Unconventional Series Collection (32 page)

Paddy grinned, "Well, Jenny Samson, you are
a breath of fresh air. Most women who dress like you are stuffy and self-righteous."

"Really?"

Paddy laughed loudly. "Really. Now please
call me Paddy." With difficulty, he pushed himself out of his chair and
said, "Come with me if you want to see your friends before the show
starts."

Jenny's surprise made her immobile for a second,
but Paddy was already waddling toward the stairs and she rushed to catch up.
She followed him past a man standing guard who nodded respectfully, and then
into the inner sanctum of backstage. Fascinated by the props being erected by
stage hands—cliffs above an ocean—she almost tripped over her own feet.

Paddy motioned her forward with a hand the size
of a ham. "Hurry, child. We don't have much time."

Jenny followed her guide into a hallway. At the
last door, he stopped and knocked. A voice Jenny recognized as Prisca's said,
"Come in. Come in. I need help."

Paddy opened the door and blocked the entrance
with his gigantic body. She heard him say, "You have a visitor, Prisca.
And what do you need help with?"

There was a response that Jenny could not
understand and then Paddy stepped aside, motioning her forward. He said,
"Your visitor can help you with that."

Jenny sure hoped Prisca remembered her.

As soon as Prisca saw Jenny, her countenance
registered delight. "Jenny! How delightful seeing you again! I've often
thought of you and our lovely journey from Two Rivers to Bingham. What are you
doing so far from home? How did you know we were here?"

"I saw your announcement in a Dallas
newspaper and I just knew I had to come to your show. How's Joe? I hope I get
to see him, too."

"He's taking care of last minute details,
but he should be back soon. Honey, I need help fastening my dress. Would you
mind?"

"Of course not."

Prisca turned around and Jenny rushed forward,
but remembered her manners. Turning swiftly, she said, "Thank you, Paddy.
You're a lifesaver. I was wondering how I would get backstage." She held
her hand out to him.

Paddy looked at her hand and grinned. "Yes,
Jenny, you are a breath of fresh air." He lifted her hand, turned it over,
and kissed her palm. Gazing past Jenny to Prisca, he said, "I'll see you
later, doll."

Prisca smiled, "Later, Pad."

Jenny fastened the clasps Prisca couldn't reach
on her red velvet, tightly fitting bodice, flaring into layers of ruffles
cascading down the skirt, and said, "You look beautiful."

"Thank you. But please tell me you can stay
and visit after the show with your escort. Surely, you're not here by
yourself?"

Jenny hesitated. "Actually, I am. I must
admit that I stole away from my companion and he has no idea that I'm
here."

"He? That sounds intriguing. Is
he
a
romantic interest?"

Jenny blushed.

Prisca clapped her hands. "He
is
and
you must tell me about him after the show."

There was a light knock on the door and Jenny
turned to see Joe open it. "Jenny!" he said warmly. "Prisca and
I have often spoken of you and wondered if we would have the pleasure of your
company again. We must…"

Joe was interrupted when a stage hand stepped
beside him. "Five minutes to show time."

Jenny placed her hand over her mouth.
"Goodness, let me get out of your way."

Prisca asked, "Which row are you seated
in?"

"I'm in the first row, center. Next to
Paddy."

"I'll sing especially for you, Jenny. And
you tell Paddy to bring you back here as soon as the last curtain falls."

For the next two hours, Jenny lost herself in
the beautiful voice of Princess Prisca as she sang of longing for faraway lands
and lovers left behind. When Jenny wiped tears from her eyes and
surreptitiously glanced around, the majority of the audience of rough,
weather-hewn cowboys and painted-faced saloon women were doing the same. As
Prisca's last note faded and the curtain fell, the audience jumped to their
feet shouting, "Encore! Encore!"

When the curtain was raised again, Prisca waved
a gracious hand for Joe to stand and introduced him as the reason for her
success. He bowed, smiled warmly at the audience, blew Prisca a kiss, and sat
back at the piano, playing a magnificent encore for Prisca to sing. Again, she
was applauded amidst shouts and accolades.

As soon as the curtain lowered, Paddy said,
"Follow me, sweet Jenny."

Another big cowboy stood at the stairs blocking
backstage, but he stepped aside when Paddy approached. Behind the curtain
everyone was laughing and congratulating each another on a successful final
performance.

