“Why would it?” Grace asked.
“Oh, honey, Flossie was in love once. You’ve heard me refer to a production we did back in ’03, no doubt. It was really more of a vaudeville act. We traveled with several other actors, of course. One of them was a handsome fella named Gene Westin. Let me tell you, that man was something special to look at.”
“Really?”
“Oh yes. He had the prettiest eyes I’ve ever seen on a fella, and his perfect mustache looked like something out of a picture book. In one of the little skits we did, he played the part of a general in the War between the States. Flossie fell head over heels for the fella. I’ve never seen her so happy.”
Lottie could hardly believe it. Flossie…in love? “So what happened?”
Fanny sighed. “The show ended and she never worked up the courage to share her feelings with him. I think everyone knew they were meant for each other, but no one piped up and said anything. We ended up getting hired by the traveling show while he went off and did his own one-man show. At first we thought we’d be separated from Gene for a few weeks. But weeks turned into months, and months turned into years. We found out some time later that he had married one of the girls in the chorus line. Honestly, I think it broke Flossie’s heart, though she never speaks of it.”
“How sad.” Grace’s lips turned down in a pout.
“Sadder still to live your whole life locked up by pain when the true source of your problem is the unwillingness to let go of what might’ve been.” Fanny’s eyes filled with tears. “You don’t know how many times I’ve wanted to tell her that living in the present is for the best. I truly think she’s still pining away for that man.”
Ironic. Hadn’t Gilbert wasted precious time, pining away for Winifred?
“We don’t always get a second chance to say what should’ve been said the first time around. That’s why I believe we should share our feelings while we have the chance.” Fanny gave everyone a nod then got back to work.
Flossie returned shortly, and Prudy joined them minutes later. The ladies spent the next hour working hard. With Grace’s help, they cut out paper patterns for the various costumes and got busy pinning them to the fabrics. The work distracted Lottie and kept her from thinking about Gil. Mostly.
Around eleven o’clock, a yummy aroma permeated the room.
Fanny glanced up from her work and sniffed the air. “
Mmm
. Do you smell that?”
Lottie paused and drew in a breath. “Yum. Mrs. Parker and Hannah have already started making pies. Smells like coconut.”
“And something fruity,” Grace added. “Maybe lemon?”
“I love lemon meringue pie.” Flossie rubbed her stomach. “Hope we’re able to keep on working with pies baking in the next room.”
“Me too.” Fanny looked worried. “I might just have to run in there and grab a slice.”
“I have a feeling we’re going to get used to the smell of pies baking after a while,” Lottie said.
Grace nodded. “Yes, I heard Hannah say that she wanted to try her hand at a couple of new recipes. I can hardly wait.”
Mrs. Parker came into the room minutes later, all abuzz with excitement. “Ladies, I hope you don’t mind sandwiches again. I know we had them for lunch yesterday.”
“And at our midnight supper club,” Fanny whispered and then gave Lottie a playful wink.
“Hannah and I are just so busy with this pie-parlor idea that I haven’t had time to cook anything,” Mrs. Parker added. “But there’s good news! Gilbert has reached Jeb Otis, and he will be cooking your dinner tonight. In fact, he’ll be making all of your meals from this point on while I focus on pies.”
Fanny let out a quiet, “Praise the Lord!” which Mrs. Parker appeared not to hear. Lottie concentrated on the fabrics, not wanting to give anything away with her expression.
“Anyway, I do apologize for the sandwiches,” Mrs. Parker said. “But I understand Jeb will be roasting chickens for dinner and making his famous Southwestern beans.” She turned on her heel and headed back to the kitchen.
Fanny sighed. “I always did love a man who could cook.”
Hearing the words “man” and “love” caused Lottie to think about Gilbert once again, of course. In spite of her attempts not to dwell on him, she’d thought of little else all morning. Still, he was conspicuously absent from their little sewing party, no doubt busy elsewhere. Strange, that Cornelia hadn’t offered to help with the sewing, either. Lottie tried to push aside the feelings of jealousy that wrapped themselves like tendrils around her heart every time she thought of the way Cornelia gazed at Gilbert.
Oh well. Soon enough everyone would know that Lottie and Gil were a couple. She hoped so, anyway.
