The Romancing of Evangeline Ipswich Read online

  Of course, Amoretta and Calliope were also devastated by the death of their mother. But they had been younger than Evangeline—still children—and had not borne the brunt of effect that Evangeline had. And now Evangeline sat at the kitchen table, knowing that both her younger sisters had met, fallen in love with, and married astonishingly handsome men who were strong, loving, and thoroughly obsessed with their wives. Even her own father had fallen in love with Kizzy—and, in marrying her, acquired another daughter who was young and fresh and vibrant. And there was the baby on the way—another joy her father would know that Evangeline could not yet imagine herself being blessed with.

  Oh, the girl wasn’t bitter—not in the least of it—a fact that spoke to Kizzy of Evangeline’s high character and strong heart. But a nearly tangible sense of disappointment and heightening unhappiness had begun to settle around her like a veil of lost hope, and it worried Kizzy.

  “What’s eatin’ at your thoughts, Evie?” Kizzy asked then. She chose that moment to finally inquire of Evangeline about her feelings, because the two of them were alone in the house. She knew it would be easier for Evangeline to express concerns or deep feelings then, as opposed to when her father and Shay were present.

  Evangeline shrugged. “Oh, nothing so much as is worth discussing now, I don’t think.”

  But Kizzy smiled. “Tell me, Evie. What’s in your mind?”

  Evangeline’s heart began to race with anxiety as the idea settled in her that perhaps she should confide in Kizzy. After all, Kizzy was a wise woman—far wiser than most women of her young age. By past experience, Evangeline had come to know that it was often very sensible and helpful to confide in Kizzy. Furthermore, it was well Kizzy knew Evangeline’s father and how he would feel and react to certain things.

  And so in an instant Evangeline decided to leap and said, “I’ve written Jennie and told her I would travel to be with her until the baby arrives. She’s terribly worried, especially now that the doctor has put her to bed for the remainder of her time. I plan to leave next week—to have someone drive me up to Langtree where I can board the train to Red Peak to be with Jennie.”

  She watched as Kizzy continued to stir the cake batter in the bowl she had propped in one arm. Her heart hammered with trepidation as she waited for Kizzy’s response.

  Thankfully, Kizzy responded quickly by smiling and saying, “I think it’s a wonderful idea, Evie! You need to get away from Meadowlark Lake for a while, I think. And your friend Jennie…well, it sounds like she certainly needs help, not to mention some extra companionship. I imagine it’s quite a miserable thing to be put to bed for over a month.”

  All at once, Evangeline’s heart leapt with excitement. “Oh, Kizzy, really? Do you really think I should go? I mean, I’ve already written to her and told her that I would, but I’ve been so afraid to tell everyone…especially Daddy. But if you think it’s wise for me to go, then all my fears will be settled.”

  Kizzy smiled and nodded her reassurance as she said, “I do think you should go, Evie. There’s nothing here for you at the moment. You need an adventure of sorts. And though I do admit some concern over the fact that you will be servin’ someone again—for it seems you’ve done that at every turn—I do think you need somethin’ different for now.” Kizzy paused, quirked one eyebrow, and added, “Now as for your father—mind you, he might not be as sure as I am that you need to go, but I’ll explain things to him, and he’ll come around. So no worries there. Though I do think you should talk to him right away about it.”

  “Oh, I will!” Evangeline exclaimed. The joy at knowing Kizzy approved of her decision sparked sheer delight in her at the prospect of leaving Meadowlark Lake for a while and seeing Jennie again. “We were such good friends as girls, Jennie and I,” Evangeline told Kizzy. “The fun we used to have!” She giggled and added, “And the mischief we used to get into! I think we must’ve driven our mothers nearly mad with our antics.” She sighed, saddened at the memory of the loss of her mother. “Of course, that was before…before…”

  “Before your mother passed away and you stepped into the responsibilities left by her absence,” Kizzy finished.

  “Yes,” Evangeline admitted. Quickly, however, she countered, “Not that I minded at all, Kizzy…truly! I loved caring for Amoretta and Calliope. It’s just that…well, I miss being young and carefree the way Jennie and I were when we were children.”

