Leora: Bride of California (American Mail-Order Bride 31) (15 page)

“That ridiculous girl,” Ophelia said with a shake of her head. She glanced around the church. “Just look at what it’s done.”

“And the play is in two days,” Leora said. “The dress rehearsal is tomorrow! What are we going to do?”

“You leave it to me,” Ophelia said. “I’ll take care of this!”

“Oh, but Ophelia,” Leora said. “I don’t want you to … I mean … please don’t force people to come.”

“I’m not reverting to my old ways, if that’s what worries you. No, I’ll convince people to come. After all, they made a commitment to this play and to you. They ought to know better.”

“But they don’t know me,” Leora lamented.

“That’s because they haven’t taken the time to. So far they’ve only used you as a means to an end – my end, really. They’ve been so busy trying to use you to replace me that they never took the time to see what kind of a person you are.”

Mrs. Pleet glanced between them. “As much as I hate to admit it, she’s right.”

Leora blew a stray wisp of hair off her face. “Yes, I suppose she is.” She looked at the few people gathered. “I guess we’ll have to call off play practice and hope for the best come tomorrow.”

“Don’t you worry,” Ophelia Rutherford said. “Just leave everything to me.”

Fifteen

The day before Christmas Eve, Leora felt sick to her stomach. She was nervous as a cat and kept imagining the worst. She hadn’t heard anything from Ophelia since speaking to her the afternoon before and was becoming more worried by the minute.

“Will you stop that?” Theron said as he entered their bedroom. “She said she’d take care of it, so … she’ll take care of it.”

“But what if she doesn’t? What if she’s reverted to her old ways and lets everything fall apart?”

“I’ll be out there today repairing the damage as well, you know that. Now calm down. Have a cup of tea and read your book.”

Leora glanced at the huge tome on the desk, then gave him a tiny smile. “I couldn’t read at a time like this.”

“No? What if I let you in on a little secret?”

“A secret?”

He went to the desk, picked up the book and handed it to her. “Yes. What if I told you I was acquainted with C.I. Sayer?”

Leora stood. “What? You know him?”

Theron shrugged as he smiled. “After a fashion …”

“How? Have you met him?”

His smile broadened. “Trust me when I say, I’m very familiar with this author.”

She raised an eyebrow at him. “You read penny dreadfuls too, don’t you? How else would you know him?”

Theron shrugged and she could tell he was trying to hide a smile. “I might have read a few in my younger days. But enough of that – my parents will be here today, remember?”

“Oh no,” she groaned. “I mean, not that it’s a bad thing. It’s just with everything else going on … well, what are they going to say about it?”

“The same thing I did. That it was a silly prank done by a foolish girl.”

“Are you going to speak with her parents about it?”

“I’m still deciding. I think we ought to speak with Prudence herself and leave her parents out of it. If word gets out she did it, no one in this town will want to marry her.”

Leora fought down a stab of anger and frowned.

“I know you’re angry with her. So am I, but I also don’t want to see her hurt by her rash behavior.”

“Maybe it’s the only way she’ll learn,” Leora said.

“Maybe, but I also believe in giving second chances.”

“I’m afraid you’re much more charitable than I am,” she confessed.

He smiled. “Said the woman who’s been busy redeeming Ophelia Rutherford.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “Come – let’s go to the office and see what work we can get done before my parents arrive.”

They left the house, went to the church and had just got started with the day when someone knocked on the door.

“Do you think it’s Ophelia?” Leora asked.

Theron didn’t answer her, but did answer the door. “Hello, Mother.”

“Hello, dear. Surprised?”

“I thought you weren’t arriving until this afternoon.”

“We took an earlier train,” Dr. Drake said, peeking over his wife’s head.

“Oh, I see,” Theron muttered. “Come in.”

“Something wrong?” his father asked as he followed his wife into the office.

“No … well …”

“Yes,” Leora stated.

“I knew it, I knew it!” Mrs. Drake exclaimed. “Didn’t I tell you, Bowen? I said something wasn’t right and here it is.”

Dr. Drake rolled his eyes. “You had no idea it was here.” He turned to Leora. “My wife, your mother-in-law, gets these … feelings. Unfortunately, they’re maddeningly non-specific.”

“Never mind about that,” Mrs. Drake said. “I know when something’s not right somewhere. And now we know where. So, what happened?”

Theron and Leora exchanged a quick glance. “We’re taking care of it,” Theron said. “No need for either of you to worry.”

