Hattie Read online

Hattie gulped. She wanted that, too, but how could she explain that Cletus had forbidden it? Even Katie looked stumped.

  “We need to go now. Have a good night!” Hattie spun around and grabbed Katie’s elbow. The two girls rushed back to where the wagon was parked and prepared to drive back to the Sanders’ house.

  When they got back, Hattie’s heart was still racing. Inside, Edna Petunia and Cletus were both sleeping. Hattie and Katie changed into their nightclothes and slipped under the covers in their beds, practically holding their breaths and waiting to be caught.

  At some point, Hattie drifted off to sleep, visions of leaping horses, kind eyes, and cowboy hats galloping through her mind.

  3

  Although Hattie couldn’t believe it, Edna Petunia and Cletus didn’t find out that they had sneaked out to see the Wild West Show instead of helping Ruby and Lewis. Hattie still felt a bit guilty about it, but she also felt incredibly happy that she had gotten to see Will Hart perform again, not to mention meet him!

  “What are you thinking about? You’ve got that far-off, dreamy glint in your eye!” Edna Petunia said sternly when she caught Hattie staring out the window, neglecting her dishwashing duty.

  “Nothing!” Hattie cried immediately. She liked that her relationship with Will was private—even though it was imaginary, she didn’t have to share it with anyone. She wasn’t ready to talk about her feelings with anyone, especially not her mother! Katie knew how she felt because she had seen Hattie and Will together, but aside from that, Hattie didn’t plan to tell anyone.

  “Get back to work, then!” Edna Petunia said crossly and continued on her inspection of the kitchen. Theresa, who was washing dishes, smiled up at Hattie.

  On that day, it was Hattie’s turn to retrieve the mail. She walked out to the mailbox, gathered the envelopes, and returned to the house. She set the stack of letters down on the kitchen table and began opening them.

  To her surprise, there was one addressed to “Ms. Hattie Sanders.”

  Dear Hattie,

  I was immediately taken by you at the fairgrounds not once, but twice! Lucky me. I am sending you one important question I would like you to answer. Hattie, please make me not only a lucky man, but the luckiest man in the world by agreeing to be my wife. I’ll admit that the rodeo isn’t always the most glamorous place for a woman, but there are many couples on the circuit who make it work. I want to make it work with you.

  Sincerely,

  Will Hart

  Hattie dropped the letter onto the table with a yelp. Katie came running. “What is it, Hattie?”

  Hattie shook her head. She wasn’t sure she wanted to tell anyone about the letter. She wanted some time to think about what had happened and how to respond. “I was startled for a moment, but now I’m fine.”

  “Hm. Okay.” Katie eyed her suspiciously and left the kitchen.

  Hattie folded up Will’s letter and tucked it into her pocket. She returned to the task of sorting the mail, but her head was spinning. A man—and not just any man, a talented and handsome man—had asked her to marry him!

  Hattie’s emotions tugged her in opposite directions. One part of her desperately wanted to run away with Will and lead a life of adventure and abandon on the rodeo. The other part of her felt comfortable staying put with her family, the people she belonged to, the people who had given her a home.

  Hattie continued to sort the mail and put it in the parlor for Edna Petunia and Cletus to see. The more Hattie thought about it, the more she realized that there was no way she could ever leave the Sanders family. A life with a rodeo cowboy might sound glamorous and exciting, but it would be an existence without roots, stability, or a sense of home.

  As she moved on throughout her daily chores, she had the sinking realization that she would have to write back to Will Hart and decline his proposal. She had never done such a thing before and wasn’t even sure how to go about it. She had written letters, of course, but they were mostly for school or to her sisters when their family responsibilities kept them from visiting the Sanders’ home often enough to suit Hattie.

  She wasn’t even sure where to address the letter or if it would arrive in time. Will had used the postal service to deliver his message, but she knew he wouldn’t be in town much longer.

  After she set the table for lunch, Hattie pulled the letter out again. This time, she noticed a postscript scrawled on the back of the note that she hadn’t seen before!

