Kathleen was not making this easy, but nothing worth having ever came easily. He knew she was making him fight for their love, and he was up to the challenge. Ricky was a winner. Always had been; always would be.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
1916
Attached to the side of the automobile was a bulb horn. Frank squeezed the bulb and laughed when the younger girls jumped at the noise. He did it twice more while making a point to grin at Alice as if she were in on the joke. Honk! Honk! It sounded loudly, making Mae cover her ears in alarm. Frank shouted, “Sounds like my granddad when he blows his nose!”
He turned off the engine, jumped out of the automobile, and bounded up the steps until he stood directly across from Alice, then pulled off his hat and held it to his chest. He wore a white shirt buttoned all the way to the top and breeches tucked into his boots. Pearl couldn’t help but notice the way Frank’s suspenders bulged over his muscular chest. So many times she’d tried to talk Frank up to Alice, citing his broad shoulders, sleek blond hair, deep voice, and baby-blue eyes, but Alice didn’t care. She just didn’t see him as a beau. Pearl thought Alice couldn’t afford to rule anyone out, much less Frank, who came from a well-to-do farming family. And he so clearly adored her. That kind of devotion didn’t come along every day.
Frank grinned broadly and said, “Whaddya think of my new chariot, Alice? It’s a two-seater. Now I can drive you to the picture show on Saturday night.” He spoke to her father. “With your permission, of course, sir. I can drive ahead of your wagon so you can keep an eye on us the whole time. I respect Alice. I wouldn’t want to ruin her reputation.”
Mr. Bennett put his arm around his daughter’s shoulders. “I will be driving Alice and her sisters in the wagon as usual, Frank. I’ve seen enough of these automobiles stuck in the ditch spinning their wheels to have little faith in their ability. A horse-drawn wagon has always been good enough for the Bennett family.”
“Yes, sir,” Frank said. “Respectfully, might I ask you to make an exception, seeing as how I’ve been courting Alice for four and a half months now?”
Alice, who’d been leaning against Father’s shoulder, took a step forward and spoke calmly. “I have told you many times, Frank, we are not courting. I am glad to consider you a friend, but I have no romantic interest at all.”
“Aw, Alice, I know what you’ve said, but my mind is made up. There’s no other girl for me. Someday I aim to propose marriage.” He spoke confidently, then took a step back and smiled widely. Frank’s own father had teeth that were stained yellow, but Frank himself had gleaming white teeth. He’d told Pearl that he’d never chew tobacco for that very reason. “Any wife of mine will be proud to be seen standing next to me,” he’d said.
Alice shook her head, almost a little sadly, it seemed to Pearl. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, Frank, but my mind is made up as well. You need to find another girl to court if you’re so eager to settle down.” Her face flushed red with emotion. She hated to hurt anyone’s feelings.
“What?” Frank’s lips parted, as if he was about to make an objection. Then he seemed to collect himself and tried another tactic. “Are you teasing me, Miss Bennett?”
“No, I would never do that. I’ve tried to tell you before in a polite way, but you don’t seem to understand, so I’ll say it plainly. I don’t think we’re suited for one another.”
Frank’s face clouded. “You’re making a mistake, Alice. Don’t be so rash. Take a few days to think it through before you make such a final decision. I would hate to see you miss out and have regrets later.”
John Lawrence came out of the shadows of the porch. Pearl had almost forgotten he was there. His voice rang out clearly. “I think the lady has made her decision in this matter very clear. A gentleman would defer to her wishes.”
In the background, the younger girls watched with identical concerned expressions. They’d stopped gaping over the automobile and shifted their attention to the porch when their father had spoken out, telling Frank that Alice would not be accepting his invitation to ride in his new automobile. Now they all waited to see Frank’s reaction to being corrected by John Lawrence.
Frank tilted his head to the side, like a dog sizing someone up. “I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced.” He stuck out his hand. “Name’s Frank. My family owns the farm down the road. I’ve been friends of the Bennett family my whole life.”
“John Lawrence.” He grasped his hand. “I’ve just had the pleasure of meeting the Bennetts today.”
The two men shook, but Frank wouldn’t let go. He squeezed John’s fingers and kept talking. “Are you the boy who’s helping at the mill?”
“That would be me.” John widened his stance and leaned in, matching Frank’s grip in intensity. Pearl held her breath, hoping neither one would get broken fingers.
“Whereabouts you from, John?”
“Up north. Gladly Falls. I just came in on the train this afternoon.”
“Gladly Falls?” Frank finally let go, pushing away John’s hand. “I got an uncle who lives in Gladly Falls. Do you know the Thompsons? Edward Thompson?”
John hesitated. “Edward Thompson?” His fist went to his chin. “No, can’t say that I know the name.”
“That’s hard to believe,” Frank said, and now his voice was challenging. “Everybody knows my uncle. He’s practically the mayor of Gladly Falls.”
“If he’s practically the mayor, that would mean he’s not actually the mayor,” John said.
“What are you saying?” Frank’s face reddened as he pointed at John. “Are you saying I’m a liar?”
“Now, now, I’m sure that’s not what he’s saying,” their father said mildly. “There will be no arguing on my front porch, Frank. John has only just arrived. We want him to feel welcome.”
“He started it.” Frank’s gaze went straight to John, his eyes narrowing. Seeing him like this gave Pearl a little bit of a thrill. How could Alice not be impressed by a man who could become so impassioned so quickly? Their own father never raised his voice and seldom showed much emotion at all. How refreshing to see such a dramatic show of feeling.
Alice rested her fingertips on John’s forearm. “Mr. Lawrence, would you mind helping me drain the cast-iron skillets into the grease pot? They’re very heavy.”
“Of course, I’d be happy to help, but please call me John.” He looked to Mr. Bennett for approval and, upon getting a nod, followed Alice through the front door, followed by Daisy and the rest of the sisters. Only there a day, and already the younger girls were all agog. Pearl stayed on the porch next to her father, knowing that Frank would be sure to get in the last word.
When Frank opened his mouth again, the words came in an angry burst. “You know I offered to work at the mill while Wendall was out. You didn’t have to bring some stranger into your house. I told you I’d do it.”
He’s spitting mad, Pearl thought, taking a step back. She’d often heard that expression but never fully understood what it meant. Until now. Rancor radiated off Frank in waves; it was palpable, and it struck her as exciting, like being close to a bear or a bobcat, dangerous in general, but safe in the knowledge she wasn’t the one being targeted.