Romy got up and grabbed an empty chair from another table and set it at the end of the table to make room. The three brothers stood up in unison and Levi held his former chair for her as she took her seat between Levi and Daniel.
“Have you met my brothers, Miss Mabel, Daniel and Levi? The man on the end is Romy.”
She greeted each man as they were introduced.
“And the gentleman sitting next to Charlie is Morty.”
“Yes, I saw you at the party the other night, but you didn’t stay long enough for us to meet,” Mabel said smiling at Morty.
Morty didn’t know what to say. It had been years since he needed to make conversation with a nice girl and a beautiful fire-headed maiden at that. “Aye, I didn’t stay long.”
“It’s a shame you could not have stayed longer. There weren’t enough men to dance with. I had my hopes up when I saw the pair of you walk in.”
“It’s probably just as well. I probably would have stomped on your feet and you’d be cursin’ my very existence today.”
Mabel covered her mouth as she laughed aloud.
“Morty!” Charlie chided. “Miss Mabel is not the sort of lady who curses.”
“She would be after dancing with me.”
Everyone laughed including Jaxon. Charlie elbowed Jaxon softly and gave him a knowing look.
“Oh, I just remembered,” Jax said suddenly. “I have important business to attend to this afternoon. Morty can you escort Charlie to her fitting.”
“Me?”
“Aye. Just walk her there and walk her home afterwards. There a chair in the shop where you can sit while you wait. You are coming home now that we found you a captain, aren’t you?”
“She hasn’t hired me yet, Jax.”
Jax and Daniel looked expectantly at Charlie.
“Aye, you’re hired, Captain Bloodworthy.”
“Oh my,” Mabel said. “Two Captain Bloodworthys. Congratulation Captain.”
Daniel flashed his dimples. “It sounds so much better connected to my name, wouldn’t you say?”
Jaxon just shook his head.
33
Morty felt like a first class fool sitting in the tiny chair inside the cramped dress shop and decided to step outside to smoke his pipe. He had looked at all the frilly dresses and whatnots as long as he could.
“Charlie, I’m going to wait for you outside.”
“I’m sorry it’s taking so long,” Mabel said from behind the curtain. “It’s just that a wedding dress has to be perfect. Miss Charlie’s daughters and granddaughters might want to wear it someday.”
“We’ll be done soon, Morty. Go stretch your legs.”
As soon as they heard the door close Mabel peeked out the curtain to make sure he was outside. “Oh, my heavens,” Mabel said. “He certainly looks strong.”
Charlie smiled. She had hoped what she glimpsed at lunch was an attraction between Mabel and Morty. “He is. He’s a hard worker, too.”
“Is he married?”
Outside, Morty smoked his pipe as sat leaning against a post. He had been there forever and was bored beyond belief. He had never thought he would be happy to see Jaxon Bloodworthy.
“Have you come to walk Charlie home?”
“Aye.”
Morty’s shoulders slump. He had waited all afternoon and he wasn’t even going to get to walk her home.
Jaxon pulled the watch out of his pocket and checked the time. “It’s nearly closing time. Maybe you should walk Miss Mabel home tonight. It’s going to be dark in no time.”
“She wouldn’t want a rube like me to walk her home.”
Jaxon sat down on the step beside Morty and spoke facing the street. “Why wouldn’t she? I trust Charlie’s judgment that you’re a decent fellow and I bet Mabel would feel very safe with you to protect her.”
“But she doesn’t know me.”
“If she doesn’t want you to walk her home, she’ll decline the offer. But I think you made an impression on her when she saw you at the party. I mean, you left nearly as soon as you got there, but she was hoping to dance with you.”
“She said there weren’t enough men there to dance with.”
“Good God, man, you are really fighting this. The woman obviously found you pleasing,” Jaxon said with a grin.
“She did?”
“Aye. Didn’t you find her pleasing as well?”
“I’m a man, aren’t I?”
Jaxon chuckled. He had to acknowledge Morty had way of turning a phase that could make anyone laugh. If circumstances were different, he would find Morty likable.
“The worst that can happen is she can say no. You’re man enough to handle that, aren’t you?”