Worthy of Riches (26 page)

Jessie watched Laurel and Adam dance past. “Even in her condition, that daughter of yours is light on her feet. What a dear she is. And such a help.” She was silent a moment. “It's difficult to be single in a world of couples,” she said gently, offering an encouraging smile. “It gets easier. I won't say that one day it'll be fine, but it will get better.” She rested her hand on Jean's shoulder.

“I don't mind being alone,” Jean lied.

“Oh? You're doing better than I did. After my Steward passed away I was real lonely. Seemed I'd never get over it. And being at these functions only made it worse.”

“To tell you the truth, I didn't want to come,” Jean confessed. “And I'd be happier if I could go on home right now.”

“I understand, but it's good to get out and be with friends.” She turned her attention on the dancers. “God tells us we're supposed to bear one another's burdens. That way the load's not so heavy.” She
looked at Jean. “Please come by my place any time. I'd be happy for the company.”

“I'd like that.”

Adam swept Laurel past, then turned and stopped. “Evening, ladies,” he said with a smile. “Good to see you.”

“Hello, Adam. How have you been?” Jessie asked.

“Good. I've been doing some writing. There's so much to write about this part of the world, and people like reading about it.”

“Of course. This is a remarkable place.” Her eyes sparkled with pleasure. She turned to Laurel. “And how are you feeling?”

“Good, only the baby's beginning to keep me up nights with its kicking.”

“Probably settling into its schedule for after it's born,” Jessie chuckled.

The song “Pennies from Heaven” carried across the room. “You up to dancing a little more?” Adam asked. Laurel nodded and they moved away.

Jessie remained at Jean's side. She hummed along with the song. “I like this one. It's new, isn't it?”

“I think so.”

An older man Jean didn't know well approached them. He smiled at her, then turned to Jessie. “Would you like to dance?”

“I think I just might,” Jessie said gaily, taking his hand. They joined the other couples.

Jean remained glued to the wall—alone. She tried to think of an excuse to leave.

“Hey, Mom. You want to dance?” Brian asked.

Jean looked down at her son's smiling face. His blue eyes shimmered with merriment. “I'd love to,” she said, allowing him to guide her onto the dance floor. Acting very adult, he took her right hand in his, rested his cast on her waist, and moved to the music. Jean did her best to follow his awkward steps.

She felt slightly better. She caught the eye of friends several times and exchanged smiles. Before long she was actually enjoying herself.

When the dance was over, Adam stepped up and asked Brian if he could dance with his mother. Brian gave his permission, and when the
music started, Jean followed Adam, and Brian steered Laurel around the dance floor. Susie stood with Ray Townsend and talked happily with the big man.

Adam smiled at Jean. “Looks like lots of homesteaders and colonists are here celebrating together. Things are better.”

“Yes…” Jean said with a twinge of resentment. “But at what price— my husband's life?”

“It was his choice.”

“I know, but it doesn't help.” She glanced at Ray Townsend. “If I could change it, I would.”

The musicians took a break, and people gathered into small groups. Many congregated around the dessert table. Children lined up to bob for apples, and others waited at a beanbag toss.

Brian and Adam bobbed for apples while Jean and Laurel cheered them on. Carefully holding his casted arm out of the way, Brian came up with one clenched between his teeth and immediately presented the prize to his mother. After that, the family moved on to the beanbag toss where they all took a turn, trying to pitch a small bag into a clown's gaping mouth.

They also tried the cakewalk, and Adam happily won a chocolate cake donated by Mrs. Prosser. Brian tried several times to win one but never managed to land on the right spot.

When the band started playing again, Ray Townsend walked up to Jean. “Would you like to dance?” he asked, holding out his hand.

At first Jean didn't know what to do. Although they had a working relationship and had established a friendship of sorts, dancing with him was something else all together.

“That's all right. You don't have to,” Ray said.

Jean realized she'd been staring at his hand. Embarrassed, she cleared her throat. “No. I'd like to.”

“You sure? I don't want to embarrass you.”

“Don't be silly,” Jean said, taking his hand and stepping into his arms.

Ray was more self-assured on the dance floor than Jean had expected. At one point, Celeste and Robert waltzed past, and Ray winked at his daughter. His high spirits must have been infectious because soon Jean was glad to be dancing.

