He laughed. “I was just teasing you. I’m not looking for a wife right now, but when I do, she’ll give me far more advantages than you could.”
Melody refused to be wounded by his words. “I hope you find someone worthy of you, Jefferson.” Perhaps that was unkind to say.
“I will,” Jefferson replied, not seeming to realize he’d been insulted. “I’ve no doubt. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to make some arrangements before I head out.”
“Where are you headed?”
He smiled and shook his head. “It doesn’t need to trouble you.” With that, he tipped his hat and left her standing there, rather surprised by his abrupt, dismissive words. Da was so right about him. He was full of secrets and deception.
Melody went on her way. She reached Armstrongs’ and found Cynthia Armstrong just preparing to lock the door. “I only need a few things,” Melody told the older woman.
“Sure, come on in. The afternoon has been slow, so I figured I’d go ahead and close, but you’re always welcome. What can I get you?”
Melody told her what she needed, and Cynthia gathered the few things together. “I heard your father has taken a bad turn.”
“Yes. He isn’t ... well, he’s not at all well.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. I know we’ve enjoyed his companythe times he’s come in for one thing or another. I hope he feels better soon.”
Melody didn’t feel like explaining and simply thanked Cynthia for her thoughts. She paid for her things, then gathered them and headed back to the tent. She’d already been gone for over an hour, and while she knew Da had probably slept through the absence, Melody was more than a little anxious to get back to him. Soon enough he’d be gone, and she wanted to spend as much time with him as she could.
Charlie had ended the workweek with nothing in mind but going to see Clancy and Melody Doyle. He hurried to the boardinghouse and changed his clothes, then made his way to where he knew he could buy some hothouse flowers. With a bouquet and the peppermints he’d purchased the day before in hand, he made his way to the tent community, hoping he could finally explain to Melody his interest in her and the arrangement he’d had with her father.
When he reached the Doyle tent, Charlie called out through the opening. “Is anybody home?” He hid the flowers behind his back.
Melody appeared almost immediately. “Hello, Charlie.”
He smiled. “Evening. I hope you don’t mind my stopping by. I thought I’d play checkers with your father if he is up to it.”
“He’s still asleep. Been sleeping all afternoon, in fact. I thought I’d wake him and see if I couldn’t get him to eat a little soup. You’re welcome to stay and have some as well. I didn’t make a lot, but I doubt Da will eat that much.”
“Maybe I could go over to one of the restaurants and bring something here for us. You need to eat more than soup. You’re losing almost as much weight as your father.”
She glanced down at herself. “I guess I’ve just been too busy thinking about Da.”
“That’s understandable.” He looked over his shoulder, and seeing no one else was around, Charlie turned back to Melody. “Look, before we do anything else, I need to talk to you. I have something to say, and I don’t want to put it off anymore lest you think later that I lied to you.”
She frowned. “All right.”
He presented her with the flowers. “These are for you.”
Melody gasped and took the bouquet from Charlie. “They’re beautiful, but I don’t understand.”
“That’s part of what I’ve come to say. I have feelings for you, Melody. Very deep feelings.”
Her brows knit together as her expression changed to confusion. “But you didn’t ask Da to court me.”
“Oh, but I did. Well, I should back up. Your father came to me and ... Oh, I’m making a mess of this. When he came to the bank, we discussed the entire matter. However, I didn’t want him to say anything to you. I didn’t want to do as the others were doing with their obvious desires and intentions of a quick wedding.”
“Again, I don’t understand.”
He smiled and shrugged. “All of my life, it seems, I’ve watched people court. My brothers were much older than me, and I watched how they did things and learned from it. I believe, with great conviction, that it’s better to become friends first. In all the relationships I’ve watched, the ones who were friends first seemed to be the closest and sweetest couples. I wanted us to be friends first, Melody.”
“I see.” She smelled the flowers and seemed to consider his words.
“I asked your father to say nothing and to let us get toknow each other first, and he agreed. However, as upset as you got regarding him telling me about his medical situation before telling you, I wanted to let you know about our agreement. As I said, I care for you, and I don’t want anything to cause problems between us. I especially don’t want you thinking I lied to you.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that you care about my feelings.” She smiled. “I appreciate our friendship as well. I agree that friendship is an important foundation for romance. My da and mother were good friends before taking up romantic interests.”
