Aaron slicked his hair, straightened his shirt and jacket and left his shop for the library; Harriet would have to give him an answer and he hoped it would be yes. He hopped down off the walk and jogged across the rutted street to the walk on the other side. The sun had already baked the ground to dust and he frowned at the layer on his newly polished shoes.
The library had been opened for an hour and when he stepped inside he was dismayed to see several ladies at the small reading tables and at the shelves. A few turned and greeted him aloud, drawing Harriet's attention from her ledger.
He smiled and nodded back, walking to Harriet's desk and resting his fingers on the edge.
"Good morning, Mr. Trenholme. Can I help you with something?"
The silence in the room was unsettling and he moved so his back was to the others, and leaned forward. "I was uh- hoping to get an answer to my invitation." He could hear a rustling of skirts behind him and he clamped his teeth, waiting.
She looked up at him standing there under the curious stares of the other women, his face turning warm, and she bit back a smile while she considered her answer.
"Was that to place another ad?" The look was innocent.
"What? No! No," he whispered a second time as titters reached his ears and his face collapsed. "The social. Tonight."
Harriet looked thoughtful and chewed the end of her pen. "Oh, yes, the social . . . well . . ."
"Oh for God's sake will you come with me or not?" He stood back, careless of the scene.
The outburst surprised her and she saw the women all nodding and waving encouragement as she put her pen down and stood, smoothing her skirt.
"I think I would enjoy being escorted tonight, if I can rely on your propriety as a gentleman."
His mouth fell open and he coughed to cover the moment. "Uh- splendid, splendid. And I assure you, Miss Folio I shall be a pillar of propriety. May I call on you at the hotel at five?"
"That would be most suitable, Mr. Trenholme."
"Great! Uh- splendid. Until five then." He tipped his hat and left to applause and giggling from the ladies.
****
The mirror copied the progression of Harriet's expressions as she posed, holding up the one gown she owned. It hadn't been out of her trunk since she left St Louis and it would require some quick work to remove the creases. She stripped down and tried it on, noticing the fit seemed a bit tighter than when she last wore it, and some of the creases were removed in the process.
She decided that with a bit of fussing it would do, and she undressed and laid it out on the bed. Her mother's necklace, a gift upon departure, and a pair of white gloves, to go with the lace trim of the dark blue gown, were set out beside the necklace.
Harriet unpinned her hair and began brushing the long curls that hung over her shoulders. She managed to get it washed earlier in the week and had used some of the new products sold in Pritchard's; along with a vinegar rinse to give it some shine.
She dabbed her brush with a few drops from a small bottle of lilac water and ran it through her hair before pinning it all back up in a tight roll. Back into the gown, with the jewellery and a few pinches of her cheeks and a bite of her lower lip, Harriet put on her gloves, picked up her small handbag and went down to meet Aaron in the lobby.
He jumped up from his chair the moment she appeared on the stairs, and he grinned widely as she seemed to float down toward him.
"May I say, Miss Folio, you look stunning."
"Thank you, Mr. Trenholme." She took his offered arm and they went out to the carriage he had rented.
"These are for you." He helped her up into the carriage and placed a small bouquet of flowers in her hand.
"How lovely, and such a beautiful scent. Thank you."
He smiled, joining her, and taking the reins, sent the horse into a slow walk. The smile widened as he noticed their passing being recorded by a number of couples who chose to go on foot to the church hall.
Harriet touched his arm and pointed. "There's Amanda, could we make room for her?"
It wasn't in Aaron's plans but refusing would have been very uncharitable, he reasoned. He reined in as Harriet called to her friend, then stepped down and hurried around to help her into the carriage.
"Your gown is beautiful," Amanda said, hugging Harriet as she climbed aboard and settled in, gripping the side of the seat.
"Thank you, I didn't know you were attending the social."
"I promised the mothers of a couple of the students I would help out in the kitchen."
Harriet took her hand and patted it. "Are you managing alright, Amanda?"
"I'm fine. You were a big help." She placed her other hand on top and squeezed. "It will take a bit of time, but I'll get by it all."
"I know you will."
"Here we are, ladies." Aaron broke in a few minutes later, pulling to a stop beside some other carriages. "Hang on, I'll come around." He hopped down then helped them both out of the carriage, taking both their arms.
"I have to go in the side door over there." Amanda said.
"That's fine, we'll walk you over."
"Could you do that . . . Aaron, there's a customer over there I'd like to speak to before going in."
"Of course." He stared for a moment. Aaron! "Come then, Miss Holden, to the side door we go."
Amanda opened the door and turned to thank Aaron, gasping aloud as she saw the same cowboy from the previous day with another, heading into the hall.
"Miss Holden? Is something wrong?"
"It- it's nothing . . . sorry. Thank you for the ride, Mr. Trenholme." She gathered her skirt and hurried inside.
He looked around, seeing nothing unusual then walked around to the front entrance. The crowd inside was building and groups of neighbours and friends stood around the large hall laughing and gossiping as the Reverend scurried among them like a mouse in a maze.
"You here alone, Aaron?" A voice whispered behind him.
"Colleen! No, I came with Miss Folio, but I seem to have misplaced her."
"Too bad – too bad you aren't alone I mean." She batted large eyes and winked as she drifted away.
"Have I been replaced already?"
"Oof, Harriet . . ." There was no objection to the use of her name and he blundered on. "You women have a knack for appearing out of nowhere." He waved a hand toward Colleen. "She was just uh- just saying hello."
She smiled and took his arm as they strolled among the crowd.
"Did you see Amanda safely inside?" She asked lightly.
"Yes, but an odd thing happened. She opened the door, looked over my shoulder and gasped. When I asked about it she said it was nothing and ran inside."
Harriet stopped and faced him. "Did you see anyone?"
"Anyone? I didn't see anything."
"Do you mind if I leave you again for a moment. I must speak with her."
"Okay. Just remember, Colleen is still circling." He tried for a bit of humour but Harriet had already turned and headed for the church kitchen.
Amanda was alone at one end of a long table, cutting up boiled potatoes for the huge salad being made. When she saw Harriet, she dropped the knife, and hurried toward her, wiping her hands on her apron.
"Oh, Harriet," she threw her arms about her friend and hugged her close. "I saw the man who was with- with that Larkin."
"He never bothered you did he?" She asked, easing Amanda away.
"No but . . ."
"Come to the door and point him out to me. I'll keep an eye on things and if there is any suspicious behaviour, we'll figure out how to deal with it."
They peered out the partially opened door, looking together. Suddenly Amanda hissed that she could see him. Harriet followed her direction and froze.
"That's him, Harriet. Harriet?"
"Go back to what you were doing, Amanda. I'll take care of this."
"What's wrong?"
"Just go back please." Harriet opened the door and stepped into the hall, her eyes locked on the cowboy she'd left tied on the wagon trail so long ago.