The ladies took a break for lunch at noon, though Gil seemed to be avoiding Lottie. She couldn’t quite make sense of it. Was he trying to keep their relationship a secret, perhaps? Likely. She wanted to take the seat next to him at the lunch table but found it occupied by Cornelia. Naturally.
Grace invited Lottie to join her at another table, and before long they were in an intense conversation about costumes once again. Flossie shared her plans to sew Gilbert’s Justin Credible costume right away, explaining that the more they could get done before tonight’s rehearsal, the better.
True to form, after swallowing down a bit of food, she got right back to work. Fanny and Grace seemed anxious to get back to it too. Lottie joined them for a while but eventually headed off to the cabins to perform her usual afternoon chores.
She kept a watchful eye on the clock as the hours ticked by and wondered what time Jeb would show up to cook dinner. He came whistling across the property around three thirty. Lottie managed to catch up with him before he entered the lodge.
“Jeb.”
He turned and flashed a smile. “Hi, Lottie. Wasn’t sure I’d see you till tonight at dinner.”
“Yes, I’ve been here all day. Well, mostly. I had to run home this morning to fetch my script.” She paused. “And that’s what I want to talk to you about. When I went home, I…well…something happened. Or, rather, I saw something. Something of yours.”
He gave her a curious look.
“Tell me what happened with Katie Sue, Jeb,” she said after a moment.
“Katie Sue?” Jeb’s eyes glistened. “What brought her up?”
“Jeb, I—”
He put up his hand and kept walking toward the lodge. “I don’t want to talk about it. Let’s just say she’s moved on to higher pastures.”
“Jeb, I know all about it. I saw her just this morning. My pa was…” She decided not to finish the sentence. If he knew Katie Sue was headed off to Texas to become some rich man’s steak, it would probably be the end of him.
“What were you saying, Lottie?” he asked.
“Oh, well, I was saying that Katie Sue looked like she fit right in with the other cows.” Lottie offered a strained smile.
He stopped walking and turned her way. “Breaks my heart to let her go. It really does. But what can I do? I needed the money for all of this…” He gestured at the lodge. “To help cover the costs of the ladies being here. I don’t have extra money like some of the fellas, so I have to do what I can to get by.”
Lottie placed her hand on his arm. “I can’t imagine you without Katie Sue, Jeb. She’s your most valuable possession.”
He shrugged. “Not the most valuable. My friendships are more valuable.”
“Still…” She followed him inside and watched as he went to work cooking the evening meal. Jeb never stopped talking, mostly about Katie Sue. He grew quite somber when the conversation shifted and he ended up talking about the losses he’d faced in his personal life—losing his wife and a young daughter to influenza many years ago. Lottie’s heart grew heavy. No wonder he’d been so attached to Katie Sue. She really was all he had left. Hearing his testimony— as he called it—put everything in perspective.
At five thirty, Lottie headed out to the dining hall to help Flossie, Grace, and Fanny clean up the mess they’d made cutting out and sewing costumes, and at six o’clock, all the ladies gathered in the dining hall for their first real home-cooked meal.
“Anyone hungry?” Jeb stood before them with a platter full of roasted chicken.
“Are we ever!” Fanny sat at the table, her fork in one hand and her knife in the other. “Bring it on, Mr. Otis!”
Lottie had the strangest feeling that Fanny’s words had some sort of double meaning. Based on the crooked smile on Jeb’s face, the two had some sort of secret.
Not that Jeb’s cooking skills were any secret. Why, the chicken practically melted in her mouth.
After the meal, Hannah and Mrs. Parker handed out giant slices of pie—some chocolate, some coconut, and some apple. Then, just about the time Lottie wished she could curl up for a long nap, it was time for rehearsal to begin. She helped Mrs. Parker and Jeb clear the dishes then called the room to attention by clapping her hands.
The cast members gathered around her, ready to begin. Still, one person was conspicuously absent. Lottie glanced around, confused. “Where’s Gil?”
“He’s in the other room, changing into that Justin Credible costume we’ve been sewing all day,” Fanny said. “Grace wants to hem the pants so we can focus on the green dress tomorrow.”
“I see.” Lottie clapped her hands again. “Okay, everyone. We’ve got a lot to do tonight. We’re going to block the first couple of scenes.”
“What does ‘block’ mean, Lottie?” one of the local boys asked.
