“Hmm,” Miss Ethel continued. “You sound as if you have made some plans. How do you know if they will work out in your favor?”
“I have good carpentry skills. I’m confident I can make a good living here. I purchased the Milligan property on Friday. We’ll begin clearing the burnt remains tomorrow,” Benjamin said feeling a bit more confident.
Miss Ethel’s eyebrows rose, and Miss Edie smiled again. Miss Edie asked, “You have made plans to stay and make Silverpines your home. That is a good start. What do you think, Sister?”
Miss Ethel exchanged a look with her sister and said, “I think we can approve you courting our Katie as long as you remain a gentleman at all times.”
“I promise.”
“And,” Miss Edie added. “You work with wood. I do not expect Katie to come home with sawdust on her clothes. We don’t need two girls with that problem.”
Katie bit back her lip to keep from smiling when she thought about her guardian’s reaction to Cindy Lou coming home with sawdust on her clothes after having dinner with Peter Bunyan. It wasn’t the poor man’s fault he worked at the mill all day. She lifted her hand from her lap and gently waved it at Benjamin letting him know she’ll explain later.
Benjamin understood and answered Miss Edie. “No, ma’am. That won’t happen.”
“Very good,” Miss Ethel stated. “You have our permission.”
Miss Edie clutched her hands to her chest, a dreamy look crossing her face. The ladies were twins, but their personalities were nothing alike.
“I should leave,” Benjamin said. “I had a delightful picnic, and I’m sure Katie needs time to help with her sisters. I would like to have her and your permission to take her to dinner Tuesday evening.”
Katie smiled, Miss Edie nodded, and Miss Ethel said, “That is acceptable.”
“The babies are still sleeping. I’d like to walk with Benjamin a bit and stop to visit Ella Grace.”
Miss Edie and Miss Ethel nodded knowing that Katie and Ella Grace were closer than many sisters born of the same parents. There was a bond that formed the moment Katie, at age two, and Ella Grace, at age four, saw each other for the first time. Time had only strengthened their attachment.
Benjamin said his goodbyes and guided Katie out the front door. He whispered, “That was easier than I thought it’d be.”
“I told you they were nicer than most people think. You never asked about why I live at Howard House. Aren’t you worried your parents might not approve of you courting a girl without a past.”
Benjamin felt her grip his arm a bit tighter and knew he needed to assure her that nothing about the past mattered. “First, my parents are not here, and when I do tell them, they will be happy for me. Second, I don’t care about your past.”
“But I don’t have a past. My first memory is of Ella Grace hugging me. I was told a man dropped me off telling Miss Edie and Miss Ethel that my mother was dead, and he couldn’t raise me. He gave them a slip of paper with my name and birthdate, but no other information. They believed he was my father, but he didn’t say he was and he never returned.” Katie had stopped walking, and a tear slipped down her cheek.
“This bothers you?” Benjamin wanted to wrap his arms around her, but they were walking in public, and he couldn’t do that to her reputation even if he meant to marry her and soon.
“A little,” Katie whispered.
“It shouldn’t. You had no control over what happened to you. I’m sorry your mother died, but your guardians raised you with love. I can see that, and you became a lovely and kind young woman. Not everyone will dedicate their lives to care for orphans. Please don’t dwell on your past. Let’s concentrate on our future,” Benjamin responded staring into the most beautiful gray-blue eyes he would ever see. He wiped another tear away with his thumb and smiled.
“Our future?”
“Yes, if we are so blessed. I believe we have a wonderful future ahead of us.”
Katie blushed. “We should continue to Ella Grace’s.”
They continued their short walk, and Ella Grace saw them before they made it to her porch and opened the door wide. “Please come in. Michael had a small crisis at the Inn, or he’d be home.”
Benjamin shook his head. “I’m headed back to the Inn myself. I escorted Katie to visit with you.” He wanted to pull Katie close and kiss her until she put all her worries about her past behind her, but he had to settle for a quick kiss on her hand before leaving the two ladies on the porch.
Katie and Ella Grace watched Benjamin walk toward the Inn before Ella Grace grabbed Katie’s arm. “Come in. We’ll have tea, and you can tell me all about your picnic.”
Katie’s excitement bubbled over, and she told Ella Grace every detail of the picnic and the conversation with their guardians.
Ella Grace lifted her cup and took a sip of tea. “Does this mean you like him,” she asked her eyes dancing with excitement.
“You know it does. I think I like Benjamin a lot. When he asked if he could court me, I didn’t think about courting, my mind went right to the wedding. Do you think I’m falling in love?”
Ella Grace laughed. “My dear sister, I believe you have already fallen as has Benjamin. He looks at you the same way you look at him.”
“Oh, my,” Katie answered beginning to stir her tea rapidly. “If it’s true, I won’t