  “Well, you’re still very young, Evangeline Ipswich,” Kizzy reminded.

  But Evangeline countered, “I’m old enough that Floyd Longfellow thinks I’d make a good mother for his little girls.”

  Kizzy rolled her eyes and laughed. “Ha! Floyd Longfellow doesn’t care about you being a mother for his girls. He’s just smitten by your youth and beauty, Evangeline. The motherin’ of his girls is the last thing on his mind where you’re concerned.” Kizzy shook her head and said, “And besides, once you’re gone off to Red Peak to Jennie, Floyd will start pantin’ over Blanche Gardener, Winnie Montrose, or some other pretty young thing in town. So don’t let the fact that an older man is sweet on you start you to thinkin’ you’re too old for the likes of the young bucks.” Kizzy smiled and winked at Evangeline. “But I will tell you this,” she began. “When the day comes that one of them young bucks comes along and captures your attention, Evie…you’re gonna need to let him know he’s got it.”

  “What do you mean?” Evangeline asked—for she was a bit confused by Kizzy’s instruction.

  “I mean that you’re a unique beauty, my darlin’,” Kizzy explained, “the kind of beauty that good, humble men are afraid to pursue.”

  But Evangeline sighed with disagreement. “Now I know you and Daddy have been talking about me…because that’s what he always tells me.”

  “Well, he tells you that because it’s the truth,” Kizzy said. “Men of good character and heroic hearts tend to have very humble souls, Evie. They tend toward thinkin’ they’re not good enough for a raven-haired beauty with deep emerald eyes and a name like Evangeline Ipswich.”

  Evangeline giggled and shook her head with amusement. “A raven-haired beauty with deep emerald eyes, am I?”

  “Yes. You are,” Kizzy confirmed. She inhaled a breath of determination and continued, “For instance, your newest brother-in-law…how long did he pine away after your sister Calliope, thinkin’ he wasn’t worthy of her, hmm? A long time, I think. And it’s worse with you, because your features are dark and mysterious. It intimidates some men.”

  As Evangeline’s deep emerald eyes met Kizzy’s deep brown ones, she suddenly understood what Kizzy was expressing. “You’re speaking from your own experience, I would guess,” she offered.

  “Yes,” Kizzy answered, “though I never saw myself as some great beauty—or even a simple beauty. Pshaw, I always said. I think it was merely that I’m dark-haired and dark-eyed, with gypsy blood in my veins that the sort of men I was attracted to never approached me. Still, your father argues otherwise with me.” Kizzy smiled, blushed a little, and almost whispered, “But your father wasn’t afraid of me…not in any regard.” Quickly she added, “Yet I did have to encourage him for some reason. And that’s why I’m tellin’ you, Evie. When there finally arrives a man that captures your eye—and therefore your heart—you must give confidence to him. Let him know that you’re wantin’ his attention.”

  Evangeline mulled over what Kizzy had told her, but only for an instant before she said, “Well, that’s neither here nor there anyway. I’m going up to be with Jennie. And besides, I’m sure there are even fewer eligible young men in Red Peak than there are here in Meadowlark Lake.” Evangeline frowned, shook her head, and waved a hand as if dismissing her thoughts. “I need to go to Jennie. That’s why I’m going.”

  “I know,” Kizzy said.

  Her voice was calming, and Evangeline returned to her feelings of excitement about going to be with Jennie.

  “Just do tell your father soon, all right, Evangeline?” Kizzy asked in an almost pleadin
g manner. “You’re his eldest daughter, honey. You’ll be the one he has the hardest time lettin’ go.”

  Evangeline smiled, again amazed at Kizzy’s insight. “I won’t wait, Kizzy. I’ll tell him tonight…just after dinner.”

  Kizzy nodded and said, “Thank you, Evie.” She giggled then, exclaiming, “Oh, I’m so excited for you! What an adventure it will be, hmm?”

  Evangeline laughed at Kizzy’s obvious delight in Evangeline’s pending trip. For a moment, she wasn’t too certain how traveling to help care for a bedridden woman qualified as an adventure, but the more she thought about it as an adventure, the more it felt as if it would be.