“It means I’m going to show you exactly where to stand on the stage and when to move. You want to do what comes most naturally to you, of course. That means you can’t just stand there. You’ve got to match your movements to the character’s personality and motives, if that makes sense.”
Lottie spent the next few minutes talking about the various characters. Just about the time she got the actors onto the stage for the opening scene, a stirring at the door on the opposite side of the dining hall distracted her. Her heart gravitated to her throat when she saw a familiar young woman standing there with tears streaming down her face.
Springing from her seat, Lottie sprinted to the door. “Winnie?” She stared at her older sister, thinking for a moment she’d seen an apparition.
Winnie threw herself into Lottie’s arms. “Don’t ask me any questions, Lottie! And whatever you do, don’t let Mama hear that I’ve been crying. She can’t know that…” Her words faded away. “Anyway, she can’t know anything’s wrong. I want her to think I’ve come home for a little visit, that’s all.”
“All right.” Lottie brushed loose hair out of her sister’s eyes. “But when you’re ready to talk about it—whatever it is—you can come to me. Promise?”
Winifred nodded and looked around the room. “I can see that you’re really busy.”
“We’re just about to start our rehearsal.”
“Yes. That melodrama Mama told me about.” Winifred pulled out her hankie and dabbed at her eyes. “I heard all about it.”
“No doubt. But remember, you can’t believe everything you hear. We’re having a wonderful time and it’s going to be a terrific show, filled with villains and vixens.”
“Villains and vixens.” Winnie sighed. “Ironic. That’s just what I found in Denver too.” She dabbed the tears off her cheeks. “Oh well, enough about that. I can fill you in later. Do you think it would be all right if I stayed here and walked home with you later?”
“Sure. Gilbert will walk us both home after rehearsal,” Lottie said. “He’s been very good about that.” She tried to keep her admiration for Gilbert out of her voice.
“Where—where is Gil?” Winnie looked around, a glimmer in her eyes.
A ripple of jealousy trailed across Lottie’s heart. She dismissed it at once, realizing that Gilbert now cared for the right sister. “He’s changing into a costume. I—well, I guess you should know that he’s playing the hero. His name is Justin Credible.”
Winnie smiled. “Well, of course it is. And isn’t that just perfect for Gil?”
“Y–yes.” Lottie took her sister by the hand and led her to a table near the stage. “I’ll be sitting here to direct. You can join me.”
Several of the ladies glanced Lottie’s way, as if to ask the obvious, “Who is that?” but she didn’t make introductions. Not yet. No, she’d better wait until after the rehearsal when Winnie got her emotions in check.
“All right, everyone, back to rehearsal.” Lottie clapped her hands, ready to work on the melodrama. At least with the play, she had some idea of how the story might turn out.
* * * * *
G
ILBERT DID HIS BEST
to remain patient as Grace pinned up the hem of his pants. He found the costume rather ridiculous but didn’t say so. Sure, he’d imagined Justin Credible to be the swashbuckling sort, but the costume was a little over the top.
As Grace continued to work, he squirmed.
“Careful, or I’ll stick you with a pin,” she teased.
At least he hoped she was teasing.
“The ladies are going to love this.” Grace rose and gave him a nod. “Let’s go show them.”
“Right now?” He took a step backward.
“Well, sure. We’ve been working all day so that we could get your costume ready. I think it will help the other cast members see just how real this show is if they can see a costume. It will motivate them to do their best.”
“I guess.”
Gil trudged along behind Grace, who flitted out into the dining hall. “Yoo-hoo!” she called out, getting everyone’s attention. “I have someone to introduce.” With great flair she turned his way, flung out her arms, and said, “I give you our hero, Justin Credible!”
A gasp went up from the crowd, especially the women. Cornelia came rushing his way, all smiles. “You’re going to make the most handsome hero ever, Gil,” she crooned.
He bit back a response. Something about the way she gazed up at him made him uneasy, especially after kissing Lottie this morning. Not that he minded Cornelia’s attentions, necessarily. Had it really only been a day or two since he’d welcomed them? Now he just felt confused. Conflicted.
“I can’t wait to see you on opening night.” She gave him a little wink. “You’re going to look just incredible.” She giggled. “Get it? Justin Credible?”
“Th–thank you.” Gil’s thoughts were elsewhere, however. He looked through the crowd, smiling when he saw Lottie. The shimmer of wonder in her eyes was really all he needed to calm his nerves.