Ma and Aunt May were huddled together in the far corner of the kitchen as close as an apple to its skin. They stopped their chatter as she reappeared. Aunt May moved toward her.
“I think you have an admirer, Katherine,” Aunt May teased, with a twinkle in her eyes.
Katie’s mouth dropped open and her eyes widened. “You can’t be serious. He’s almost as old as Pa.”
“Don’t look so surprised, girl,” Ma said. “Why with your comely looks, what man wouldn’t be interested?”
The all too familiar disapproving tone and set of her ma’s chin told Katie she was in for a fight.
“Ma,” she pleaded. “This is ludicrous. I’m too young for him. What about Widow Laurie up the road? Why, she would jump at the chance of marriage with her brood of children and no husband to run the farm.”
Ma’s lips formed a tight ashen line and her eyes narrowed into a glare. She moved in close, her voice hushed but stern. “You’d do well to remember that is a very influential man sitting on our humble porch. I will not have you embarrassing us with your haughty ways. All I know at this point is the conversation out there concerns you, and you will show nothing but respect. Do you hear me?” She clenched her teeth together and wagged her finger so close to Katie’s face she could feel the fan of a breeze.
Ma’s countenance held no room for argument.
***
Katie would rather run down the streets of Lacy Springs naked than marry old man Richardson. She couldn’t believe her Pa. Was he out of his mind? Could another twist of fate far crueler than what had already happened be her lot in life?
“Oh, so that’s why he showed up out of the blue last week all friendly and sure of himself. I wondered what brought the high and mighty Mr. Richardson to our humble door.” She intentionally flashed her pa a stormy scowl. “Apparently, I was the bait.”
He dropped his eyes to the floor.
