“No spades, Isaac?” Antonia asked, a tone of suspicion in her voice.
Isaac grinned, knowing full well she’d expected everyone to have to play a spade.
“Nope.”
“Can we beat that?” asked Antonia, looking at Diana.
“Oh heck yes,” said Diana, her gaze steady. “Except I’ve got a spade. So I’ll have to put that down.”
She too glanced at Isaac. He wasn’t known to cheat. If anything it was Leo.
The game went on for an hour or more, the men versus the ladies, and by nine o’clock the team of Antonia, Diana, and Antoinette had won handily. A rare win.
“Bunch of cheaters,” Leo muttered sulkily as he and Godfrey sat at the table afterwards.
“Oh, don’t be such a sourpuss, Leo,” said Antonia cheerily, wiping down the table with a wet rag as Antoinette cleared away the last of the coffee mugs.
The round headed man waved one of his massive hands, dismissing her.
“Was all in good fun,” she said, winking at Godfrey.
She enjoyed teasing Leo.
Godfrey smiled, and then exchanged a smile with Antoinette.
“You boys hear about Edmond?” asked Isaac from the living room, where he stood, in front of the large window, gazing out at the starlit night.
Godfrey turned in his chair and shook his head. “No. What about him?”
“Fell from his roof yesterday. Doctor says he cracked a few ribs.”
“That crazy fool...” Leo muttered, shaking his head in exasperation.
“Is he going to be alright?” asked Godfrey.
“Ah, sure,” Isaac answered. “You know Edmond. Tough as nails. Doesn’t complain about a thing.”
“And that’s the problem,” said Antonia, jumping into the conversation. “Poor man wouldn’t grumble if he were hit by a train. And so you never know when he needs help.”
“Well, we know he needs help, Antonia,” said Isaac.
“And I’ve already offered to do some cooking and cleaning. I can make up a few tourtière for you to bring over.”
Isaac looked annoyed. “And I already said that would be fine.”
“Well that’s that then. Antoinette and I will make up some food for him and you can bring it to him tomorrow.”
Godfrey ignored them and glanced at Antoinette. Henri was having a word with her in the kitchen. He wished he could hear what he was saying to her.
“You make the food and I’ll bring it over.”
Isaac’s snapping drew his attention from the Lapalme siblings.
“Good.”
“Good.”
“Alright.”
“Alright.”
“And I don’t want to hear any more about it.”
“Neither do I.”
Godfrey glanced at Isaac, his brow furrowed and his expression dark as his wife sighed dramatically and left the room. Surely he and Antoinette would never bicker like that.
Chapter Seven
“How curious a thing life must be when you’ve only got one arm, eh?” Leo mused as he and Godfrey sat at their usual table in the dining room of the Wainwright Hotel.
“What do you mean?” asked Godfrey, glancing at the one-armed man several tables away, his ability to eat seemingly uncompromised by his lack of a limb.
“Well,” Leo answered, chewing thoughtfully, “I mean, imagine trying to work like that. Branding a cow or manning a plow - can’t very well do those things with one arm now, can you?”
Godfrey shrugged as he spread a wedge of butter on his steamed potatoes.
“I don’t know. Maybe you can. He seems to be getting on alright,” he added, glancing over his shoulder once more at the one-armed man.
“Well, must be tough,” said Leo, slurping his water.
For once Godfrey questioned the maturity of his brother. Worried about a man and his one arm. It was a little out of character.
“So how’s the new truck working for ya?”
Leo grunted. “It’s a truck. It runs. Nothing else to say.”
Godfrey took an extra second to pick up a spoonful of potatoes, unsure whether to maintain his stoic expression or question his brother’s apathy. Overly concerned about a one-armed man, completely indifferent about his new truck.
“Maman says hello, by the way.”
“Oh? She write to you?”
“Yeah. Got a letter from her last week.”
Leo nodded and chewed thoughtfully on his steak, his eyes fixed on his brother’s face. “How’s the farm doing?”
Godfrey shrugged. “Seems to be doing alright. She said they didn’t need the money you sent - but that they did appreciate the gesture.”
