The 12 Brides of Summer by Susan Page Davis & Amy Lillard & Michelle Ule

Author:Susan Page Davis & Amy Lillard & Michelle Ule
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2015-05-26T00:00:00+00:00

Sally and Lena worked every spare minute to create new sunbonnets. Sewing late into the evenings after work, they devised a system: both cut the fabric from a pattern Sally devised, Sally ran the machine while Lena embroidered. On nights Ewan stayed to help in Sterling, Kate joined them to hem and finish off.

Kate’s visits cheered Sally, especially hearing Lena’s laughter and enthusiasm when Kate played one of her reed flutes. During the day working alongside Sally, Lena hardly spoke a word. If Sally dropped the heavy sheers or a wagon rumbled past the window, the girl startled and her eyes grew round with fear.

Sally’s heart ached with tenderness for her baby sister reliving those awful moments in the dark cellar when the tornado tore apart the only home she knew.

Sally herself trembled if she thought about it too much.

Mrs. Sinclair provided shirts for Lena to hem and other odd jobs while Sally attended her sewing. Spare time previously used to fashion clever hats for the women of Fairhope, she now spent working on the more practical sunbonnets, but the women who stopped in all claimed they’d be purchasing a new one.

“So clever with the framing,” Mrs. Fitzgerald said one day. “I don’t know how you thought of it.”

She passed it to her bosom friend, Mrs. Downdall, who nodded. “Could you make me one in my favorite color: sky blue?”

“A nice color with the dark gray funnel cloud embroidery,” Sally said. “And it would look lovely with your features. Do you mind if I sew them after the dance?”

The women agreed and took their leave. They’d purchased a copy of The Ladies Home Journal and wanted to read the story together. Sally watched them stroll away arm in arm. She loved Fairhope’s friendliness.

Malcolm entered the shop, his large presence filling the room with the smell of horses and sweat. “I’m headed out to see your Pa tomorrow. Do you have anything for him?”

“I’ll gather a few things together. When can I go with you?”

He turned his hat in his hands. “I’ll ask him. Anything you need?”

She dropped her eyes to the bucket at her feet. “I’m almost out of the reeds I use on the sunbonnet brim. Perhaps if I could go with you on Saturday, we could cut more reeds at Pa’s creek?”

His nervous face lighted into a broad grin. “I’d like to take you. But what about Lena?”

Sally bit her lip. “Do you want to come, Lena?”

The girl shook. “Yes. But … but not yet.” She rubbed her hand across her face and turned away.

“Kate would probably welcome a visit from you, Lena. Why don’t we ask her?”

Sally closed her eyes in relief. She knew Malcolm would fix everything.

The two young women returned to the boardinghouse after work. They ate a small meal and gathered foodstuffs and a fresh blanket for Malcolm to take with him the next morning. Afterward, they sat on the front porch drinking lemonade and stitching.

Josiah stopped at the gate and tipped his hat. Sally invited him to join them.

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