  P.S. Meet me Friday night at ten o’clock at the fairgrounds with your answer. I’ll be waiting.

  Hattie’s heart fluttered. She wanted to see Will again. She was practically dreaming of it. But she didn’t trust herself to know what to do if they were standing face to face. She might run away with him on the spot!

  Hattie couldn’t explain it. If she thought about it in her head, there was no reason for Will to have such a strong hold over her. She barely knew him. All she did know was that he didn’t have a lifestyle that seemed conducive to marrying or having children.

  Children—Hattie had nearly forgotten about this aspect of a life on the road. She hadn’t seen any children in the tent area where the rodeo cowboys and other performers lived. Would agreeing to marry Will mean she’d have to give up plans of becoming a mother?

  As she reasoned through it, Hattie realized that her fantasies about Will were just that—fantasies. He seemed like a perfectly nice man, funny and intelligent, handsome and caring—but he was, as Cletus sometimes said, ‘not the marrying type.’ She would have to go to the fairgrounds, look him in the eye, and tell him the truth. Her family meant far too much to her to abandon them. It would be difficult, but she would be able to get through it.

  Hattie couldn’t hide her distraction. As she swept the floors of the entry, Edna Petunia came up behind her and startled her. The broom clattered to the floor, and Edna Petunia sighed. “Hattie, what is it? You’ve been acting like a drunken goat all day!”

  Despite herself, Hattie smiled. Edna Petunia had some strange expressions, but she had grown to love them. Another reason she could never leave her family for long periods of time.

  “I’m still thinking about the rodeo,” Hattie confessed. She was telling the truth, just not the entire truth. She wished she were more comfortable talking to her parents about matters of romance, but she had never broached the subject with either Edna Petunia or Cletus. Plus, she knew they wouldn’t understand.

  “It was quite a sight, wasn’t it?” Edna Petunia crowed, a smile dancing across her lips.

  Hattie nodded. “It really was. I almost wish I could go back again and again.”

  “If I were a younger woman . . .” Edna Petunia winked.

  Hattie wasn’t sure what she meant. “If you were a younger woman, what?”

  “I might have had to run off with one of those devilishly handsome cowboys!” Edna Petunia joked. “I’m glad you, Theresa, and Katie have more sense than I did at your age. All of you are far too sensible to do a thing like that!”

  Hattie’s heart began racing. Edna Petunia had no idea how close to the truth she was. “Running away with a rodeo man does seem like a rather ill-informed decision.” Hattie spoke honestly.

  “But, oh, the sights I could have seen.” Edna Petunia looked out the window wistfully. “Still, things worked out exactly the way they were supposed to.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “If I had run away with a rugged cowboy, I might not have met the love of my life or any of my darling bastards!”

  Hattie couldn’t help but chuckle. All the tension she had felt earlier had evaporated. This was her home, where she was safe and surrounded by people who loved her unconditionally. No matter what Will Hart could offer, he could never top this.

  Still, the decision weighed on her as the hours ticked by. Friday was the following evening, and she knew she’d need to sneak out of the house or come up with a different reason why she needed to go out late at night.

  That evening after dinner, Hattie knew she needed to confide to someone.
Cletus and Edna Petunia were in the formal parlor with Katie, who was singing to entertain them. Theresa and Hattie were washing and drying dishes in the kitchen.

  Finally, Hattie couldn’t take it any longer. “Theresa, can I tell you something that you can’t tell a soul?”

  Theresa looked up, interested. “Sure. What is it?”

  Hattie dried her hands for a moment and pulled the letter out of her pocket. “Read this.”

  Hattie watched as Theresa unfolded the letter and reviewed it, taking each word in. Her mouth dropped open as she read the entire letter. “You’ve had a proposal of marriage? Do you even know this man?”

  Hattie felt sheepish. She didn’t have words to describe the strange connection she had felt with Will Hart. “We know each other a little but not that well. He’s one of the men from the rodeo. Do you remember the cowboy we thought was the best performer?”

  Theresa thought for a moment. “Didn’t he only have one arm? He was very good!”