Paddy led Jenny to the same dressing room. The
door was open with people coming and going. When Prisca saw them, she beckoned
them in. "Quick, close the door, Paddy, so Jenny and I can visit."

Paddy said, "I'll stand guard. You two have
a nice chat." He closed the door and left them in privacy.

Prisca raised her hands above her head and
stretched. "That man is such a dear. He owns the saloon and theater, you
know." She smiled at Jenny's surprised expression. "His first wife's
name was Sally. She and their child died in childbirth a couple of years after
they married. Oh, he's remarried to a sweetheart of a woman that he treats like
a queen and they have five children, but he often talks about Sally and named
his saloon and theater after her."

Prisca reached to her upswept red tresses and
pulled out the pins holding a multicolored feathered hat to her curls.
"Jenny, can you come to the hotel with me and Joe? We'll have a decadent
dessert sent to our room and catch up on the past few years. Then Joe can see
you home."

Jenny answered, "That sounds wonderful, but
I must return to my hotel. It's late and Ryder and I are leaving early
tomorrow." She bit her lip. "He doesn't know I'm here."

Prisca laughed, "Is he your husband?"

"No." Jenny hesitated, and then said
quickly, "I need to ask you something, but I don't want you to be
offended."

Prisca paused in lifting a brush to her hair.
"Honey, you couldn't offend if you tried. Shoot. What do you want to
ask?"

Jenny inhaled before saying, "When we first
met, you introduced yourself and Joe with different last names, so I assumed
you weren't married. However, umm, the way you looked at each other and
touched, I believed you were, umm, lovers."

Prisca smiled. "Go on."

"Well, umm, Ryder, he's the man I came to
Dallas with—he wants to marry me. And, uh, well, we already have a child."
Jenny felt her face flame. "I was just wondering how it is to be with
someone and, uh, not be married to him. How do you overcome the censor of
society? I guess I'm asking because I'm afraid to marry. I'm not afraid for myself;
I'm afraid for Ryder. I don't think I can be the woman he needs and if we're
married he would be stuck with me. But I want to be with him like you are with
Joe."

Prisca tapped her jaw. "Do you love
Ryder?"

Jenny looked at the floor. "Yes, very
much."

"Does he love you?"

"He says he does."

"Why do you think you're not what he
needs?"

Jenny sighed. "He's worldly, sophisticated,
famous, rich, educated, everything I'm not."

Prisca said, "I want to show you
something." She placed a finger under a chain she was wearing and pulled
it from beneath her bodice. Attached to the chain was a simple band. She held
it out so Jenny could see. "This is my wedding band from Joe. He wears a
matching one. I was eighteen when we married and about as back country as you
can get. Joe was worldly and refined. We've been married almost fourteen years
and–"

Jenny interrupted, "I'm so sorry for
assuming you weren't married. Please forgive me for my insensitivity."

Prisca waved Jenny's apology away. "Honey,
you had no way of knowing. We never let on to anyone that we're married. It's
become a habit. We learned early on that folks thinkin' we're single draws
bigger crowds. Maybe the men figure they have a chance with me and the women
with Joe." She giggled, "You've seen how handsome my Joe is."

Jenny fingered a tear before it fell.

Prisca said softly, "You said you already
have a child with this man. It sounds like he's tryin' to make things right. Is
he a good man?"

Jenny sniffled, "Yes. But he's been hurt
real bad and I don't know if I can give him the comfort he needs. I'm kind of
messed up, myself."

Prisca reached and patted Jenny's hand.
"When Joe asked me to marry him, I told him he didn't have to do that. I
said I'd be with him whether we was married or not." She chuckled.
"He got right offended and said I needed to respect him. Imagine that.
Maybe your man is lookin' for your respect, too." Prisca opened a drawer
in her vanity and handed Jenny a handkerchief.

"Thank you." Jenny dabbed moisture
from her eyes. "Can I ask you one more thing?"

Prisca smiled warmly. "Anything."

"Do you think I would look nice in a fancy
hat or just ridiculous?"

