“I’ll help you with that if you receive letters. Don’t worry about it now,” Ella Grace assured.
Katie nodded still wondering what she’d do. Eight days later, she’d find out.
Chapter Eleven
Katie and Benjamin enjoyed each other’s company every other day over the past week. An enjoyable dinner at the Inn, a dinner she prepared at home, and on Saturday, a quiet picnic. They were able to walk along the stream without any little spies for nearly an hour allowing Benjamin enough time to steal several kisses and tell Katie his feelings were well past friendship. Her feelings were the same, and while he didn’t propose directly, he certainly hinted that was his intention soon.
She smiled and hummed after leaving her short breakfast shift at the Inn and crossed the street heading for the post office. Although Benjamin held her heart, she needed to make sure she didn’t receive any letters from the ad she posted in the Grooms’ Gazette.
She stopped before entering wondering how to answer Widow Wallace if she inquired about the letters if there were any.
Pulling open the door she was greeted by the smiling face of Widow Wallace. “Good morning, Katie. It’s certainly a lovely day today. The sunshine makes everything brighter, don’t you think?”
Was this Widow Wallace? Maybe everyone was right that she seemed happier after having tea with one of the Bunyan brothers. Whatever it was, Katie liked it.
“Good morning. I just wanted to see if I received any mail.”
“Certainly, you received three letters. Here you go,” Widow Wallace said and set three envelopes on the counter.
Katie picked them up and said, “I need to run. I had an early shift at the Inn and want to check on the babies.”
“Of course, run along dear, and have a lovely day.”
Katie closed the Post Office door behind her wondering what affect tea and a handsome man had on Widow Wallace. It certainly was interesting, but not quite as interesting as the three envelopes she held in her hands. They must be answers to her ad, but she didn’t want answers now. She wanted Benjamin. Gripping the letters tightly she hurried back toward home planning on stopping and talking to Ella Grace first.
She arrived at Ella Grace’s nearly out of breath. Clara answered her insistent knocking. “Mercy, you had me worried something was wrong. Are you all right? Your face is red,” Clara said opening the door wide as Katie rushed inside.
“I’m all right, I didn’t mean to alarm you. I think I have answers to my ad and I don’t know what to do with them now that I’ve met Benjamin. You and Ella Grace need to help me decide what to do.”
“First,” Clara said, “Come in and have a cup of tea. I made cookies. Ella Grace is in the kitchen eating them. She loves my cookies. We’ll help you with the letters.” Katie followed Clara solemnly her mind on the three letters she held. Why did she ever place that foolish ad?
“Hello,” Ella Grace greeted Katie. “I heard your conversation with Clara. Sit, and we’ll have some tea and cookies and think of a good answer for your gentlemen.”
“My gentlemen?” Katie sputtered. “They are not my gentlemen. They’re answers to an ad.”
“But they are yours. The first thing you need to do is relax. You look like your going to jump out of your skin sort of like that spring in the grandfather’s clock that flew across the room when we tried to find out how the clock worked.”
Katie laughed. “I almost forgot about that. I can still see Miss Ethel’s face. I told Benjamin she threatened to send us to a convent. That time she added that the convent was on an island in the middle of the ocean. She never did say exactly where.”
“I was afraid to ask,” Ella Grace said. “Now, open a letter and let’s see who it’s from.”
Katie looked at the three envelopes. One was thicker than the others, and she decided to leave that one for last. She tore open the first one.
“This one is straightforward. Just gives his name, age, and that he’s a hard worker. That’s it except for his address.”
Clara bit her lip. “That certainly isn’t much information if you’re trying to impress someone.”
Katie nodded in agreement and opened the second letter. “This one seems nice. I feel bad about sending him a letter saying I’ve changed my mind. He tells me that he goes to church weekly, works hard at his job, but would like to move out west. Says he’s honest and has carpentry skills and will send a letter from his pastor if I would like to know more about him.” She slipped the letter back into the envelope.
“Maybe I should answer that one,” Clara offered.
“Clara,” Ella Grace exclaimed. “Are you interested in finding a husband?”
Clara shrugged, “Aren’t most women?”
Katie handed Clara the letter, but she gave it back. “I think I’ll wait to see how all of this works out. Remember we still have to find husbands for Miss Ethel and Miss Edie.”
Ella Grace groaned. “I’m not sure how that’ll turn out, but at least it wasn’t our idea. They both asked us to help find each other husbands. Let’s worry about it later. Katie read your last letter please.”
Katie slid her fingernail under the flap of the heavier envelope and pulled out several pages. As she read her expression changed from surprise to concern.
“What is it?” asked Ella Grace.
“I’m not sure I want to answer this man. He wrote that he hates his life and working on his father’s farm. He wants his own life and wife to take care of him. He doesn’t mention any good qualities or