When the song ended and another began, it felt natural to continue.
It's nice to be in a man's arms again,
Jean thought with a touch of guilt. She glanced at her partner. She wasn't attracted to Ray Townsend, but his strength and guidance felt right.

“Are you having a good time?” he asked.

“Yes. I wasn't going to come, but I'm glad I did.”

When the music ended, Ray led Jean to the punch bowl. “I'm thirsty. How about you?”

“Yes. I am too.”

He filled a cup with punch and handed it to her. He swigged down one cup, then another. “Not bad.”

Jean sipped hers and wondered if she ought to move on and visit with another friend. She didn't want Mr. Townsend to feel obligated to stand with her.

Frank Reed and Tom Jenkins joined them. They nodded at Jean. “How you been, Mrs. Hasper?” Frank asked.

“I'm well. You?”

“Not bad. 'Bout time to head up to the mountains. Figure I'll be taking off come next week.” He looked at Ray. “You goin' up on your own, or you got a huntin' party you're takin' out?”

“Goin' alone.”

“Mountain sheep?” John asked.

“Yep. I've got a good spot up in the Chugach.”

Jean was out of her element and searched for a polite way to excuse herself. She looked for her children, hoping she was needed. Jessie had Susie, and the two were sitting together eating cake. Brian was with his friends. Laurel and Adam were dancing. She couldn't find an acceptable distraction.

“So, what do you think about that, Mrs. Hasper?”

“I'm sorry. Did you say something?”

Frank smiled. “I was askin' you what you think of women and hunting?”

“I've never gone.”

“So you agree, hunting's for men?”

“No. I think it's for anyone who likes it.”

“Women don't have the strength and endurance for hunting.”

“Endurance?” Jean asked incredulously. “Sir, I brought five children into this world, and I don't think anything takes more strength than that.”

Frank pushed his wad of tobacco further into his cheek. “That's different. Women are made for that kind of thing.”

Jean folded her arms over her chest and met Frank's eyes. “I guess you haven't been paying attention, Mr. Reed. Lots of women, including myself, work a full day on the farm, take care of the kids, do the baking and housecleaning, make supper, then in the evening do the mending and so on. Plus, I work at the store several hours a week. I'd say that takes stamina.”

“No need to get your dander up,” Frank said.

“I'd do just fine on a hunt.”

“You think so?” Frank grinned. “Well, Ray, didn't you say you were going up next week?”

Ray answered hesitantly. “Yeah.”

“Well, why don't you let the lady prove what she's sayin'? And we'll see who's right.”

Ray looked at Jean, then back at Frank. “She doesn't want to go. It's not a good idea. It's rough country.”

Jean's ire grew.
Rough country!
she thought.
What's that got to do with anything?
Before she thought, she said, “It's not too rough for me. I could do it. And I will.” She tipped her chin up slightly.

“Now, Mrs. Hasper, you don't know what you're getting yourself into,” Ray said.

“I want to go.” Already Jean wished she could take back the words. This was foolishness. She didn't want to go hunting, but how could she let these men get away with such narrow-mindedness?

“Jean, you don't have to do this. These guys are just teasing. You're a strong woman, and they know it. You don't have to prove anything.” Ray glanced out over the room, then looked at Jean. “I really don't think it's good for a woman to hunt when she's not used to going.”

“Now, what are you scalawags up to?” Jessie asked, sidling up to Jean and laying an arm around her waist.

“Mrs. Hasper's going hunting with Ray,” Frank said. “She says a woman's just as good as a man.” He gave Jean a smug smile.

“Well, I suppose if Jean said she can do it, she can. She doesn't have to prove it.”

Tom Jenkins chuckled. “I think a lot of you, Mrs. Hasper, but I don't think you're cut out for hunting.”

Knowing she ought to take the way out, Jean couldn't bring herself to give in. “I'll go.” She looked straight at Ray. “When are you leaving?”

“I planned to head out day after tomorrow. But Mrs.—”

“Sounds fine to me. I'm sure I can get the time off work, and Laurel will watch Brian and Susie. I'll be ready.”

Ray looked troubled, then shrugged. “All right. I'll pick you up Friday morning 'bout six o'clock.”

“Good. I'll see you then.”