Prisca looked surprised by the question and then
jumped up. Opening an armoire crammed with beautiful dresses, she flipped
through them, pausing occasionally and muttering. "No, no, hmm, no, maybe.
Yes!" She removed a lovely cobalt blue satin gown with matching silk
overlay and handed it to Jenny. Next, she reached for one of the hatboxes atop
the armoire and set it on her vanity, after pushing all manner of lady's face
paints aside. Lifting the round top, she tossed it on a chair and then pulled
out a stylish white satin hat adorned with peacock feathers.

Jenny gasped at its prettiness.

Prisca commanded, "Hold the dress up to you."

With a questioning look, Jenny held the puffy
lace sleeves up to her shoulders. Prisca tilted her head and clucked,
"Perfect." Stepping close, she untied the ribbons of Jenny's bonnet
and removed it, replacing it with the stylish hat. She adjusted the hat and
then stepped back. "Look in the mirror, Jenny."

Jenny stepped in front of a mirror next to the
armoire and gasped.

Excited, Prisca said, "See how pretty you
look. The blue is perfect for showing off the color of your eyes. And if you
put your hair in an upsweep with some tendrils drifting around your face,
you'll have every man within eyesight falling at your feet."

Jenny turned first one way and then the other
holding the dress against her body and watched her reflection.

Prisca asked, "Do you sew, Jenny?"

"Not very well, I'm afraid."

"I remember you talking about your
stepmother. Does she sew?"

"Oh, yes. She sews as well as a
seamstress."

"Wonderful! She can alter the dress to fit
you."

"What! No, Prisca, I can't accept this
dress."

"Oh, fiddle, of course you can, and the hat
too. I only wish I was a fly on the wall when your man sees you in it. Here,
let me put it in a garment bag and pack the hat back in the box."

Even while Jenny protested, Prisca readied the
dress and hat. There was a knock on her door and Joe peeked around it.
"Ladies, I had to bribe Paddy into letting me interrupt. Do you think
you'll be ready to leave soon? The carriage is waiting."

Jenny said, "I really must be getting back
to my hotel. If you would call another carriage, I would be grateful."

Prisca admonished, "We certainly won't call
another carriage. You ride with us and we'll have our driver drop you at your
hotel."

"Oh, I couldn't impose."

Prisca ignored her protest and asked Joe to
carry Jenny's gifts to their coach.

In some ways, the return trip to Two Rivers was
harder on Jenny than the travel to Dallas had been. Although Ryder did not
press for an answer, she knew she would have to give her decision about
marriage soon. In her heart, she longed to say yes, but her fear of failing him
kept her in emotional turmoil.

 Ryder was polite during their train and
stagecoach journeys and spoke of interesting events during his travels abroad.
Jenny listened, commented, and laughed occasionally. Little did Ryder realize,
however, that his conversation was driving them further apart. The fact that
they came from two different worlds became even more apparent.

When at last they reached Two Rivers and Ryder
retrieved his buggy and horse from the livery, Jenny sighed with relief and
exhaustion. She was anxious to return home and sort through her confused
thoughts.

At last Ryder pulled the buggy into Luke's
drive. "Looks like your Pa's buckboard is here."

Jenny saw Rusty, James, and Nate dash out of the
barn. "There're my brothers. It'll be nice having my whole family
together."

Ryder drove the buggy to the porch of the main
house. Luke opened the door and stepped out, followed by Angel holding their
newborn, Charity. Ma Abby joined them holding Eva's and Joy's hands and her pa
was the last to walk onto the porch to greet them. Luke hastened to the buggy
to assist Jenny down.

"Mama!" Joy shouted and held out her
arms.

Jenny rushed to her little girl and lifted her
into a big hug. "I missed you so much!" She gave Joy a noisy kiss on
her cheek.

Joy looked at Ryder, "Yder!" She
reached her arms toward him.

He grinned and bent to kiss her forehead, but
she clutched his neck, so he lifted her into his arm.

 Jenny turned to Angel and hugged her and the
baby.

Brant slapped Ryder on the back. "How was
Dallas? Did you enjoy your trip?"

"It was as chaotic as ever and yes, I
enjoyed taking Jenny there." His eyes met and held hers.

Jenny heard Rusty, James, and Nate run up and
she welcomed any distraction to remove her gaze from Ryder's. She smiled at
them. "What trouble have you three been getting into?" she teased.

Before they could answer, Brant said, "They
got into enough trouble yesterday to last the rest of the year. Didn't you,
boys?"

