The Dawn of a Dream (27 page)

Luellen hastened toward the campus. She had enough time to stop at the Ladies Hall and see Belle before classes at the Model School. Last night she’d worried Belle would leave school without graduating—now she worried she’d been so forceful she’d alienated her.

A long shadow spread before her on the walkway. She looked up, surprised. “Good morning, Mr. Price. You’re out early. Are you going to town?”

He halted, eyes wide. “Miss . . . Mrs. . . . I had no idea you lived in this direction.”

She let the remark pass.

“Town?” He ran his finger around his collar. “Yes. I must be on my way.” He tipped his hat and dashed past her, his boots thudding on the boardwalk.

Luellen watched him for a moment, her curiosity piqued. What was so important that he couldn’t wait for the omnibus? She shook her head. Thankfully, it had nothing to do with her.

When she arrived at the Ladies Hall, she straightened her shoulders and sailed through the front door as though she had every right to be there. Sounds of cutlery clinking on dishes, along with the bland odor of boiled oats told her she’d arrived in time for the students’ breakfast. The trick would be to catch Belle in the dining hall without encountering Mrs. Bledsoe. She balled her hands into fists, nails pressing into her moist palms, and stepped across the threshold.

A quick survey showed Belle sitting near the center of the room. Mrs. Bledsoe was nowhere to be seen. Luellen moved around crowded tables and slipped into a chair beside her friend. “I came to tell you again how happy I am about you and Franklin.” She kept her voice low.

Belle studied her for a moment with red-rimmed eyes. She blinked, a smile glimmering at the corners of her mouth. “Really?”

Luellen slipped an arm around Belle’s shoulders. “Really. I’m afraid I was much too forceful last evening.”

“And I was too quick to take offense.” She pushed her half-eaten bowl of oatmeal toward the center of the table. “I thought about what you said most of the night.”

“What did you decide?”

“I’m going to write Franklin and see what he thinks.”

Deflated, Luellen drew her arm away and rubbed the bridge of her nose. Franklin had paid little attention in school. She imagined he’d be no help in urging Belle to stay in Allenwood long enough to obtain her certificate.

“You may not receive a reply for a month or more. What will you do in the meantime?”

Belle’s dimples showed. “ ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do.’ As long as I’m here, I’ll attend classes and Model School training.”

Luellen did a quick mental calculation. By the time Belle received Franklin’s letter, they’d be only a few weeks away from winter vacation. Maybe she could coax Belle to finish this semester.

Her neck prickled. She looked up to see Mrs. Bledsoe standing behind them, arms folded under her bosom.

“Miss McGarvie? I don’t recall seeing your name on the list of students residing here. Visits are to be accomplished in the parlor, not during meals.”

Luellen stood, her height placing her several inches above the matron’s head. She looked down at the line of white scalp that parted the woman’s graying hair. “That rule applies to male visitors.” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Belle conceal a smile with her napkin.

Mrs. Bledsoe’s face reddened. “It applies where I say it applies. I will not have you upsetting my girls again this year.”

The room grew silent.

Luellen had come to talk to her friend, not antagonize the matron. She took a deep breath and held it for a moment. “It won’t happen again. My apologies.”

Belle stood, taking her arm. “We must get to our class, Matron. Please excuse us.”

Once they were out the door, Belle snickered. “She didn’t know what to say when you apologized.”

“I could hardly believe it myself. I wanted to yell at her.” Adapting a casual tone, she said, “So, are you coming to the Model School with me?”

“For now.”

The kitchen door at Mrs. Garmon’s house stood open to the warm fall afternoon. Luellen stepped inside, stopping at the sight of Leah slumped in a chair, weeping. Her hands covered her face.

Luellen hastened to the woman’s side and laid a hand on her shoulder. “What’s happened?”

Leah jumped at Luellen’s touch, shrugging her hand away. “Land sakes. You scared me. Past noon already?” She swiped at her eyes with the corner of her apron. “I best finish Mrs. Garmon’s meal or she’ll be having a fit.” From her swollen face it appeared she’d been crying for some time.

David and Frannie played on a blanket spread between the stove and worktable—David trying to catch his waving toes and Frannie gnawing on a wooden spoon. “The children are all right?”

Leah bristled. “Of course. I wouldn’t let anything touch the babies.” She stalked to the cookstove, poking at the contents of a steaming pot with a fork.

“Let me help. I’ll feed David in a couple minutes.”

“It’s not your job to work in this kitchen.”

“Maybe not, but you’re upset. Together we can get this meal ready quicker than you can do it alone.”

Tears filled Leah’s eyes again. “Thank you. You’re nicer than you seemed at first.”

Embarrassed, Luellen eyed a simmering brisket surrounded by potatoes and carrots. “I can slice the meat if you want.”

Leah nodded, stepping around the children’s blanket and placing a gold-rimmed china plate on the worktable. “Put the lean pieces here. Mrs. Garmon won’t eat fat. I’ll get a tray ready.”

Once the meal was served, Luellen took David into the bedroom and changed his diaper. She had seated herself at the table, her son at her breast, when Leah returned to the kitchen.