“Come now, you know us better than that,” his mother told him. “What is it?”

Theron sighed. “She’s going to pester us until we tell her.”

Leora swallowed hard. “But we’re handling it.”

Mrs. Drake’s eyes darted between the two. “It’s bad, isn’t it?”

Leora swallowed again. “No,” she squeaked. “Not at all.”

Mrs. Drake’s eyes widened. “Good heavens, it’s worse than I thought!”

“Mother!”

“Don’t you ‘Mother’ me, Theron – just look at your wife’s eyes. She’s positively terrified!”

“Of what you’ll do,” Theron shot back.

“No,” Leora said. “It’s not that.”

Dr. Drake stepped forward and studied her. “Someone’s hurt you.”

Leora’s eyes widened. “They … tried.”

“Tried what?” Mrs. Drake probed. And that did it – the whole story gushed out of Leora as if Theron’s parents had opened a floodgate.

Afterward, Mrs. Drake stood in shock. “Mrs.
Rutherford
? You mean to tell me you’ve left it up to
that
woman to fix this?”

“She’s not what you think she is,” Leora said wearily. “She’s changed.”

“A lot has happened since you were here last, Mother,” Theron said. “Do us a favor and stay out of it.”

“I’ll do no such thing!” Mrs. Drake said.

“Elsie,” Dr. Drake warned as he took his wife by the arm. “Your son is a grown man. Respect his wishes and let he and his wife work it out themselves.”

Mrs. Drake opened her mouth, shut it, then straightened as her cheeks flushed red.

“And I trust Ophelia because she’s my friend,” Leora added.

Mrs. Drake’s eyes went round as platters. “Friend?”

“It’s a long story. But she’s willing to help and we’re letting her.”

Mrs. Drake shut her eyes tight, as if to block out her words. “All right, if you insist on handling this yourselves, go right ahead.”

“They do, and I do,” Dr. Drake said. “And you’re going to let them, aren’t you, Elsie?”

She sent him something between a glare and a flirtatious wink. It was the oddest look Leora had ever seen, but apparently Dr. Drake understood it – he smiled and released his wife’s arm.

Theron sighed in relief. “Now, let’s get some work done.”

* * *

The day wore on and Leora was becoming worried again. Theron’s parents were a happy distraction for a while, and she began to enjoy her new mother-in-law’s company. Elsie Drake was feisty, knew what she wanted and went after it. She told Leora about some of the adventures she and her husband had shared, several of them sounded like some of the stories she’d read in her book.

But soon dusk was upon them and that meant the dress rehearsal for the Christmas play. Of course the big question was, would there be one?

Leora and Mrs. Drake went to the church and found Mrs. Pleet setting up the refreshment tables with Mrs. Tippens in preparation for the following night. “Oh thank heaven!” Leora said as she went to them. “You’re here!”

“Of course, we’re here,” Mrs. Tippens said. “Why wouldn’t we be?”

Leora stood in shock. “Because … because of what happened.”

Mrs. Tippens looked at Mrs. Pleet, then Mrs. Drake and back. “What was that?”

Leora’s mouth dropped open. “You mean you haven’t heard?”

“Does she need to hear it from you?” Mrs. Drake said.

“If you’re referring to Charlie Stevens, of course I’ve heard,” Mrs. Tippens said. “What an idiot. Whatever was he thinking?”

Leora stared at her as more cast members filed into the church. “I … have no idea.” Good grief, did they know Prudence had paid him to do it?

“Good evening, Mrs. Drake!” Mr. Short greeted as he entered. “I’d best go put on my costume!” Leora just stood and nodded. Several more people came in, greeted her and wished her a merry Christmas. And so it went for the next half-hour, until all the cast members had dressed and assembled before her in the sanctuary.

Leora was still rooted to the spot. “I don’t understand – you’re all here,” she whispered.

“Of course they are!” Ophelia Rutherford approached, holding her angel’s wings. “Why wouldn’t they be?”

“You bullied them here, didn’t you?” Mrs. Drake asked.

Leora cringed. “Oh no …”

“No, she didn’t,” Mrs. Gaston said.

Mrs. Drake’s eyes widened with shock. “Of course she did.”

“Nope, she sure didn’t,” Mr. Allen said.  “Didn’t so much as raise her voice. Sorry for thinking the worst, Mrs. Drake – I should’ve known better.” Several others murmured in agreement.

Leora took Ophelia by the hand. “Thank you.”

