"Yes, Dear"
Posted June 7, 2021 / Jacob Lutz
"Well now, you find yourself the head of the household don't you? Plus in less than a year you will be a father. I'm sure it's a lot to take in. "
“Yes, Sir.” Nodded Jacob. He did, he would be, it was. "I try to be stoic, Sir."
"So what are your immediate plans then? I mean after today, the wedding night of course. Where are you two going to live? I know the hotel is a bit high priced. Even a boarding house costs money and some places don't accept married couples."
Jacob wrinkled his nose. He wanted to talk to Clara about everything first, but felt as his new father in law, he should show deference and tell Aurelian his plans, such as they were.
“Well, I haven’t told her yet, so I would appreciate your confidence: but Clara seems set on living above the Lick Skillet. But I don’t think that’s too good an idea, not for too long anyways.” He didn’t explain why.
"And then there is income. It is the duty of a husband to support the wife, later child. Clara has a job and she told me she can keep it, Mrs. Pike assured her. But what about you, son?"
“Yeah, about that…” Jacob looked over to where Mr and Mrs Pike were dancing. He shook his head. “I don’t want Clara slaving away in that café on her own just to feather the Deputy’s nest. I mean, Mrs Blakesley’s done a lot for Clara, and Clara idolises her, but, well, as soon as I can properly arrange it, we’ll want to set up somewhere on our own: so all our hard work supports us and the baby, not someone else.” He said quite firmly. “I think if we play our cards right, we can get the White Rose.”
Posted June 7, 2021 / Clara Redmond Lutz
Clara's attempt to engage in a back and forth conversation with the Wigfall girl was answered with the bare minimum. Chatty she was not. Bridget now spoke up again.
“Clara is … beau-ti-ful.”
Jemima agreed without enthusiasm, in fact it almost rang of sarcasm but Clara was not about to be bothered either way. Looks were overrated.
"Well, thank you Bridget but there is a saying. Beauty is only skin deep. Looks are not as important as to how we comport ourselves, how we treat each other," Clara deflected the praise.
Bridget then gushed about friends to which Jemima agreed. So Clara nodded too, "Certainly, friends."
Posted June 7, 2021 / Aurelian Redmond
“Well, I haven’t told her yet, so I would appreciate your confidence: but Clara seems set on living above the Lick Skillet. But I don’t think that’s too good an idea, not for too long anyways.”
Aurelian did not know that, though obviously he was well aware how much Clara doted on Mrs. Pike, he himself agreed, Emeline was a fine lady who had been so kind to his daughter. But he said nothing, including not asking why the young man felt that way. He then brought up support and jobs.
“Yeah, about that…” Jacob looked over to where Mr and Mrs Pike were dancing. “I don’t want Clara slaving away in that café on her own just to feather the Deputy’s nest. I mean, Mrs Blakesley’s done a lot for Clara, and Clara idolizes her, but, well, as soon as I can properly arrange it, we’ll want to set up somewhere on our own: so all our hard work supports us and the baby, not someone else.” He said quite firmly. “I think if we play our cards right, we can get the White Rose.”
"The White Rose? You want Clara to then be part of competition with Mrs. Pike? And Clara has heard about this idea of yours and is on board with it?" Aurelian would be amazed if that were the case.
"Sounds like Clara would have to do the vast majority of the work there. And what exactly would you do? Do you cook and ....well, you are a farmer but how much do you know about running a cafe and boarding house? Besides it will take money to buy the place, money I doubt highly you have. And frankly I would not count on the bank extending a young fella like yourself a loan. No offense, it's all about your age...your youth."
He shook his head, "You better run all this by Clara. You know that?"
"Yes, Dear"
Posted June 8, 2021 / Jacob Lutz
"The White Rose? You want Clara to then be part of competition with Mrs. Pike? And Clara has heard about this idea of yours and is on board with it?" Aurelian would be amazed if that were the case.
Jacob shook his head. “No, Sir. I won’t bring it up until I know it’s a real go.” He said quite calmly. “Like I say, I appreciate your confidence in these matters.”
"Sounds like Clara would have to do the vast majority of the work there. And what exactly would you do? Do you cook and ....well, you are a farmer but how much do you know about running a cafe and boarding house? Besides it will take money to buy the place, money I doubt highly you have. And frankly I would not count on the bank extending a young fella like yourself a loan. No offense, it's all about your age...your youth."
Jacob didn’t rush to refute any of these points, in fact he rather did the opposite: listened and nodded, grateful for the advice and the hard facts that Aurelian was pointing out. “I’m going to have to think about all those things, Sir. Thank you, Mr. Redmond, I don’t think you maybe realise just how very grateful I am for any good advice from anyone right now. I don’t really have anyone, any man I can talk to frankly about such business matters, you understand.”
He looked at Aurelian. Funny, they were the same height. He’d always imagined Clara’s father taller than himself, even when they had been as close as this yesterday in the church.
He shook his head, "You better run all this by Clara. You know that?"
Again, Jacob nodded that same lugubrious but thoughtful nod.
“Of course, by and by. Clara’s sensible, she’ll see what’s best, once it’s all been sorted and settled, but right now, well, I guess women don’t always see things the same way as we men do. She’ll put her loyalty to, say, Mrs Pike before, well, where her loyalty’s got to be from now on.” He opined, flicking a glance to Aurelian.