Leo grunted and shook his head as though disgusted, picking up his glass of water and taking a long drink before speaking. “You know, you can’t win with them. Last time I heard from mom, she said they could use some help. So I sent them some money...and now my money’s no good apparently.”
Godfrey ate in silence, unsure what to say.
“Guess I won’t send any more money,” Leo finished, draining the remaining water in his glass.
He looked over Godfrey’s shoulder at the one-armed man. Godfrey ignored his brother’s gaze and instead concentrated on spearing a wayward carrot.
“So word is you’re sweet on Henri’s little sister.”
He’d been waiting to hear it. He’d been waiting all week. But to hear it from Leo?
Godfrey nearly choked on the carrot he’d just put in his mouth.
“What?”
Leo eyed him closely, studying his expression carefully.
“Yeah. At least that’s what Isaac and Antonia were saying.”
“When were they saying that?” asked Godfrey hotly, loosening his collar as he broke into a warm sweat.
“At dinner on Saturday. While you two were outside, gabbing away.”
“Well, I don’t know where you all get that idea.”
Leo puffed out his cheeks and scraped the gravy from his plate.
“Guess it’s just gossip then.”
“I guess so,” said Godfrey, though he wasn’t sure his brother necessarily believed him. “You know, she’s older than me.”
Leo looked at his brother. “Really? She looks so young...can’t be more than twenty.”
“She’s twenty seven actually. Born in ninety nine.”
“Hmph.’
“Yeah.”
“Well, I guess you’re good to court her then.”
Godfrey raised his eyebrows, feigning surprise. “Court her? Antoinette Lapalme?”
Leo nodded as though Godfrey had said the sky was blue.
“But...I don’t...”
He couldn’t lie. He couldn’t say he didn’t like her that way. He couldn’t say he wasn’t interested in her.
“You don’t want to court her?”
“No,” said Godfrey, swallowing the knot in his throat.
He prayed the lie wouldn’t come back to bite him.
“Oh well, guess I’ll just have to tell Antonia that next time I see her.”
“Wait! I mean...wait. Why?”
Leo smiled a sly smile. “Because, she was only asking me to inquire because Diana seemed to be under the impression that Antoinette was sweet on you. I guess she wanted to see if the feeling was mutual.”
Godfrey ran a hand through his hair and emptied his lungs in one tremendous exhale.
“No...the feeling is mutual. I am interested in her.”
Leo opened his arms. “HEY!”
He reached across the table and clapped his younger brother on the shoulder.
“Nice girl like that? Can’t go wrong.”
Godfrey grinned, wearily, still unsure about whether or not his brother was just pulling his leg or whether he was actually being sincere.
“What? You don’t believe me, do you?”
Godfrey shook his head.
“Well, I’m telling you, Antonia was asking about it because Diana told her to. And Diana?
??s just looking out for her baby sister-in-law.”
“Well, there’s nothing to worry about. I’m not going to try anything...inappropriate.”
Leo grunted. “Good. Because Henri would kill you. I’ve seen how he watches after her.”
Godfrey gulped. “I know.”
“You’d better let him know your intentions then. Otherwise, leave her be.”
Leave her be? How could he leave her be? That sweet, beautiful, brown-eyed girl? He couldn’t do that. And if he couldn’t do that, then he had best speak to Henri. And soon too. Girl like that. Wainwright’s other bachelors would be banging down the door.
Chapter Eight
The following afternoon. Godfrey’s driving his wagon slowly up the Lapalme’s driveway, his eyes on Diana who is busy hanging laundry from the clothesline. A ways off, in the distance, is Henri. He’s riding through the fields, checking on his crops.
“Morning!” Godfrey shouted in greeting.
Turning, Diana smiled and waved as she finished pinning a white bed sheet to the line.
“Heading into town?” she called.
Godfrey shrugged. “Maybe later. What are you two up to this morning?”
“Bit of this, bit of that. Got a few chores to do.”
Antoinette appeared on the balcony.
“Hey.”
