Aundy (Pendleton Petticoats - Book 1) (9 page)

“With Erik gone, you’re running five short? Is that right?” Nora asked, looking to Dent for confirmation. At his nod, Nora shook her head.

“We can send over some help until you hire more men,” Nora said, thinking they could make do with a couple less hands for a few days.

“Absolutely not, Nora. You’ve done so much already,” Aundy said, getting to her feet and looking at Dent for support. Instead, he nodded his head inconspicuously at Nora.

“Looks like you’re outvoted, Missy.” Dent grinned then hurried out the door before Aundy could reply.

“Nora, I…” Aundy said, turning toward the woman who had been mother, friend, and mentor to her since she’d stood dripping mud all over her clean porch.

“Not another word, Aundy. It’s what neighbors and friends do,” Nora said, setting a basket on the table and pulling out a few jars of jam, a napkin filled with cookies and a loaf of bread that smelled delicious.

Aundy couldn’t do much cooking with one hand, and was trying to get by as best she could. Dent invited her to join the men in the bunkhouse for meals, but Aundy didn’t feel right about that either.

Looking around the kitchen, Nora took off her hat and set it on the table. “Now, what required my assistance?”

“I need to go into town and get the men’s wages from the bank, pick up supplies, and place an advertisement in the paper. I should be dressed in something more presentable than the work clothes I’ve been wearing and for that, I need someone to help me put on that blasted corset. Like I said, I hate to bother you, but I don’t know what else to do. I would also be forever grateful if you can help me get my hair put up proper before I head into town,” Aundy said, walking toward her bedroom with Nora.

“And just how, precisely, do you plan to get into town to run all these errands?” Nora asked as she helped Aundy take off her shirtwaist and skirt and started fastening the corset into place.

“I hadn’t exactly gotten that far in my plans. I watched Garrett with the buggy and horse yesterday and I think I could handle it.”

Nora laughed. “No doubt you’d try, but you better wait until that arm of yours has healed. My buggy is right outside and I’d be happy to run into Pendleton with you. I’ll call J.B. and let him know you and I are eating lunch in town today and he and Garrett can fend for themselves.”

“No, Nora. I can’t disrupt your day like that.”

“Yes, you can. I insist,” Nora said, expertly pulling Aundy’s long hair up and fastening it in a loose pompadour before pinning a stylish hat in place.

“My gracious, but you sure have some beautiful clothes,” Nora said, admiring Aundy’s outfit. A skirt and short jacket, in the same striking shade of light blue as Aundy’s eyes, topped a crisp white shirtwaist with thick lace around the collar and along the front. The hat, adorned with white roses, featured loops of blue ribbon that matched her stylish ensemble.

Aundy looked down and smoothed the front of her skirt with her good hand. She felt blessed to have a very nice wardrobe, realizing most people in her family’s income-bracket wouldn’t have been able to afford the clothing she, her mother and sister wore. Their wardrobes were a benefit of having sewing in their blood and access to quality materials.

Pulling on her gloves, the women walked back to the kitchen where Nora picked her now empty basket off the table and Aundy folded the advertisement she and Dent had worked on into her reticule.

“My mother’s parents worked very hard before they moved to America. My grandfather was a tailor, serving only the most affluent clients. My grandmother was a seamstress and milliner who rented a small space in a shop not far from my grandfather’s. One day he happened to be walking by the shop on his way back to his store after lunch and saw my grandmother in the window. He decided to be bold, walked right in and asked her if she would make a hat for his mother. She agreed and it didn’t take long for them to decide they were in love and wed.”

“What a romantic story,” Nora said, as she and Aundy climbed in the buggy and started down the lane. “So how did they end up in Chicago?”

“My grandfather decided there were fortunes to be made in America so he and my grandmother shipped what they could, sold the rest, and made arrangements to begin a new life in Chicago. One of my grandfather’s friends started a bakery there and helped them settle in with their two daughters. They had a large shop that offered tailored men’s clothing on one side and everything a fashionably dressed woman could want on the other. My mother and aunt grew up knowing how to sew beautifully, design hats, alter clothes flawlessly, and get the most out of a piece of yardage. They also learned how to do the fancy stitching that set their creations apart from other dress shops.”