  Yes, throughout the remainder of the day, Evangeline thought of traveling on the train from Langtree to Red Peak—of seeing the beautiful red rock Jennie had told her composed the hills and mesas around the town, of witnessing so much in a place she’d never been before. And most adventurous of all would be the time spent with Jennie. If the delight and exuberance in Jennie’s letters to Evangeline indicated how thoroughly she had remained the same mischievous, amusing person she had been as a girl, then Evangeline knew that her trip north to see her friend would indeed be the adventure of a lifetime!

  CHAPTER TWO

  She’d been so sure! Evangeline had been so certain, so confident in her decision to travel to Red Peak to be with Jennie. Yet now as she heard the conductor call, “All aboard!”—as she clung to her father, feeling an unfamiliar agony at the realization she would be parted from him for the first time in all her life—she wasn’t so unwavering in her determination to see Jennie through her difficult time as she had been even the day before.

  “Daddy?” she whispered, inhaling the comforting scent of his shaving soap as she clung tightly to him. She buried her face against his neck just as she’d done as a child. “Daddy, I’m not sure…”

  “Of course you’re not sure, sweet pea,” Lawson Ipswich soothed. The low, reassuring intonation of his voice did serve to calm Evangeline—if only a little. “No one’s ever sure when they leave home for their first trip away from their family. But this will be good for you, Evie—an adventure of one type or another. I’m certain of it. And I know that being with Jennie again will give you a sense of liberation of sorts—something you haven’t known in a very long time.”

  Lawson sighed, holding his daughter at arm’s length as he studied her. Even for his strong reassurances, Evangeline could see the emotion in his eyes—the sadness and anxiety. Oh, his words were telling her she should go to Jennie, but his heart was telling him otherwise.

  “And besides, it’s not forever, after all,” Lawson added, forcing a smile. “It’s just a month or so, and then you’ll be back with us again.” Lawson released Evangeline, somewhat unwillingly, and turned to Brake McClendon, his son-in-law. “And by the time you get back, Brake and I will have moved he and Amoretta back to Meadowlark Lake, and we’ll, all of us, spend Thanksgiving and Christmas Day together, hmm?”

  “That’s right,” Brake agreed, adding a reassuring smile of his own. “We’ll miss you, Evangeline,” he assured her.

  Evangeline smiled. Her sister, Amoretta, gave Evangeline one last hug and then turned to melt into the strong embrace of her husband, Brake.

  “You’ll be back to us soon enough, won’t you, Evie?” Amoretta more stated than asked.

  “Of course, darling,” Evangeline answered, brushing more tears from her cheeks.

  “Last call! All aboard!” the conductor shouted again.

  The loud huffing and puffing of the train’s powerful steam engine as it came to life did nothing to settle Evangeline’s anxiety as she turned and quickly boarded the train car behind her.

  As the train slowly began to pull away from the Langtree station, Amoretta kissed her own hand, tossing the invisible token of affection to Evangeline. Brake waved, as well as her father. Evangeline thought she’d never seen him look so sad—at least, not since the death of her mother. Furthermore, her own heart was aching so thoroughly that the instant was painful to endure.

  What was she thinking in leaving her family? Even for such a short time, and for such a very good reason?

  For a moment, Evangeline considered dashing to the back of the train car and jumping off the train. But as the train began to gather more speed, and as she remembered her traveling trunk that was in the storage car, she closed her eyes and reached deep inside her soul to find her courage. Jennie needed her—truly needed her. Whether it was physical help in keeping house and cooking meals or company and encouragement, Jennie did need Evangeline. She wasn’t needed at home—at least not in the same way Jennie needed her. Her father had Kizzy and Shay to love and look after—not to mention a new baby on the way. Her younger sisters, Amoretta and Calliope, each had husbands who were in need of them. And though Evangeline knew her family loved her and needed her presence to make them feel complete, Jennie needed her company and encouragement more.

  Evangeline thought of all these reasons over and over again as the train traveled north, leaving her family farther and farther behind. Gradually, she found that her tears diminished and then stopped. She began to think of Jennie and the tender friendship they’d enjoyed as girls. Thus, also gradually, Evangeline’s heart began to lighten as she thought of seeing Jennie again—of talking with her, laughing with her, and being near to help her in her time of distress and need.

