He told him about her Pa picking the city flowers once and George laughed.
"What kind of folks did she have?"
"All I know is her mother died when she was still young, and her father was a drunk. But as she calls it, he was a happy drunk."
George chuckled, "A happy drunk? Hadn't heard that in a while."
"That's what she said. Said he wasn't a mean drunk, he was usually very happy, he just couldn't turn lose of the bottle. Obviously from the way she talked he was well liked in town."
"Well, however they were, they brought her up right."
"I agree. The one thing that bothers me is that she is always bringing up Priscilla, said she didn't want to forget that Priscilla was supposed to be my wife."
"What are you gonna do about that?"
Lance sighed. "I wanted to give Priscilla the opportunity to explain, to apologize and to come out here. I've realized one thing very clearly. I don't know her at all. And long-distance relationships don't work very well. Now, if she does come, she'll be mad about Trudy and I being married, that's for sure."
"It's hard to fall in love with someone you only know on paper, son. When Marty and Joe suggested a mail order wife for you I just wasn't at all sure it would work. You don't get the same feeling. Trudy is real, and easy to get to know. Priscilla is nothing but what is on paper, you don't even know if that is true."
Lance shook his head, "Maybe. But I did propose to her. I guess I owe her an explanation."
"You don't know how you feel about her, do you?"
"Nope. I thought I did. But I was wrong. I let everyone crowd me into proposing. Still, I owe her some consideration, since I did propose. I wouldn't intentionally hurt her."
"I understand you are being a gentleman, but you might as well face it, you are going to have to decide which lady you want, you know."
"I've decided, but it's just telling the other one that holds me back. I didn't set out to hurt anyone. I've found out that things don't always work out the way you plan it either."
"Yeah, that's how love works sometimes. Well, it's your life, Lance, and you gotta work it out your way. Of course, it would be a lot easier if you weren't a gentleman."
"Goodnight George, and thanks for the advice."
"Anytime boss."
Lance went to find Trudy out on the porch steps. "I wondered where you got to."
"Rusty helped me with the dishes and I got through pretty quickly." She told him.
"It was a good supper." He told her, coming to sit beside her on the porch. "Your dress looks pretty."
"Thank you. I like the colors in it. Kind of makes me happy looking at it." She bowed her head and reflected a moment. "When you work all the time, pretty dresses aren't important. You buy dull clothes because they are more practical than the beautiful ones, and they don't show dirt as easily. They hold up to hard work." She glanced at him again, her heart swelling as she stared at his profile. "I still don't know how to thank you for all of this. You know, my husband bought them for me." She laughed.
When you forget what to say, laugh!
Maybe she was daft, but she knew her Pa was still with her.
He smiled.
"Rusty is a nice little fella. He's pretty young, isn't he?"
"Yeah, he's been here about three years. He didn't want to go to school, so his dad kicked him out of the house and told him to go to work. So, he came to me for a job."
"He told me he had three sisters at home that constantly ribbed him about his girlfriend, and he was glad to be here."
"Debbie Taylor, yeah she's a local, he went to school with her for a while. She's the preacher's daughter."
"He's pretty serious about her, he said he's saved about five hundred dollars and he's going to keep saving until he has enough to buy a small spread and give her the home she deserves. You gotta like someone like that. He's not sitting idle and feeling sorry for himself. He's doing something about himself. I admire him for that, and to be so young, too."