Aundy looking around and noticed spring seemed to be arriving as the rolling fields and pastures were beginning to turn green. Taking a deep breath, the air carried a new, earthy aroma.

“And?” Nora asked, anxious to hear the rest of the story as they made their way to Pendleton.

“One day a French man came to have a suit made by my grandfather. My aunt decided right then she was going to marry the man and she did. With her new last name and the loss of her Norwegian ties, she opened her own dress shop that catered to the elite in Chicago’s social circles. My mother fell in love with a common laborer and despite my grandparents’ protests she was marrying beneath her, she didn’t care. My parents were so happy and so in love. My father’s charm quickly won over my grandparents, but he wouldn’t take a dime of their money while they were alive,” Aundy said, letting the memories flooding through her.

“My mother worked for my grandparents and then my aunt. Because of the skills she taught us, my sister and I both worked for Aunt Louisa, too. Ilsa does such beautiful work; she truly is talented. Me, I don’t have the patience for all the intricate stitching. When both our parents died, I took the job in the factory because I was good at basic sewing and needed the work. The factory owners thought their employees should dress in the clothes we made, so people could see the items out and about town. A clothing allotment was part our wages.”

Nora gave Aundy a curious look, convinced the lovely outfit she was wearing did not come from a factory. The attention to detail hinted that it was handmade by someone who definitely knew her way around a needle.

Aundy smiled at Nora’s raised brow. “When my grandparents passed away, my aunt didn’t want the inventory from their store. She said it wasn’t good enough for her clientele, so we had more bolts of fabric, trims, laces, ribbons, hat forms and sewing supplies than you could imagine. I did the basic stitching for our clothes and Ilsa made them beautiful.”

“Why didn’t your mother open her own dress shop, instead of working for your aunt?” Nora asked.

“Mother didn’t have a head for business and she didn’t want to deal with the clients, so she kept the arrangement with my aunt. My father agreed to use the inheritance from my grandparents to move to a nicer apartment and to put us in better schools. Thanks to what my grandparents left us, we were well-dressed and well-educated,” Aundy said, smiling at Nora. “My mother always said a well-dressed lady who walked with confidence and spoke intelligently could go far in life. I sure hope she’s right because I think I’ve got a long way to go and not a lot to take me there but a few nice clothes, a strong constitution, and a determination to succeed.”

Nora laughed and teasingly bumped Aundy in the side. “If that’s what it takes, you’ll go far, honey. You’ll go far.”

Arriving in town, Nora went straight to the bank and sat outside in the buggy. She knew Aundy could take care of herself. The girl soon returned looking relieved.

“That went better than I anticipated. Unlike some men around here, the banker doesn’t seem to mind dealing with a woman.”

“He’s a nice boy. Raised by good parents,” Nora said as she guided the buggy to her favorite store. “Why don’t we do our shopping and while someone carries our purchases out to the buggy, we can run over to the newspaper office with your advertisement.”

“That sounds like a fine plan,” Aundy said, a look of anticipation filling her face as Nora parked the buggy outside a large store with interesting window displays. They stopped to admire a spring scene with seed packets, baskets, and garden tools. “When do you plant a garden?”

“Not for another month or two. We have to wait until the threat of frost is past. By then, you’ll have your cast off.”

“I wonder if they have any books on gardening?” Aundy asked as they walked in the store, greeted by some women from church who were standing at the counter paying for their purchases.

 After visiting with them, Nora led Aundy toward the garden supplies. “Why do you need a gardening book?”

“I’ve never planted one before and have no idea how to go about it,” Aundy said, picking up a garden trowel and wondering what purpose it served.

“Well, silly girl, I’ll be teaching you all about gardens, then,” Nora said, taking the trowel out of Aundy’s hand and shaking her head. “Erik always planted a garden, although none of the men liked taking care of it. He has all the tools you need, I’m sure of it. If not, you can always purchase them later. We’ll have to make a list of seeds you want to order. I have some extras, but you might want some different vegetables than I’ve got. Erik also has some lovely fruit trees down by the creek.”