“Ophelia did us all a favor,” said Mrs. Brown.

“What?” Mrs. Drake squeaked.

“She sure did,” agreed Mr. Peterson. “She reminded us people can change.”

Leora looked over the cast. They stood gazing at her with smiles on their faces – not one scowl or angry look. “I don’t understand … most of you didn’t show up the last couple of rehearsals.”

“We were too quick to judge,” Mrs. Tippens admitted.

“But … what changed your mind?” Leora asked.

“Mrs. Rutherford,” said Mr. Allen. “We may not know you too well yet, Mrs. Drake, but we knew Ophelia Rutherford.” He gave Ophelia a sheepish look. “Or we thought we did. But she showed us we hadn’t taken the time to get to know you – or her.”

Leora looked at Ophelia. “I still don’t understand. What did you tell them?”

“It’s not what I
told
them, child,” Ophelia said. “It’s what I
asked
them.”

“What was that?” Mrs. Drake said with a curious frown.

Ophelia looked her right in the eye. “I asked for their forgiveness. And I’ll ask the same of you, Mrs. Drake.”

Elsie Drake’s mouth fell open in shock.

“Amazing what forgiveness will do,” said Mrs. Pleet. “After Ophelia asked us to forgive her for all the years she acted like such a bully, we … had to ask her for the same thing. We did try to push her out of everything she’d been involved with, after all. That made us no better.”

Leora looked from one face to another as tears formed in her eyes. “Then I have to ask your forgiveness too. All of you.”

“Why, dear?” Mrs. Brown inquired. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Oh yes, I did. I automatically assumed the worst from everyone. I suppose if I were one of you, I’d be shocked and angry and wouldn’t know what to think for awhile. But in my head, you were never going to treat me decently again.”

“That’s not giving us much credit, now is it?” Mrs. Tippens asked. “It might take us a while to get over it, and once we found out Charlie Stevens was being an idiot, everything was fine. But, this goes beyond Charlie’s shenanigans. None of us has been completely honest with ourselves for years. We didn’t realize Ophelia was so lonely.”

Mr. Brown nodded. “And we didn’t bother to ask.”

“Or stand up for ourselves,” added Mrs. Gaston. “Charlie’s not the only idiot. We’ve all been acting like one.”

Leora glanced at her cast, tears in her eyes. “You people … I’ve never known anyone that … I …” She took one look at Ophelia, then fell into her arms. “Thank you!”

“Don’t thank me. I’m thanking you. If you hadn’t come to see me, let me talk and listen, I never would have had the courage to do any of this. It was easier to be bossy. I’m sorry I was so hard on you when you first arrived. I’m sorry I cast the play as I did. I knew you’d be put in charge and … well, I guess I wanted to see what you were made of.”

“I’ll bet you did,” Mrs. Drake muttered.

“I suspected as much,” Leora said as she left Ophelia’s arms. “But you know I forgive you.” She then turned to her new mother-in-law. “If I can forgive that, then are you going to let a bowl of punch stand between you two? Or are you going to forgive her and be friends?”

Mrs. Drake bit her bottom lip. “I … forgive you … for screaming like a banshee, ridiculing me in public, throwing spoons at me …”

“One spoon,” Ophelia corrected.

“You threw a spoon at her?” Leora asked in shock.

“It was a big one,” Ophelia admitted sheepishly.

“But, since Leora insists that you’ve changed,” Mrs. Drake continued, “I can’t hold my forgiveness from you. It wouldn’t be right.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Drake. I appreciate it,” Ophelia said, then gave her a hug.

“Well, isn’t this a fine thing!” Mr. Short exclaimed. “But are we gonna have a dress rehearsal or not?”

“Yes, we are!” Leora declared, blinking away her tears of joy. “Ophelia, let me help you with your wings. Places, everyone! First scene – the Wise Men …”

* * *

The following night, the church doors opened precisely at seven p.m. and the townsfolk began to flow into the sanctuary. It was packed within minutes and Leora was shocked when she saw it was standing-room-only. “There are so many people here!”

“More than I’ve ever seen,” Mrs. Pleet added.

Leora fidgeted in a beautiful red velvet dress trimmed with long white lace – the narrator’s costume. The dress had been worn by whoever the narrator was, every year, which limited the part to women thin enough to fit into it. The previous pastors must all have had skinny wives, she mused. But it was a lovely outfit, and she felt almost regal in it – or would if she wasn’t so downright scared.