The Texan's Courtship Lessons

“Maybe we can find some way to raise the rest of the money. We ought to do it soon, while the subject is on everyone’s minds. I’d suggest a benefit dance, but the town recently had a masquerade ball.”

“I think the church has the corner on the box socials, although it’s probably too cold for one anyway.”

“Yeah, the event would have to be inside.” His hand strayed toward his pocket, where his harmonica was safely tucked away. “We have a lot of talented singers and musicians in this area. Do you think folks would pay to see them perform?”

Sean grinned. “I do—especially if you were playing. I reckon we could draw a lot of people that way. With folks knowing what you went through, it would set their minds at ease to see that you’re all right. That’ll be particularly true once they find out you didn’t take any of their money.”

“I know I could rope Quinn into playing his banjo. Chris has his fiddle. In fact, I’m pretty sure everyone in his family plays some kind of instrument or another.”

“My wife is quite a hand at the piano,” Sean added.

“That’s a fact,” Rhett agreed, having heard Lorelei play nearly every Sunday at church. “I’d be happy to recruit talent, but managing the actual program isn’t exactly the kind of thing I’d be good at.”

Sean grimaced. “Me, neither.”

“Then who’s going to plan all of this?”

Sean leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. “Well, now, that’s a good question.”

“It seems like the kind of thing that needs a woman’s touch, doesn’t it? I’d hate to impose on anyone. It might be a lot of work.”

Sean nodded. “Ellie’s good at planning things. I’ll ask her. If she can’t do it, she might be able to point me in the direction of someone who can. I’ll send them your way to talk about the performers.”

“That sounds good.” Rhett moved to stand when Sean did, then smiled ruefully and settled back in his chair. “I’d see you out but...”

Sean grinned. “Don’t worry about it. Take care of yourself. Let me know if you need anything. I mean it, Rhett.”

“I will. Hey, before you go, you said the volunteers were putting anything salvageable in boxes for me. How much have they found?”

Sean winced. “What I should have said was if they find anything, they’ll put it in a box for you.”

“Meaning?”

“We haven’t found anything worth saving yet.”

Rhett sighed. That was disappointing, but pretty much what he’d expected. “I have a feeling I’m going to be starting over from scratch.”

“Perhaps. That doesn’t entirely have to be a bad thing, though. It’s a new start in a new year—a blank slate. You can make whatever you want out of it.”

“That’s exactly what I’ve been thinking.”

“Good.” Sean straightened to leave then hesitated. “Be encouraged, Rhett. God is going to bring something good out of this for you and your future. That’s who He is and how He works.”

Rhett nodded. Reading his Bible, growing up in church, watching the lives of other believers had given Rhett plenty of evidence that God had good plans for His people. Trouble was, in Rhett’s experience, God sure seemed to take His time when it came to working those plans out in his life. Rhett was tired of waiting for things to change and sick of depending on others to make it happen. If life was a blank page, then it was time for him to take the pen in his own hands and do a little writing. Whether that or even God would help still remained to be seen.

* * *

The bell on the front desk rang frequently to announce Rhett’s steady stream of visitors after the sheriff left. Isabelle didn’t mind because it gave her an excuse to watch the door. In truth, she was waiting for the boarders to return in the hopes that one of them would hand her the bracelet along with a reasonable explanation for having it. Gabe was the first to return. He absently tossed his coat onto the rack, muttered a quick hello and rushed up the stairs, already flipping through his sketchbook. She listened to his door ease shut and knew she probably wouldn’t see him again until supper a few hours from now. There was nothing strange about that.

She glanced up when the front door opened again and was relieved to see Ellie and Lawson Williams enter. As the town’s unofficial matchmaker, Ellie was exactly the person Isabelle should ask about the courting lessons she’d promised Rhett. She greeted the couple with a quick hug. “I’m sure you’re here to see Rhett. He’s right through that door and ready for visitors. Ellie, would you mind if I borrow you for a few moments before you leave? I need a bit of advice.”

“Well, now I’m too curious to wait. Why don’t we talk now?”

Remembering that Rhett had been able to hear her entire conversation with Violet earlier, Isabelle glanced toward the study. “All right, but let’s not do it here. The walls have ears.”

Ellie followed her gaze. “I’m guessing those ears belong to Rhett.”

Lawson grinned. “Why don’t y’all go for a quick walk? I’ll visit with Rhett.”

“Thanks, Lawson.” Isabelle quickly bundled up in her coat, hat and gloves before she and Ellie walked down the porch steps out onto Main Street.

Ellie slipped her hands into her pockets as she sent Isabelle a concerned look. “Is everything all right?”

She’d meant to keep the conversation light, but her response somehow came out a bit drawn-out and shaky. “Yes.”

Ellie frowned. “Isabelle, what is going on?”

Isabelle pressed her lips together. Don’t say it. Don’t say it.

“Isabelle?”

“I kissed Rhett.”

Ellie stopped in her tracks in the middle of Main Street. “Wait. What?”

Isabelle closed one eye and winced before tugging her friend across the street to the courtyard. “I did. I kissed him. Well, actually, he kissed me. Or we kissed each other. I don’t know. It just sort of happened because it was New Year’s Eve. Then the world exploded. And I can’t believe I’m telling you this.”

Ellie shook her head and waved her hands in random circular motions. “Whoa. Slow down. My mind needs to catch up with your words. You and Rhett kissed on New Year’s Eve. That’s...” Ellie nodded then grinned. “That’s wonderful. Hurray!”

Isabelle glared at her. “No! Not wonderful. Not hurray. This is bad.”

“It is?”

“Yes!”

“Why?”

“There are so many reasons.” Isabelle shook her head as she led the way down a path strewn with dead brown leaves. “First of all, I don’t go around kissing men willy-nilly. That is not the kind of girl I am. Second, I had on a mask, so I thought he didn’t know who I was, but he did. He knew the whole time. Third, he’s living in the boardinghouse now, and it was my idea to have him there. Finally, if my parents find out any of this, they will not be happy at all. In fact, they will probably throw him out.”

Ellie grimaced. “Oh. Well, the only thing that really sounds like a problem is the part about your parents. The rest seems pretty romantic to me.”

Panic surged through her. “No romance. Absolutely not. This would be the worst possible time for one with everything so up in the air.”

“What is up in the air?”

“Nothing. Never mind.” Her parents were trying to keep their doubts about the fate of the boardinghouse in the family circle until a decision had officially been reached. “Most important, I refuse to even consider a man who was in love with my sister just a matter of months ago.”

“Hmm.” Ellie started walking again, albeit very slowly. “What does Rhett have to say about all of this?”