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“Do you need butter or cream?”
“Both,” she said with a smile. Those items were added to her purchases as well, and Regan paid her.
Lucretia pocketed the coins in her apron and on the way back to the front of the house said, “Heard folks talking about the fancy new stove you ordered. Has it come in yet?”
“Not yet, but hopefully any day now. I’m sick of fighting with the old one.”
Lucretia added, “I’ve been thinking about what you said at the meeting. I agree with Glenda about raising money for a lending library. Never learned to read myself but I made sure my children did and Livy does every night. In fact, she’s been trying to teach me.”
“Good for her and for you.”
“I’m wondering if maybe we ladies could raise money during the Paradise Founders Day celebration?”
“When is it?”
“Mid-August.”
“Seeing as it’s now almost the end of May, we have time to plan. When’s our next meeting?”
“Friday after next.”
“I think that’s a wonderful idea, Lucretia. Let’s see what the others have to say.”
“And I want to have the ladies’ horseshoe tournament, too.”
Regan laughed. “Then if the idea is approved, we will add that to our offerings.”
Lucretia turned serious. “When I first saw you at the wedding, I thought maybe you’d not fit in here.”
Regan stopped and searched her sun-lined face. “Why?”
“Colleen Enright said she’d met you and that you were snooty and put on airs.”
Regan’s ire rose at Colleen and her gossipy meddling. “And now?”
“I like you. Hoping our girls can visit more regularly, and that Anna can spend the night every now and again.”
“That would be wonderful. We’ll be redoing Anna’s bedroom and once it’s finished, I’d love to have Livy spend the night with us, too.”
Lucretia nodded. “They’re good friends. Race might matter to some folks but not to me and mine.”
“Nor to me and mine either.” Regan was glad she’d made the trip to see Lucretia. “I hope you and I can become friends, too.”
“I’d like that. Not many women around here. Be nice if we could all get along. Looking forward to knowing you better.”
“Same here.”
“Let’s see what our girls are up to.”
They found the girls in the barn. Livy was brushing the coat of a snow-white pony while Anna watched from the stall’s entrance. Beside her stood a man of average height with salt-and-pepper hair. He eyed their approach and offered Regan a nod of greeting.
Lucretia said, “Regan, this is my husband, Matt. Matt, this is Doc Lee’s new wife, Regan.”
“Pleased to meet you.”
“Same here.” Regan didn’t remember him being at her wedding.
Lucretia explained why. “Matt was in Cheyenne visiting one of our children the day of the wedding.”
