"I know you don't like me bringing Priscilla up, but I must know what to do if she shows up while you are gone. What do I tell her?"
He sighed, then stopped the buggy. He turned to look at her, "It's simple, tell her the truth. Tell her we got married."
Trudy stared, "You want me to tell her that?"
"It's the truth isn't it?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Then that's what you tell her."
"But don't you think you should let her know by mail first, instead of springing it on her like that? And don't you feel as though you owe her an explanation?"
"If she comes here unannounced, no. Did she let me know she wasn't coming that day at the train station? Did she apologize for not letting me know? No, she didn't. She wanted a big church wedding with all the trimmings, and everyone in the community there. Well, they were there, but she wasn't."
"Is that really worth fighting about? You ask her to marry."
He shot her a frown, "Maybe, maybe not. Are you my wife or not?"
"Y-yes."
"Then tell her the truth." He smiled and whipped the horses back on the road.
"But," she looked at him now, "Don't you care what she might think? Don't you think she'll be angry?"
"She'll be angry. Nothing we can do about that! Besides, if she'd been there that day, it never wou
ld have happened. So, it's partly her fault too."
"You're not giving her the benefit of the doubt?"
"If she has a side for me to listen to, I'll listen, but I am a bit put out with her right now. She hasn't even bothered with a letter of explanation. And her silence tells me there must be a reason for it."
They rode in complete silence after that and Trudy had so many questions to ask, but she kept silent. He seemed in a strange mood, and she didn't want to push him for answers right now.
When they got to the Mitchell's he helped her down and took her elbow and guided her to the front door.
Helen Mitchell answered the door, a woman of about forty-five with dark, graying hair and a ready smile. "Well I declare if it ain't Lance, and his new bride. Come on in here, I'm so proud you came."
"I didn't really take the time to introduce you to her at the church Helen, since she fainted dead away. Not used to the humidity." Lance chuckled.
"Land sakes, I'm so proud you brought her over here. I worried about her, but it was unusually hot that day and that dress, I never seen a dress so pretty."
"Where's your old man?"
"Out nursin' that old Buttercup, she's due any time now."
"I'll just go see him." Lance left her with Helen.
"Good, now he's gone, we can get to know each other. So, how do you like bein' a rancher's wife." Helen asked, as they went into the kitchen and she brought coffee to the table.
"I like it fine, ma'am."
"Don't you dare ma'am me, I'm Helen to everyone out here in the sticks."
Trudy chuckled, "Fine, and you call me Trudy then."
"Trudy, I thought you was Priscilla."