snodgrass returned and handed her the glass.

“Cider would never suffice tonight,” he bit out.

The second half of the concert sped by. The orchestra continued to play many of Ellie’s favorite Christmas songs. Several times Mr. Snodgrass would hum along, and wipe his eyes with his handkerchief. Max tapped his foot, crossed and uncrossed his arms, shifted in his seat, and at one point glared at Mr. Snodgrass.