For a moment nothing more was said. Then the band started playing “Ain't She Sweet.”

“Would you like to dance?” Ray asked.

“Certainly,” Jean said, thinking a dance was an absurd way to end the conversation, but to turn him down would seem like giving in.

They danced for a long while, neither saying a word. At one point, she found Luke glaring at them. She felt scalded by his disapproval. She looked away and wondered how she'd gotten herself trapped into a hunting trip.
How foolish of me. What will people think?

Ray cleared his throat. “You don't have to go. Those guys were just trying to get your goat. They know women don't hunt.”

“I know women who hunt,” Jean said, wondering why she couldn't take the easy way out.

“I won't say a thing. We'll just let it drop.”

Something in Jean wouldn't allow her to let go of it. She'd said she was going and she would. “No. I want to go. When I make a deal, I stick to it. Besides, I've always wondered what it would be like to hunt. I should have gone with Will while he was still alive.”

The song ended, and Ray stopped dancing. “All right. But it's not easy. You'll have to do a lot of riding and hiking, and sometimes it's so cold, your face and hands go numb. Once we're out there, I'm not turning back.”

“I understand. I'll be fine.”

Ray shrugged. “All right. Make sure to bring warm clothes and comfortable boots.”

Jean nodded, wondering where she was going to get a good pair of boots at the last minute.

“I'll bring the food and the rest of the gear. You have a rifle?”

“My husband's.”

A question flickered across Ray's face. “It's not the one he—”

“No,” Jean cut in, the memory of Will's death suddenly fresh and painful. “It's a different one.”

Ray was quiet a moment, then matter-of-factly said, “Make sure it's clean and ready to go. Have plenty of ammunition. And if you haven't shot it much, you'd better practice.”

“I will.”

“All right. I'll see you Friday.” Ray turned and walked away.

Jean stood rooted to the floor. “I'm going hunting,” she said, feeling panic rise along with a touch of excitement. Maybe it won't be so bad. It might actually be fun.

She thought of her family. How would she tell them? Luke was already furious. She took a deep breath and tried to think of a casual way of telling him. “I'll just say I'm going, and that will be that,” she said and walked toward Laurel and Adam who stood with Luke.

Luke challenged her before she said anything. “Why were you dancing with Ray?”

“He asked me, and I didn't want to be rude.”

Luke scowled and set his jaw.

“I suppose now is as good a time as any.”

“What's as good a time as any?”

Jean looked from Luke to Laurel and Adam and back to Luke. “I'm going hunting … with Ray Townsend.”

An explosive silence enveloped the four.

“You're what?” Luke finally demanded. “No. You're joking. Right?”

“Mama, you're not really, are you?” Laurel asked.

Jean swallowed hard. “I am.” She quickly went on to explain, “The men were talking about it and pretty soon … well, they acted as if a woman couldn't do it. And I can.” She lifted her chin.

“I didn't think you hunted,” Adam said.

“She doesn't.” Luke glowered at his mother.

“Well, now I'm going to learn. And I don't want to talk about it any more,” Jean said and walked away, wondering just what she'd gotten herself into.

A TRUCK WITH HIGH SIDEBOARDS RUMBLED UP THE DRIVEWAY AND STOPPED. Luke looked out the window, then turned to his mother. “You're not really going?”

“I am,” Jean said, grabbing her coat and pulling it on.

Luke said nothing but slammed a pot into the sink. “I can't believe you're going!”

Jean had decided not to fight, and she struggled to maintain her composure. “Quiet. You'll wake the children.” She grabbed a bulging duffel bag off the chair. “Laurel promised to be here by ten to get Brian and Susie. You'll be on your own. I'm counting on you to take care of things.”

“What are you going to tell people? They're going to talk, you know. It's not right for you to go traipsing off into the mountains with a man. It looks bad.”

“People in this town know me well enough to know I wouldn't do anything improper. And if folks want to gossip, let them. I'm not backing out. I can't do that.”

Luke stood in front of the doorway. “I won't let you go.”

“You won't let me?” Jean asked incredulously. “Luke Hasper, just because you've taken on a lot of your father's responsibilities around here doesn't make you the head of this house. You're my son. I'm a grown woman, and I'll make my own choices. Now, I've been invited to go hunting, and I'm going.”