At that, Miranda laughed. “Oh, thank you so much for the prayers. They were in fact quite needed. But I assure you I’m no Pinkerton agent, nor agent of any kind. That tale was to protect my privacy when the porter and conductor, accompanied by the train’s Pinkerton agent, rescued me from a man who attempted a robbery in my train compartment.”
By now the whole crew had been swept into the kitchen and Mrs. Richardson was setting out plates of sandwiches and glasses of lemonade. Celeste excused herself and escorted Miranda to the bedroom she’d been using. Despite the commotion Samantha was still asleep after her midday meal. Miranda slipped out to the outhouse and both ladies washed up using the pitcher and basin in the room, pouring the used water into the slop jar, before heading to rejoin the men, who had cleaned up at the pump outside the kitchen door.
Miranda had grown increasingly more concerned.
“We're not getting married now, are we?” she asked. “I had planned to spend tonight in a hotel and perhaps have a proper wedding since you are here with me, Celeste. I mean, since I have a chaperone I certainly don't need an immediate wedding.”
“Well, unlike you sister dearest, I did not arrive with a chaperone nor did I have any money to hire a hotel room. So, as I mentioned, the pastor and his wife have been gracious enough to offer me a room for the last several days.”
“Pastor?” queried Miranda. The word had floated by a few times but her thoughts had been otherwise engaged.
“Fortunately, he and Father Flanagan, Bridget’s uncle, are the best of friends, so we will be able to work everything out,” replied Celeste as they rejoined the others.
“Then you will agree to marry me.” shouted out Chip as he grabbed her around the waist and planted a kiss on her cheek.
“I'm still thinking about it,” she replied stiffly. And then she winked.
Accommodations
Pastor Joe was relieved that the mix-up was fully out in the open and no rancor nor animosity existed among the four young people. In fact, they all seemed to think it was rather a lark, especially since the situation had changed so drastically. As Miranda had suggested, the company of her sister precluded the necessity of an instant wedding for propriety and, as she explained to all, their father had funded the trip and strongly suggested allowing time for a proper courtship.
Chip had made up his mind to marry and was somewhat champing at the bit, but when Celeste gently reminded him of how newly she’d been widowed, he relented. Once he’d loosened his mind from its yoke, he found himself agreeing that they would be cheating themselves if they did not allow themselves the pleasure of getting to know the ladies in smaller steps and indulge in the flirtation and romance he’d vaguely witnessed but mostly read about in books. He was, in fact, rather a fan of the romance novels, but had never thought of himself in terms of being one of the heroes. He rather relished the role.
Sylvester, too, was looking forward to expanding his knowledge of his bride-to-be. Well, he hadn’t formally proposed again; and technically, since he’d been playing proxy, he hadn’t himself proposed the first time. But so he thought of her and intended to make it so.
The Richardsons had insisted Miranda stay with them rather than at the “cold, impersonal hotel.”
“I’ve already made ready your room!” she declared. “We knew there was no question of a wedding today and that you’d need a place to stay. And you are welcome to remain here as our guests indefinitely,” she added, including Celeste and Samantha in her invitation.
Both sisters thanked her effusively and were honored when she asked them to call her Suellen. Celeste laughed and apologized.
“Do you know, in the excitement of my arrival, we were never properly introduced; and we’ve made the same blunder today!”
She curtsied to the exactly appropriate depth, saying “I am Celeste Marie Belden Clark; and this is my sister, Miranda Estelle Belden. It is such a pleasure to meet you, Suellen Richardson!”
Miranda copied the curtsey and, laughing, Suellen responded with one of her own, dipping not quite as deeply, in recognition both of her own status and her age, and mentally grimacing at the fact that her age included the lessening flexibility of her knees.
“I’ve just now realized,” Suellen exclaimed mirthfully, “just what young Chip has been mumbling about. That is the first time I’ve actually heard your full name, and until this afternoon I never heard you addressed as other than Mrs. Clark!”
“Well he was such a pest about my name, and everything else, especially at first, that it became a game to keep him in the dark,” grinned Celeste mischievously.
“He’s always had high spirits, that boy!” And she proceeded to share the time he’d brought a frog to Sunday school.
“He knew better than to try that prank at school with Mrs. Henderson. That woman is half my size and could topple every man jack in this town with just a look. If you’re lucky, she’ll still be teaching by the time your little darling, Samantha, is old enough to attend. She was already here teaching when Joe and I arrived, so I’m really not sure how old she is. But listen to me gossip.” Suellen shook her head. “And me the pastor’s wife!”
Recognizing that after her long journey, Miranda must be exhausted, everyone agreed to an early night. Thanking their hosts once more, the girls retired to their rooms, which were on the far side of the house from the family
