Chapter 12

FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 1904

Formal invitations to the Ashburys’ dinner on the twenty-fourth of June went out two days later.

Eleanor was still considering her conversation with Marvella when she rode her bicycle downtown to shop for a proper dinner gown. It troubled her to think that the older woman believed Eleanor’s soul was somehow the property of Satan because of her indecision toward God. How could she just presume that’s how it worked?

Of course ... Mother had said that if a person wasn’t for Jesus, he was against Him, but that wasn’t how Eleanor felt. God had been unfair and unkind in her mother’s sickness and death, but that didn’t mean Eleanor wanted any part of Satan or his ways. Did one really have to choose one or the other? Couldn’t a person just remain unaffiliated with either side?

She had spotted a rather elegant dress shop on one of her outings that claimed to have a wide selection of ready-made gowns for all important affairs. Perhaps they would have something appropriate for the Ashbury dinner. She didn’t know how many people Mrs. Ashbury had invited, but the Brunswicks were on the list, and that alone made her nervous.

Once again there was no designated place she could leave her bicycle, so Eleanor leaned it up against the wall of the shop and made her way inside. She was immediately greeted by a middle-aged woman. “I’m Louise. How may I help you?”

“I’m looking for a gown to wear to a formal dinner. I was hoping for something ready-made.”

“I have a selection of beautiful gowns. I’m sure we can find something. When is your dinner party?”

“The twenty-fourth.”

The woman nodded. “That should give me enough time for any adjustments we need to make. Why don’t you come with me and have a look. Do you have anything special in mind?”

Oh dear. The last time she’d given any thought to her clothes was to make certain she had proper riding clothes and woolens that could be layered underneath to keep her warm in the mountains.

“Not really. I’ll trust you to know what might look best and be appropriate. Nothing immodest, of course.”

“Certainly not.” The woman motioned Eleanor to follow and led her to a small room. “If you’ll have a seat, I’ll bring several selections to you, and you can see what you think.”

Eleanor waited and at last Louise reappeared with an armful of gowns. She arranged them carefully on various hooks that had been mounted in between several large mirrors. Each gown was attractive, but Eleanor’s eye was immediately drawn to a light blue silk dress with a tiered skirt and short, puffed sleeves that were banded to the upper arm. The bodice neckline was scooped but not daringly low like many of the other designs. The waist came to a point in the front and back with a delicate ribbon trim. The design was simple, understated, yet elegant.

“I’d like to try this one.” Eleanor pointed to the gown.

“You have a good eye. That is one of the best we have to offer. Follow me, please.”

Louise took up the gown and led the way to the dressing room. “Do you have the needed undergarments?”

Eleanor shook her head. “No. I will need those as well.”

The fitting took nearly an hour. The gown was everything Eleanor could have hoped for, but it was a little large. Louise drew up the material and pinned several places to ensure that it fit perfectly.

She helped Eleanor out of the dress, careful not to stick her with pins. “I can have this ready on Tuesday.”

“That will be perfect. Now I have only to find a proper pair of shoes.”

“May I recommend Seymore’s? I believe you will find what you need there, and they are just two doors down.”

“Thank you.” Eleanor finished undressing and reclaimed her split-skirt suit. She had come to all but live in these outfits when exploring or riding. Would she still have cause to use them once they were settled in Kalispell?

Tomorrow she and Father were to see the Hennessy house, but Eleanor had already ridden past the property, and it looked wonderful. The house was a mix of Queen Anne and Colonial Revival, with a tower on one side and a recessed arch under the gable. The three-story house had a porch that her father would enjoy sitting on during warm evenings. She couldn’t imagine that the house wouldn’t be perfect for their needs. And there were extensive gardens and trees that offered wonderful shade. They would need to hire a gardener to bring some color to the landscape, but no doubt Father would enjoy taking care of the gardens as well.

At Seymore’s, Eleanor found a perfect pair of shoes. She arranged for them to be delivered, then headed outside to her bicycle. She was just about to mount when she heard her name being called.

“Ellie Briggs.”

She turned. Of course. Carter Brunswick. Only he would be so bold. And yet, she couldn’t hold back a smile. “Hello, Mr. Brunswick.”

“Please call me Carter. I believe you’ve earned the right.”

Her smile broadened. “Yes, I believe I have.”

“Where are you bound?”

“Actually, I was thinking a little refreshment might be in order. Might I buy you a cold drink?”

He frowned. “No, but I will be happy to buy you one.”

“I’d like that. Where do you suggest we go?”

