about it?
But thoughts of Adele leaving irked him. As often as he’d pictured himself leaving Clear Creek, he should be happy for her. Getting to spend time away from this place where so little happened would be a blessing, regardless of the upcoming events the matrons from Nowhere had planned. He still didn’t understand the point, but if it made folks here happy, who was he to argue? Ma had been especially cheerful since the planning for the dance started.
Liam took one last look at the house, then headed off to do his chores.
Adele, her brothers and Liam had just finished stringing paper flowers and other decorations over the street the same way they had the banners. “Oh, look how pretty everything is,” she enthused.
Merritt and Ruby stood nearby as Lucinda joined them. “My, you’ve all been busy.”
“They certainly have.” Merritt glanced at Lucinda. “You might be busy too.”
“If you’re referring to the musicale, Mother says I don’t have to play.”
Merritt glared at Adele. She’d been doing that a lot the last few days. “Has anyone bothered to ask him yet?”
Lucinda giggled, quickly covering her mouth. Ruby, who was closer to Merritt than to Lucinda, took two steps back. No one wanted to be too close to Merritt when she was in a bad mood. She tended to flail her arms.
Adele watched the trio and rolled her eyes. “Liam was supposed to.”
Merritt marched up to Liam. “Well? Have you asked Mr. Comfort if he’s going to play?” She spat out the man’s name like it was an epithet.
Liam looked helplessly at Adele before replying, “I was planning on riding out there this afternoon.”
Merritt’s jaw dropped. “You mean you haven’t asked him yet? Great.” She tossed both hands in the air. “Just great. He’ll never say yes now.”
“Why not?” Liam asked. “If he’s a good enough player, he doesn’t need the extra days to practice.”
“Must be nice,” Ruby said.
Lucinda put an arm around her. “Don’t worry, I’ll be there for you.”
“You might want to tell her that when we have practice this evening at my house,” Merritt stated. “In fact, we’ve already had two between the three of us. Eleanora, however …”
“What time are you practicing?” Liam asked.
“Right after supper. Tell Mr. Comfort not to be late.” Merritt stomped off, looking mad as a rattler.
“What’s the matter with her?” Lucinda asked.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Ruby said. “She can’t stand Benedict Comfort.”
“Why not?” Lucinda asked. “I think the Comfort brothers are rather dashing.”
Adele watched Merritt disappear into the sheriff’s office. “Sometimes people just rub each other the wrong way.” She turned to Lucinda and quirked an eyebrow. “Dashing?”
Lucinda shrugged. “Well, they are Southern gentlemen.”
“I think Peaceful Comfort is anything but a gentleman,” Ruby commented.
Lucinda gasped. “Don’t let him hear you call him that. You know he hates that name.”
“So?” Ruby rolled her eyes. So did Liam, oddly enough.
“We should check on the other decorations.” Adele smiled at Ruby and Lucinda. “If you’ll excuse us?”
She and Liam said their goodbyes and headed toward Grandma Waller’s house. “Are those two always like that?” Liam asked.
“Afraid so,” Adele said. “But you can’t blame them.”
“They could be nicer about it.”
Adele blinked in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
He stopped, shoved back his hat and put his hands on his hips. “Seems to me neither Ruby nor Merritt had anything nice to say about the Comfort brothers. And if you don’t have anything nice to say …”
“They were just speaking their minds, Liam,” she said. “And it wasn’t like the Comfort boys were there to hear it. I don’t think there’s any harm in it.”
“I don’t think talking behind their backs is an improvement. It rubs me the wrong way – makes me wonder how they talk about me when I’m not around.”
“Benedict simply rubs Merritt the wrong way. From the sounds of it, Matt isn’t much better with Ruby.”
He crossed his arms. “I suppose.”
She started walking again. “Isn’t there anyone else in town that irritates you?”
He came alongside her, smiling slyly. “Adele Cooke has – for the longest time.”
She gasped, then laughed. “Oh, really? You mean the way Liam White has annoyed me my whole life?”
Liam burst out laughing. “Exactly! Just like that!” They continued down the street, and by the time they reached the Wallers’ they’d calmed a bit. They had irritated each other. Only recently had it become … something else.
Grandma opened the door at Liam’s knock. “Hello, you two. Six pies done, and Elsie’s baking more as we speak. Let Irene chew on that.”
Liam