After fetching Frannie, she slid into a chair next to Luellen. “Hope you don’t think I’m flighty. Most times I’m not a crier, but this morning—” She shook her head, her earrings swaying.

“I’m happy to listen if you want to tell me.”

“You know about me going to Canada soon as I save the money.”

Luellen nodded.

“A person was going to help me.” Leah’s expression hardened. “Well, now he’s not. I should’ve known better. If I hadn’t believed him in the first place, I’d never be stuck here in Allenwood.” Her eyes flashed. “Twice I fell for his promises. Never again.”

Luellen thought of her own limited funds. “If I can find a tutoring job, I’ll increase what I pay you for David’s care. It wouldn’t be much but—”

Leah held up her hand. “You said you’d listen. I’m not asking for money. I just want to talk. It’s so hard living away from my people. No one understands.”

“I’m sorry. You’re right. I can’t understand.” She shifted David to her shoulder, patting his back. “But I do know how difficult it is to care for a child without a father’s help.”

“Frannie has a father.” Leah stalked across the room, her daughter under one arm, and flung cooking utensils into the washbasin. “Trouble is he’s a lying, sneaking, good-for-nothing milksop.”

While she walked back to school, Luellen couldn’t help but smile at Leah’s description of Frannie’s father. Except for the milksop phrase, the woman had echoed her sentiments about Brendan. She kicked at a pile of fallen leaves. What made women so eager to believe a man’s words?

Ward Calder walked across the parade ground toward the enlisted men’s quarters, the cape on his overcoat billowing in the brisk November wind. A few red leaves clinging to oak trees fought a battle against approaching winter. When he entered the stone building, he found Franklin tipped back in a chair near the door.

“You took your time,” he said, rising to his feet and stretching.

“Had a class to teach. I don’t spend my days lolling around the post.”

Franklin grinned. “I’m leaving in the morning. Captain Block’s sending me to scout the Smoky Hill Trail one last time before you travel to Fort Hook. He wants to know about any new Indian camps.”

“A camp you find in November could be gone by January.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. Anyways, you need to be forewarned.” Franklin tossed his coat over his shoulders. “Let’s walk.”

They started across the grounds toward the east gate. After several moments, Ward said, “I know you didn’t ask to meet so you could tell me about a scouting mission. What’s on your mind?”

“After Christmas I’m planning to ask Belle Brownlee’s father for her hand.” Franklin’s black hair whipped across his face.

Ward stopped and stared. “Well, I’ll be. You sure kept that quiet.” He gave Franklin a teasing look. “Somehow I can’t picture her camped on the prairie while you chase Indian trails.”

“That’s another thing. I’m going to find work in Springfield. No more trails.”

Envy mixed with loneliness caught Ward by surprise. Without realizing it, he’d counted on having Franklin with him in Kansas. The thought of his friend settled in a cozy home with a bride left him bereft.

As post commander, private housing awaited him at Fort Hook. But achieving his career goals felt hollow with no one to share his accomplishments. His right hand stole inside his coat and touched Luellen’s most recent letter, folded in his breast pocket. If Belle was willing to give up her education, perhaps Luellen had similar thoughts.

Aware Franklin was waiting for him to say something, Ward clapped him on the back. “Congratulations! How’d you convince her to quit school to marry you?”

Franklin shook his head, his expression gloomy. “We won’t marry ’til after she graduates. I can thank my sister for that. When Belle told her our plans, Luellen went to work convincing her to finish.” He bent down and picked up a woolly worm that inched across their path. It curled in his palm. “Going to be a cold winter.” He placed the insect in the grass and watched while it bumped away. “I wanted to set a date before spring, but Lulie talked her out of it. Told Belle not to trust marriage to protect her.”

Ward’s hopes plummeted to his boots. So she didn’t trust marriage. In a weak voice, he said, “Your sister has good reason to feel like that after what happened to her.”

“She does. Belle doesn’t. I don’t have another wife tucked away.”

They continued pacing toward the river. When they reached the gate, Ward turned. He wanted time alone to think. “Must be about suppertime. You ready to go back?”

Franklin caught his arm. “You still planning on spending your furlough in Beldon Grove?”

“Some of it. First I have to go to Pennsylvania to meet with the manager of my father’s estate. Why do you ask?”

“Would you talk to Lulie? Convince her it wouldn’t hurt Belle to leave school. What good will a teaching certificate do a married woman?”

Ward waved his hand in the direction of the post chapel. “There are exceptions. Captain Block’s wife teaches soldiers’ children there during the week.” He trained his gaze on Franklin. “Besides, I doubt I could convince your sister of anything. She knows her own mind.”

Luellen took a last look around Mrs. Hawks’s kitchen.

“If you don’t hurry, you’ll miss your train.” Mrs. Hawks cuddled David in her lap.

“I can’t thank you enough for holding my room for me until after vacation.” She leaned over and kissed the older woman’s cheek.

“Go on with you.” Mrs. Hawks’s eyes misted. “Leah promised to come over at least once every day. We’ll manage.”