“There’s a nice little café around the corner. They serve a wonderful iced lemonade.”

She liked the casual way he handled the matter. Even at their first meeting, she knew exactly where she stood with him, and now he was more than at ease in offering her friendship.

They started for the café with Eleanor walking alongside her bicycle. Carter glanced over and motioned to the bike. “Would you like me to manage that?”

“No, thank you. I have it.” Her tone was a bit sterner than she intended, and so she hurried to continue. “I’ve grown accustomed to handling it, but I appreciate that you would offer.”

He shrugged. “Seemed like the thing to do. Ah, see, here we are.” They had turned the corner, and the shop was right there.

Eleanor again leaned the bicycle against the building, then dusted off her gloved hands. “Please lead the way.”

Carter opened the door to the small shop and ushered her inside. They took a seat near the front window at a small table for two. Eleanor pulled off her gloves and tucked them in her pockets. She could make out a bit of her reflection in the mirror, and gracious, she looked windblown.

“I’m afraid I’m rather untidy.” She raised a hand to smooth back her hair.

“I think you look just fine. Have you been out shopping today?”

“I have. Mrs. Ashbury insists I attend the dinner she’s giving on the twenty-fourth, and I had nothing appropriate to wear for the occasion.”

“Good thing we have an abundance of dress stores where you can mull over the latest fashions.”

If he only knew. Actually ... why not tell him? “I abhor shopping. My mother did too, so I suppose that’s where I get my feelings or lack of them. I picked out my gown at the first store I stopped in. Same for the shoes.” She laughed. “I hope I haven’t disappointed you.”

“On the contrary”—he looked at her with a gaze that suggested ... what? Respect?—“I find your confession endearing. A woman who knows what she wants and wastes little time in getting it is something I can admire.”

The waitress approached and Carter looked to Eleanor. “What would you like?”

“The lemonade you suggested sounds perfect.”

He glanced at the waitress. “Make it two.” He waited until the waitress had gone before posing a question. “Did you enjoy your time in the mountains?”

“I did. I found it refreshing. We rode for hours each day and sometimes in the most perilous of places. Oh, and I was able to meet and talk with some of the Blackfeet. There were four different men who joined our party one evening, and I enjoyed hearing some of their stories.”

“That sounds intriguing. Do you think you’ll be able to accomplish all you and your father have set out to do before you leave?”

Should she share her news with him? “I ... well ... my father and I don’t plan to leave Kalispell. Father wants to settle down and write a book on his experiences as a conservationist.”

He raised an eyebrow. “And do you intend to live here?”

Was his tone one of happy anticipation or simple surprise that two people from the big cities would find contentment in Kalispell?

“Yes. Mrs. Ashbury has arranged for us to see a couple of places tomorrow. I’ve already ridden by one of them ... the Hennessy house. Do you know it?”

He shook his head. “I don’t believe I do.”

“It’s rather perfect. I think Father will like it very much. It has a large area of gardens and trees.”

A mischievous smile stretched across Carter’s face. “Land? You will buy a house with a large plot of land? I thought you didn’t approve of such things.”

Eleanor stiffened. She couldn’t help it. He shouldn’t tease her about something she held so dear. “I don’t think you can compare a few acres to the twenty thousand or so owned by your family.”

He held up his hands. “I was just teasing, Miss Briggs. But clearly it struck a chord. So I have a question: isn’t ownership, ownership? What if someone wanted to come and sit in your garden as part of their visit to Kalispell?”

“I suppose they could come and ask us, and we’d probably allow for it.” Really! He was insufferable!

He chuckled. “I’m not trying to fight with you over this. Just to understand where the lines are drawn. My father intends to give me two hundred acres on my birthday in August. Is that too much by your standards?”

Her standards.What, exactly, did he mean by that? She gave a nod. “I believe it is. What in the world will you do with two hundred acres?”

“I thought I might build a house for myself and my wife ... and any children we might have.” His tone was softer than Eleanor had ever heard it. No man she’d known back east would talk about starting a family with such honesty. “I might also expand my business and set up a second mill.”

Eleanor folded her arms over her chest. “That would take two hundred acres?”

“No, but what’s wrong in having the land to use as I please?”

She opened her mouth to reply but found she didn’t have a ready answer to his bothersome question.

What was wrong with that?

“Here you are.” The waitress put two glasses of lemonade on the table. “Would you care for anything else?”

Carter looked at Eleanor. “Are you hungry?”

