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When Constance walked onto the farm a short while later, her mother was hanging clothes. It was a task they usually did together, so Constance joined her to help. “I didn’t know you were planning to do wash this afternoon.”
“I wasn’t. Farmer’s almanac says rain tomorrow, so your pa asked me to do it a day early.”
Constance looked off into the distance. It didn’t look like rain was coming, and the Farmer’s Almanac was wrong as often as it was right. “I see,” Constance said, though she didn’t. The way her parents did things confused her at times. “I went to see Elizabeth Tandy today.”
Ma nodded. “Isn’t she the one who sends women out west to marry strangers?”
“She is. And I’ve agreed to be one of those women.”
Ma stopped what she was doing, one hand raised in the air, a clothespin clutched in that hand. “What made you decide to do that?”
Constance shrugged. “I don’t exactly have any suitors right now, and I thought it was time I married and raised a family.”
“You’re a pretty girl. We could find you someone.”
“No need. I’m going to South Dakota. Doesn’t that sound exciting?”
Ma shrugged. “I guess when you’re young and longing for adventure any place can seem exciting. When do you leave?”
Surprised at how well her mother was taking the news, Constance said, “Monday.”
“You never have been one to let moss grow, have you?” Ma sighed. “Let me tell your father. He’ll take it better from me.”
“So…you don’t have a problem with me doing this?”
Ma shook her head. “No, I don’t. I think it’s time you chose your own path in life.”
Constance dropped the dress she was holding into the laundry basket between them and threw her arms around her mother. “Thank you, Ma!”
Ma patted her awkwardly. “Just be happy, Constance.”
“I will do my best!”
As soon as laundry was finished, she and ma went through her clothes. “I do wish you’d given us an extra week to make you a dress to be married in.”
“I think with that sewing machine of yours, we could have it done before Monday with no problem. Mary can do the cooking for a few days.”
Ma looked at her for a moment before nodding. “She really can. We’ve taught her well. That means another trip into town for you in the morning. You’ll need to buy some fabric, and we’ll make that dress. It won’t be easy, but I don’t need easy.”
Constance smiled. “I don’t either.”
And just like that, her mother was helping her get ready for a marriage that would take her far away.
They continued to go through her clothes, putting stuff in piles. “We should have done this a long time ago,” Constance said. “I think these two dresses would fit Mary.”
Soon all her clothes were sorted by those she should take, those she should pass on to her sister, and those that should be discarded for rags.
After supper, Constance went for a walk, looking at the stars. It was her favorite thing to do at night, but this time she had an ulterior motive. It would give her parents time to talk so her father could learn of the wedding in the best way possible.
Mary joined Constance, something she did on rare occasions. “Thank you for the dresses,” she said. “I’ve been wondering how much longer the ones I have would fit over my bosoms.”
Constance smiled. “I’m happy to give them to you. Ma and I are making me a new dress this weekend, so you’ll have to take care of cooking.”
Mary shrugged. “It’s good practice for me. At least that’s what Ma would say.”
“You’re a good cook. You just have to remember that and not second-guess yourself.”
“That’s much harder in practice,” Mary said, sighing. “I always think I’ve messed something up, and I try to fix it, and I ruin it by trying to fix it. It’s silly of me, but I do it every time.”
