Chapter 36

Violet marked items off her mental checklist.

The schoolhouse waited for the Christmas party, as decorated as a festive package ready to be unwrapped.

Tate had secured a room at Culpepper’s Boarding House. He and the sheriff planned to grab dinner and a drink later at the Five Star Saloon before turning in for the night. They had hit it off, which pleased Violet very much.

She still could hardly believe that Tate had survived the war, but it was true. And that he resided in Wylder, even temporarily, made it even better.

Now that their secrets were with the sheriff, Lin might remain safe. With any luck, the Christmas party would entice the murderers so the lawmen could grab them. And then she would be able to live her life without fear.

After a quiet midday meal, Violet could have taken a nap but there were still some details to be attended to before the holiday.

Lin had other ideas. “You sit. Time to rest now.” She had no shyness about using her growing English vocabulary.

“I will, I promise. But first I need to ask you for a favor.” She motioned for Lin to accompany her into her bedroom.

The largest piece of furniture in the house, a pine wardrobe, stood in one corner. Her modest collection of clothing didn’t begin to fill it but having extra storage space would prove beneficial as she accumulated possessions. It made her happy to have somewhere other than wall hooks to hang her clothes. So many homes didn’t have luxuries like this.

Frankly, it surprised her that a single man would build a piece of furniture like the wardrobe, but she had given up trying to figure out what motivated a man she had never met. Jasper Abraham would remain as much a mystery to her as the massive piece of furniture he had built for the home they would never share.

She opened the wardrobe door. Two of the dresses hanging inside were better suited to Charleston parties than the Wylder schoolroom. Plus, while they were lovely, they were both a bit snug now that she had finally put a few womanly curves onto her slender form.

They would look beautiful on Lin, though.

Almost the color of a fine port wine, the maroon dress had a matching shawl. The other, a sapphire blue, featured a fitted bodice. Looking at it reminded her of Tate Taylor’s eyes, but she shook the thought out of her mind as she placed the dresses on the bed.

“I know they aren’t royal or fit for a princess, but I believe you will make either look stunning. You need a dress for the Christmas party. I think we can make one of these over to fit you if you would like.”

Lin ran a slow hand over the full skirts of first the maroon dress, then the blue. She fingered the fabric and sighed. “So beautiful.”

Violet felt it right to add, “If you prefer, we can go to Lowery’s Dress Shop tomorrow to see if there is anything there that you might like better.”

The woman who already felt like a sister shook her head before she even finished speaking. So, apparently Lin’s comprehension skills were improving, too!

“No—no dress shop. Please, I like these. Very much.”

Lin reached out and gave her a gentle hug. She carefully avoided the bandaged arm, but the unexpected gesture gave Violet’s mood an enormous boost. She had been hiding it but being away from Charleston for Christmas had been making her exceedingly homesick. Lin’s loving act came at precisely the right moment.

“You may have them both. Which one would you like to wear Tuesday evening? We should see what alterations it needs, although I’m not sure I will be much help with that.” She held up the bandaged arm. Lin had been doing almost everything around the house. She helped Violet dress and undress, as well. “Do you sew, Lin? Is that a skill women learn in China?”

Lin considered the question for a moment before she grinned. Then, looking less like a princess and more like a mischievous child, she unbuttoned the shirtwaist Violet had given her to wear.

Lin pulled it open, revealing the white cotton undershirt Violet had purchased at the mercantile. No longer plain and unadorned, intricate black stitching turned the front into a wonderland. Lin had created a garden scene complete with a building, winding river, and flowers. Chinese characters danced up one side of the garment and lacy curlicues adorned the neckline.

Violet stared at the stunning needlework, overwhelmed by the beauty. Lin had brought her home to life.

“That is China, isn’t it?”

Lin buttoned the shirt. “Yes, is my home.”

“It is delightful, Lin. But tell me, where did you find the thread? I have a sewing basket with many colors of thread that you are welcome to use. Why did you choose black—is it symbolic in some way?”

She waited while Lin formulated her reply.

“No—no symbolic. I use thread from clothing I wore. Man’s clothing? I had needle in my bag.”

Lin had taken thread from the men’s garments she had worn to elude capture and death and had used it to create something beautiful.

“I fix this one?” Lin held the blue up to her body and did a little swaying motion. The skirt swished around her ankles, covering her feet, and showing that they would need to enlarge the hem.

“Princess, we will fix that one for you to wear on Tuesday.”

At her use of the title, Lin covered her face with the dress and dissolved into a fit of giggles. Violet joined her and for the first time all week, she felt that things were going to turn out well for both of them.