eyelids half-lowered with contentment.
“Look who's coming over,' Caroline said, cleaning her plate with one last bite of ham. Tw0 young women were approaching, both of them wearing Indienne dresses made of striped cambric and cotton, the bodices cut low to reveal white muslin chemisettes underneath. The women looked vaguely familiar, but Addie had no idea what their names were. Looking down hurriedly, she lifted a hand to one of her eyes. 'I can't see who it is-have something in my eye,' she muttered. 'Who is it?'
'It's Ruthie, and your old playmate Melissa Merrigold,' Caroline said. 'Melissa's going to be Ruthie's maid of honor. Are you all right?'
'Just a twisted eyelash.' Addie looked up and blinked rapidly, pretending instant relief. 'There. All better. Oh, Ruthie and Melissa, how are you?'
Ruthie, a pretty black-haired girl with a long, narrow face, gave her a many-toothed smile. 'Just fine. Thought we'd come see how y' all liked dinner. '
'I had to get a better look at Adeline's dress,' Melissa chimed in, leaning over and hugging Addie lightly, in the manner of an old friend. Melissa was tall and slender, with round blue eyes, sharp cheekbones, and long, aristocratic hands. 'It's the most darlin' thing I've ever seen!'
'Thank you,' Addie said, smiling at the artless flattery. She felt obligated to return the compliment. 'I like your dress too, especially those little ribbons.' The chemisette and the sleeves of her dress were adorned with colored bows.
Melissa fingered one of the bits of ribbon on her left sleeve, adjusting it to a perfect angle. Just then Addie saw that her pinkie was crooked at an artificial angle, as if it had once been broken and not set properly. She stared at the long white hand, her eyes widening. In a flash, she saw two little girls tossing a ball back and forth. One of them tossed it especially high in the air…
'Missy…' Addie asked in a strange voice, 'does that finger ever hurt you?'
Melissa grinned at her, displaying her hand in a practiced pose. 'This finger?… Mah one flaw. Don't tell me you were just thinkin' of that afternoon.'
'Missy?' Ruth repeated, wrinkling her brow. 'I've never heard you called that before.'
'Adeline's the only one who's ever called me that, ' Melissa replied, smiling fondly at Addie. 'She has since we were little. And no, the finger never hurts at all, it's just a little crooked. You haven't mentioned it in years, Ad.'
'But I was the cause of it when I threw that ball so high-'
'No, it was me. I've always been such a clumsy thing. Never have known how to catch anything 'cept men. ' She looked over at Caroline, who was shifting uncomfortably in her chair. 'Caro, when's the baby due? Pretty soon, huh?'
While Caroline and Missy talked, Ruth perched on the chair by Addie's and leaned over to whisper to her, 'Harlan says your daddy won't let you see his brother.'
'No. Tell me, how is Jeff? I haven't seen him in days. '
'He's about ready to die from loneliness,' Ruth said, her eyes twinkling. 'Don't know what you've done to him. That boy, he doesn't want to even look at any girl but you.'
'I haven't seen him anywhere-'
'He and his friends are busy plannin' some of the stuff for later on tonight.' Ruth giggled. 'It bein' Harlan's last night and all, they got to liquor up and have their- fun. But Jeff's around here somewhere. And if Harlan can be believed, Jeff's goin' to try to see you right after dinner's finished.'
'Thanks, Ruthie.'
After that, Addie listened with only half an ear on the conversation around her, her attention absorbed by the Johnson clan, which was gathered on the other side of the crowd.
In the center of the family sat a heavyset man with huge hands and massive jowls, his eyes bright blue, his hair dark red, and his complexion ruddy. Though he had already finished dinner, a full plate reclined on his lap, from which he picked choice bits of food. He possessed a kingly air to match his considerable proportions. It had to be Big George. She saw some of his children gathered around him, including the soon to- be-wedded Harlan, but there was still no sign of Jeff.
The crowd dispersed as the sun began to set. For the rest of the evening the men and women would be separated. The men would celebrate Harlan's last few hours of bachelorhood with liquor and ribald advice, while the women would give Ruth more presents to open, talk and giggle about men and their eccentricities, and then retire early so they would all look fresh in the morning.
Addie walked to the main house with Caroline, feeling lost, out of place. Just before they reached the steps, she saw Jeff around the corner of the house, his face urgent as he stared at her.
'Adeline,' he said softly, wanting her to slip away to talk with him. She stopped and looked around quickly, wondering if anyone would notice her absence. Surely not. People's minds were on the evening ahead.
'Adeline, don't,' Caroline said, laying a hand on her arm, not looking at Jeff. 'It's not worth it. Daddy's gonna find out.'
'Not if you don't tell him.'
Caroline's voice sharpened with irritation. 'I won't, but he'll find out anyway. Don't be a fool.'
'I can make my own decisions.' Addie drew her arm away. 'I won't be long, Caro.'
'I could just shake you,' Caroline muttered, walking up the steps without looking back, while Addie sneaked away with Jeff in search of privacy.
The best they could do was the blacksmith shop, a tiny shed located near the tin shop and storage buildings. It was stocked with branding irons, horseshoes, hammers, pliers and other tools, and two anvils. The air inside smelled of oil and iron. As soon as the little door was closed, Jeff pulled Addie into his arms and held her so tightly she could hardly breathe. 'I've missed you,' he said over and over again, raining kisses over her face, his hands biting as he pulled her against his body. His violence was unexpected. Addie was passive in his arms for a few seconds. Then she tried to push him away, squirming uncomfortably.
'Jeff,' she said with a half-laugh, turning her face to avoid his mouth, 'you're going to crush me.' She wrinkled her nose as she caught a whiff of his sour breath. 'What have you been drinking? I think you've had a little too much, slicker.'
'I was gonna go crazy if I didn't see you soon,' he muttered against her neck, his arms wrapped around her. 'I was gonna do something… kidnap you,or-'
'Jeff, you're holding me too tight.'
'I haven't held you for so long. Your father's got a hell of a lot to answer for.'
'What do you mean? For keeping us apart?'
'Yes, and for buildin' that damn fence. He's bargaining for trouble, and he's gonna get what he's asking for.'
'Now, wait a minute.' Addie rose quickly to Russell's defense. 'I don't like the fence either, but-'
'No one does. He's ridin' too high these days, honey. He has no right to hide you away from me. Don't you worry, it won't be for long.'
'But he has a right to be angry. What about your men attacking three of ours, including our foreman-'
'We're not gonna argue now,' Jeff said, his lips moving along the side of her neck. 'Holy Moses, you like to argue just for the sake of arguin'.'
'But you seem to think-'
'I need you. Be sweet for me, Adeline. Oh, I've needed you for weeks. Be sweet.' His hand closed over her breast, causing her to jump.
'Stop it!' She pushed his hand away, feeling the heat rise in her face. Suddenly everything had gone wrong. All of her gladness to see him disappeared. 'I came out here to talk with you and find out how you've been.'
'You came out here 'cause you want me,' Jeff said thickly. 'And I want you too. It doesn't
