“Diva XIV”

Naturally, Auntie disapproved. “What kind of church encourages dancin’?”

“I reckon one wantin’ to attract the younger folk,” Uncle Fred replied from behind the Gazette.

Ellie bit her lip at the sour expression on Auntie’s face. It wouldn’t do to laugh when the old lady was hemming her new dress. Already suspicious of Alfred’s motives, she was liable to put a stop to the rest of the summer if her niece disrespected her opinion. “Jesus is our chaperone,” she said instead, quoting the pastor who acted as the Lord’s proxy at the church dances.

The newspaper spoke again. “You’d think the Almighty’d have somethin’ better to do than mind a bunch of kids havin’ fun.”

“The Almighty don’t believe in anybody havin’ fun,” Auntie shot back. She put out her open palm. “Give another pin, Ellie.”

Ellie obliged from the pincushion clutched in her hand. “I really appreciate you sewin’ me this dress, Auntie.”

“It was supposed to be for Sundays.”

“I know.”

Uncle Fred, who had taken a shine to Ellie’s new beau because they shared a Christian name, put down his paper with a crack. “Vi, leave the girl alone. Lord knows there ain’t no fun in her doin’ chores from dawn ’til dusk. Besides, I’ve talked with Ike Rudd. The boy comes highly recommended—better than any of those other scraps who came sniffin’ around once word got out of a new girl in town.”

“Hmph,” Auntie grumbled.

Ellie flashed a grateful smile at Uncle Fred. He seemed to understand her struggle, relocating from the city to the farm after her first year of junior high. Now she was schooled in the community hall with a bunch of other kids as diverse in age as they were in their learning. She was helping the younger ones with their ABCs when, back home in Beaumont, her one goal had been aiming to be the homecoming queen in her senior year.

Alfred sometimes tested her on their outings together. He was smart (“Then why is he settlin’ to be a cowboy?” Auntie had groused) and recalled his lessons better than Ellie did. Still, she’d impressed him with her grasp of grammar and history almost as much as she’d impressed him with her kisses. He wouldn’t take advantage of her, though. No, sir. Ma Baynor had raised a gentleman, and though he turned Ellie’s knees to toffee, he never let her fall.

It was a little disappointing.