It really had been sweet to watch the thirteen-year-old girl grow in the things she enjoyed. From everything Micah and Louisa had told her, Cecily had missed out on parts of her childhood due to helping with her siblings and the tragic passing of her mother. Cecily deserved time to devote purely to things she enjoyed, but Ellie had to admit she envied her direction in life a little. For the moment, Cecily was set on working at Rosie’s as soon as she was old enough, and opening a restaurant and bakery for herself one day. It might not ever work out, or she might change her mind, but she had a goal.
“From what I hear,” Ellie replied as Evelyn came back to take their order. “You’ve been a miracle worker for all of them.” Evelyn’s chocolate brown hair was pulled into a bun, her sensible brown dress doing absolutely nothing to hide her beauty. Her white apron had a few food splatters and places she’d wiped her hands, but it was far cleaner than if Ellie had been the one in the kitchen.
“Hello, ladies,” Evelyn said as she took their menus. “Did you hear the exciting news?” Callie had told her Evelyn was about twenty-one, and Ellie couldn’t imagine how the young woman hadn’t been snapped up by some eligible bachelor yet. Though, she seemed to be doing fine on her own living above her parents’ restaurant and slowly taking on more and more of the responsibility, so perhaps she was exactly where she wanted to be.
“News?” Louisa looked as baffled as Ellie felt, so at least she wasn’t alone. “I spend most of my time around cowboys, children, and cattle, so no.”
Evelyn chuckled. “The town council announced yesterday they’re going to be running electric lines into town! It’ll be so exciting, and we’ll be able to stay open a little later in the winter if we have electric lights in here.”
“Oh, I’m so happy,” Callie exclaimed. “I’ve been researching writing grant proposals with hospitals and schools back East for some equipment I’d really like to have for diagnostics at the clinic, but some require electricity."
It was a whole new world, one Ellie could barely imagine. “What kind of equipment?”
“You might regret asking,” Callie joked. “First, an x-ray machine for when we have broken bones and other issues. It’ll help me so much to be able to diagnose with more certainty.”
Ellie’s eyes widened. “What’s an x-ray machine?”
“They’ve only recently patented them within the last few years, and mostly they’re used in larger hospitals, but Edie’s husband, Lucas, bought her one for the clinic in Pine Creek because of the nature of many accidents at the sawmill. It gives us a picture where we can see shadows which allow us to see if a bone is broken or if the injury might be to the tissue. It’s not perfect, and they’ll most certainly improve. I would love to have one for Cloverdale and even surrounding communities to come and use when necessary.”
“How much does something like that cost?” January had ticked them over from 1899 into the year 1900, and Ellie’s head spun with all the new things in her life.
“Nearly a thousand dollars,” Callie said sheepishly. “There are other items I’d purchase if I had extra money like a microscope for cultures and an autoclave to sterilize instruments.” She shrugged. “I don’t have anywhere to put an x-ray machine anyway, but a girl can dream.”
Evelyn nodded. “We always do. I love our indoor well pump, but I’d love to have one of those electric water heaters and even an electric coffee percolator. I hear they have electric ovens and stoves too, but I’m not so sure about how much I’d trust them.” She giggled, pulling her notepad from her apron pocket.“I should probably take your orders before my mama comes out here and whips me with her dishrag.”
The women laughed as well, and spent the rest of their lunch chatting about all manner of things from wedding planning for Louisa and Callie to the Sunday School class and the Sutton children’s studies. Callie spoke of her work at the clinic, but Ellie really had nothing to contribute. She still wasn’t sure exactly where she fit in the Sutton family and in Cloverdale in general.
She was married to Micah, but she didn’t live with him - not really. She helped Louisa with the cooking and cleaning, and often accompanied the children as they did their lessons, but she felt more like a tag along than doing something specific. She’d apparently been lost in her thoughts for a while, as Louisa turned her attention to her. “Penny for your thoughts, Ellie?”
