About twenty-three?â
âNow, Bud, donât you start in on her,â Aunt Thelma interrupted. âI was the same way when I was her age. We Ray women mature early, and not just in looks. She may only be fourteen, but she could give any eighteen-year-old a run for her money. Couldnât you, Susie?â
I managed a tight smile and excused myself from the table.
Cousin Mark, the boy just older than me, grinned and winked at me as I walked past him, and I fumed. I hated being treated like a child. I was grown up, whether Uncle Bud thought so or not. Hadnât God given me a revelation about whom to marry?
As I walked down the hall to my room, Uncle Bud was keeping it up. âYep, Vern, youâre going to have to oil up the old shotgun because of that little blond.â
âSpeaking of shotguns,â Dadâs deep voice boomed down the hall, âwe had a little run-in with a shotgun here about a month ago. I tell you, Bud, some of these LeBaron men think theyâre above the law.â
I propped my bedroom door open a bit so I could eavesdrop. Dad went on and on about Almaâs visit to Jay and just what he thought about the whole thing. As they talked, I fixed my hair where Uncle Bud had pulled it loose from the French twist. I had on my favorite pink dress, but as I examined myself in the mirror, I pulled it off and changed into the blue and gray dress with the full skirt because Jay had told me it matched my eyes. Also, I was afraid Verlan would recognize my pink one.
Dadâs voice carried well down the hall, and suddenly I heard him say, âYou know, Bud, those LeBaron men are all so different. But in some things theyâre like peas in a pod. Take Ervil now; just like Alma, Ervil thinks he can run peopleâs lives.â
Dadâs voice abruptly dropped in volume. Whatever else he was saying about Ervil LeBaron was being muffled. I hurried to the door and stuck my head out, but the conversation was being carried on in a whisper. I lingered for a moment, but Dadâs voice remained too low. Whatever he was discussing now was a secret, and it sounded like Dad was unhappy with Ervil again. Budâs oldest daughter was one of Ervilâs wives, and what was Dad doing ragging on Ervil to him? I wished I knew more about what was going on.
I closed the door and took one last look in the mirror. Today of all days I wanted to look my best. Staring back at me was a five-foot-five-inch young lady of medium build, with high cheekbones, a clear complexion, and big blue eyes fringed with dark, curly lashes and brown, even brows. Thick, ash-blond hair, pulled up in a mature style, definitely made me look eighteen. My dress was belted snug around my waist, and my bosom pushed hard at the fabric. I might not steal all the menâs hearts today, but there was one manâs heart that I hoped would at least skip a beat or two. I put just a dab of Momâs perfume behind my ears, picked up my Bible and Book of Mormon, and walked into the kitchen.
âAre you guys ready?â I called to Jay and Mark as they combed their hair at the mirror above the washstand by the back door. They certainly looked readyâa couple of lady-killers, all dolled up in their suits and ties. I whistled my admiration. Markâs hair curled long over his collar and glistened with blond highlights. Heâd inherited Aunt Thelmaâs perfect, white smile and Uncle Budâs hazel eyes, complete with the constant twinkle. He wasnât very tall, but his muscular body sported a golden tan.
Next to Mark, Jayâs serious persona seemed especially grave. He looked his best, with his dark brown hair all plastered down and his nicest clothes on, but his dark blue eyes were thoughtful and distant. I ached for him.
âI will certainly feel proud to walk to church with the two best-looking guys in town,â I declared, smiling brightly.
Jay grinned self-consciously. Taking my books, he
Landon Dixon, Giselle Renarde, Beverly Langland