Free Walker's Wedding by Lori Copeland

cleaned for the McKays all these years. I don’t know why all of a sudden things need changin’.” Flo sidestepped as Sarah eased past, clutching a broom and a dustpan. “I dust the parlor every morning, but with the extra work lately, getting ready for the wedding, I hadn’t had time—”
    â€œOh, Flo, I don’t want to interfere. I know you’ve kept this home forever, but it’s my home now, and I’d feel dreadful having you do all the work.” She swatted an imaginary dust bunny. “Really, don’t you think the chair would look better over here?” She stood by the side window. “We can go into town and look for material for new drapes. Then we could change out the lamps—”
    â€œWhoa! Walker’s a generous man, but he likes his home the way it is.”
    Sarah frowned. “But the drapes are faded—and those old lamps are outdated.” She didn’t understand Walker’s modest lifestyle when he apparently had all the resources he’d ever need, not to mention herwealth—which he didn’t know about yet. How much could a new pair of drapes and a new lamp cost?
    Flo dropped into the chair in question—a large brown leather monstrosity positioned in front of the fireplace. Sarah knew it was Walker’s favorite because he sat in it every evening to read.
    â€œWalker likes the drapes—and his mother bought his father this chair for a wedding present. Walker’s happy with the way things are, young’un. He won’t want you to change anything.”
    Sarah cocked her head. “Papa says the house is a woman’s domain.”
    â€œWalker ain’t Papa.”
    Sarah couldn’t understand why Flo was being so stubborn about moving a silly old chair a few feet across the room. The more she tried to help, the more Flo vetoed her ideas. How was she supposed to be a good wife if she wasn’t allowed to do anything? Sarah stared at the chair, determined. It didn’t look right where it sat. The light was better by the window.
    â€œFlo, I’ll take full responsibility for moving the chair. If Walker notices and says anything, we’ll move it back, but I don’t think he will, because it’ll look ever so much better over here. He’ll be so glad for the change that he won’t mind that it’s not in its normal place.” Sarah touched the worn leather lovingly. “Men don’t care about furniture.”
    Once, Wadsy had rearranged the whole parlor and Papa hadn’t noticed for weeks. Of course, he’d looked a little cross when she lit in on his study.
    Flo snorted, crossing her arms. “Walker’ll notice.”
    â€œYou can tell a lady by the mark she leaves on her home.” Sarah began pushing against the back of the chair with Flo still in it. “Now…please…help…me…move…this.”
    Flo got up. “Move it, then. But you’ll have to do it yourself. I’ll have nothing to do with it.” Muttering something Sarah couldn’t make out, the housekeeper left the room, confiscating the broom and dustpan along the way.
    With a newfound resolve, Sarah shoved the chair to its new place by the window. After several tries at pushing and pulling and coaxing, she got it where she wanted it. Then she lugged a table from the oppositeside of the room and placed it just so next to the chair for Walker to set his coffee cup on.
    â€œFresh-cut flowers this summer,” she murmured, “and it’s perfect.” She stood back, assessing the newly arranged room with a satisfied smile.
    The rest of the day she scurried about the house, polishing, adjusting, and putting her touches on Walker’s home. Flo had barricaded herself in the kitchen so Sarah couldn’t consult her about further domestic possibilities. There were so many things she could do to convert this house from a bachelor’s hideaway to a family