“I don’t know, but we’ll do that. I’ll tell Michael at dinner tonight that he should watch out for letters. If luck is on our side, neither Miss Ethel or Miss Edie will know about this until the men are on their way.”
Ella Grace addressed the envelope and handed the pen to Katie. “You’re turn.”
“All right, but I have to answer the way Miss Edie thinks. Your reply was easy and straightforward.” Katie picked up the pen and began.
Dear Chet,
Thank you for your kind letter in response to my advertisement. My name is Edith, but my friends call me Edie.
Owning a bookstore must be exciting. I love to read. We don’t have a bookstore here in town, and I think if you open one it will be successful. We have a few empty storefronts that might be ideal for a new store.
You asked about me. I settled here in Oregon twenty-two years ago and run an orphanage for girls with my twin sister, Ethel. I have brown hair that is beginning to show my age, but I am only forty-five. My favorite color is blue, and I love gardening. Roses are my favorite.
I was happy to read that you are also a God-fearing person and attend services weekly as I do. Now that my oldest ward is planning to care for the younger girls at Howard House, I find I would like to settle down with the right person.
If you think we might suit, please come and visit. Silverpines is a lovely place to live even after the disasters that struck our town in April. You may write me at the Silverpines Inn here in town.
Sincerely,
Edie Howard
As Katie sealed the envelope, she also felt as if she sealed their fate. “You know, if this doesn’t work out the way we hope, we may all have to leave town.” She dropped her head into her hands and blew out a breath.
“It’ll work, it has to. After all, this wasn’t our idea. Both Miss Edie and Miss Ethel asked us to help find a husband for the other. How can they get upset with us?” Ella Grace asked.
Katie lifted her head and raised one eyebrow. “How? You can ask me that after living your entire life with them? They are wonderful, sweet, and caring, but they still demand respect and obedience. We may be too old to be shipped off to the convent, but we could be arrested.”
“For what?”
“I don’t know. I think all of this is just making me nervous. I wonder if Benjamin feels as strongly as I do and if he does, when will he propose. I have three letters to send to men that think I want a husband and now, we’re answering letters as someone else. Isn’t there a law in there somewhere that we’re breaking?” Katie worried aloud.
Clara announced, “That’s enough worry. I made an apple pie. What’s done is done, and the ladies asked for your help. As for your ad, you didn’t make any promises and Benjamin will ask to marry you soon. I can tell by the way he looks at you that he loves you. Who wants a slice of pie?”
As the three friends ate their pie and enjoyed a cup of tea, conversations turned to more relaxing topics. Gardening, canning vegetables, making baby clothes, and motherhood were discussed, and plans made.
Katie felt it was time for her to return home and speak to Miss Ethel about Michael’s observations about her dresses and hairstyle. Hugging Ella Grace, she promised to tell Miss Edie to stop by for a visit and Ella Grace could have the same discussion with her. If everything worked out, they would all be happily married soon. If it didn’t, Katie wasn’t sure what she’d do. With a prayer on her lips, she hurried home to do her part.
Chapter Fourteen
Michael and Ella Grace stepped out of their front door in time to see the ladies and girls of Howard House pass by on their way to Sunday services. The girls waved, and Ella Grace waved back and then said to Michael. “Look, I think the talks Katie and I had with Miss Ethel and Miss Edie worked.”
Michael watched his wife’s former guardians walk past dressed a bit differently. While still wearing her hair in a severe bun and sensible hat, Miss Ethel wore a deep blue dress that flattered her much better than her usual black and grays. Miss Edie’s hair caught his eye. It was still up in a bun, but a looser bun or was it some new twisted look? Michael was confused by the hairstyle, but he thought it made her look younger. Dressed in burgundy with a small hat to match was an improvement even if the hat sported a huge pink flower. He turned to Ella Grace and winked. “Maybe this will turn out well after all.”
Ella Grace linked her arm with Michael’s and followed the small group to church. Katie, the last in the line of girls and carrying baby Josie, slowed to allow Ella Grace to catch up with her.
“Did you see Miss Edie? Even Miss Ethel complimented her on her hair. Maybe next week Miss Ethel will do the same,” Katie said.
“I hope so. How long do you suppose it will take for the Worthington brothers to get those letters and decide whether or not to come to Silverpines?”
“I don’t know. Mail moves fast now, but I think they might take some time to think about it. I hope my three letters reach the men who answered my ad and none of them are angry. Receiving a hurtful response worries me, but I need to think about today. Benjamin and I
