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Authors: Jane Myers Perrine
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Elizabeth opened a door for Annie.
Inside was a porcelain fixture of some kind. The rounded bottom section and the part above were painted with brilliant flowers and gold accents. It was the prettiest piece of furniture Annie had ever seen, but she had no idea of its function.
“Let me talk to Miss Cunningham for a moment,” Amanda said, and then explained the water closet to Annie.
Annie had never seen such a thing. She hadn’t even known they existed. What luxury never to have to go outside at night or in the cold.
Seated at the dinner table a few minutes later, she studied the silver serving dishes and the lovely ivory china with silver rims. Mr. Sullivan’s wealth exceeded anything she could imagine. Never had she felt more out of place than she did here.
During dinner, Mr. Hanson continued to treat Annie with special attention that embarrassed her terribly. He was at least twenty years older than she was and not at all attractive to her. She felt very uncomfortable with his flattery and gallantry. How could she stop him without being rude?
When the embarrassing meal finally ended, John said, “Farley, if you don’t mind, I’d like to talk to Matilda about some school business. Also, she has expressed an interest in playing our piano.”
“Thank you for the meal, John. I will go attend to some work I need to finish this afternoon. Miss Cunningham, it was a true pleasure.”
“Thank you, Mr. Hanson,” Annie said, grateful to John for the reprieve from Mr. Hanson’s attentions.
When the Hansons left, John sent Elizabeth into the parlor and watched her seat herself at the piano before he turned to Annie. “Farley Hanson’s wife died last year. As I’m sure you’ve guessed, he’s looking for a new wife. I feel I must remind you of the terms of your contract.”
She frowned, attempting to understand his words.
“If you came to Trail’s End to find a rich husband, Matilda, I warn you I will oppose any such effort.”
Annie stepped back. “I assure you I have no desire to marry. I only wish to teach school.” Shaking, she turned to join Elizabeth in the parlor, unable to comprehend the tone of John’s voice and the ice in his eyes.
John was completely baffled by his own behavior. Why had he spoken to Matilda so rudely? He watched her as she approached the piano and sat on the bench next to his daughter. As Elizabeth sang, Matilda followed, playing only with her left hand, which reminded him that she still had not recovered from the accident.
Why had he felt the need to warn her away from Farley, a good man and a friend? Seeing him flirt with Matilda had bothered John. He had to admit she had done nothing but politely discourage the old fool.
Perhaps he himself was the fool, struggling with an odd emotion that was so different from how he’d felt about any woman before. He was confused and uncertain around Matilda, both feelings he was not used to coping with.
What was it about her that drew both him and his friend? Men who had never acted foolish about a woman before?
Well, of course, there was the fact that men outnumbered women greatly out here. He’d gone to St. Louis to find Celeste, who had hated every moment of her life in Texas. A woman as lovely as Matilda with no family to guard her as Farley did his daughter—such a woman was sure to attract attention.
Yet she showed no flighty tendencies. She did not flirt. She had not encouraged Farley, nor had she showed any interest in John himself. He realized with a start that this was what probably bothered him most.
He sighed as he watched Elizabeth and Matilda in the parlor. He’d always found the ranch house stifling, a reminder of his overpowering, controlling father. He often didn’t like the man he was in this house, much like his demanding parent. At times like this, he longed to be outside, training horses with Duffy or riding across the prairie or even mucking out a stall.
It was time and past for him to stop allowing his
Inside was a porcelain fixture of some kind. The rounded bottom section and the part above were painted with brilliant flowers and gold accents. It was the prettiest piece of furniture Annie had ever seen, but she had no idea of its function.
“Let me talk to Miss Cunningham for a moment,” Amanda said, and then explained the water closet to Annie.
Annie had never seen such a thing. She hadn’t even known they existed. What luxury never to have to go outside at night or in the cold.
Seated at the dinner table a few minutes later, she studied the silver serving dishes and the lovely ivory china with silver rims. Mr. Sullivan’s wealth exceeded anything she could imagine. Never had she felt more out of place than she did here.
During dinner, Mr. Hanson continued to treat Annie with special attention that embarrassed her terribly. He was at least twenty years older than she was and not at all attractive to her. She felt very uncomfortable with his flattery and gallantry. How could she stop him without being rude?
When the embarrassing meal finally ended, John said, “Farley, if you don’t mind, I’d like to talk to Matilda about some school business. Also, she has expressed an interest in playing our piano.”
“Thank you for the meal, John. I will go attend to some work I need to finish this afternoon. Miss Cunningham, it was a true pleasure.”
“Thank you, Mr. Hanson,” Annie said, grateful to John for the reprieve from Mr. Hanson’s attentions.
When the Hansons left, John sent Elizabeth into the parlor and watched her seat herself at the piano before he turned to Annie. “Farley Hanson’s wife died last year. As I’m sure you’ve guessed, he’s looking for a new wife. I feel I must remind you of the terms of your contract.”
She frowned, attempting to understand his words.
“If you came to Trail’s End to find a rich husband, Matilda, I warn you I will oppose any such effort.”
Annie stepped back. “I assure you I have no desire to marry. I only wish to teach school.” Shaking, she turned to join Elizabeth in the parlor, unable to comprehend the tone of John’s voice and the ice in his eyes.
John was completely baffled by his own behavior. Why had he spoken to Matilda so rudely? He watched her as she approached the piano and sat on the bench next to his daughter. As Elizabeth sang, Matilda followed, playing only with her left hand, which reminded him that she still had not recovered from the accident.
Why had he felt the need to warn her away from Farley, a good man and a friend? Seeing him flirt with Matilda had bothered John. He had to admit she had done nothing but politely discourage the old fool.
Perhaps he himself was the fool, struggling with an odd emotion that was so different from how he’d felt about any woman before. He was confused and uncertain around Matilda, both feelings he was not used to coping with.
What was it about her that drew both him and his friend? Men who had never acted foolish about a woman before?
Well, of course, there was the fact that men outnumbered women greatly out here. He’d gone to St. Louis to find Celeste, who had hated every moment of her life in Texas. A woman as lovely as Matilda with no family to guard her as Farley did his daughter—such a woman was sure to attract attention.
Yet she showed no flighty tendencies. She did not flirt. She had not encouraged Farley, nor had she showed any interest in John himself. He realized with a start that this was what probably bothered him most.
He sighed as he watched Elizabeth and Matilda in the parlor. He’d always found the ranch house stifling, a reminder of his overpowering, controlling father. He often didn’t like the man he was in this house, much like his demanding parent. At times like this, he longed to be outside, training horses with Duffy or riding across the prairie or even mucking out a stall.
It was time and past for him to stop allowing his
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