Part 7 (1/2)
”What about Diana? She's not one to hold her opinions to herself,” Mort said. ”My nephew obviously didn't take to that thinkin'.”
”Diana drives Mother crazy,” Annie said with a grin. ”Although she does know a lot of influential people, and Mother is impressed by that. There's bitter mixed with the sweet, I guess.”
”Mama, may I stay home from school while Annie's here?”
Annie's Aunt Vera cast her daughter a knowing look. ”The answer is the same as last time and the time before. Annie and I get along just fine while you're in school.”
Charmaine pouted prettily for all of thirty seconds, then turned to Annie. ”What shall we do after school tomorrow?”
Annie's heart gave a little leap. ”Would you like to shop?”
Charmaine appeared to be thinking. ”I'll bet there are more interesting places to shop in Denver. Wouldn't you like to go with your parents one of these days?”
Annie pushed some turnips around on her plate. ”I don't know. I don't much like going into cities-there are too many people. I feel awkward.”
”Well if you should ever want to, you know I'd be happy to accompany you.”
Annie gave her cousin an amused smile. ”Thank you for the offer. We could go to the library.”
”All right. Let's help Mama with the dishes, and then she'll have more time to work on the dress she's making for me.”
Annie was always more than glad to help with the dinner ch.o.r.es. The Renlows didn't treat her as though she were an invalid; they allowed her to help with meals and dishes and any household task she put her hand to. Here it was as if her help was expected, and that tiny measure of normalcy gave Annie a deep-down sense of value.
Mort went off to the barn, and the ladies completed the dishes, then Vera had Charmaine try on the bodice of the new dress. The creation was a lovely moss-green print, with a high collar and a cinched waist.
Annie fingered the fabric of the basted skirt lying on the dining room table. ”Oh, this is just lovely.”
Charmaine and her mother turned their heads toward Annie at the same time.
”It's a simple pattern,” Charmaine said. ”And not an expensive fabric.”
Annie glanced at her own dress: silk taffeta with outsize cap sleeves and three layers of ruffles around her neck and at the hem. People had seen her dressed like this her entire life; why it should matter now, she didn't know. But it did. She wondered how others saw her-how Luke saw her. ”My clothes are childish,” she said honestly.
”They're elegant, Annie,” her aunt said.
”And expensive,” Charmaine added.
Vera nudged her daughter.
”Well, they are.”
”I stand out enough in this chair.” Annie tapped the arm. ”But combined with the dresses, I'm a carnival act. I should learn to juggle.”
”Stop it, Annie, you are not a freak.” Charmaine came and knelt beside her. Charmaine picked up Annie's hand and brought the backs of her fingers to her cheek. ”You are the most special person I know, and I love you. Please don't belittle yourself.”
Annie caressed Charmaine's soft cheek. ”You're my best friend, you know that.”
”Mama could make you a dress like this if you'd like one.”
Annie looked to her aunt hopefully. ”Would you, Aunt Vera?”
Vera dropped her gaze to the basted fabric on the table. ”I'm not a seamstress, girls. Annie, your clothes are exquisitely made by professionals. My sewing doesn't hold a candle.”
Annie's initial hope ebbed back into complacency. ”And you're busy, I know. You have many important things to do, as well as things to make for Charmaine. It's all right, really.” She drew her hand from her cousin. ”What can I do to help? I can sew a straight seam, or I could iron the hem for you.”
Vera and Charmaine exchanged a glance. ”Annie, would you really like a dress like this?” Vera asked.
Tears smarted behind Annie's eyes at the fierce longing for something so normal and grown-up looking. Somehow it symbolized a pa.s.sage to adulthood that she longed for. Keeping her eyes averted, she nodded.
”Well then, we'd better have you stand up here and let us measure you.”
Annie met her aunt's eyes. Understanding pa.s.sed between them. A lump formed in her throat and she swallowed past it.
”Better yet, let's go into your room and measure you without your dress. I'm sure those ruffles add inches.”
Annie laughed and wheeled herself toward the modestly furnished room she used when she stayed at the Renlows'. Vera measured and jotted numbers, while the girls discussed colors and fabrics. Annie planned to buy fabric during their visit to Copper Creek.
The following day after Charmaine returned from school, she and Annie set off for town in the wagon. ”Missy Sharpe is such a flirt,” Charmaine called over her shoulder. ”She had all the boys gathered around her today because she brought lemon tarts to share.”
”Maybe we could bake something for you to take,” Annie suggested.
”Oh, they're just silly boys,” her cousin replied. ”I'd much rather bake something for someone more mature. Say, Luke Carpenter, for example.”
Annie blinked her surprise, but said nothing.
”He's ever so handsome, don't you think?”
”I guess so.” He was so handsome, she could hardly breathe when she looked at him.
”And ambitious, with his own business, even if it's a livery.”
”Yes, he's ambitious.” Not enough for her parents' standards however.
”He's become the best part of coming into town, don't you think?”
She'd thought of little else and knew without a doubt that Luke was the best part of coming to town. He was the best part of any week in which she saw him, and thinking about him was the best part of the numerous days she didn't see him. She looked toward town in antic.i.p.ation and said, ”I haven't really thought about it.”
Chapter Five.
They entered Copper Creek and Charmaine guided the horse to the livery. To Annie's disappointment, a fatherly looking man with a dark beard greeted them and a.s.sisted Annie and the chair from the back of the wagon.
Charmaine stood beside Annie's chair. ”We were expecting to see Mr. Carpenter.”
”Guess he had business this afternoon.”
”Do you work for him?”