Frontier Wife by Margaret Tanner

so smooth the grain of the wood still showed. She swallowed down a lump in her throat. How brave Mary and the other pioneer women were to live in such primitive surroundings. Could she do it?
    Over a cup of tea and a slice of cake, she regaled Mary with her exploits in the steeplechase.
    “Jim told me what happened. I don’t know how you dared.”
    When Tommy asked about the Commissioner’s pre Christmas ball, Mary said she had never attended, nor had anyone they knew. David’s supposition about the landed gentry proved correct. Although you didn’t have to purchase a ticket, no working class person would dare attend.
    “I don’t mind having Jamie, but surely you don’t mean to go?”
    “I’m going, if it’s the last thing I ever do. I have one good ball gown left that I intend wearing. And David can wear his uniform. He hasn’t officially been discharged from the army.”
    “I’d liketo be there just to see the looks on some of those highbrow, snobbish faces. Jim said David got wounded in some war in Africa.”
    “Yes he did, quite badly. We won’t stay the whole evening at the ball. A couple of hours will be long enough to set the ‘so-called gentry’ back on their heels.”
    When it came time to leave, they both agreed the hours had flown too quickly. Mary insisted on Jamie coming over on the Saturday afternoon and staying the night. They would drop him back on Sunday morning on their way to church.
    Tommy rode home feeling light-hearted, nothing like a girlish gossip to cheer a person up. She rode slowly. On this treeless, dusty plain, the sun bore down from the sky with such intensity it burned through her clothes. By the time she reached the treed area, her head ached and her throat felt parched and scratchy. Christmas had not yet arrived. January and February were supposed to be the hottest months out here. How could a mere mortal endure it?
    She longed for the cool evenings. A dark velvet sky pin-pricked with twinkling stars and the sounds of night animals always soothed her.
    ****
    The night of the ball arrived. Jim picked Jamie up on his way home from working at a neighboring property. Tommy couldn’t stop worrying. David knocked his leg while milking and now limped around looking pale and drawn.
    “We don't have to go if you don't feel well enough,” she told him for about the tenth time.
    “I'm all right, don't fuss. I'm looking forward to seeing Munro's face when we arrive.”
    They finished getting ready. Tommy, who had never been vain, knew she looked well tonight. Her blue silk gown had a bunched up skirt at the back so it fell into a slight train. Pleated frills, a shade darker in color, matched the low cut bodice. Around her shoulders she draped a white tulle cape, flecked with silver threads.
    “You look beautiful.” David limped into the parlor where she waited. The bright red of his jacket seemed to emphasize his fairness. He had spent an hour or more just cleaning and preparing his uniform. The white webbing stood out against his scarlet jacket.
    “Ready?” He took her arm as they made their way out to the buggy. She wanted to hire a fancy coach but knew they could not afford such extravagance.
    The Commissioner's residence, a two-storied house built of red brick on the outskirts of town, was only recently completed according to Mary, and with no expense spared. Dozens of carriages lined the driveway. David chose a spot a little away from the rest.
    “No one will see our magnificent chariot in the dark.” He gave a low chuckle.
    She put her arm through his, her gloved hand resting on the sleeve of his jacket as they made their way towards the verandah. All colonial houses seemed to have at least one verandah, some enclosed on all sides in an endeavor to beat the searing summer heat.
    The orchestra played what sounded like a waltz as they made their way to the door where a uniformed butler met them.
    “Your name please.”
    Tommy gave it to him, emphasizing David's rank.