A Country Affair(86)

Kate wasn’t about to answer that. “You know, I suspect this whole thing is illegal. Each and every one of you should thank your lucky stars I don’t call the sheriff.”

“He’s betting himself—on March. Said his own wedding anniversary is March tenth and he thinks Luke will be able to persuade you early in the spring. According to Fred, the sheriff figures that once Luke gets you to agree, he won’t wait around for a big wedding. He’ll want to marry you before you can change your mind.”

Kate sent her a furious look. “If you’re telling me this to amuse me, you’ve failed miserably.”

“I’m sorry, Kate, I really am. The only reason I went into the feed store was so I could assure you the whole betting thing was over, but I can’t and—”

“Instead you placed a bet of your own.”

“I feel guilty about that,” Linda admitted, her voice subdued.

“Why don’t we both forget it and concentrate on the Thanksgiving play?” Instead of upsetting herself with more talk of this wedding lottery, Kate preferred to do something constructive with her time.

“I might be able to make it up to you, though,” Linda murmured, fussing with the cuffs of her long-sleeved blouse.

“Whatever it is will have to be good.”

“It is.” Linda brightened and pulled a slip of paper from her purse. “I got this information from a friend of a friend, so I can’t confirm how accurate it is, but I think it’s pretty much for sure.”

“What’s for sure?” she asked when Linda handed her the paper. A local phone number was carefully printed on it.

Linda’s sheepish look departed. “It’s Mrs. Jackson’s number—she’s the manager of the apartment complex on Spruce Street. They may have a vacancy coming up next week. If you’re the first one to apply, you might have a decent chance of getting it.”

“Oh, Linda, that’s great!”

“Am I forgiven?”

Kate laughed. “This makes up for a multitude of sins.”

“I was counting on that.”

Kate called five times before she got through. Mrs. Jackson seemed surprised to be hearing from her.

“I thought you were marrying that Rivers chap,” the elderly woman said. “Can’t understand why you’d want to rent an apartment when you’re engaged to that man. The whole town says it’s just a matter of time.”

“Mrs. Jackson,” Kate said loudly, because everyone knew the old woman was hard of hearing, “could I look at the apartment soon?”

“Won’t be cleaned up for another day or two. I’ll let you know once it’s ready to be shown, but I can’t help feeling it’s a waste of time. Don’t know what’s wrong with you young women these days. In my day, we’d snap up a good man like Luke Rivers so fast it’d make your head spin.”

“I’d still like to see the apartment,” Kate said.

“Saturday, I guess. Yes, Saturday. Why don’t you plan to come over then? I’ll need a deposit if you decide to take the place.”

“Will a check be all right?”

“Good as gold when it’s got your name on it,” Mrs. Jackson said, chuckling. “Don’t suppose you have any season or month you’re particularly partial to for weddings, would you?”

“No, I can’t say I do.”

“Well, me and Ethel Martin think you and that Rivers fellow will tie the knot in April. April seems a mighty nice month for a country wedding.”

“I’m sure it is,” Kate said, clenching her teeth.

“Good. Now listen, soon as the word gets out, someone else’ll be wanting that apartment, so if you aren’t here by noon Saturday, I’m going to have to give it to whoever shows up. You understand?”

“I’ll be there before noon.”

“See you then.”

“Goodbye, Mrs. Jackson.”

“You keep thinking about April, you hear?”

“Yes, I will,” Kate murmured, rolling her eyes as she replaced the receiver.

That night, Luke stopped in shortly after Kate had finished dinner, which consisted of a sandwich eaten while she emptied the living-room bookcases. She filled box after box with books, her own and her father’s, as well as complete sets of Dickens, Thackeray and George Eliot that had belonged to her mother. The physical activity gave her time to think. She’d realized the night she had dinner at the Franklins’ that she wasn’t in love with Clay. That same evening, Kate had also realized how much Luke had done for her in the weeks following her broken engagement. It troubled her to acknowledge how unappreciative she’d been of his support.

At Clay’s wedding, she’d only added to the problem by asking Luke to marry her. He’d been willing to comply, willing to continue taking care of her through these difficult emotional times. In his own way, he did love her; Kate didn’t question that. But he seemed far more concerned with protecting her from the harsh realities of life.

All the talk about weddings had brought the subject to the forefront of Kate’s mind. She tried to picture what her life would be like if she were to marry Luke. From the night of Clay’s wedding, Luke had been telling her she was in love with him. It came as a shock to realize how right he was. She did love him, a thousand times more than she’d ever dreamed.