“You see Mister Redmond, Sir, I realised something yesterday when we were in that church.” He looked around at all the different people in the yard in front of the homestead. “All my life I’ve tried to please everyone: Granny there, my sister, the teacher, the kids at school, my late Pa and Ma, God Bless her… but like Mr. Lincoln said, you can’t please all of the people all of the time. From now on my whole life is going to be dedicated to doing what’s best for Clara, and the baby, and any of our babies after that. I hope that don’t mean walking over other people: I know the value of friends, real friends…” his eyes flicked over to Clara … or Jemima, the two were talking close together … “… but Clara is the one. She won’t slave away for others. Oh, she’ll work: she’s a body that has to work, that’s in her nature, but she’ll be working for herself and for her kids.”
"THERE'S SOMEBODY AT THE DOOR!!!"
Posted June 8, 2021 / Jemima Wigfall
"Well, thank you Bridget but there is a saying. Beauty is only skin deep. Looks are not as important as to how we comport ourselves, how we treat each other," Clara deflected the praise.
How we comport ourselves! Jemima bit her lip. And as for all that cant about beauty being skin deep! She wondered how the skin-deep beautiful Clara would feel if she woke up tomorrow with her unprepossessing face and unattractive body on, instead of her own. Probably not so philosophical then.
Bridget then gushed about friends to which Jemima agreed. So Clara nodded too, "Certainly, friends."
“Where you stayin’ tonight?” Jemima asked Clara, in her usual rough way. “Where you and Jake comporting yourselves to?”
Posted June 9, 2021 / Aurelian Redmond
The boy was truly misjudging Clara's intensity of feelings for Emeline and her fierce loyalty too. He tried to tell him. If it sounded critical, well then so be it, but Aurelian was trying to be an honest advisor, he wanted the marriage to succeed afterall.
“Like I say, I appreciate your confidence in these matters," Jacob reiterated.
"I will say nothing of this to Clara, you have my word," Aurelian meant to keep it too.
He then heard him out as the young man (just barely) gave his views on a few subjects. But then when Jacob paused, Aurelian did jump in with his own take on the matters at hand.
"It's all good sentiment. And I like how you put Clara and your future child front and center. But can I just interject something here. I think you have the wrong sentiment about working for others. Most people in this world labor for someone else. There is nothing fundamentally wrong in doing so. Now take Clara, she loves working at the Lick Skillet, she loves what she does - the cooking, baking - she has always been a wonderful baker - and she loves the company and guidance Emeline gives her. Haven't you seen it in her? How happy Clara is there? You seem to see it as some sort of slavery. You're just plain wrong. Plus on the practical side, she has been paid wages. And you two can use all the money you can get. Don't forget that. And don't be so quick to cast that aside either."
He realized that was quite a speech so he stopped then and put one hand on the lad's bony shoulder.
"I'm on your side, Jacob, I really am. You can always come to me," he assured him.
Posted June 9, 2021 / Clara Redmond Lutz
Bridget then gushed about friends to which Jemima agreed. So Clara nodded too, "Certainly, friends."
“Where you stayin’ tonight?” Jemima asked Clara, in her usual rough way. “Where you and Jake comporting yourselves to?”
Actually excellent questions really, this whole thing had been pulled off so rapidly the young couple had literally not even discussed any post-wedding plans. However Clara thought it was rather impertinent of the girl to bring it up so bluntly.
"We have....well, such things are still in flux. It is really our affair, Miss Wigfall."
Suddenly she wasn't even sure she liked the way Jemima called her husband 'Jake' but she tamped down such foolishness immediately.
"Well, Bridget, we will be cutting the wedding cake soon. You will not want to miss getting a slice, Mrs. Pike baked it and did a magnificent job decorating it too," she turned her attention back to the much more likeable ginger girl.
"Yes, Dear"
Posted June 9, 2021 / Jacob Lutz
"I will say nothing of this to Clara, you have my word," Aurelian meant to keep it too.
Jacob looked at Aurelian.
“You’re the only other person who cares about Clara as much as I do, it’s good to be able to get your honest opinion on my ideas.” He said seriously, almost gravely. He truly felt his responsibility to her heavily.
"It's all good sentiment. And I like how you put Clara and your future child front and center. But can I just interject something here. I think you have the wrong sentiment about working for others. Most people in this world labor for someone else. There is nothing fundamentally wrong in doing so. Now take Clara, she loves working at the Lick Skillet, she loves what she does - the cooking, baking - she has always been a wonderful baker - and she loves the company and guidance Emeline gives her. Haven't you seen it in her? How happy Clara is there? You seem to see it as some sort of slavery. You're just plain wrong. Plus on the practical side, she has been paid wages. And you two can use all the money you can get. Don't forget that. And don't be so quick to cast that aside either."
He realized that was quite a speech so he stopped then and put one hand on the lad's bony shoulder.
Jacob stared at Pike and Mrs Pike dancing for the longest time.
“That’s now.” He said simply. “What about a year’s time? A year of taking orders from afar. A year of seeing someone only when they ride into town to pick up all the money you’ve made for them? See, Mr Redmond, I try not to just think about what’s happening now. Now’s where I start, but I try and think about the future. In a year’s time… why, come September I’ll own the farm, ‘Granny’s Farm’. We could just run that but…” he shook his head “… that’d just be standing still. The town’s moving, I want to move with it.”
He looked at Aurelian again.
“It’s not all fully formed as a plan, Sir, I’m still looking, and listening: it would mean a lot if I could get your advice in future: as I feel my way forward.” He frowned.
"I'm on your side, Jacob, I really am. You can always come to me," he assured him.
The lad finally gave a soft, lazy smile, and glanced at his new father-in-law in a slightly more relaxed manner.
“My Pa used to give me advice, and I didn’t like a lot of it. He used to say: das ist immer der beste Rat ... that’s‚ that’s the useful kind“.