Free Bluebonnet Belle by Lori Copeland Page B

Beulah. That’s what he is! A pigheaded, obstinate man! Doesn’t that say it all?”
    April was still fuming over Gray Fuller. The fact that she hadn’t let him get away with it didn’t help. The nerve of that man to expound about “modern medicine” at Lydia’s rallies, when so many doctors still inflicted their obsolete opinions on women! The fact galled her.
    â€œA most good-looking man,” Beulah mused. “But not good enough for you to nearly break the glass out of Papa’s front door.”
    â€œHandsome? I don’t think so.”
    â€œBetter have your eyes checked.”
    â€œNot all women are blinded by meaningless appearances,” April reminded her. “There are some of us who judge a man for his character, which, if you recall, Dr. Fuller is sadly lacking.”
    â€œDr. Fuller really gets under your skin, doesn’t he?” Beulah carefully counted out fifteen pills before taking a knife and scooping them into a bottle. “I don’t see what all the fuss is about. From what I can tell, the women in Dignity don’t take every word the doctor says as gospel. They seem open enough for alternative help to their problems. Mrs. Pinkham is garnering her share of their attention when it comes to health issues. Our laudanum sales have dropped off since she started selling her compound.”
    â€œMrs. Pinkham cares about women,” April said. “That’s why she’s so believable.”
    â€œBelievable? Well, I didn’t say that.” Beulah set aside a bottle. “I just hope she knows what she’s doing. I am, after all, taking my life into my own hands for you, you know. If Papa finds out I’m handing out Lydia Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound to customers, I’ll be lying in your grandpa’s parlor, surrounded by baskets of stinking gladioli.”
    Turning around, April sobered. “How is your father feeling? I haven’t seen him in the pharmacy this week.”
    â€œPapa has a frightful cold, and I made him stay home.”
    â€œI’m sorry. I’ll have Datha bake him one of her chocolate cakes. That should have him feeling better in no time.”
    â€œHe’d love that,” Beulah agreed.
    April’s eyes lit with interest as she edged closer to the counter. “Has anyone said how the compound is working?”
    â€œI haven’t had any complaints, but the women I’ve handed it to don’t know that’s what they’re taking. They think it’s a tonic. So…” her friend leaned closer “…are you going to stop?”
    â€œSelling the compound?”
    â€œIsn’t that what your grandfather told you to do? Stop working for Mrs. Pinkham immediately?”
    April frowned, hating the thought. “Yes…that’s what he said.”
    â€œAre you going to do it?”
    â€œI guess.”
    â€œApril,” Beulah said warningly, “are you going to quit selling it or not?”
    â€œSelling it, yes. Helping Mrs. Pinkham, no. I’m going to see if there isn’t something I can do to promote the compound without blatantly going against Grandpa’s wishes.” She couldn’t give up her cause. Grandpa might not believe in the tonic, but she did , and she had to help some way.
    â€œOh, brother,” Beulah groaned. “Knowing you, this means trouble.”
    â€œI can’t stop helping her now, not when Lydia is on the brink of success. Dan and Henry are at this very moment in Austin, trying to expand the market.”
    â€œWhen are they coming home?”
    â€œIn a couple of days,” April said with a sigh. “I miss him.”
    â€œDan?”
    She swatted her friend playfully. “You have no reverence at all for love.”
    â€œFor love I do. It’s infatuation I have no patience for. And I, simple-minded cretin that I am, can clearly see that what you feel for Henry is nothing more than