“What man do you suggest serve on our committee?” Judith asked, pulling them back on topic.
“Mr. Hamblin.” Mary Teague said his name forcefully, as though she expected the others to argue, but no one did.
As long as Judith didn’t have to work with him, she was fine. He unsettled her, and she always managed to say the wrong things, something that didn’t please her at all. What good were her years of training if she had so little self-control?
Often over the last week, Judith had wondered what a terrible impression he must have of her after she’d lashed out at him at dinner. And after he’d honored her. And whyhadhe done that? She rubbed her temples; she thought too much.
“Are you not well?” Edith asked softly, leaning closer to Judith.
“I’m fine. Why?”
“You’ve not been yourself the last few meetings. Are you losing heart with the society? I hope not because I can always count on you.”
The sheriff’s sister said the words so simply and yet with such heart that Judith was warmed by the compliment.
“I’m sorry. I’ve just been distracted of late.”
“I’m sure even with someone as sweet as Doris there must be some adjustment when another woman moves into your home. What would I do if Abe were ever to marry?” Edith let out a deep breath. “I’d have nowhere to go.”
“Wouldn’t you continue to live with him?” Judith asked.
“I’m not sure. My brother’s place isn’t all that large. It wouldn’t be as easy to have my own space as it is for you at the Circle B. What if he married someone who didn’t want me around?”
“That would be terrible,” Judith said. “I’m beginning to understand just how fortunate I’ve been to have Doris as my sister-in-law.”
“With Judith and Mr. Hamblin working together to organize the event,” Mary said, marking the paper before her, “it’s sure to be a success. It’s settled.”
“What was that?” Judith asked, barely biting back a yelp of surprise.
“Were you woolgathering again?” Maude asked with a grin but didn’t wait for an answer. “You were already coordinating the different events. My brother will simply assist you. Since we’re all coming to your house for dinner on Sunday, you’ll have a chance to talk about it. It’s the one day he really takes a break.”
She and the other ladies rose. Judith remained in her chair, trying to settle her emotions.
* * *
The smellof popping corn pulled Luke from his office where he’d been going over his inventory. Those dratted wolves had managed to get another one of his calves and injured its mother. He might lose them both. They sometimes had problems with wolves but not normally until later in the season when the animals were hungry.
Luke found a comfortable scene in the parlor where Frances had insisted on putting up the Christmas tree she and Nick had cut down that afternoon. They and Tom McDaniel, with his youngest son Junior, were stringing popcorn.
“It’s a little early for that, isn’t it? How are you going to keep that thing watered?” Luke asked. “It’s two weeks before Christmas yet.”
“Tom built a clever basin.” Frances held a needle as though it were an odd contraption. Nick twitched beside her, obviously wanting to show her how to do it but not daring.
“Well you’d better keep that basin full. I don’t want my house to burn down.” Luke sat next to his housekeeper and examined her strand of cranberries. “Where did you get these?”
“Doris said Mr. Breckinridge always orders some in from Washington for his Christmas tree,” Mrs. McDaniel said. “She had him get some for us too.”
Luke made a face. “We’re going to have rotting fruit on our tree?”
“I’m told they dry nicely. You can use a needle. How about you help me?” She pushed the bowl of cranberries toward him and indicated some thread.
Before he could come up with an excuse not to, the sound of bells approaching the house brought him to his feet. Charles had recently invested in a sleigh, and Luke wondered if it might be him. When Luke opened the door, he found his brother-in-law helping Maude up the steps.
“I’ll put this in the barn and be right in,” Charles said.
“Don’t worry,” Luke said offering his sister his arm. “I’ll make sure she gets inside safely.”
“That man,” Maude said with a sigh as she clasped his elbow. “He’s driving me mad with his protectiveness.”
