“It looks like a portable cannon,” Mabel admitted. “Seth just happened to have it attached to his saddlebag because he was heading back to that ranch for some target practice.”
“Turns out he got to practice before he reached the ranch,” Phoebe added. “From what was said, his invention—thecowboy assistantI think he calls it—worked like a charm, until...”
Annaliese’s eyes widened. “Don’t tell me it burst into flames like the flame thrower he used a few months back, did it?”
“There were no flames involved,” Phoebe said. “But after he lassoed the thief, the mechanism that was supposed to retrieve the rope did so at a far greater speed than Seth was anticipating, which caused the lassoed thief to get pulled straight off his seat and out of the phaeton.”
“That,” Mabel continued, “left the phaeton without anyone holding the reins. Norma Jean told us that she saw her life flash before her eyes and was sure she wouldn’t live to see another adventure. But then Seth jumped from his horse into the phaeton and saved the day.”
Mabel released a rather dramatic sigh. “There’s just something about a man who knows how to rescue damsels in distress that makes a girl’s heart go pitter-patter.” She heaved another sigh, this one more dramatic than the first. “But even though Seth is a swoon-worthy gentleman if there ever was one, we girls have come to realize that he might be a tad too old for us. We’ve also realized that, because of the age difference, he probably views us as children. That right there explains why even though he’s very nice to us when we coerce Norma Jean into taking us over to his house to watch him work on his inventions, he never makes much of an attempt to speak to us about anything other than the invention he’s working on.”
Phoebe released a snort. “I’m not surewatchingis an apt way to describe what most of us do.Oglingwould be a better way to phrase it.”
Mabel’s nose shot into the air. “Seems like you might benefitfrom studying up on lady codes as well, Phoebe, since letting Miss Merriweather know we might delve into ogling Seth McCormick every so often will surely leave her adding a whole lesson regarding the prohibition of ogling into our curriculum.”
“I’m sure Miss Merriweather understands our ogling since she’s probably not immune to Seth’s attractiveness, or charm for that matter, but...”
Phoebe suddenly stopped talking and began giving Annaliese a thorough perusal before she smiled. “Have you ever noticed, Mabel, exactly how beautiful Miss Merriweather is?”
Mabel came to a complete halt, jerking Annaliese and Phoebe to a stop as well. “On my word, but you’re right. She is quite beautiful.”
The hair on the nape of Annaliese’s neck began to tingle when Mabel and Phoebe settled overly bright smiles on her.
“Just imagine,” Phoebe began, “if Miss Merriweather and Seth, who is beautiful in his own right, were to make a match of it, how adorable any babies they might have would be.”
“Oh yes, adorable,” Mabel agreed.
Phoebe’s eyes began to sparkle in a more than concerning fashion as she tapped a finger against her chin, then nodded. “We’ll need to call a meeting of all of our friends just as soon as possible to plan out the particulars.”
“Particulars?” Annaliese forced herself to ask.
“Quite right, but no need to concern yourself with those, Miss Merriweather, as you’ll be in good hands with me and the rest of the girls.” Phoebe sent her a knowing smile. “Why, you mark my words, I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re capable of seeing you and Seth married off in no time, and probably before Christmas if we get right down to planning what will certainly be seen as Chicago’s greatest match of the year.”
Two
The very idea that two thirteen-year-old girls now seemed determined to delve into a bit of matchmaking on her behalf left Annaliese shuddering ever so slightly—until she saw Coraline make a hard right, the top of her pink hat the only part of her still left in view.
Pulling Phoebe and Mabel into motion again, she set their pace at a near run, which should have put a rapid end to further matchmaking plans—an idea that died a rapid death the moment Phoebe opened her mouth.
“I say we should wait to discuss specific strategies until after we collect Norma Jean and Velma,” Phoebe all but panted as they continued barreling through the throng of fairgoers. “I know she’ll want to be in the thick of planning straight from the start since Seth’s her brother.”
“Good ... thinking,” Mabel managed to return as she dashed a glove over a forehead that was now beaded with sweat.
Deciding there was nothing to do but nip the girls’ matchmaking ideas in the bud before they had a chance to bring the whole student body into assisting Annaliese with her love life, she steered the girls around a juggling clown and summoned her stern look again.
“There will be no need to form a matchmaking club,” she began firmly, earning a rather sly smile from Phoebe in return.
“Because you’ve already set your sights on Seth and have also devised a plan on how you’re going to land him?”
Annaliese wasn’t sure whether to laugh or find the nearest rock to bang her head against. “Seth McCormick isn’t a fish to be landed, and no, I haven’t set my sights on him.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t have time to set my sights on any gentleman. If you’ve forgotten, my sister and I only recently opened the Merriweather Academy for Young Ladies. That consumes all my time these days.”
Phoebe waved that aside. “If you ask me, your sister has already gotten the academy running in fine form, something that will now allow you time to pursue outside interests.” She smiled again. “I would think a man as appealing, and need I add, dangerously attractive, as Seth McCormick is, should definitely be something you pursue as one of those outside interests.”
“You do know that there needs to be more to a relationship than looks to make it successful, don’t you?”