“Good morning,” said Godfrey, smiling.
“Here to help me scrub the floors?” she asked cheekily.
Godfrey decided to go with it. “Maybe. How much ya payin’?”
“A bit of breakfast in an hour? Just waiting for the bread to finish baking.”
“That sounds great. Is that an invitation then?” he asked, looking from her to Diana who had two clothes pins clenched between her teeth and was struggling with a heavy rug.
“Here, let me help you with that,” said Godfrey, climbing down from Cheval and jogging over.
“Ah, you’re such a dear,” said Diana, her voice catching as she struggled to maintain her balance atop the small step ladder upon which she stood.
“Oh, it’s my pleasure,” Godfrey replied, seizing the drooping end of the wet rug and hoisting it over the clothesline.
“There.”
Diana beamed at him. “Good. Now can ya do the rest?”
They all laughed then as Godfrey raised his hands and backed away.
“He can’t hang laundry, Dee,” said Antoinette imploringly, “he’s helping me scrub floors. Right, Godfrey?”
“Something like that.”
“See,” said Antoinette, looking squarely at Diana, a broad smile stretching from ear to ear. “He’s helping me.”
“Well, the laundry will still be here when you two are finished with the floors,” she said with mock sincerity.
“Boy, a guy has to do a lot for a bit of breakfast around here,” Godfrey quipped, drawing their attention back to him.
“You can say that again,” came a voice from a short distance away.
“Henri.”
“How are ya?”
The smiling Frenchman with the rugged good looks climbed down from his horse and strode across the yard.
“I was just passing by,” said Godfrey quickly. “Thought I’d stop in and say hello.”
“Well, that’s mighty nice of ya. I saw you from the field. Wasn’t sure whether it was you or Isaac. That horse he’s got is the same colour as yours.”
Godfrey nodded. “Yeah. I get that a lot actually.”
“Breakfast will be ready in about an hour, Henri,” said Diana, wiping her hands on her apron. “Godfrey’s going to eat with us.”
“Of course,” Henri said, smiling.
He clapped an arm on Godfrey’s shoulder.
“The more the merrier.”
Godfrey mustered a smile. He couldn’t be sure whether or not Antonia had spoken to him about his interest in Antoinette. But surely he knew. Because Diana he knew. At least that’s what Leo had said at lunch yesterday.
“Come on over to the barn. Our Ghislain had a calf two nights ago.”
“Really?”
Henri nodded as they headed for the large structure at the opposite end of the lawn.
“Yep. Went smoothly too. Not like the last time when Mr. Keller had to come by.”
“Mr. Keller...the vet?”
“That’s the one.”
They reached the barn and Henri pulled on the door.
“Give me a hand, would ya? It’s been a bit tight lately. All that rain. Makes this mud and then it dries,” he said, kicking the ground, misshaped pockets and mounds of dried mud evident all around, “and the damn door doesn’t open.”
Godfrey nodded and grabbed the handle.
“But I find with an extra set of arms,” said Henri, grunting as he yanked the door open, “it opens right nice.”
“I see what you mean,” said Godfrey, pulling the heavy door over the dried, crusted mud until it opened wide.
Henri entered the barn and Godfrey followed. It was dim, yet bright, and a million dust particles shone against the darkened backdrop of the interior as Godfrey’s eyes adjusted. It had that typical barn smell - straw mixed with manure - and he walked one step behind Henri as he led them towards the rear of the barn.
“Be real nice and quiet now,” Henri cautioned as they neared the last stall in the row.
Godfrey nodded and slowed as they drew up to the open end. The stall was roughly twenty feet deep - he guessed - and about half as wide. In the very centre, nestled on a bed of straw, lay the mother and her newborn.
“Yep,” said Henri with a palpable degree of pride as they gazed upon mother and calf.
“What is she? She looks like some kind of a cross.”
Henri shook his head. “Nope. That there’s a Blonde. A Blonde d’Aquitaine to be more precise.”
“Hein? And where’d you get a breed like that? I’ve never seen it.”
