Edith and the Mysterious Stranger Page 7

  Now for the unimportant or minor things: I enjoy walking in warm rain, reading, picnics in the woods, and taking nature walks. I feel that I’m a romantic person by nature. If at any time you feel inclined to stop writing, I won’t be offended.

  Sincerely,

  Edith, the Strong Minded

  After reading the letter, Melinda was speechless. She looked up at Edith with an open mouth and wide eyes.

  “What?” asked Edith naïvely. “Why are you looking at me that way?”

  “Edith, do you realize how strong your letter sounds? It sounds as if you want to end this relationship even before it begins.” She sighed. “Why?”

  “Because I don’t want to get hurt. That’s why. If he knows what kind of person I am up front and continues writing to me, then I’ll be pleased.”

  Edith looked out the window for a moment and then continued in a softer tone. “Let me put it this way, what if he finds out what I’m really like after many months of writing, and then he stops writing to me all together. Understand?”

  “Yes, I do. I see your reasoning. It’s best to be honest up front before it’s too late. But, if a man truly falls in love with a woman, wouldn’t he accept her strong feelings just because of his love for her?”

  Edith hesitated before answering. “I don’t really know. I just don’t want to take a chance of being hurt. That’s all. Now, all I have to do is wait and see what his response is.” She paused and then looked down at her fidgety hands. “I’m not going to hold my breath, if you’re wondering.”

  Melinda took Edith’s hand in hers, caressed it tenderly and smiled. She agreed, but in another way, she was worried that Edith’s letter was too strong.

  During courtship, a person doesn’t usually come right out and tell someone his or her strongest feelings. At first, anyway. Usually it’s a gradual process, but then writing letters wasn’t the usual courtship process, either.

  Chapter 12

  A Prima Donna

  As Edith headed down the road in her buggy, she noticed Joseph standing next to some pastureland mending a fence. She reined in the horse and came to a stop. As she watched Joseph work, she noticed how tall he was. He wasn’t as muscular as Gilbert and had narrow hips with rugged features. There was something about this man that intrigued her. Perhaps it was the way he caressed the strings of his guitar and filled the air with pleasant sultry music. She believed that music could bring joy to the soul. That was why she loved singing.

  When she remembered Joseph’s words, her brows furrowed. He had simply told her that she sang “nice.” His comment came matter-of-factly as if he were uninterested. She might as well have sung to the cattle in the field. They would have at least appreciated it more than he did. And another thing, it infuriated her the way he was looking her up and down, appraising her value like a head of cattle being taken to market. Why was she even sitting here watching him in the first place? The thought of the other evening aggravated her to no end.

  Just as she took the reins firmly in her hands, Joseph turned around and noticed her. A broad pleasant smile came to his face, and he waved to her in a friendly manner. His smile was charming and her irritation subsided. She waved back out of politeness and smiled.

  Joseph motioned for her to come toward him. She looked at the tall field grass and then down at her dress and shoes. She didn’t see any dirt or mud where he was working, so perhaps she would see what he wanted. She lifted her skirts and carefully stepped down from the buggy.

  As Joseph watched her, he noticed how graceful she was. She had such poise and elegance, not to mention beauty. Her song the other night was breathtakingly beautiful, as he remembered. The feeling she had put into each note had touched him greatly.

  As she approached him, Joseph found he could not take his eyes off her. Not only because of her loveliness, but she had touched his heart the other night. He didn’t know her, but there was something about her that captivated him. Was it the way she had sung so sweetly, caressing each note with emotion and tenderness? Whatever it was, he was willing to get to know her…if she gave him a chance, that is.

  Joseph smiled as she approached. “It’s nice to see you again.”

  “Thank you, Joseph. What are you doing?”

  Edith knew very well what he was doing. He was fixing the fence, but her mind was blank and that was all that came to her mind.

  “I’m making sure the cattle won’t escape. I wanted to show you something.”

  “Oh?”

  “Do you know much about herbs?”

  Edith smiled. His questions were so amusing, just like the other night. Did she know much about music? Could she sing?

  With a twinkle in her eyes, she answered, “A little.”

  “Hmmm. Do you have a tough time relaxing in the evenings?”

  “Sometimes. Why?”

  Joseph knelt down and picked a few weeds with tiny yellow and white blossoms and then handed them to her. “This is chamomile. Steep the leaves and blossoms for ten minutes. It’ll help you relax in the evenings and sleep better. Some people have an allergic reaction to it, though.”

  Edith raised her eyebrows as she looked at the handful of herbs in her hand. So many times she had passed a field with these herbs growing to the side of a fence, but she had not stopped to pick herself some. She knew all about chamomile, but this rugged farmer was sweet enough to give her a bunch and educate her on its effect. Perhaps she shouldn’t have been so hard on him.

  Edith’s beautiful chocolate brown eyes lit up as she smiled. “Why, thank you, Joseph.”

  His eyes held hers for a moment, transfixed by her sincerity, and then he took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

  He instantly became businesslike and turned back to his work, and said soberly, “Well, I’ve got to finish this job. Gilbert needs help milking this afternoon.”