“No, I’m fine. Just the lemonade, please.” She took the glass in hand and sampled the drink. It was cold and had just the right amount of tartness.

“We won’t need anything else. At least for now.”

The woman smiled at him and left them to their drinks.

For a moment, silence settled over the table. Best to change the subject before they ended up in an argument. “Have you and your father figured out what you will do now that the train is leaving Kalispell?”

Carter’s brows arched. “We’re going to invest in our own freight wagons and teams. We’ll need to hire men to run the routes as well, so at least there will be jobs in the offing.”

“That sounds like it will cost you a great deal. Are you sure that’s the right investment with the railroad pulling out?” She pressed her lips together for a moment. “I’m sorry. That is none of my business.”

Carter laughed. “I don’t mind answering your questions, Ellie. While I won’t go into particulars, I can tell you it’s the best thing for our town and our business right now. God has always taken care of us. My goal is to be a good steward and leave the rest up to Him.”

It always came back to his faith in God. Carter was just like Mama. He thought no part of life was untouched by the hand of Almighty God.

She tucked the thought away to examine at a later time. “What about the comments Mr. Grinnell made about the national park? If they build hotels and restaurants, they will probably need all the flour you can manufacture. That should help.”

He took a sip and nodded. “It will, but how does that fit in with your ideas of land management? I thought you were all about leaving the land untouched.”

She was. Of course she was. However, it was starting to seem there were other sides to the issue of national parks, conservation, and land ownership she hadn’t considered. “I am. But apparently that isn’t monetarily feasible.”

“But you’re against them building in the park and making roads and such?”

“I think so.” This conversation was starting to give her a headache.

“Even if it allows people to be able to see the magnificence that is there? And provides the funds to keep the land protected?”

She weighed his questions for several moments as she sipped on her lemonade. “I probably need to examine this in a bit more depth.”

“That’s fair. It’s always wise to think things through.” He chuckled. “But then, my dad teases me for overthinking. Apparently, I have a knack for that.”

His confession made her feel at ease. The tension slipped from her shoulders. How nice to have an intelligent discussion with a friend.

Her heart skidded to a stop. Did she just acknowledge that Carter was her friend? She began to laugh.

“What’s tickled your funny bone, Miss Briggs?” He waggled his eyebrows at her.

“Nowyou use your manners.” The laughter bubbled up even more and she couldn’t stop. “I just thought...” She covered her mouth with her hand and worked to contain her giggles. “I just thought of you ... as a friend.” She widened her eyes.

His wide smile made his eyes even more handsome—and warmed her insides considerably.

“Watch out, Ellie Briggs. I think you just might have admitted that you like me.”

“It’s Eleanor, you big oaf.” Though she corrected him, she actually enjoyed the sound of her name on his lips.

They continued to talk about the national park, and she asked lots of questions about Kalispell, which he seemed very happy to answer.

The information she gleaned only solidified what she’d told her father the week before. She could actually envision herself putting roots down. Getting to know their neighbors and getting involved in the community. It was a new sensation.

“Sorry, you two. But we need to close up.” The waitress grinned at them and walked back to the counter.

Eleanor started. “What time is it?”

Carter checked his watch. “Nearly five.”

“Goodness. These long hours of sunlight are truly deceptive. I need to get home. They’ll all be worried about me. Especially Mrs. Ashbury, who now has my soul to be concerned with, as well as my physical well-being.” She winced. Whatever prompted her to say that ... and with such disrespectful sarcasm?

He stood but studied her face. “Your soul?”

“Yes.” She forced a laugh. Anything to lighten the tension as they moved outside. “She’s concerned because I pushed my faith aside after my mother died. She’s determined to set things straight.”

“Well ... leave it to Marvella to make sure you’re on the right path.”

What? She stopped cold. “What do you mean by that?”

His gaze was kind, but firm. “Just what I said. There’s the right path or the wrong one.”

What on earth was wrong with these people? First Marvella tells her the devil has her soul. Now Carter was saying she was on the wrong path? “That’s ridiculous. What about neutral middle ground? I believe in God. I just don’t agree with how He does things, so it’s best for me to keep my distance.”

Why did he look so stricken. So ... sad?

“Sorry, Ellie, but that’s the worst decision you could ever make.”

Eleanor gripped the handlebars of her bicycle. “Well, fortunately for you, Mr. Brunswick, you don’t have to live my life. My decisions are just that—mine.” She swung her leg over the seat and sat down. “Thank you for the lemonade and conversation.”

With that she pushed off, refusing to look back and see if Carter watched her ride away.