AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Alice shrugged. “We’re both afraid to cut. We don’t mind sewing, but cutting the fabric is the hard part.”
“I see…” Sydney wasn’t sure why they were afraid of the initial cuts, but she’d never had a problem making them. She couldn’t help but wonder if it was because they had both been raised in poverty, and she had always known more fabric could be purchased.
Either way, she had all three dresses cut out before lunchtime, and each of them began the work of stitching one of them. Susan used her sewing machine, and she finished quickly.
After a quick lunch break of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Susan took on the dress Sydney had been sewing so Sydney could cut out a couple of nightgowns. It seemed that each time she finished cutting something, Susan was there to take it from her and work on it.
Two ladies joined them just after two, and they immediately sat down and took pieces that had been cut and started sewing. No explanations were needed about which pieces should be sewn to one another because they’d all been sewing for years.
Susan introduced her friends to her new daughter-in-law. “Wilma, Beverly, this is my new daughter-in-law, Sydney. She married Lewis last night.”
“I thought we were coming to make clothes before the wedding!” Beverly said, looking surprised.
“Oh, we were,” Wilma said. “Now you have to tell us why you married so quickly.”
Sydney took a deep breath. “I came here to escape my mother and her constant attempts to force me to marry a man who was rich and came from old money. My mother was insistent no other man was worthy of our family. I went to Susan and Alice’s sister, Elizabeth, and asked to be sent to marry. I got here, only to discover I was supposed to either marry Randy Ranch, or work at Randy’s Ranch, and I was willing to do neither. As soon as I found out he owned a brothel, where he spent the majority of his time, I knew I didn’t want to marry him. And I certainly didn’t want to work for him!”
Wilma let out a giggle. “I shouldn’t laugh, but I can just see that happening. Oh, how glad I am you didn’t go to work for him and married Lewis instead. Lewis has always been my favorite of the four older Dailey boys.”
Sydney smiled. “And why’s that?”
“I don’t really know. He was just always willing to help me with little projects I needed done, and he always showed me respect.”
“Sounds like a good reason to like him best,” Sydney said. She cut out the last two things she wanted to make that day, two aprons, and then she sat down with one of them. There were multiple projects cut and waiting to be sewn, even though Susan was hurrying through each project as quickly as her feet could move the treadle.
While they talked, they all laughed about different things, but when a loud knock sounded at the front door, Sydney hurried to the bathroom to hide, while Susan went to the door.
Maybe she should just admit she was there, but she would rather be in the family way before her parents’ men found her.
Susan knocked on the bathroom door to let her know it was safe to come out. “It was them, and I told them we had never heard of you. I don’t mind fibbing if it’s for a really good reason, and protecting you is a good reason.”
Sydney returned to the parlor with Susan, only to have Wilma look at her for a moment. “I’m not sure you told the whole story,” she said.
“Oh! Yes, my parents seem to have sent someone to look for me and take me back to Beckham. I would rather not go, so I’m hiding so they don’t find me. I’m sure they’ll realize I’m here eventually, but by then I plan to be expecting.”
Beverly laughed. “You really have this figured out, don’t you?”
“I try,” Sydney said. “My mother won’t want me back when she realizes I’m not a virgin anymore. I won’t be as easy to marry off that way.”
“Oh, dear!” Wilma said, shaking her head. “We won’t tell a soul you’re here. Those men did come by my house yesterday, but as I hadn’t learned your name yet, I very honestly told them I had no idea who you are.”
“I’m hoping they move on to the next town, but until then, I’m hiding. I’m not supposed to go outside without Alice and her gun, either.”
“That’s really smart,” Beverly said. “You wouldn’t want to risk being snatched up and taken back to Massachusetts, and Alice is a wonderful shot. I’ve seen her at it, and she’s really good!”
Sydney grinned at her friend. Alice must really have impressed a great deal of people with her shooting.