Abby laughed, "Only the rest of the year? I
was thinking next year, too."

Rusty said, "Aw, c'mon, Ma."

Brant laughed and placed his arm around Rusty's
shoulders.

Eva yelled, "I want a hug, too," and
pulled her hand from her grandmother's to run and grab Jenny around the knees.
Jenny knelt and hugged her niece tightly.

Angel said, "I've got two big loaves of
bread ready to come out of the oven and Abby brought raspberry preserves. Come
on, family, let's visit in the kitchen."

Ryder started to hand Joy to her grandfather.
"I guess I'll head on to my ranch."

Brant, said, "No, son, you stay and visit.
It's been awhile since we chewed the wool. Besides, you can't miss out on
Angel's bread and Abby's preserves."

Ryder smiled, kissed Joy's cheek, and said,
"Thank you, sir. I'd like that."

Luke held the door open for everyone. Jenny saw
a look pass between her pa and ma, and her ma said, "I'll tell her."

Jenny's heart skipped. The serious looks on
their faces didn't bode well.

Abby placed a hand on her arm and pulled her
aside. "Honey, we got word the day you left for Dallas that Mina Priestly
passed on. She was buried yesterday. Family members are still arriving from
out-of-town and Pastor Merriweather is devoting the Sunday service to her.

Tears pricked Jenny's eyes. "I'm going to
miss her. She was one of the sweetest women ever born—and the wisest,
too."

Abby wiped moisture from her own eyes. "She
made me feel so welcome when I first arrived. She was also the one who sent Doc
Henry to the house after Ty got sick. And she was so kind to me after his
death."

Big tears rolled down Abby's cheeks and Jenny
reached to hug her. Both women embraced and cried against each other. Jenny's
pa said, "Can I join you in that hug?"

Abby lifted a hand and waved him over.
"Honey, we need your strength right now."

Brant's pulled his wife and daughter to his
chest and grieved with them.

* * *

Sunday morning dawned cloudy and gray, as if
even the elements mourned Mina's passing. Jenny had never seen Ryder attend a
church service, so she was surprised when he rode up. Brant asked him to sit
with them, but he said he preferred sitting in the back. Jenny longed to have
him sit beside her. Each day, her desire to marry Ryder grew stronger, but so
did her fear that he would reject her again when their incompatibility reared
its head.

Mrs. Merriweather solemnly walked to the piano
and began playing softly. More parishioners arrived and Mina's family from
out-of-town joined her local family sitting in the front pew. Jenny counted her
four sons and three daughters-in-law. She knew Mina's eldest living son was a
widower. Jenny recognized some of Mina's grandchildren, and even
great-grandchildren. Most of her family lived in the outlying ranches around
Two Rivers or in the next county.

When Pastor Merriweather approached the pulpit,
Mrs. Merriweather stopped playing and quietly went to sit beside one of Mina's
daughters-in-law. The pastor opened his Bible and cleared his throat. A noise
at the back of the church caused him to look up and several of the congregation
turned around. The door had been opened by a tall, dark-haired young man with
sadness etched across his handsome face. He nodded toward the preacher and
walked to the front to sit beside Mina's family.

Abby bent to Jenny's ear and said, "That's
Mina's grandson from Dallas; the one who owns a big ranch and was always trying
to get her to come live with him. She said he's a dear heart, but there was no
way she was leaving her home; she wanted to die on her land, and I understand
that."

Jenny nodded her understanding also, and then
thought about the ranch Ryder had bought. It would be hers, too, if she married
him. She would have a home—a place to make her own memories and someday die.
Did she want to take a chance on Ryder—take a chance on building a life with
him? If it didn't work out, could she handle the devastation a second time? She
knew she could not.

Pastor Merriweather began the memorial service.
"It is with great sadness that we are gathered together with Mina
Priestly's family. Our beloved sister-in-the-Lord passed on to her heavenly
reward this past week and, according to her wishes, was buried on her land
beside her beloved husband.

"Often, she spoke of her love for her
family and their love for her; even their wanting to give her an easier life by
opening their homes to her. She always declined, however. Not because she
wasn't thankful for their offers, but because she didn't want to leave decades
of memories.

