“Mr. Hargadon,” a woman’s high pitched nasal voice interrupted Royce’s thoughts.
“Ma’am,” Royce said removing his hat. The woman could only be Miss Ferguson. She fit Royce’s idea of a schoolteacher. In her middle thirties. She was tall for a woman and slightly over weight. Her brown hair was pulled severely into a bun distorting her facial features. A hat with a wide brim and decorated with peacock plumes was perched on top of her head. Her mouth was pinched as if she was sucking on a sour pickle.
“Miss,” Miss Ferguson corrected squaring her shoulders. She held her hands together in front of her. Her look when she took his measure was critical.
“Yes Ma’am,” Royce replied then cleared his throat as heat surged into his face. He was sure Miss Ferguson viewed everyone as inferior. He had met woman like her in the past. Independent and outspoken.
“Well,” Miss Ferguson said tilting her chin into the air and looking down her nose at Royce. “Come along young man,” she said. Turning, Miss Ferguson walked down the boardwalk. Royce noticed everyone stepped aside to let the woman pass furthering his first impression. Miss Ferguson was a woman to be reckoned with.
In front of the general store a group of young ladies stood gossiping. “Humph,” Miss Ferguson cleared her throat to indicate she wanted to pass. The young ladies all stopped talking and turned towards the older woman. Then they moved to line up with their backs towards the general store so Miss Ferguson could pass.
“Miss Gaines,” Miss Ferguson addressed the nearest young woman.
“Miss Ferguson,” she replied politely. Color was bright on the young woman’s cheeks. Her hair under a straw bonnet was golden yellow. Her eyes were dark brown and looked hostile before she could camouflage her feelings. The young woman was the prettiest woman Royce had met in years. Dressed in pale lavender and looking like an Angel pictured in his father’s Bible. If this young thing was Faith Gaines, he understood Dean’s interest in getting acquainted. Only a fool would miss the opportunity.
“Mr. Hargadon,” Miss Ferguson said. “I want you to met Miss Elizabeth Gaines,” she indicated the youngest of the four young ladies. “Elizabeth is one of your students.”
Royce’s hands were filled with his gear. His valise was in his left hand, satchel containing books in his right hand and under his left arm was his bedroll. His Henry rifle in a leather scabbard hung off one shoulder. Royce nodded his head towards Miss Elizabeth Gaines and swallowed down his discomfort. The young woman had a cameo complexion. Her hair was pale gold and her brown eyes had tiny flecks of gold around the iris. She wore a brown stiff brimmed bonnet with ecru lace framing her pretty face. Her brown dress fitted her budding figure to perfection. She was another Angel descended to earth.
“Miss Caroline Pillsdale,” Miss Ferguson said and the second young lady smiled shyly at Royce. “She is the Mayor’s daughter.” Beside the two Miss Gaines, Miss Pillsdale looked like a wildflower among roses. Her eyes were pale blue and her brown hair under her blue bonnet was pulled back severely giving her face a flat appearance. If Royce had met the young woman without the presence of the Gaines Angels he would have said she was attractive. Possibly because her breasts were full beneath a fitted bodice and her waist was narrow. The mature Miss Pillsdale could not be one of his students.
The third young lady was another Miss Gaines. Miss Valerie Gaines was not as shining as her two sisters. Her hair was honey gold and her eyes cherry brown. She wore a sloppy brimmed hat decorated with paper flowers. Her dark yellow dress left her looking unearthly. She was another Angel just not as radiant as her sisters.
Miss Ferguson turned back to the first young woman. Her pinched features tightened as her blue eyes took on a different hue. She did not like the young woman Royce was certain. “Miss Imogen Gaines,” Miss Ferguson spoke the name slowly. Her lips curling back in what could only be described as a snarl.
So none of the Miss Gaines he was introduced to was Miss Faith Gaines. Royce wondered if Faith looked more like Imogen and Elizabeth or more subdued like Valerie. It really did not matter all three Gaines sisters were breath taking beautiful.
* * * * *
Having noticed Miss Ferguson talking with her sisters Faith Gaines stopped abruptly inside the general store. So abruptly Mr. Cook bumped into her back. “I beg your pardon,” the man said hastily removing his hat. He nodded his head politely with embarrassment darkening his features. He had been gawking at Faith and had not realized she was stopping.
“Entirely my fault,” Faith replied. Color was high on her cheekbones. Mr. Cook of all men! She had been avoiding him for months. Now of necessity she had to acknowledge his presence.
“Not at all,” Mr. Cook replied politely. As owner of the Feed and Grain, Mr. Cook was considered a pillar in the community. Faith thought him overly friendly. Stepping to one side she let Mr. Cook go ahead of her. She was not in any hurry to meet Miss Ferguson. By the time she left the general store the schoolteacher and
