“Let me look at that,” Miss Ethel said taking the paper from Katie. “Hmm, ‘Twenty-year-old lady, blonde, blue eyes, well read, capable in all household duties, and God-fearing. Seeks man in his twenties, God-fearing, hard-working, and skilled in repair work. Carpentry and yard work helpful.’ Well, that should work. It’s simple and to the point. You shouldn’t receive a lot of unwanted responses. Lazy men will never respond.”
“Silverpines also needs help. A carpenter would be more useful more than a yard worker. Carpenters work hard. What if I change it to Wanted Carpenter and take out yard work?”
“I like it,” Miss Edie exclaimed, but Miss Ethel added, “Be sure to leave in ‘hard-working.’ We don’t want more slothful con-men showing up.”
As Katie and her guardians were discussing the newspaper ad, Ella Grace Karson was making her way down the street from her home four houses away from Howard House where she grew up. She held the handle of the large black umbrella tightly to keep the light rain from soaking her new blue dress and the important letter she had in her pocket. Pushing the gate open, she smiled at the repaired brick walkway. The earthquakes in spring left them askew and the walk dangerous. Miss Ethel spent hours repairing the walkway insisting she didn’t need help. She knew everyone in Silverpines had their own problems to solve and declared she would not see any of her girls injured if she could help it. Ella Grace knew they all needed help and she held the answer in her pocket.
The front door flew open before she had a chance to knock. The five-year-old twins, Ivy and Rosie, stood in the doorway jumping up and down. “It’s Ella Grace. It’s Ella Grace. She came to visit.”
She hugged the girls and asked where Katie was. She followed the twins as they skipped to the kitchen where she found her sister and best friend and her beloved guardians huddled over a letter Katie was writing.
“What are you doing,” Ella Grace inquired.
Miss Ethel looked up and smiled. “We are helping Katie send for a husband.”
“That’s not necessary,” Ella Grace gushed. “I have the answer right here,” she waved a letter at the ladies seated at the table.
“What answer?” Katie’s eyes mirrored Ella Grace’s excitement in knowing her sister could always find a way to brighten her life.
“Michael’s best friend Benjamin from Gentle Falls plans to move to Silverpines. He’s a carpenter by trade and not only makes furniture but builds houses, does repairs, and can fix almost anything. Michael wrote and told him of the help we need here in town, and he agreed to come. Michael also told him you need a husband and Benjamin has wanted to marry for some time but could never find the right lady. Michael thinks the two of you will suit.”
Katie groaned. “First, I had no hope of finding a husband here, and now I have two opportunities. I suppose I should be grateful for both. Does Michael want me to write to his friend?”
“No need,” Ella Grace explained. “He’ll be here on Monday’s train. Can I have a slice of that apple pie? I’m hungry.”
“You’re always hungry,” Katie laughed.
Miss Ethel chided, “If you don’t stop eating you will need to buy new dresses.”
“She is with child, Sister, of course, she will need new dresses. She might as well have some pie, too. You worry too much.” Miss Edie stood and sliced a large piece of pie and placed it on the table in front of Ella Grace.
Katie smiled watching Ella Grace attack her pie happy that she decided not to move to Portland. How could she leave her friends and family? Now, she had options. A new man to meet on Monday and an ad that might bring a few responses. Yes, Katie thought, I made the right decision to stay here when the babies arrived. If I had left, those tiny girls would have been sent to an orphanage and possibly separated. That will never happen here with me.
Katie’s musings were interrupted by Ella Grace whose thoughts seemed to mirror Katie’s, “I am happy you decided to stay here and help run Howard House with Miss Ethel and Miss Edie. I’d miss you so if you left and we can spend more time together. Michael tried to forbid me to come to work at the Inn last night when I yawned during dinner. He wants me to sit all day and do nothing.”
Katie snorted out loud and dropped her head to stifle her laugh when Miss Ethel and Miss Edie gave her the look that let her know “ladies do not snort.” When she peeked back up at Ella Grace, she asked, “Didn’t you tell him that sitting all day is not good for expecting ladies. Maybe Dr. Childs or Hattie should speak to him.”
Ella Grace swallowed another bite of pie and answered, “I told him, but he insists I stay home and knit baby items. No child will ever need as many things as I can knit over the next six months.” She shook her head and finished her pie.
“You will turn into a pumpkin if you sit all day,” Miss Edie added. “I’ll speak to him.”
“Would you, please,” Ella Grace said. “He told me he is hiring a cook/housekeeper and sending for his mother. I love his mother dearly and would love nothing more than for her to be here, but she has her own husband to care for.”
Miss Edie nodded, “I’ll walk you home when we’re finished and then I’ll mail Katie’s letter. Widow Wallace won’t dare raise an eyebrow when she sees the letter for the Grooms’ Gazette if I mail it. Then I’ll stop at the