  Exhaling a heavy sigh—the sigh borne of weathering an emotional good-bye and next realizing that she was indeed excited at the prospect of venturing to something out of the ordinary—Evangeline began to gaze out the train car window at the brilliant colors with which autumn was adorning the landscape.

  Crimson and orange sumac, golden cottonwood, and scarlet maple mingled in harmony with evergreen to line the landscape along the railroad tracks as the train traveled. Creek banks were lined with cattails, some already beginning to burst into silky white tufts that the wind would capture and carry to seed new venues.

  Now and again, the train would travel past the outskirts of some small town. There farmers were harvesting pumpkins in fields of withered vines near vast acres of cornstalks, which now stood drab and yellowed in sleeping—spent by a healthy harvest. Shabby scarecrows, once hearty sentinels of summer, lingered in worn, sun-blanched clothes, looking tired yet happy to know winter would bring them rest.

  In truth, Evangeline had not traveled along a more beautiful venue, and it cheered her. Slowly, her anxiety over leaving her family home began to lessen, and her enthusiasm at seeing Jennie returned.

  Evangeline rested her head against the back of her seat and closed her eyes. She smiled as she thought back on the joy she and Jennie had known in each other’s company as young girls—the days of sunshine and making daisy chains, of tea parties in her mother’s parlor, and of chilled autumn ghost hunts in the old cemeteries that dotted the historic venues of Boston. Those had been carefree days indeed—days spent in playtime and dreaming, in giggling and sharing secrets with Jennie. Of course that had all been before Evangeline’s mother and baby brother had died—before Evangeline had had to, at the tender age of twelve, step into her mother’s shoes to care for her two young sisters, Amoretta and Calliope. It had been before Jennie’s older brother had up and left his home and family one day, leaving Jennie distraught and Evangeline secretly heartbroken. It had been before Jennie had married Calvin McKee and moved west—before Evangeline’s own father had decided to leave Boston himself, thereby moving Evangeline and her two sisters west as well, to the town of Meadowlark Lake.

  In truth, those young years of Evangeline’s life spent in the blissful comfort of family and the cherished friendship of Jennie seemed so very long ago. Evangeline knew she was different now than she had been—and not just grown up. Evangeline knew she was somewhat weathered by tragedy and emotional hardship. Therefore, the prospect of seeing Jennie again began to seem like a dream—an escape to a thread from the past—and for a moment, Evangeline wondered if perhaps, in seeing Jenn
ie again, she might regain a small measure of the carefree happiness she had lost when her mother had died.

  Still, she knew it was best not to expect too much joviality in Jennie’s company. After all, Jennie was in a bad way, bedridden until her baby arrived. Furthermore, she had a husband, and no doubt Calvin would require the majority of Jennie’s attention and companionship.

  Opening her eyes once more, Evangeline determined, however, that even though her visit to Red Peak would require a lot of work in keeping house and making meals for Jennie and her husband, she would find the time for reminiscing, laughing, and sharing secrets with her old friend. And maybe, just maybe, doing so would help Evangeline regain a measure of the person she might have been—before loss, heartache, and responsibility had put her on a different track in life. Perhaps her adventure to visit Jennie would work a bit like the railway switch Evangeline could see the train turning onto in that very moment. And then perhaps Evangeline wouldn’t feel quite so alone so much of the time. Perhaps she wouldn’t find herself longing for something that was missing in her—something that she couldn’t even identify to herself.

  Evangeline smiled as her heart lightened. Yes! She was glad she was taking the trip to see Jennie, for she felt as if some sort of wild exhilaration that had been long suppressed had been restored to her.

  Gazing out the window again, Evangeline sighed. She had made the right decision in going to visit Jennie. She did wince a moment when she thought of the note from Shay she carried in her pocket—a note moist with tears and verbose with descriptions of how her little sister would miss Evangeline. Still, she choked back her emotions of missing her family and thought only of the visit ahead. Her father had been right: Evangeline did feel a sense of liberation, and this before she’d even reached the destination!