Winning the Spinster's Heart (Clear Creek Brides #1) - Kit Morgan Page 0,11
you know.”
Liam nodded. But Pa was ailing more and more often, and it was becoming worrisome. “Promise me you’ll see Doc Drake soon?”
His father nodded. “I will. Now, what’s this I hear about a street dance?”
Liam rolled his eyes. “Something the women in town cooked up. I have no idea what it’ll entail.”
“Sounds like fun. I should feel better by then, though I haven’t danced in a while. Come to think of it, I only get the chance once a year at the Cookes’ barbecue.”
Liam picked up his spoon. “Mother seems happy about it.”
“Of course she is. It gives the women something to do. You know how they love to plan the picnic, the barbecue and the Christmas play. I think it’s a fine idea.”
“You do?”
“Of course. You should get involved, enjoy yourself. At least it will give you something to do besides moping around here.”
“I do not mope.” Liam frowned. “Do I?”
His father waved his spoon at him, reminding him of his mother. “I’m telling you, Liam, you need to do something. I’ve been noticing it for months now. I thought perhaps it was because Max and Lucy had another child or that Clinton Cooke went off to the Weaver farm and married one of them Italian gals.”
“What would that have anything to do with … anything?”
“A man gets to a certain age and starts to want certain things.”
Liam gaped at him. “Pa, I know what you’re going to say …”
“Son, it’s time you found yourself a wife.”
Liam gripped the edge of the table. “… And I wish you wouldn’t.”
“I know. And I know you’ve said there’s no one here in Clear Creek worth marrying. But I don’t think that’s the issue.”
“And what do you think the issue is?” Did his father finally have a clue?
“You want to leave here, don’t you?”
Liam met his father’s sad eyes and his heart sank. “I’ve … given it some thought …”
Pa sighed and nodded. “Then do what you think is best, son.”
This time, Liam didn’t finish his sentence: but I’m too worried about you and Ma to go.
Two days later, the ladies of Clear Creek had another meeting, one that drew more participants and thus had to be held in the church. At the moment, most of them were gathered around Baxter Adams’ new wife, the former Lula Stout. She was a debutante from New York City and had arrived in town in May not long after Adele’s parents and younger sister Parthena had visited the Weavers in Washington Territory.
Adele sighed at the thought of her sister bringing back a husband in autumn. If this kept up, she might wind up married to a Weaver. But she didn’t want to. Aside from already having three Cucinotta brothers- or cousins-in-law, not one of them met the criteria on her list.
“Well, don’t just sit there, dear,” Leona said as she joined Adele in the pew. “Why don’t you gather with the others? Mrs. Adams is a wealth of knowledge on social functions. I had no idea you had a debutante in your midst.”
Betsy joined them. “Isn’t it exciting? Why, I just love listening to her talk about the dances in New York. All those balls! Can you imagine the gowns, Leona?”
Leona laughed. “My heart starts to flutter at the mere thought, Betsy.”
Adele fought the urge to roll her eyes and picked at her lace glove. She didn’t know why she felt like dressing up today, but she’d donned a blue-and-white gingham dress trimmed with white ruffles, a matching hat and the gloves. It was a summer outfit, so she wanted to wear it as much as she could while the weather was still warm. She hoped it stayed that way, with the dance in less than two weeks.
Lula’s voice suddenly rose above the rest. “All right, ladies, everyone take a seat, please.”
Adele watched her. She was a pretty blue-eyed blonde who’d become a mail-order bride because her stepmother booted her and her two sisters out of the house. It involved their family losing all their wealth and gaining it back not long later. She didn’t know how much money the young woman had, but heard it was substantial. Or was it only her parents that had the money?
“Well, go on, dear,” Leona urged.
Adele forced a smile and left the pew for the front of the church where everyone else was sitting. She settled in her usual Sunday spot in the second row.
“Thank you all for asking my advice,” Lula said. “You’ve made me feel