  “Yes, that’s Will!” Hattie felt a swell of pride simply talking about him.

  “He was handsome,” Theresa admitted. “But you wouldn’t seriously consider running away, would you? We’d all miss you.”

  Hattie nodded. “That’s exactly how I feel. I won’t lie to you, Theresa—I’m intrigued by him. He’s so handsome, and I’m sure he’s had so many adventures and can teach me so much about the world. But it wouldn’t be right to leave my family. And who knows if he’d be able to support me. I don’t know what kind of money a man on the rodeo makes. I just wanted to tell someone.”

  “I understand,” Theresa said thoughtfully. “I’m glad you told me. What are you going to do?”

  “I’m going to meet him tomorrow night,” Hattie admitted. “I just need to come up with a reason why I’ll be out of the house tomorrow night.”

  Theresa considered this for a moment. “I’m supposed to go to Penny’s house tomorrow to help with the boys. Some of her in-laws are visiting, and she needs some assistance. You could say that you’re helping me, and we could get a ride from Tom. We’ll tell Tom that you’re just going to see the rodeo, not any of the other details.”

  “That’s a great idea. Do you think it will work?” Hattie asked anxiously.

  Theresa smiled. “I think we can make it work. Don’t worry, Hattie—your secret is safe with me!”

  4

  The hours dragged on as Hattie waited for Friday night to arrive. True to her word, Theresa helped Hattie get out of the house without so much as a question from Edna Petunia or Cletus.

  “I owe you one,” Hattie said gratefully.

  Theresa waved her off. “I know you’d do the same for me if the situation were reversed. Plus, this is kind of exciting. A rodeo cowboy has never proposed to one of my sisters before!”

  Hattie chuckled as they waited for Tom to pick them up. Penny’s husband arrived promptly at seven, leaving plenty of time for Hattie to meet with Will at the appointed time.

  “Tom, would you be able to make a stop at the Bagley fairgrounds? Hattie has a ticket for this evening,” Theresa said smoothly.

  Hattie marveled at Theresa’s ease and confidence. She was lucky to have a sister helping her out.

  Tom looked surprised but nodded. “That’s fine. But—are you going to see the Wild West Show by yourself?”

  Hattie nodded.

  Tom tightened his grip on the reins. “You need to be careful. Some of those men—I don’t know about them.”

  “What do you mean?” Theresa asked.

  “I don’t want to tell any falsehoods,” Tom began. “But I’ve heard stories about men who are thieves and liars, moving from town to town, swindling anyone they come across. All I’m saying is be careful around those types of people.”

  Hattie felt a stab of fear course through her veins. She hadn’t even considered the fact that Will’s intentions might not be noble. She felt foolish for going to meet a man by herself. Yet something deep inside of her urged her to go to the fairgrounds and meet him. She had a sense that everything would work out. “Thank you for the warning, Tom. I’ll be sure to watch out for men like that.”

  Tom grinned. “Good. Enjoy the show. I’ve heard it’s excellent!”

  “It is!” Theresa and Hattie exclaimed at the same time.

  Tom looked puzzled. “You’ve already seen the show?”

  Hattie looked down. “Yes, I’ve seen it before, and I liked it so much that I want to see it again.” Her words were true, but she was leaving something out—Will’s letter and her feelings for him. Even now, she felt a tingling in her stomach as she thought about him and the way he looked when he was riding.

  Tom nodded as they pulled up to the fairgrounds. “Just remember to be cautious.”

  “I will,” Hattie promised.

  Tom waited as Hattie climbed out, and he and Theresa waved goodbye. As they pulled away, the crowd swarmed around Hattie. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, she felt a shiver of anticipation. Will was somewhere nearby, and she would get to see him.

  Hattie tried to search for Will before the show began, but he wasn’t by the tents where she’d first met him. She remembered Tom’s advice to be careful, so she looked on her own instead of asking if anyone had seen Will.

  She circled the fairgrounds twice before she decided to take her seat in the pavilion. As she waited for the show to begin, she wondered what Will was doing to prepare for the show. She imagined him practicing in the meadow beyond the fairground or giving his horse a treat.

