Free Daughters of the Heart by Caryl Mcadoo

Elijah’s planter, while the girls did everything short of waving their hankies to be noticed.
    Braxton offered the least to the male conversation and took every opportunity to make eyes at both Gwendolyn and Cecelia, but only the debutante seemed interested in the timber buyer.
    Obviously, CeCe only hankered after Mister Eversole, who had lost himself in his mechanical intricacies. Even after dishes, the discussion continued in the parlor over coffee.
    Seemed almost forever, but May finally had him all to herself in the library. She slipped into his chair and looked to the wingback.
    He did as she wanted. “Did I see Gwen taking Crockett upstairs?”
    “Yes, sir. She’s going to be such a good mother, but then they all will. I don’t know how you did it Henry—all by yourself.”
    “Oh, I had Rebecca and Jewel, and you’ve made a huge difference. So, I thought….” A bit of mirth mixed with a bemused expression ended in a big grin. “You ready for bed then?”
    Figuring it best to tell him now instead of later, she inhaled. The deep breath offered cleansing, fresh encouragement. “Yes, sir, but first, we need to talk.”
    His lips turned down. “Can’t it wait?”
    “How I wish it could.” She grinned. “Bonnie wants me to talk you into lowering the courting age to fifteen. Cited that little couple at church.”
    He closed his eyes and shook his head slowly back and forth. “What did you tell her?”
    “Had to bite my lip to keep from laughing, but in the end, I told her I’d be surprised if you allowed even six months—for Cecelia’s sake—much less three years.”
    “What did she say to that?”
    “Oh, that’s when she tried to use the Goldthwaite girl as an example of how being a child-bride can work out just fine.”
    “Did she mention the shotgun part?”
    “No, I’m certain she has no idea of that. Was pregnancy the reason she got married so young?”
    He nodded, then filled his lungs. “Should I talk with her?”
    “No, I don’t think that’s necessary. We can just let it run its course.”
    “What course?”
    His eyes always bade her to drink him in. Oh, how she loved him, but the man was so dense about matters of the heart. “It won’t be easy until they’re all grown and married. You know that, Henry. Don’t you, dear?”
    “Rebecca wasn’t this hard.”
    “That’s only because no other man met the mark you set in her eyes. Anyway, our dear Bonnie Claire thinks she’s in love with Elijah.”
    “What? How could she? He hasn’t done or said anything, has he?”
    “Not that I know of. Now before I tell you what I do know, I want you to promise me that you’ll sleep on any decision.”
    “So there’s more?” He scooted to the edge of the seat as if at the ready to spring into action. “If I need to shoot someone, I best be about it tonight.”
    She chuckled. “Just sit back, and please, promise me you’ll sleep on what I’m about to tell you.”
    For the longest, he didn’t move then finally eased deep into the chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “I can only promise I’ll try.”
    Though wanting more, she figured that might be all he could give before knowing. Hopefully, she’d made it into a mountain, and he would be relieved and consider it only a molehill once he heard the whole story.
    She cleared her throat. “Last night, Cecelia snuck into the attic and visited Elijah’s room.”
    He jumped to his feet and stuck out his hand. “Get my pistol. It’s in the middle drawer.”
    “I know perfectly well where it is. Sit back down. Nothing happened. Mister Eversole was the perfect gentleman and sent her packing, right back to her room.”
    He glared and remained standing, his hand still extended. “How do you know that?”
    “Well, Chester heard someone in the attic, then the thud when she dropped down. She didn’t stay more than two minutes before tiptoeing back through the attic then into her room again.”
    He pulled his hand back, but still