  His sudden change of mood was so perplexing to Edith as she stood watching him. He grabbed a wire and wrapped it securely around a post and connected it to the loose fence.

  As he twisted the wire firmly with his gloved hand, he asked, “Do you like city life better…or the country?”

  She thought for a moment and answered, “They both have advantages.”

  “Oh? Like what?”

  “In the city I don’t have to travel ten miles just to get groceries or a yard of cloth.”

  “True.”

  “But here, I can sit beside a brook and listen to nature and completely relax. To listen to the soft bubbling water and a song of a bird is so pleasant. I can quietly read, ponder a while, or even sing, with no interruptions.”

  Joseph turned from his work and looked into her eyes, wondering what kind of person she was. He could see softness and goodness in them, someone who loved nature and cared for people. It was as if he could see into her soul just for an instant… and then it left. Joseph smiled at what he saw.

  Then he turned back to his work and asked matter-of-factly, “Have you ever been to Paris Springs?”

  Just as Edith saw a hint of tenderness in his face, it quickly left and soberness took over once again. He was the most perplexing man she had ever met. “What did you say?”

  “Have you been to Paris Springs where the water pours out of the mountain?”

  “Yes, I have.”

  “Now that’s not such a relaxing sound, nothing quiet about it. It’s not one of those soft bubbling brooks you were talking about. The water gushes out of the mountain so rapidly and with such force that it would drown out any quiet thoughts a person might have. In fact, it would easily drown out the singing of a prima donna.”

  Edith was startled. “A prima donna?”

  A prima donna, she knew, was a high-strung, vain, demanding, and temperamental person. She had been unfairly accused of being a prima donna once and she had been greatly offended. She hoped he was not referring to her, but nonetheless, for some reason she felt offended by his example as if he were hinting that she was.

  “A prima donna?�
�� she repeated with an edge in her voice, not even hiding the irritation she felt.

  “Yup. It’s pretty loud when it pours out of the mountain like that. It bubbles over the rocks and creates quite a noise.”

  “Are you insinuating that I’m a prima donna?”

  “What?” Joseph said with confusion.

  Edith knew she was being overly sensitive, but she could not help it. She was fed up with his sudden mood changes and off-hand comments, so she immediately turned around and stomped away.

  Her frustration had made her forget the small stream of water between the road and the pasture. When she stepped on the edge of the ditch with her heel, she lost her balance and slid down into the water with a splash, bottom end first.

  She gasped as the cold water splashed in her face. As she sat sprawled out in the ditch, soaking wet, water dripping from her face, she heard chuckling. When she turned toward Joseph, he was standing by the fence, smiling.

  When Joseph saw her stomp away, he knew she was not happy with his comment about the prima donna. He had not meant to insinuate that she was. He had to suppress a chuckle when he saw her frown and stomp away. But when he saw her land right smack dab in the middle of the ditch, he let it out. He could not hold it in any longer. The sight of her in the ditch was humorous, and he could not help but laugh. Now she was looking up at him with frustration and helplessness in her eyes. All of her spunk had left.

  Joseph pulled off his gloves, stuffed them in his pocket, and then strode quickly toward her. He stooped down, offered his hand to her, and pulled her to her feet. She stood in the ditch, looking down at her sopping wet dress.

  As Joseph gazed upon her, he noticed how lovely she was, even soaking wet. He smiled when he saw the mud on her cheek. When she looked up at Joseph, she wiped the water from her face, smearing the mud across her chin. Noticing what a mess she had made of herself, he took a handkerchief from his back pocket and wiped the mud from her face with short gentle strokes.

  As Edith looked into his eyes, all frustration began to fade. She saw a gentle side to Joseph. The corners of his mouth turned up, and he smiled as he gently wiped away the mud. This man puzzled her greatly. One moment he was laughing at her situation, and in the next he was gently wiping the mud from her face with true tenderness.

  When he was finished, his eyes held hers for a few seconds, and then his hand gently touched her cheek as he wiped a loose curl from her face. She noticed the tenderness in his touch and in his eyes, and she did not even notice she was still standing ankle deep in the ditch.

  When Joseph realized what he was doing, he quickly stuffed the handkerchief in his back pocket and cleared his throat.

  Looking at her dilemma, he chuckled once again. “That was quite a fall you had.”

  When Edith saw the tenderness instantly leave and change to humor, she wondered what he was afraid of. It was as if he were trying to hide his feelings, his gentle ways.

  “You know, Miss Edith, if you wouldn’t have stomped away like you did, you would have noticed the ditch.”

  “I didn’t stomp,” she said with a tinge of irritation. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Oh?”

  When she saw the humor in his face, she defended herself once again. “I didn’t stomp. I was walking quickly.”

  “Is that what they call it in the city?”

  He was so infuriating. Edith frowned. “I don’t like your attitude. You frustrate me, and I don’t know why.”

  “Perhaps it’s because I don’t dish out lavish compliments like you’re used to. Perhaps you’re a little spoiled.”

  Edith was taken aback by his frankness and was upset at his insinuation. “I admit I may be a little spoiled. But I’m not a prima donna. I’m not vain and temperamental. I’m not demanding.”

