First Impressions

Chapter 1

        It is a truth acknowledged by most folks in my town, that a single man in possession of a steady ranch must be in want of a wife. This truth is pushed into existence by no other than my mother. Who can blame her with five unmarried women in her house and no son? This is the Wild West.

        "Mr. Everett," screeches my mother as she hustles into the storeroom. "My dear Mr. Everett, do you know what time of year it is?"

        My father replied that he did.

        "You must know what this means," she returns. "For Mrs. Palmer suggests that this year will bring more young gentlemen to our town. With the fire that happened last fall in the settlement some 50 miles away, we are the only town with access to the supplies the ranchers will need for the upcoming season."

        "Is that what she says?" My father said with a smirk. I glance over at him, the same smirk gracing my own face. We both know what mother will say next.

        "Why yes! You must know what this means for our daughters."

        "No, I do not, my dear. Please enlighten me how a fire in the next settlement over, affects our daughters, in any which way."

        My mother huffs at my father. For a moment, I believe that she has caught on to his games. That thought dashes from my mind with the next words uttered.

         "Papa," my youngest sister chimes in. "It means that we are to be married this summer. I can see it now! All these fine young men come into town right before the May Day dance. I meet one with bright blue eyes and hair the color of wheat, we dance the night away. He will become so in love with me that he asks for my hand in marriage and then he will whisks me away to his ranch before the week is out."

        "Minnie, clear that foolishness out of your mind this instant," scolds my father. "You are a child of 15, no man in his right mind wants to marry a child, nor will I let him. Since you have time to dream up these fantasies in your mind, you have time to reorganize the store's back pantry."

        "But Papa!"

         "No buts, Minnie. Now go start on your tasks, and you will not be helping any customers for the next few weeks in the store front."

        "Fine," huffs Minnie as she prances to the back, "but I still want to be able to visit my friends for tea tomorrow."

          My father rolls his eyes at the youngest of the sisters. An expression that is common amongst his features.

         "And my dear Mrs. Everett," my father turns to my mother. "You will stop filling our youngest daughters' heads with all of this nonsense. Effie and Minnie are too young to be out and too young to be anyone's wife. If you want to play matchmaker, please try to do it with our oldest two daughters. Rose and Ruth will be better suited for any of these fine young men coming to town, rather than a pair of silly girls."

          My mother doesn't say anything as she storms out of the storeroom and heads upstairs to our living quarters. She knows that she has little influence over our decision to settle down with a young man.

        "Papa," I spoke up for the first time since this conversation started.

        "Yes, my dear Ruth?"

        "I am going to the front to help Rose with any customers that come in today."

        Rose is the oldest of the five sisters, followed by me, Ethel, and then the twins Effie and Minnie coming up last. Rose's name fits her perfectly, as she inherited my mothers good looks. Straw colored hair and rosy red cheeks, her sweet temperament does well to run the tea parlor section of our shop. I take more after my father, with dark hair and a stern brow. My father named me Ruth and raised me to bargain with the shoppers who frequented our establishment when he realized he wouldn't have a son to teach. If it wasn't for our piercing green eyes that came from my father, it would be easy to discount Rose and I as sisters.

        It is a trait shared with all my sisters, despite how different we all are. Minnie takes after Rose, and Effie takes after me in the looks department. Ethel is the only one that stands out with her bright red hair and freckles. Mama constantly gets on her about wearing a hat and gloves when she goes outside so that she does not freckle any more. Already a shy girl growing up, this has pushed Ethel to take a bigger interest in reading and working in the back of the shop rather than socializing like the twins.

        "Good afternoon, Rose. How is the tea parlor today?" I question my sister when I walk into the room.

        "Mrs. Palmer and Mrs. Lytle just left after having tea with Mama."

        "Oh?"

         "I wish Mrs. Lytle wouldn't rally up her sister so much. She knows that Mama's greatest fear is not getting all of her daughters married before Papa passes. And she brings her 'dear' friend Mrs. Palmer along, knowing that Mrs. Palmer and her nieces are the biggest rivals to our 'future happiness' as mama claims. Sometimes I wish Mrs. Lytle had a daughter of her own to focus on."

        I blink in surprise at this statement. My sweet Rose must be at the end of her rope to have said such a thing. "I am thankful that you and I hold no animosity between us and I hope that will remain the case when we have our own children to worry about. Unless you turn into a vile, vain creature, I don't think I could ever wish ill upon you. Minnie, on the other hand, might turn into another Mrs. Lytle."

        "Ruth, do be serious," exclaims my sister, "and help me clean up the tea parlor. Effie decided to make the pastries for tomorrow's tea service, and I am worried she will over bake them like last time."

        "You mean burn it," I giggled.

        With a withered look from Rose, I got to helping her clear up the tea tables and ready them for tomorrow's service.