Could she tell them her discontent? Would they think her ungrateful after everything they’d done for her? The idea of losing her new friends when she finally had some terrified her, but wasn’t part of friendship being honest? “Well, I suppose I’m still trying to find my place here.” There, it was out, for better or worse. “You two both have jobs you love, ones which fulfill you, but I often feel like I’m a third wheel to everyone around me.”
Callie smiled understandingly. “Of course, you’re still finding your way. You were brought here against your will not three months ago. You fought for your life, and used every bit of mental energy you had on healing. Not only that, but it seems like your grandfather never exactly encouraged you to have dreams or goals in life.”
Ellie snorted. “No, he most certainly didn’t.” Grandfather would’ve been happy if she’d never existed, but he settled for never having to see her face unless he had one of his assistants go buy her a pretty dress to trot her out for events. She wasn’t allowed to talk to or befriend anyone unless he was right therelest she embarrass him, so Ellie spent most of her time sitting by herself in corners or even hiding in the kitchen.
“Then it sounds like this is your time to pursue some interests of your own,” Louisa said as she placed her hand over Ellie’s. “You don’t need to work. You’re not a burden on the ranch whatsoever. In fact, you’re a great help to me, but I can understand why you’d want something of your own. Is there any hobby you’ve ever been allowed which you particularly enjoyed?”
Ellie felt the flush in her cheeks before she spoke. “It’s silly.” There was no way she could make a job out of it, right?
Louisa leaned forward, eyes sparkling as she grinned. “Tell us. It’s not silly if it’s something you enjoy.”
With a deep breath, Ellie steeled herself with the reminders of Grandfather’s words in her ear. “I love to paint. I don’t know if I’m any good at it, but it brings me joy. For a while, my tutor would bring me art supplies, and I’d paint when I was done with my studies. She researched different elements of art so I could learn them, and she found different techniques to teach me as well. My favorite’s watercolor.”
If possible, Louisa’s smile grew even wider. “That’s not the least bit silly, Ellie. There are magazines back East who take paintings for publications and pay for them, especially paintings depicting life out West.” She giggled, her optimism bolstering the dreams Ellie had never dared to dream. “I know a couple of folks who work in some smaller publications, and I’d be happy to ask my parents to share their connections as well. Folks in the cities love to hear about life in the West, and many magazines publish the paintings along with stories.”
“Oh, yes,” Callie added. “My mentor’s aunt, Beth Carson, in Pine Creek has been publishing dress patterns and designs through national magazines for years. She designs the dresses and creates step by step instructions for how to make them, thensends them off to the magazines in all the major cities. It’s been quite successful for her.”
Could it be possible? “Are they able to print in color?” She’d seen a few magazines over the years, but they were all in shades of gray, black, and white. “Or would I need to use charcoal?” Was she seriously entertaining this idea? It seemed far too wonderful to even imagine. Louisa was right. Micah had told her over and over again she didn’t have to work, but was it possible she could find purpose in her art? Would she ever be able to bring herself to move in with him and make herself vulnerable in that way?
“Some can, some can’t,” Louisa said excitedly. “They use something called chromolithography, and it’s quite fascinating to see.” Then, Evelyn returned with their plates, and Ellie’s growling stomach betrayed the more pressing matter at hand. As their conversation shifted to other things, Ellie couldn’t help but wonder what could become of her paintings. Would Micah think the idea silly?
The thought of the cowboy she’d married set her brain barrelling down a track she’d told herself she’d not go down again. What if he didn’t support the idea because he wanted her to use her inheritance money? It would break her heart if she received the money only to find another man had proven himself untrustworthy - especially Micah. Doing her best to shake the thoughts free, Ellie prayed silently the Lord would guide her path. He was with her, and if everything they all said was true, He could be trusted even when no others could.
Evelyn hurried out from the kitchen, placing their ticket on the table as she went by to help another customer. Studying her, Ellie turned her attention to Callie. “Did you tell me Evelyn has mostly taken over the restaurant from her parents now?”
“Oh, yes,” Callie replied. “She was always so driven from what I remember as children. She and Zeke Sutton were quite close askids, best friends and even more so once he started working here washing dishes.”
Louisa’s eyes widened. “They never courted?”
