Michael! She had invited him to the supper and dance, and now Clarence would be there also. She told Clarence she wished to break the engagement. If he refused to accept that, it wasn’t her problem. Since she didn’t consider herself engaged to him any longer, she could certainly invite another man to a church supper.
****
Michael settled Heidi in the buggy and handed her the woolen blanket from the back seat. “Whatever you have in there certainly smells good.” He grinned at her.
She patted the box in her lap and regarded him, a slight smile on her full lips. “I won’t tell you what I fixed, you have to bid on it.”
“You’re a hard woman, Heidi Lester.” He winked as he snapped the reins, and the buggy started forward. The weather had cleared from the miserable rain the night before. Sunshine had melted any leftover ice, and dried up most of the puddles left behind. The sun dipped behind the horizon as they made their way down the street.
Lights from the church bathed the entire corner in brightness. Buggies lined the road, the horses swinging their heads, an occasional animal stamping a hoof in restlessness. Heidi hugged her supper box to her chest as Michael held her elbow to keep her from sliding on the red mud.
Once inside the warm church hall, he escorted Heidi to the table where dozens of boxes of all sizes sat. Each woman had drawn some sort of decoration on hers so the desired gentleman would know which box to bid on. Heidi had drawn a blue star on her contribution, and gone through a great deal of trouble to point out the design.
“Heidi.” Michael turned at the sound of Mrs. Lester calling to them. They made their way over to a table where Mr. and Mrs. Lester sat with another couple.
“Mr. and Mrs. Harris, this is our daughter, Heidi.” Heidi smiled at them, and turned to Michael. Before she could introduce him, Mrs. Harris addressed Michael.
“Michael, it’s a pleasure to see you here. I though you attended the Baptist church?”
“Hello, Mrs. Harris. Yes, I do, but Miss Lester is my employee, and she invited me this evening.”
“Your employee?” Mr. Harris said.
“My daughter is working for a short time until her marriage.” Mrs. Lester added quickly.
Mr. Harris beamed at them. “You’re getting married, Michael?”
“Oh, no.” Mrs. Lester’s face grew red. “Heidi is not engaged to Mr. Henderson.”
Two sets of confused eyes regarded Heidi’s mother. “I don’t understand,” Mrs. Harris said, looking back and forth between Heidi and her mother.
“I’m here.” The voice Michael hoped to never hear again spoke from behind him.
Clarence stepped up to the table. “I’m Clarence Manfred, and I’m Heidi’s fiancé.” He held out his hand to Mr. Harris, and then nodded at Mr. Lester. “Harold.”
Turning to Heidi, he took her hand, and kissed it. “My dear, so good to see you.”
All the blood rushed to Heidi’s face, and her eyes snapped. Michael pulled out a chair, and she sat, her mouth in a thin line. Something had upset her, obviously to do with Manfred. Michael took the seat next to her, and Clarence the one directly across.
“Ladies and gentlemen, if you would take your seats, we can begin the bidding for the supper boxes.” The shrill voice of a middle-aged woman, broke the strained silence at the table. She smiled a toothsome smile, her hair drawn back into a severe bun, with spectacles perched on her long, thin nose.
Her hand waved in the direction of the table laden with boxes. “We will hold up the various boxes, one at a time, and the gentlemen will bid on them. The winner gets the box, and the company of the charming woman who prepared it.” She smiled brightly at her audience, and waved her finger. “Now I hope you ladies haven’t told the gentlemen which box is yours.” Her eyes sparkled as she admonished the group, since no doubt that very thing happened every year. She stepped back as a man rose to begin the auction.
After about fifteen boxes had been sold, and placed in the hands of the winners, the auctioneer held Heidi’s box up.
“What am I bid for this supper?” The gentleman’s deep voiced boomed throughout the hall.
“Three dollars.” Michael shouted.
“Four.” Clarence glared at him.
Michael leaned forward, and held up his fingers. “Five.”
“Five dollars and fifty cents,” Clarence added.
“Six dollars.”
A gasp rose from the crowd. No supper had gone for more than two dollars and fifty cents. Heidi dropped her head in her hands and moaned.