“Come from down south. Montana or something. The Pawling’s brought them up a few years back. Been breeding them ever since.”
“Hmm. And they’re a beef cow?”
Henri beamed. “Yep. And a darn good one too. Some of the best steaks I’ve ever had.”
“How much for a heifer?”
Henri rubbed the back of his neck as he pondered the question.
“About fifty dollars...thereabouts. Richard Pawling’s a fair man. He’ll give you a good price. In fact I’ve the thought to get myself a few more this Fall. How about I take you with me?”
Godfrey nodded. “That would great. Thanks.”
Henri looked at him, his eyes probing. Searching.
“Not a problem. Say,” he began, motioning him toward the door with a wave of his hand, “there’s something I’d like to talk to you about.”
This was it. Henri knew about him and Antoinette.
Godfrey swallowed the knot in his throat. “Oh?”
He heard Henri release a heavy sigh.
“Yeah.”
He stopped and turned to face the man who was four years his senior.
“It’s got to do with Antoinette.”
His expression was severe now. But severe and disappointed at the same time, Godfrey noticed. As though it bothered him that he had to have this conversation.
“I know there’s something going on between you two.”
Not wanting to reveal more than Henri already knew, Godfrey simply stared at him, stone-faced, waiting for him to continue.
“And I’ve gotta say, Godfrey,” he continued, waving a hand again as he began to pace, “I don’t know what to think. I mean, you’re a good guy. Don’t get me wrong. You have a good reputation...but I don’t want you seeing Antoinette.”
Godfrey’s pulse quickened. Not see Antoinette? Never! Impossible!
“Henri...I - ”
Henri looked at the younger man.
“I...I love her. I want to marry her,” he blurted.
Henri’s eyebrows went up. “You want to marry her?”
Godfrey nodded as H
enri looked away, a curious expression on his face. Clearly, whatever he’d been expecting Godfrey to say, it hadn’t been that.
“I...don’t know what to say, Godfrey. You want to marry Antoinette.”
It wasn’t a question. If anything, he seemed to be questioning his honour.
“I do. I love her.”
The bewildered expression on Henri’s face remained, but the tension in the air seemed to have suddenly evaporated.
“Well...if you love her...”
Behind them, in one of the stalls, a round of squeals went up and the sound of oinking pigs filled the space around them. Henri ignored the interruption.
He looked squarely at Godfrey.
“If what you say is the truth...then...”
It seemed to Godfrey he was struggling to get the words out.
“...you have my blessing!”
His disappointed expression melted away as his face broke into smile.
Now it was Godfrey’s turn to be bewildered.
“Really? I do?”
Henri nodded enthusiastically.
“Yep! I mean, that is of course assuming she feels the same way about you.”
“I think she does,” said Godfrey, though he suddenly wasn’t so confident.
Having the brother of your love interest chastise you for seeing his sister wasn’t exactly a confidence booster...
“She does,” Henri said, grinning from ear to ear as he clapped a hand on Godfrey’s shoulder. “Shake my hand you louse!”
Godfrey shook the older man’s hand.
“We’re going to be in-laws, you and I,” he said happily, wrapping an arm around Godfrey and ushering him toward the door. “And guess what?”
Godfrey didn’t like the slyness to his voice.
“What...”
“You’re now going to be obligated to come to every one of my worker bees!”
Godfrey smiled. If that was the worst Henri was going to throw his way for seeing his sister, he’d gotten off easy.
Chapter Nine
Godfrey and Antoinette are seated on a windswept hill overlooking the Battle River. Overhead, the bright blue sky is spotted with puffy white clouds. The sun shines down on the couple as they converse, having finished their picnic lunch.
Antoinette smiled. “You’re so...”
Godfrey looked at her. “I’m so what?”
“You’re so...” she blushed, “...fun. And you’re such a gentleman,” she added, her eyes shining as he took her hand in his.
“Thanks,” he replied, stifling a blush.
“I’m so glad I met you.”
Godfrey smiled. “Me too.”
He looked at her and she returned his smile. That pretty, modest smile.