“For now, I’d like to hear what was accomplished in regard to proper suitors for your hand.”
Laura went to the chair she’d so often occupied when visiting with Will during the early days of his injuries and sat down. She was dressed quite simply in a high-necked white blouse and navy skirt. Her hair had been plaited down the back and tied with a dark ribbon. She looked so much younger that way, and Will had a hard time believing she was nearly twenty-three.
“There was plenty of interest, unfortunately. Many people believe my father will one day be governor, and they’re impressed with the power he might wield. Marrying his daughter would be a feather in their cap.”
“I suppose so.” Will hurried to pull on his sock. Once this was done, he grabbed his shoe. “And what of you? Did any man there catch your attention?”
Laura shook her head. “Not really. I would just as soon have spent my evening talking to you.”
Will didn’t tell her that he would have preferred things that way as well. He hadn’t stayed long in the company of the partygoers. After about an hour of explaining who he was, Will grabbed a plate of refreshments and hid himself away in his library oasis.
“Did you father make arrangements for you to see any of them?”
Laura sighed. “He decided he would have them over individually for dinner. It would be us three, and we’d talk about the expectations each young man might have toward the future. Thankfully, Father is too busy to start this until after the first of May. He’s hoping President Grant will decide on who is to be governor by then. He’s doing all he can to keep his name and good works ever on the president’s mind. However, the other person at the top of the list is a good friend of Grant’s—or so the newspapers proclaimed.”
“John Campell is the man in question, and I know him personally. We lived next door to his family in Salem, Ohio. He’s a good man and would definitely make a great governor.”
“Well, until the matter is settled, Father will be focused on the appointment. I’m hopeful he’ll get the position and then not have any time to worry about anything other than the territory.”
“I doubt a father can just forget about his daughter, even if he does have an entire territory to worry about.”
She leaned back in dejection. “I honestly wish Father would just give up on the idea. I had my heart broken once, and I don’t care to risk that again. If God wants me to marry someone, then He’ll have to make that very clear to me. Reveal the truth in such a manner that I cannot doubt it is from Him.”
“I’m sure He can do that,” Will said, uncertain what else he could say. He got to his feet and walked around the bed and back. “I seem to be fit as a fiddle. The doctor cautioned me when I first stood and said I might want a cane, but I feel just fine.”
“What of the ribs. Do they hurt you anymore?”
“Not a lick. I am completely recovered.”
She gave a slow nod. “I believe most all of your things are ready for you to pack up. Etta said she finished with your laundry earlier today.”
“That’s wonderful.” Will went to the trunk. “There’s really very little left to worry about. Most of my clothes are in here, and everything else belongs to you and your father. Speaking of your father, is he here?”
“No, I believe he’s at the store. Why?”
Will shrugged. “I wanted to say good-bye. I’m not sure when I’ll see him again. I’ll probably go right back to workfor Mr. Bradley, and I promised Edward and Charlie that I would make cradles for their babies. I’m supposed to go over to the Vogels’ in the evenings. They have a woodshop behind the house.”
“I suppose you shall be very busy,” Laura said.
Her tone left Will convinced she was unhappy. No doubt she was worried about what was to come from her father’s plans. He turned toward her. “Try not to be overly worried about your father’s plans. It isn’t the Middle Ages, and a woman still has to agree to be married. No decent pastor would allow for a union between a man and woman who didn’t both want it.”
“I suppose you’re right. It’s just that I’d rather Father not bother with it at all. I’d like to have more time to focus on getting to know him. Or spend time talking to you. I mean ... well ... I know you may or may not have plans to remain in Cheyenne, but I feel that we’ve become good friends. I enjoy hearing your thoughts on a variety of topics.”
“And I enjoy hearing yours as well,” Will replied. “In fact, I doubt there’s anyone I enjoy talking to as much as I do ... you.”
Laura straightened. “That’s about the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. Thank you, Will. Do you suppose you might stop by from time to time? Or do you think it would be all right if I came by the house to see how you’re doing? Faith Cooper is a good friend, and I know she would welcome me, but I don’t want to if ... you would be offended or think me too forward.”
She wanted to come by. She wanted him to return to see her. Will found this information delightful. He hadn’t been able to figure out how they might stay in touch except for church.
“I believe that would be perfectly fine. I am not at all offended at the idea.” He grinned. “Good friends should keep in touch.”
She got to her feet. “Exactly. That is precisely what I think.”
Laura continued to think about all that Will had said as the days went by. She wondered how long she should wait before going to see him. She didn’t want to seem too eager or pushy. She had rather hoped that he would stop by to see her first. But it had been over a week, and Will Porter had not graced her doorstep.
She’d seen him at church, but there had been a lot of other people who wanted to talk to him, so she had held back and kept to sharing news with Marybeth and Melody. Both were nearing their final weeks of pregnancy and were quite excited about the babies to come, so the conversation was mostly about that. A subject Laura found interesting, but not overly helpful. After all, who knew if she’d ever have children of her own.
With Will gone from the house, Laura found her days were empty. She still read her Bible and spent time praying. And of course, once a week she gathered with her friends to sew, but it wasn’t the same. Will had been around all the time. If she was feeling frustrated or upset about something, she could discuss it with him. If it was evening and her father was out playing politics, she and Will could share supper together and talk about the events of the day. Sometimes they had read each other articles from the newspaper. It was almost as if they were an old married couple.
