Page 43 of Soldier Cowboy
The words quieted the room with an uncomfortable stillness. Bonnie Lee wore a deer-in- headlights look. She was extremely protective of Colton, and even if she hadn’t already told Jennifer, she’d sense it in the way her lips narrowed as if she’d just been insulted herself.
“Magnolia, that’s not very kind. Cherisse had her head turned way too easily. That’s not love.” Bonnie shook her head. “Love is patient, love is kind. Love believes all things, endures all things. Sound familiar?”
“Sounds like Sean, a good man if there ever was one.” Beulah nodded and took a seat in the circle of chairs.
Some of the ladies clucked and nodded vigorously. “That’s right. Uh-huh.”
“It’s a good point,” Maybelle said, shaking a finger. “Poor Sean was lonely for years and almost made a mistake with that Robyn. There are certainly enough lonely and available men, and they’re bound to make a mistake choosing the wrong woman. Which is why we’ve been trying sohardto bring in some more women.”
“Bless your heart, so true, because then no one will have to fight over a single woman. Plenty for all to go around!” Beulah clapped her hands.
“You make it sound like it’s an adequatewatersupply, or enough flour for everyone. No matter how many women we get here, there is always going to be unrequited love. More than one man might love the same woman and vice versa. Someone always loves a little more than the other. Sadly, love isn’t a numbers equation, ladies.”
Magnolia pursed her lips. “Spoken from someone who met her match when she was sixteen.”
Jennifer found all this talk fascinating. She wished she’d brought her camera with her though Beulah looked like the kind of woman who wouldn’t allow photos as if they were in some clandestine meeting. Since she’d been in Texas, there were so many opportunities for good visuals. Even this room was a throwback to older days, with its pine wood cabinets, daisy- patterned wallpaper, and uncomfortable folding chairs.
Bonnie sat in the center of the circle like a queen bee. She was beautiful, a fact Jennifer had known when she watchedKavanaugh’s Way. But up close and personal, Bonnie’s beauty wasn’t in her alabaster skin, emerald eyes, and flaming red hair. A light seemed to shine from within her, a strong life force that radiated utter and serene contentment.
If only she could bottle it, Jennifer would buy it by the case. Recently she’d begun to realize a few things about her life so far. She thought she’d been happy with the podcast and all the listeners and fans she had accumulated, but she’d never beencontent.
It had always felt like there was something else to strive for, something new to reach for. What she’d had was never quite enough. Until Dan came along and blew up her life and career, she hadn’t fully realized all she’d had in the first place. Because it hadn’t ever felt likeenough, and now she had to wonder why.
Maybe she was far more her father’s daughter than she’d ever care to admit. To him, it seemed nothing was ever good enough. There was always another milestone to reach, another goal to slay.
A few minutes later, cookies and coffee had been passed out and Beulah started the meeting. She began by talking about the history of their group and Jennifer knew it must be for her benefit.
It turned out that the Society of Reasonable, Respectable Orderly Women (SORROW) was founded during World War II when women wanted to do something to help the war effort. They’d started by knitting baby blankets for expectant mothers and holding fundraisers to support widows.
The problem began when all the babies born that first year of the war were boys. Pink blankets went unused. Once the war was over and some of the more fortunate men returned, nine months later came more boys. And then more boys, with a lucky one or two girls in the mix born to amazed and grateful mothers.
Encouraged, and searching for another way to help, the first President of SORROW and the other founding members put together a primer:The Men of Stone Ridge. In it they described the loyal and hardworking cowboys who put family and faith first. They were determined to spread the word on how lucky the women of Stone Ridge were, with such handsome and plentiful men to choose from. And somehow, with promises of handsome cowboys and romance, lure women back into town.
Because it wasn’t simply the fact that fewer girls were born. Stone Ridge wasn’t exactly filled with modern conveniences much appreciated by the modern wife and mother. It was more, as Beulah carefully described it, “like a big man cave” and tended to chase some women straight out of town.
Before Winona had arrived, the ladies had plans to use theMen of Stone Ridgeprimer and start an email-order wife service. Sort of a pamphlet of “here’s all you’ll have to choose from.” A bit worrisome to say the least. But then the brainchild of both Beulah and Winona,Mr. Cowboy, was born and Sean Henderson chosen to be the handsome cowboy to lure women into town for a chance to be his wife.
“It was a bit of false advertising there,” Bonnie said. “Since you brought me to the contest to make up with Sean.”
Beulah waved her hand dismissively. “Well, now, I didn’t know for certain that you two would reconcile. I only hoped. And either way, I knew the women here would find another cowboy and stick around.”
“Tabitha was the only other one of the final four that stayed,” said a woman named Clementine.
“She’s relentless, that one.” Maybelle shook her head.
“But she’s a nurse, too, and we needed one for the new clinic,” Winona said.
“Colton and I met her, Angela, and Jessica when we went into Kerrville to go dress shopping.” Jennifer spoke up for the first time.
Magnolia’s hand covered her mouth, then lowered. “He went with you to shop for a dress?”
“For the wedding.” Jennifer glanced around at the looks of the shocked women. “He took me there. We…”
“Weknow,” Beulah said. “Don’t like to be away from each other for long.”
“And we went to get his tux, too,” Jennifer added, feeling the need to defend Colton.
“We have some women, too, who were eliminated before the final four and still moved here. Not to mention ones that saw the show,” Winona said, getting up to sway a fussy Mary in her arms. “They keep moving here. It’s like Alaska but hotter.”
