“But no men students were allowed?”
She shook her head. “We each graduated at the top of our class, not that it did us any good. There were still no jobs for either of us. Our father had saved like a miser so we had enough to live on for a few years if we were careful, which we were.”
“Didn’t you do anything for fun?”
She nudged him with her elbow. “Of course we had a lot of fun times with each other and with friends. First, we planned on the money lasting us for ten years. We divided it, then figured what we spent on groceries, taxes, and such. We put aside for emergencies and then we gave ourselves an allowance. That’s how we bought new clothes and went to the soda shop with friends, that sort of thing.”
“You know, your father should have realized how smart you were. Not many would have been so methodical and planned ahead.”
Chapter Five
Mina looked into Austin’s eyes. “We had to plan carefully, Austin. Cindy and her parents were the only family we had left. We couldn’t expect them to help us when Papa had left us money. We didn’t have a lot of cash but we never wanted for anything important.”
“Your sister married, didn’t she?”
“Yes, she did. Will was hired at the bank and came from another town. First eligible bachelor in town for years. Once she saw him she fell head over heels, but so did a dozen others. Apparently he felt the same way about her, though. They married and he moved in. They took our parents’ former bedroom. Then their children started arriving and the kids shared her former bedroom.”
“This Will’s family live nearby?”
“They do and visit regularly. After the babies arrived I always let his parents use my room for their visits. They’re likely where Will got the money to pay my fare here.”
“Then I’m indebted to them. As you guessed from the attention you received at the party, unmarried women are as scarce here as men are in the Delaware town where you lived.”
Guilt gnawed at her until she had to confess. “You know that’s why I came here, don’t you? It’s true Cindy invited me. But, I want to be married with my own husband and home and children. That’s why I came even though it was frightening to leave everything I know and my only sister.”
He smiled and caressed her cheek. “Bert told me before you arrived. He said something about a newspaper article but I didn’t understand.”
“There’s an advice column called Yours Truly: The Lovelorn. People send a letter to the person who writes it with questions and the columnist answers. Somehow Cindy saw the column. The one she mailed me sounded as if I had written it and was even from someone in Delaware. The advice given was to change circumstances.”
“That’s not all that helpful. Didn’t it say how?”
“Well, yes, first it said make a list of possibilities.” With a flick of her wrist she gave a dismissive wave. “Heavens, I’d made a list like that years ago and nothing had changed since then. Next it said to visit a friend or relative in a different location. So, I gratefully accepted Cindy’s invitation.”
Cindy and Bert appeared at the office door.
Cindy said, “So this is where you two disappeared.”
Bert grinned and folded his arms across his chest. “Should I get my shotgun to defend Mina’s honor?”
Mina gasped. “Bert Kennedy, no, you certainly should not! I have not been dishonored in any way. In fact, quite the opposite.”
Austin put his arm around Mina’s shoulders. “You’ll be the first to know Mina has consented to become my wife.”
Cindy squealed and hugged Mina then kissed Austin on the cheek. Bert shook Austin’s hand and kissed Mina on the cheek.
When the congratulations were over, Austin took Mina’s hand but looked at Bert and Cindy. “We want to be married in the church real soon but thought we should check with you before we set a date.”
Cindy asked, “How soon?”
Austin looked at Mina. “Can’t be too soon for me.”
Bert faced his wife. “They could wed Sunday afternoon if the preacher is available.”
Austin asked, “That all right with you, Mina?”
“That would be fine if you’re up to lugging trunks.” She grinned at him. Somehow she couldn’t stop smiling.
Cindy had tears in her eyes when she looked at Mina. “I thought I’d get to have you stay here longer.”
Austin backed up a step. “Aw, now don’t cry, Cindy. The ranch is only a half hour away. Mina can come see you frequently and you and the twins can come to the ranch over and over again. It’s not like you won’t still see each other.”
“I guess not.” She sniffed and looked at Mina. “I always wished you were my sister, Mina, and I planned on having you here all to myself while Bert’s at work.”
Even her cousin’s tears couldn’t stop her joy at being engaged. She hugged Cindy. “We’ll see one another regularly and we’re already like sisters.” She wanted to say that their children would play together but she was afraid she’d blush.
Austin smiled. “I’ll see the preacher tomorrow and arrange the ceremony.”
Mina glanced at her cousin then at her fiancé. “Unless you planned on coming to town anyway, I can arrange it. Perhaps Cindy would go with me.”
Austin rubbed at his neck. “Why don’t you and I go see him together, Mina?”
She smiled at him. “I’d like that.”
He shifted his weight from
