Winning the Spinster's Heart (Clear Creek Brides #1) - Kit Morgan Page 0,8

the spoon to Mary. “Thanks for letting me use that.”

Mary smiled. “No problem at all – at least it doesn’t dent my tables like Irene’s ladle used to. Well now, I’d better think of how to decorate for this shindig.”

“When should we announce it to the town?” Betsy asked. “We didn’t discuss that.”

Leona looked around the room. Some ladies were already out the door. “Oh, dear. We didn’t, did we?”

Belle and Sadie smiled and looked at Fanny as she adjusted her hat and headed out. “Don’t worry,” Sadie said. “By the end of the day everyone will know.”

Leona and Betsy followed her gaze, looked at each other and smiled. “Who would’ve thought they’d have their own version of Nellie Davis in this town?” Betsy said.

Leona giggled. “You know what they say – every town has one.”

“In our case, two,” Irene said sourly. “My husband is the other one.”

“Nowhere has three, usually,” Lucy added, arching an eyebrow at Betsy and Leona.

The visiting matrons left their seats and headed for the door. “If anyone wants us, we’ll be at the hotel,” Betsy told everyone.

“We’ll have tea another time, Sadie?” Leona asked.

Sadie smiled. “We have plenty of time. Go rest, you must be tired.”

Leona smiled and left the room. So far, so good. She just hoped it didn’t take too long to form a committee for the most important part of their plan.

“How did your meeting go, Mother?” Adele asked.

Belle smiled. “Quite well. I can’t wait to tell you about it.”

Adele’s eyebrows rose. “What? You mean it’s no secret?”

“Of course not.” Aunt Sadie climbed onto the wagon seat. “Fanny Fig was there, so most of the town should know by sundown.”

Lucy climbed up beside her. “We need to get going. The baby must be hungry by now.”

Adele and her mother got into the back of the wagon. “What did you talk about?” she asked, ignoring Lucy’s comment.

“All right, Sadie, we’re in,” Belle called. “Poor little Cody must be screaming Honoria’s ears off.”

“Mother?” Adele urged.

“We’re going to have a dance,” Belle announced.

Adele didn’t hide her disappointment. “That’s what the meeting was about?”

“It’s going to be wonderful.” Lucy sighed happily. “It will be good to dance again. Especially at this time of year.”

“A dance?” Adele repeated flatly. “The way everyone was sneaking into Mulligans’, I thought you were brewing up something special.”

“A dance is special,” Aunt Sadie said. “We haven’t had a dance like this before.”

“What’s so different about it?” Adele asked.

We’re having it in the street,” Belle said.

“The street?”

“What’s wrong with that?” Lucy asked. “The harvest festival back home is held outdoors.”

Adele picked at a loose thread on her sleeve. “Nothing. It’s just that … the dance at the Triple-C’s bar-b-que is outdoors too. It doesn’t seem like that big a deal.”

“It was Leona and Betsy’s suggestion,” Sadie said. “Frankly, I agree with them. This town needs more social functions.”

Adele rolled her eyes. “For Heaven’s sake, Aunt Sadie, why? Everyone sees each other in church and around town. Isn’t that social enough?”

“At church we sit, we listen, we learn. We do not stand around a refreshment table while others are dancing or vice-versa.”

“And there’s the Christmas play,” Adele said.

Belle frowned. “Adele, why are you opposed to this?”

“I’m not opposed, Mother.” She hung her head. “It’s just that nothing really happens around here anyway. One dance isn’t going to make up for …” She decided to shut up. There was no point in voicing her opinions. Clear Creek was boring, no ifs, ands, or buts. And without a husband or family of her own to take care of, what was a spinster to do?

“We’re holding the dance Saturday after next,” Aunt Sadie said. “This means we’ll need every committee we have working. In fact, we’ll need more recruits.” She turned on the wagon seat and looked at Adele. “I’m putting you in charge of finding some.”

“What, me? But I always help with decorations.”

Her aunt smiled and faced forward again. “Well, if you don’t want to, I have another job in mind for you.”

“What sort of job?” Adele asked warily. She hoped she didn’t put her in charge of anything food-related. She was a decent cook but nothing like her mother or aunt.

“You’ll need a gentleman to work with, I think …” Sadie mused.

“A gentleman?”

Sadie glanced over her shoulder again. “Yes, we’ll need signs. You can’t very well hang them by yourself. I was thinking of a banner we could string across the street, maybe two. We can make them out of sheets …”

“Aunt Sadie, what