  A few minutes later, the announcer interrupted Hattie’s thoughts as he officially began the show. Hattie held her breath as she waited until Will appeared in the arena, riding the same horse he had in the previous show she’d seen. Each time he took center stage, Hattie was even more impressed with his skills and showmanship.

  Hattie knew she wasn’t alone because again, the crowd seemed to cheer extra loudly for Will. She wasn’t sure if it was his determination, agility, or balance that made them root for him more than any of the other cowboys.

  Although Hattie enjoyed the show, she also couldn’t wait for it to be over because that meant a chance to speak to Will. Her heart sank as she realized that she didn’t have good news to share with him. She wondered how he would take her answer.

  Watching Will expertly handle his events made Hattie reconsider her decision. She didn’t want to leave her family, but she felt alive and excited when she was with Will. She didn’t want those feelings to go away.

  Finally, the Wild West show ended with a grand finale where Will and a few other riders formed a human pyramid on horseback. Hattie couldn’t believe how strong Will was. As the audience erupted into applause, Hattie watched Will bow and wave over and over again to the crowd. After the show, Hattie remained in her seat while the rest of the audience exited the pavilion. Once the crowd had dispersed, Hattie scrambled out of her seat to find Will. She peered up at the large clock posted on the wall of the pavilion. It was nearly ten o’clock.

  Sure enough, Will stood outside of the tents where she had first met him, his hand in his pocket. Hattie was grateful for the lampposts that cast beams of light onto the ground so she could see.

  “Hattie!” Will cried, clearly excited to see her.

  “Hi, Will,” Hattie said shyly. She suddenly felt nervous and unsure.

  Will took his hand out of his pocket and took one of her hands, drawing Hattie closer to him.

  Hattie smiled up at him.

  “I could get used to this,” Will murmured into Hattie’s sweet-smelling hair.

  “Me too.” The words escaped Hattie’s mouth before she realized she was speaking out loud. She took a step back. “Will, I need to tell you something.”

  Will frowned and looked at the ground. “This can’t be a good sign.”

  Hattie took a deep breath, mustering all of her courage. “I’m flattered by your proposal. I really am. You’re very talented, and I can tell you’re a good man.”

  Will grinned. “I
f I’m such a good man, why do I get the sense you’re going to turn down my proposal?”

  Hattie felt awful, but she knew she had to continue. “My family is here in Nowhere. My job, my parents, my sisters—my entire life is in Nowhere. I couldn’t leave them.”

  Will nodded. “I understand. I just hoped it would be different.”

  “Me too,” Hattie said in a small voice. Even though she was standing next to Will, she had never felt so alone. “I suppose I should go now.”

  Will’s expression was hard to read. “I suppose you should.”

  Hattie turned to walk toward the entrance of the fairgrounds, where Tom had said he would pick her up. Before she could take a step, Will grabbed her wrist and spun her around.

  He dipped Hattie backward so far that she thought she might fall, but he kept a steady grip on her and leaned close, whispering in her ear. “Is there anything I can do to change your mind?”

  Hattie gasped for air. Her stomach felt like it was doing flips. Will was so close that their noses were practically touching. She couldn’t think of a single thing to say.

  Before she could react, Will pressed his lips against hers, probing passionately. Hattie had never been kissed on the lips before and found that she quite enjoyed the sensation. She pressed her lips right back against his and felt herself melting into the ground.

  After a few moments, Hattie pulled herself backward. “I should go.” Hattie rushed toward the exit, her thoughts a jumbled mess.

  “Wait!” Will called as she hurried away.

  Hattie spun around. “What?”

  “Give me one more chance. I’ll meet you behind your house tomorrow at midnight. Be ready for me.” Will winked at Hattie, and she felt her stomach begin to tumble again.

  “How do you know where I live?” Hattie knew she hadn’t told Will where the Sanders’ home was located.

  Will smirked. “You’re one of the Sanders girls. Even us out-of-town folks know who you are.” His expression turned serious. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”