"A week before Mina died, she came to me
and said she had a notion she would be leaving for the other side soon. She
looked as healthy as ever and I told her so. She only laughed and handed me an
envelope. She said, 'Course I'm healthy, that has nothin' to do with me movin'
on. After I pass, I want you to read this letter to me family, friends, and
whoever shows up for me service.'

"So, congregation, instead of a sermon
today, we are not only grieving the passing of Mina Priestly, but also
celebrating her life. Oftentimes, celebration and grieving go
hand-in-hand."

The pastor reached for an envelope on his pulpit
and pulled out a letter. Jenny heard sobs and muffled crying amongst the
congregation while he unfolded it. She dabbed her kerchief at her own tears.

Pastor Merriweather gazed out amongst the
congregation and then looked down at the letter. In a kindly voice he read:

Dear Family, Friends, and Whoever Else Shows Up,

I'm writin' this letter 'cause me time on earth
is comin' to an end. I can feel it in me bones. Before I go on to either reward
or damnation, there's a few things I gots to say.

The first is to me family. I love all me
children, grandchilds, and great-grandchilds, and if it were possible for me to
stay on with ya'll another ninety plus years, I would. But me beloved husband
has been callin' fer me in dreams. Years ago, when he died, I wanted to die
with him, but he told me I was needed here a bit longer. Well, maybe longer
than a bit 'cause he's been dead nigh on forty years.

I guess what I'm wantin' to say is that I hope
I've given encouragement to those who need it. One instance that comes to mind
is when Brant and Abby Samson lost their baby, Ty. Havin' been through losing a
child meself, I understood their torment, but I also understood that life goes
on and pain doesn't feel so painful after awhile, though it never quite goes
away. So if you've lost a loved one, be encouraged that you can continue livin'
and lovin' life.

As fer me stayin' at me place all these years, me
dear departed daughter's son, Carter, who I raised, tried to get me to come
live with him, as did other family members, but I always refused. It wasn't 'cause
I didn't want to be with family, it was 'cause me sorrow is bearable in this
place I've called home fer nigh on sixty-five years. Here, I'm close to the
spirits of me three boys and girl and husband that passed long ago.

I guess if there's one thing I want to leave
with ya'll, it's that life is too short to waste worryin' 'bout trivials. Life
is meant to be savored with yer loved ones. Oh, you don't have to see things
eye-to-eye. Me and me husband fought like cats and dogs at times, but we always
looked forward to makin' up. How do you think we got so many kids?

So, my parting words are, don't waste life bein'
afraid to live. Life's full of sorrow, but also full of joy. When yer joyful,
don't fergit the sorrow, and when yer sorrowful, don't fergit the joy. Life's a
balance of both that can't be changed, so why fight it.

Live—Love—Cry

And do it all over again,

Mrs. Mina Flora Pearl Priestly,

Beloved Wife of Wilbur Herman Priestly

Except for the sound of Pastor Merriweather
replacing the letter in its envelope and sniffling amongst the congregation,
there was no other sound in the sanctuary.

Mina's words replayed themselves in Jenny's
mind:
Don't waste life bein' afraid to live…Don't waste life bein' afraid to
live…

Pastor Merriweather asked if anyone had stories
or words to share about Mina and slowly, hands began to lift. Over the next
hour, person after person recalled personal experiences with Mina that
sometimes brought tears and sometimes brought laughter to the gathering.

The last person to speak was the young man Abby
had said was Mina's grandson. In a deep voice, he said, "To those of you
who don't know me, my name is Carter Richmond, and I'm Mina's grandson. First
off, from the bottom of my heart, I'd like to thank everyone for their outpouring
of love. This gathering is exactly what Mina would have wanted." He
paused, struggling with his emotions before continuing. "As for me, at
times I must admit I became frustrated with my grandmother when she wouldn't
listen to what I thought was best for her. Now, hearing her letter, I
understand what I refused to see before." He stopped talking and choked
back tears, which caused additional crying in the congregation. After swiping
his eyes with his handkerchief, he smiled sadly, and said with a sweep of his
hand, "At this time, I believe my grandmother would have said, 'You've all
been right friendly and I thank ee vary much. Now why don't we git down to the
business of eatin' and visitin'."

After Carter's words, Pastor Merriweather gave
instructions for the pews to be moved aside and tables to be set up for Mina's
goodbye feast.