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It wasn’t as though she had many clothing options to choose from. When she’d left Texas, she’d brought only what she could carry with her. However, she did have one nice ivory shirtwaist with a pattern of coral rosebuds she’d loved too much to part with when she’d gotten rid of her dresses. She pulled out a pair of new trousers she’d been saving to wear to … well, she hadn’t decided where she’d wear them, but the dark brown fabric would look nice with the shirtwaist.
Rena hurried to heat an iron on the cookstove and pressed the wrinkles from the trousers and shirtwaist. After hurriedly polishing her boots, she rushed back up to the loft and changed. It took far longer than she liked to style her hair in a fashionable knot at the back of her head. She didn’t have a proper hat to wear, not that one would look appropriate with her trousers anyway.
She just hoped Theo realized what he was likely getting them both into by dragging her along to the church service.
Rena slipped into a brown and ivory striped jacket that had once been part of a lovely outfit she’d been proud to wear, then tugged on her lone pair of dress gloves. Maybe if she took small steps and stayed close to Theo, no one would even notice she was wearing trousers.
People could gape and point at her all the livelong day, and she didn’t care one whit, but it bothered her to think of any ill favor spilling over onto Theo.
On the verge of begging off due to a sick stomach since hers was roiling with nerves, she instead forced herself to return downstairs before she could change her mind. She’d just finished pulling on her boots when Theo returned inside. From his damp hair and the tiny dollop of shaving soap on his chin, it appeared he’d been readying for the trip into town as well.
She lifted the dish towel from the hook near the sink and wiped his chin. “Missed a spot.”
“Thanks,” he said, grinning at her when he took a step back. “You look nice, Rena. Ma always used to comment about that jacket being a favorite of hers when you wore it.”
“It was too pretty to get rid of when … when I packed up my things.”
“I’m glad you kept it. The color and style suit you. Shall we get going?” Theo lifted the basket with the cobbler, settled a hat on his head, and held the door as Rena stepped outside.
“Are you certain you want me to go? I don’t want to embarrass you.”
Theo grabbed her arm in his hand and pulled her to a stop. “Let’s get one thing clear right this instant, Rena. You would never, ever be an embarrassment to me, at least not for the reasons you’re thinking. Now, if you pushed the pastor out of the way, took over the pulpit, and reamed the ears of the congregation like you did poor Bickley the other day, well, that might make me slink out the back door of the church.”
Unable to stop it, a broad smile filled her face. She playfully swatted Theo’s arm. “I can promise that won’t happen, cousin. I don’t suppose you’d allow me to sit in the back pew by the door.”
“Nope. I know one little girl who will likely be glued to your side once she realizes you’re there, and we always sit in a pew about halfway up the aisle.”
Rena gave him a studying glance as she took Scout’s reins in her hand. “Did she really cry last week when I stayed home?”
Theo nodded, swinging onto Thomas and hanging the basket from his saddle horn. “She sure did, Rena. Big, silent tears that nearly broke my heart.”
A sigh of resignation rolled out of Rena as she mounted Scout and headed with Theo into town.
They’d barely left the animals tied to the hitching rail when Rena turned around and found a pair of little arms encircling her waist. She glanced down at Gabi.
“Hi, Gabi. How does this day find you?” she asked with a smile, brushing curls away from the child’s face.
“Great, Rena! I’m so glad you came today.” Gabi squeezed her again, then turned her loose. “You look pretty.”
Rena smiled and tapped Gabi’s button nose. “So do you, sweet girl. Did your father help you with your hair?”
Gabi nodded and touched the lopsided pink bow that only partially subdued her springy curls. “He did.”
“That’s nice, Gabi.” Rena looked over to see Josh and Theo shaking hands as they moved toward the door, where a steady stream of people entered the church.
“Come on. Let’s go inside.” Gabi yanked on her hand and Rena reluctantly let the child lead her closer to what she was certain would be a disastrous experience.
Gabi led her to a pew halfway up on the left side of the church where Josh and Theo stood in conversation with a handsome couple. The man held a little boy with dark hair. Two more boys, who looked enough like the youngest lad that it was easy to see they were brothers, stood on either side of a woman who had blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes.
“Jace and Cora Lee Coleman, this is my cousin, Rena Burke,” Theo said, placing a hand on Rena’s shoulder and nudging her forward as she and Gabi approached their group.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Coleman.” Rena offered them what she hoped would pass as a charming smile, then grinned at the youngest boy as he peeked at her from the safety of his father’s arms. “Your boys are adorable.”
Mrs. Coleman beamed with pride. “Thank you. When they aren’t running around like wild rascals, they can be undeniably cute, but that’s usually only when they’re asleep.” She winked at the oldest boy, and he grinned, showing off gaps in his smile where baby teeth had fallen out.
The sight of the pastor walking up to the pulpit sent everyone into a hushed hurry to be seated.
Mrs. Coleman squeezed the hand Gabi wasn’t holding and smiled. “I hope we’ll have a chance to visit more later. Enjoy the service.”
