RNWMP: Bride for Theodore (Mail Order Mounties)(34)

When she got downstairs half an hour later, it was with a much better attitude. She’d learn anything Miss Hazel was willing to teach her, and it appeared that this morning, she was going to learn to fry bacon and make pancakes.

As the other girls watched, JoAnn followed the recipe carefully, only needing to be prodded a few times. The first pancake was a mess, because she didn’t flip it quite right, but after Miss Hazel showed her once, JoAnn made the rest perfectly.

She served breakfast to her friends, along with a hot cup of coffee for each of them. When they didn’t make faces, she was proud of herself. JoAnn’s eyes met Miss Hazel’s. “Thank you for helping me.”

Miss Hazel nodded, her face filled with humor. “I’m glad you were willing to learn. It’s amazing what a person can do when they set their mind to it.”

After breakfast, JoAnn did the dishes with Evelyn. “You did a good job with the pancakes this morning. I was pretty impressed. I’ve been making pancakes for years, and yours were better than mine. I think it was the vanilla. Who’d have thought to put vanilla in pancakes?”

JoAnn shrugged. “I thought they turned out pretty well. Do you know that was the first meal I’ve ever made?”

“Seriously? Who cooked at home? Your mom didn’t make you help her in the kitchen?”

JoAnn laughed. “I’d be surprised if my mother knew how to find the kitchen. We always had cooks and maids. No one cared if I knew how to cook or clean or do anything. I taught school for a couple of years, but only because I wasn’t ready to look for a husband, and my mother gave me the choice of actively looking for a husband or getting a job. So I taught.”

“I’ve heard you play the piano at church. You’re really good. Did you have a lot of time to practice? I guess you did if you had maids and a cook.”

“I probably spent as much time practicing different instruments as you spent cooking and cleaning. It was my favorite thing, so it’s what I did.”

Evelyn studied her for a moment. “I’ve always wanted to learn to play an instrument. Or sing. Maybe you’d have time to teach me after we get out West.”

JoAnn shrugged. “Maybe. I have no idea what life will be like once we get there.”

“Isn’t your friend Jess the one who married Miss Hazel’s Teddy? Doesn’t she tell you about what it’s like?”

JoAnn laughed softly. “Jess is so in love with Theodore—and has been since she was a little girl—that she hasn’t mentioned anything other than how much she loves being married in her letters. She doesn’t talk about her day-to-day life at all.”

“Do you find that odd?” Evelyn asked.

“Not at all. If you knew Jess, you’d understand. She’s been in a little cloud where only she and Theodore were important for a whole lot of years. I’m glad she’s finally married to him, because she’ll start seeing his faults. I hope she will, at least. No one can be half as perfect as she has always thought Theodore was.”

Evelyn smiled. “I think it would be nice to be married to a man I thought was perfect. I hope the Mountie I marry lives up to the expectations I have in my head for a man. Although, I’m really not sure how he could. When I think of a Mountie, I think of a giant of a man who can do anything.”

JoAnn smiled. “And I picture my Mountie as a man with a guitar on his lap, singing to me while he plays.”

“Do you know if that’s true?”

“Yes, my Mountie does play the guitar and sing. Jess says he’s wonderful, but she thinks frogs make beautiful music. The girl can’t tell the difference between a instrument played in tune or out of tune. I think that’s one of the things I love most about her.”

“I bet you’re really excited to get to see her.”

“I am.” JoAnn shook her head. “I don’t think the two of us have spent this much time apart since we met the first day of school. I don’t know what Lisa will do without us.”

“Lisa? Is she the brunette girl you and Jess are always around? Is there something wrong with her arm?”

“Yes. She has cerebral palsy. Her arm works well somedays and not others. She says she’s fortunate to not be in a wheelchair.”

Evelyn frowned. “I guess that’s why she doesn’t get to go out to marry a Mountie like we do.”

JoAnn shook her head. “I don’t think that’s it at all. I think she could be a better wife than I could. Miss Hazel is just trying to match the personalities up.”

“I guess.” Evelyn finished drying the dishes without another word. Her mind was obviously lost on something, and JoAnn wasn’t sure if it was her friend, Lisa, or on her future.