“Fruit trees? What kind of trees?” Aundy asked, excited at the prospect of growing her own fruit. She had a sweet tooth and being able to make pies and crisps, as well as put up preserves for winter sounded wonderful.

“A couple of cherry, some apple, and pear,” Nora said, sorting through a stack of gloves, looking for a new pair. “And peach. He brought me the loveliest peaches last summer.”

Aundy was busy dreaming about the first bite of a ripe, juicy peach when she was bumped from behind.

“Beg your pardon, miss,” a good-looking man said as he stepped back from her. Aundy noticed he was about her height and quite handsome with an aristocratic appeal. He probably had women whispering about him behind their hands for miles around.

“Ashton Monroe, I didn’t know you were back in town,” Nora said, looking at the man as he stood staring at Aundy. “You were gone when poor Erik had his accident so you probably haven’t had a chance to meet his wife.”

“Wife? So it’s true? Erik really did send for a mail-order bride?” Ashton asked, tipping his head at Aundy and giving her an engaging smile. “I can’t believe someone as lovely as you, Mrs. Erickson, would have been unattached.”

Aundy blushed, thinking the man was either full of poppycock, as her father used to say, or had impaired vision. Looking at the thick fringe of lashes around his intense, dark eyes, she somehow doubted he had any problems seeing.

“Thank you, Mr. Monroe,” Aundy said, tipping her head demurely. Her mother had instilled impeccable manners in both her daughters, despite the fact their father thought it was a bunch of unnecessary nonsense.

“My condolences on the loss of your husband, particularly so soon after you arrived in our little town,” Ashton said, taking Aundy’s gloved hand in his and pressing a light kiss to her knuckles.

“Again, thank you, Mr. Monroe.”

“Please,” Ashton said, releasing her hand and gazing into her eyes. “I insist you call me Ashton. All my friends do, and I certainly hope you’ll allow me to be your friend.”

Aundy gave her head a barely perceptible nod, watching Nora roll her eyes. “Very well, Ashton.”

“That’s better,” Ashton said, beaming a brilliant smile at Aundy. “Now, what brings you ladies to town today?”

“We had a few things we needed to do,” Nora said, giving Ashton a smile that lacked any real warmth or sincerity. “What about you?”

“Just a few business matters that sorely needed my attention,” Ashton said glancing from Aundy to Nora. “Perhaps you ladies would join me for tea at Dogwood Corners one afternoon?”

“Perhaps,” Nora said, putting a hand on Aundy’s arm to keep her from saying anything. “We need to get through calving season first.”

“Oh, yes. How is the illustrious cattle business at Nash’s Folly?” Ashton asked. Aundy was surprised to hear a note of disdain in his voice.

“As good as ever,” Nora said, looping her arm through Aundy’s and giving it a gentle tug. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we need to finish our shopping.”

“Of course, Nora. It was a pleasure to meet you Aundy,” Ashton said, tipping his hat. “I look forward to seeing you again.”

Watching him walk toward a group of men gathered at the back of the store, Aundy looked down to see Nora shaking her head. “Don’t let his nice manners and fancy talk turn your head, honey. He’s not one to dally with.  As handsome as he is, not to mention smooth talking, Ashton has broken more hearts than you can imagine. He’s nothing but trouble when it comes to pretty women.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Aundy said, following Nora to the store’s counter. “I don’t believe he’d be interested in someone like me anyway.”

“What do you mean?” Nora asked, stopping to look at Aundy.

“You know, someone plain and simple, without wealth or station or beauty,” Aundy said, stating what she felt was a fact. “Besides, I have no interest in becoming involved with a man. None at all. I’ve only been a widow for less than two weeks.”

Nora laughed and wrapped an arm around Aundy’s waist. “You may not have grown up wealthy or in high society, but there is nothing plain or simple about you, honey. Not a single thing. We all know you and Eric weren’t in love, didn’t really know each other. I wouldn’t worry too much about being the grieving widow. After all, we did talk you out of wearing black. When the right man comes along, the one who makes your stomach fill with butterflies and your breath catch in your throat and all sense fly right out of your head, you’ll be ready to rethink that notion about staying away from the male species.”