“No I won’t,” Lydia said giving her sister a hug. “Oh,” the child cried.
“Lydia,” Faith asked.
“I am alright,” Lydia replied. “I feel wonderful really.”
Faith shook her head. Lydia was still an impressionable child. She should not have mentioned her growing feelings for Mr. Hargadon. “Don’t you dare say a word to Mr. Hargadon about what we have discussed!”
“I am not a child,” Lydia said haughtily before giving Faith an impish grin.
Faith watched her youngest sister leave the room closing the door softly behind her. She took several deep breaths. When had it happened she wondered. When had she lost her heart to Royce Hargadon. More importantly, would anything ever become of it.
Lydia and Elizabeth had left for school by the time Faith appeared in the dining room. Outside the window wind was blowing dried leaves across the yard. The sky was gray over head. Friday had been a perfect day for the annual fair while today was as gray as winter. Faith’s spirit felt the change and she struggled to smile.
“Morning,” Reverend Gaines greeted.
“Good Morning Father,” Faith replied before leaning over and kissing him on one cheek.
“What is this,” Reverend Gaines replied. His brown eyes twinkled at his eldest daughter. “Have you decided to come to your senses and do as I ask,” the clergyman asked.
“I don’t want to be disrespectful,” Faith replied. Reverend Gaines knew what this meant. Faith had made up her mind not to marry Mr. Cook. His daughter was not like most women. Who seemed to change their minds over the smallest whim. Once Faith had decided an issue wild horses could not change it. “I am going to be foolish and tell you I have no desire to marry Mr. Cook.” Faith confirmed her father’s fears.
“Sit down and have coffee with me,” Reverend Gaines began.
“Alright Father,” Faith spoke before her father could say more. She took the chair on her father’s left and poured a cup of coffee before staring at the dark contents in her cup. It was not an easy matter to defy her father. She loved him dearly. “I don’t wish to go against your wishes but I shall not be marrying Mr. Cook. Not sooner or ever,” she said emphatically.
“There’s no changing your mind,” Reverend Gaines ventured to ask. He watched his daughter shake her head no and placed one boney hand over Faith’s hand lying on the tabletop. “I am disappointed,” he said.
“I know,” Faith replied. “I have thought the matter over seriously and decided Mr. Cook is not a good man. He talks better than he acts. He is conceited and arrogant and I believe cruel. I could never marry a man with those traits.”
Reverend Gaines studied his daughter’s taut features knowing she believed what she was saying about Mr. Cook. He did not see these traits but knew women viewed life differently than men. What a man saw as ambition a woman called arrogant. Faith had called Mr. Cook cruel where he saw him as a good businessman able to take care of his daughter in a way he never could.
“It looks as if Imogen has found the right man,” Faith ventured to say. A smile softened her features. “Sheriff Walden appears to be in a daze. I can see Imogen having that effect on a man. She is the prettiest of my sisters.” Faith took a drink of coffee before continuing. “I do believe Robert Morse will shortly ask Valerie to marry him. You will soon have two daughters out of your way. Elizabeth and Lydia are still too young for marriage or I do believe you would be looking for husbands for them.”
Reverend Gaines opened and closed his mouth like a fish out of water.
“You old Dear,” Faith scolded mildly while smiling. “I am happy as I am,” Faith insisted returning to the subject they were discussing. “If in the future some young man should catch my fantasy and ask me to marry him. I will consider the possibility then.”
“Faith,” Reverend Gaines stated wearily. It was a trial of patience trying to keep up with Faith’s nimble mind. It had always been this way. Even as a child Faith could talk her way through countless subjects while he was still focused on what was said at the start. “I thought I made my position clear. You are to provide for your sisters if the need should arise.” Perhaps there was still hope in changing Faith’s mind. She could be reasonable and took her duties seriously.
“Then perhaps I shall seek a career. Not on the stage,” Faith replied remembering the horror her father displayed when Elizabeth had mentioned acting on stage. Her younger sister had been downtown when the stagecoach arrived carrying the new actress the saloonkeeper had hired. The woman had appeared glamorously clad in bright red silks and white fox furs. Elizabeth had been impressed with the woman. “Everyone knows the term hypocrite comes from the Greek word for actor. The Bible says we are not to be hypocrites,” Faith continued. “Perhaps I shall open a shop. I understand it is quite acceptable for a woman to be in the retail business.”
Sputtering Reverend Gaines gasp for air. “Faith,” he said in a tone of voice revealing just how scandalized he felt by his daughter’s remarks. He threw down his napkin and stood. His boney face registered shock. “What has gotten into you,” he demanded.
“I love you dearly,” Faith declared. Standing, she straightened her father’s suit coat and rearranged his tie. Reverend Gaines was not a tidy man. His wife and daughters did their best to look after him. The man was scholarly and intelligent but not worldly. Though she
