Winning the Spinster's Heart (Clear Creek Brides #1) - Kit Morgan Page 0,7

found Clear Creek with the Dunnigans almost forty years ago and were used to Irene’s cranky ways.

Belle, Irene’s niece, was unaffected as well. “What if we set up the refreshments in front of the mercantile, Auntie?”

“Why not set them up in front of Grandma’s house?” Irene countered huffily.

“Fine by me, Irene,” Grandma Waller said. “But you’re going to man the tables with me.”

“Fine!” Irene glowered again, not at anyone in particular. Sometimes she just liked to sit and look cranky.

Leona shook her head and got back to the business at hand. “Ladies, trust me – a dance like this is just what your town needs. Back home the townspeople love our harvest dance because it is held outside. There’s just something magical about an outdoor dance.”

“She’s right,” Betsy added. “Anyone who’s been to one of ours can tell you how lovely they are.”

“That’s true,” Lucy Cooke (née Cucinotta) said. “I used to look forward to it every year before I came here. All the Weavers look forward to it – and you know how many of us there are.”

“You’re quite right, dear.” Leona smiled at Sadie at the head of the table. The rest of the women filled the Mulligans’ dining room and spilled into the parlor, some seated, some standing, all with a cup of tea in their hands and something to munch on. So far, the meeting had gone well aside from Irene’s outbursts. “Sadie, I’m sure you’re better equipped to appoint committees than I am – you’re familiar with everyone’s talents.”

“Quite right.” Sadie looked at the other women. “Shall we do our usual?”

“I don’t see why not, child,” Grandma said. “It’s worked for decades. Everyone knows what they’re good at.”

“Very well,” Sadie said. “Irene …”

“I know, I’m in charge of food,” Irene said, cutting her off.

“I’ll head up decorations,” Mary added.

Betsy smiled. “This is so exciting – it’s coming together so quickly. You ladies are sure proficient at this.”

“I agree with Betsy,” Leona said. “Land sakes, I don’t understand why you don’t have more social functions. Back home it takes us days to round up committee members for different things.”

Polly Van Cleet giggled. “We’ve been doing things this way for decades. The best cooks are in charge of the food. Those good at decorating take charge of that. We tell the men what to move or how many tables and chairs we need. And the young people clean up.”

“Did you hear that, Leona?” Betsy said. “Why aren’t we this organized?”

“It’s because of the Weavers.”

“Wait, what?” Lucy Cooke snapped.

“That’s not what Leona meant,” Betsy said. “It’s just that you and the Gardners and some others are so far out of town – how can we coordinate everything with you? And everyone knows the Weavers have the best cooks around. Imagine if we had to rely on Hank for all the cooking.”

Lucy winced and stood down.

“As to the other item of business,” Leona said. “I don’t suppose you have a pre-made committee for that?”

Belle and Sadie exchanged a look. “I’m afraid not,” Sadie said. “And I have to admit that might take a little thought.”

“How long?” Leona asked worriedly. “After all, if we want to make this work, everything has to be timed perfectly.”

“Give us a few days to discuss it,” Sadie said. “I’ll speak with Honoria and a few others before we finalize who we’ll to ask to volunteer. After all, none of us have ever claimed to be a matchmaker.”

Lucy White snorted and covered her mouth.

Everyone looked at her. “What was that about?” Belle asked.

Polly cleared her throat. “It’s pretty well-known that you and Sadie have tried your hand at matchmaking many times.”

Belle and Sadie exchanged another look. “That’s ridiculous,” Sadie said.

“Is it?” Grandma drawled. “Let’s see … there was the little matter of marrying off your husbands’ cousins from England, all six of them …”

Leona and Betsy’s jaws dropped. “Six!” they said at once.

Sadie blushed. “Oh, yes. I forgot about that.” Some of the women laughed.

“But that’s neither here nor there,” Grandma said. “We need to concentrate on getting these young folks hitched, or they’ll keep moping and groaning and that’s nothing any of us old folks want to listen to.”

Irene nodded. “Well said.”

“Then we’re all agreed?” Leona asked, looking around the room.

“Everyone in agreement, say aye,” Sadie said.

“And this includes the new committee, too?” Betsy inquired.

“Yes, but I’ll have to get someone to head that up,” Sadie said. “Are we agreed?”

“Aye!” everyone said.

Sadie whacked the table with the spoon. “This meeting is adjourned.” She handed