“You’re always putting yourself down, mate. I see muscles bulging from under that shirt of yours. Working on the docks has developed you a physique the ladies love to drool over.”
“I don’t need those kinds of ladies drooling over me. You can have my share.”
“Picky fella, are you? Christy Scinch and I are courting pretty serious now.”
“Do I hear wedding bells?”
“You’ll be one of the first to know. I’ll need my best pal to hold me up at the altar when my knees get to knocking.”
Jamie snickered. “Suppose I can handle that job fine, with my bulging muscles and all.”
“Hey, Christy has a relative visiting. She’s new to these parts, all the way from Texas. Interested?”
“Like I said, maybe I am. Wouldn’t hurt to give her a try.”
No sooner had the words come out of his mouth than Tariana walked up behind the two boys. “Give who a try?” she asked.
Todd opened his mouth to speak, but Jamie sped to fill the gap. “No one.” He pointed to his project and tossed her a bag of corn kernels. “What do you think of this game? I printed a sign to entice the folks in. Throwers have four choices to hit different sized holes that I’ll dig in the dirt Saturday when we do the outside set up. Figured they’d earn more points, depending on which hole they hit. Even marked it clear, so no one can cheat.”
“This is a house of God,” Tariana said, pretending to be shocked. “Surely, there will be no mischief on the Lord’s Day.”
He turned to Todd. “Did you rally the boys to play music?”
“Got four of them – a guitar, a banjo, an Indian drum, and a harmonica.”
“Sounds great. Thank you, Todd,” Tariana said. “A bit of music always puts folks in a festive mood.”
Jamie chimed in, feeling the build-up of excitement. “Got some others organizing a baseball game.”
“My sister and I have arranged races for the children, contests, and of course, everyone will bring a feast of food from home.” Tariana’s eyes lit up with joy.
Jamie especially loved the sparkle in her blue eyes when she was happy. Maybe he should forget about the Texas girl and concentrate on winning his childhood sweetheart. Her next words dashed those prospects.
“Michael invited me to tour the docks tomorrow,” she said nonchalantly, as if invitations from Frances’s beau were the norm – or, more specifically, a turn in her favor. “Will you be working?”
He wanted to scream, No! I have no interest in seeing you make a fool of yourself. Instead he smiled and nodded. “I will.”
“Perfect. Two of my favorite men together in the same place. I love to see comrades at work.”
He hated the picture that conjured in his mind. What if he blurted out his too-long-hidden feelings? Would she laugh at the absurdity of such a thing?
Jamie exhaled, long and hard. Jealousy nipped a chunk of armor from his heart. Bearing his soul would be a waste of time, effort, and humiliation. He already knew the answer. Michael was number one – always had been. Jamie doubted Tariana even considered him a contender for courtship.
Tuesday morning, Tariana rushed through her chores. She wanted to spend as much time as possible making her appearance perfect for her visit to the docks, so she escaped upstairs immediately following lunch. One o’clock would be there before she knew it.
Tariana pulled her long, strawberry blonde hair back at the sides and knotted it low in a cluster of ringlets. She teased a thin layer of bangs across her forehead, and placed the curvy, brimmed hat she’d purchased last week carefully on top. She stood back to examine her efforts.
The aqua-green dress she’d chosen was the latest fashion; Mrs. Parks would be pleased with her purchases. Although the outfit was supposed to be for the upcoming picnic, she reasoned that this outing was equally important. She refused to go looking like last year’s model – it appeared that Michael appreciated that sort of thing.
The bodice was tight, with a wide collar that fastened at a center panel of cloth-covered buttons and stretched downward to form a defining waistline. From that point, the layered overdress cascaded, sweeping outward on both sides landing close to her knees at the back. The fitted sleeves extended below her elbow with two layers of fancy lace at the bottom. The same starched trim widened and closed in around her neck to cover any naked skin that dared to show. This modest design made the garment acceptable for the preacher’s daughter to wear in public. Father was very strict. Beneath the overdress, pleated skirting flowed all the way to the floor. Tariana was attracted to the easy movement of the new style. Yes, she looked quite acceptable for traipsing around the docks with Michael, who would be proud to escort such a dashing lady on his arm.
Her mother noticed her change of clothing. “Tariana, is that your new dress?”
“Yes. I couldn’t wait to wear it. You don’t mind, do you?”
“Clothes are meant to be worn,” she said, practicality being her strong point. “Where are you going?”
“Town. Meeting up with a couple of friends.” She neglected to name Michael, and perhaps Jamie, if he happened along, among the friends she might see today. “Where is Frances?” she asked as an afterthought.
“She is with the seamstress this afternoon. She is a bit too demanding for my liking when it comes to that wedding gown.”
Tariana groaned. “She’s having her dress designed already? What if she gets cold feet?”
“The date is set for early August, and there is much for all of us to do before then.”
August! Could she win