  “I didn’t say you were. I only said that you probably expect lavish compliments. I never once accused you of being a prima donna.”

  Edith was stunned. She loved singing but was she actually expecting lavish compliments? Was this really true? Had she forgotten to be humble and grateful for her God-given talent? Instantly she remembered what her father had often quoted to her: “They loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”

  Then it dawned on her. Joseph was right. She had been offended the other night simply because he had not lavished her with praises. He was not comparing her to a prima donna at all, and she knew it. She was touchy because of what had happened to her years ago, and she was taking it out on Joseph. It was not his fault that she fell in the ditch, but she acted as if it were. Then he helped her up and wiped off her face. Were these the actions of a callous man? No, they were not.

  Edith felt ashamed of her behavior and lack of humility. Was it pride that was standing in her way? How had she allowed it to happen, caring more for the praise of man than of God? Edith slowly shook her head and looked down at her feet. She was still standing in the ditch, dripping wet. She looked up at Joseph, smiled, and realized the humor in her situation. That was all it took for her to burst into a fit of uncontrollable laughter, releasing every tension and stress that had built up during the past few months.

  Joseph was amused at her sudden change of attitude and chuckled, his shoulders and chest shook with laughter. He held out his hand to her and helped her out of the ditch.

  “My, you’re a sight! I sure hope you haven’t ruined your dress.”

  He picked a piece of mud from her hair and tossed it into the ditch with a grin. She looked down at her soaking, muddy dress and laughed once again. She had not laughed like this for months. What had happened to her sense of humor? Had she been so wrapped up in her duties that she forgot to laugh? Why had she become so serious lately? Why had she allowed pride to sneak into her life?

  Joseph took Edith’s arm and said, “I’ll walk you to your buggy, Miss Edith.”

  “Thank you. I’d like that.”

  As they walked, Edith said, “Thanks for the chamomile. It’s too bad it landed in the water.”

  “I’ll pick you some more and send it to your house.”

  “Thanks. I didn’t know farmers knew so much about herbs.”

  “Did you think we were an uneducated lot?” he said with humor in his voice.

  Edith refrained from answering that question because inside she had thought that very thing. She had been too judgmental, and she knew it.

  Joseph was able to perceive her thoughts, perhaps by her actions. But he let it lie.

  Edith lifted her heavy wet skirt and petticoats, and stepped into the buggy.

  As she took the reins in hand, she turned toward him and smiled. “I hope you have a nice day, Joseph.”

  He gave a curt nod. “Thank you.”

  “I needed a good laugh today,” she said with a smile. “I’ve been much too serious.”

  “Me, too, Miss Edith. Me, too.”

  Chapter 13

  Edith Dines with Henry

  Edith sat at Aunt Sarah’s Café, chatting with Henry. He had made a point to make the evening extra special. He had given her some flowers and taken her to a nice restaurant. He had been treating her with great respect, and that impressed her greatly. It was as if he was trying to make up for his boldness and outspoken ways the first two times they met.

  They had discussed music and teaching, and agreed on every subject. In fact, he was so congenial that she felt sorry for being so hard on him. She knew the man of her “dreams” would have many things in common with her, but would Henry support her in her decisions as a companion?

  When Henry noticed the cheerfulness in Edith’s countenance, he smiled. “I bet it’s wonderful to perform for people and bring joy into their lives, traveling around and meeting people, meeting the great musicians.”

  “In a way, yes. In another, no. That’s why I quit.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, I enjoyed meeting people, but there were too many politics. A lot of the musicians were temperamental. I had had
enough and decided it wasn’t the life for me. I would just sing in my own hometown and take care of people.”

  “Temperamental? What happened?”

  “Well, a few years ago someone once accused me of being a prima donna, simply because I refused his intentions. I wouldn’t allow him to call on me. He was a demanding person, a director of an orchestra, with a reputation I didn’t want to be associated with.”

  “Wow!” exclaimed Henry.

  “I didn’t want to be compromised. Well, he was used to having his way. When I wasn’t interested, he saw to it that I didn’t get a part in Handel’s Messiah. He made life miserable for me and called me a prima donna. ”

  Henry groaned. “That’s terrible. You know he was just saying that out of spite. He must have been some kind of high and mighty person to accuse you of such a thing.”

  “Yes, he was.”

  Henry smiled and said, “Besides, if you were considered a prima donna, then I believe being a prima donna would not be such a bad thing after all.”

  Edith laughed. When she saw Henry grinning from ear to ear, she smiled back and said, “You’re very sweet, Henry, and say the nicest things. Why hasn’t some girl grabbed you up by now?”

  “Hmmm, I’m not sure. I’m quite busy as you know. I don’t have a lot of time for courting.”

  Henry was a charmer and he was sincere. He was a kind and honest person, and she felt she had misjudged him. She decided that it was about time to get to know him better. So… why did she think that he was just too nice to be anything more than a friend?

  Edith looked into his eyes and said sincerely, “Henry, I appreciate your friendship. I’ve had a great evening and I want to thank you.”

  They continued talking, enjoying one another’s company. Edith had finally made her decision. She would see him again if he asked. Her mother was right. He did have a good heart.