The Trust Chronicles: Molly Lovelace     

To Do List:  Change My Name and Move to a New Town

                        Burn Every Last One of Bailey’s Letters

                        Buy Chocolates for Myself

Dear Rosa,

If I weren’t in such a tizzy I’d apologize for writing on a page torn from my journal, but I’m too furious to be concerned with niceties.

Can you believe that man? Has he taken leave of his senses? I could feel the disapproval of the whole congregation as Bailey confessed his temptation…namely me…so I surely couldn’t stay for the dinner afterwards, however much I wished to hear your thoughts after witnessing his scandalous performance.

So I ask you—What could cause Bailey to reject me so coldly when he claims to love me? Can he honestly believe he’s following God’s wishes? Would a loving God tell him to stop loving me?

Knowing you, all sorts of colorful Spanish proverbs are bubbling up. The only proverb that comes to my mind is:

A whip for the horse,

A bridle for the ass,

And a rod for the fool’s back.

That’s in the Bible. I looked it up, and if your husband Weston would like to impart this bit of Biblical wisdom onto his cousin, I’d be much obliged. I’d do it myself, but I’ve made a solemn vow never to touch Bailey Garner again, even with a hickory switch.

“Molly” by Monica Bruenjes

I only wish I understood what I’d done to deserve this treatment. I thought I could trust Bailey. I thought he cared for me and wanted what was best for me. My parents have failed me. Time and time again they’ve chosen what’s easy for them, what satisfied their ambitions. Bailey was different. I could rely on him. Even now he claims to be breaking our courtship for my own good. Not that I believe him—

So, who does that leave to champion my cause? And before you recommend that I take my problems to God (see how well I know you) I will remind you that God is the one who got me into this mess. If Bailey has broken our relationship because I’m a big sinner, then obviously God doesn’t want anything to do with me either. No, it looks like I’m on my own. I guess when it comes down to it, you can’t trust anyone but yourself. At least, that’s my experience.

And yet I can’t help but wish…

Maybe someday I’ll find a safe haven. Maybe someday I’ll clean up enough that Bailey won’t run when he sees me coming. Maybe someday I’ll be a fine lady and even God will approve, but I doubt it.

Yet, there’s nothing to do besides sally forth and try to make the best of an unfortunate situation. Don’t worry about me, friend. According to my father, in a week I won’t even remember Bailey Garner’s name. This pain will be long forgotten.

So he says.

And I don’t want to trouble you, either. In fact, I feel better already just writing these words. Whether I mail this letter or not is inconsequential, now. Instead I’ll go to the millinery and pick out a new hat. Fashion should remedy heartbreak…and cause less distress to my corset strings than chocolate.

I’ll find my way out of this mess. I can do it on my own. Just wait and see.

Optimistically,

Molly

Thank you for sharing in our fun project! And now for more information on Molly’s Giveaway Bundle:

Molly’s Giveaway Bundle includes a signed copy of Love in the Balance, a journal, and a Blue Bayou Navy Crystal Cuff Bracelet by 1928 Jewelry.

To be entered to win the Molly’s Prize Package please leave a comment on this post between May 13th and May 17, 2013. The winner will be drawn on May 19th and will be notified via e-mail and announced here and on The Trust Chronicles home page. (The giveaway is open for residents of the U.S. and Canada who are 18 or older.)

The post The Trust Chronicles: Molly Lovelace appeared first on Author Regina Jennings.

Two years ago my friend Shanna and I visited Caldwell County for research in preparation for The Ladies of Caldwell County Series. I drove and she took these amazing pictures.

Lockhart is full of beautiful architecture like the courthouse, the library and this…the old Jail.

Now, Molly didn’t go visit her friend in this jail.  The Caldwell County jail in 1880 looked like this…

And notice I didn’t say which friend she was visiting there. No spoilers. 😉

Now you might be wondering about the little town of Prairie Lea. Yes, it is still there and just as quaint as you’d imagine. Discovering how the town was laid out 130 years ago was very simple. The streets are named Church Street, Market Street and School Street. I asked some locals if they knew where an old sawmill existed – the Lovelaces were inspired by the very prosperous Mooney family of Prairie Lea. They’d never heard of the Mooney’s old sawmill. But then I found this…

Yep. There’s a “Mill Street” and it leads right to the banks of the San Marcos River. By the way, I’d never seen street signs like this before. Newer ones were up, too, but a few intersections still had these. Are they common where you live?

We didn’t want to trespass our way to the river to look for the Mooney’s…I mean the Lovelace’s….sawmill, but we did find one nearby in Luling.

Now known as Zedler’s Mill this mill was owned by Merriweather family in 1880 and is contemporary to the story. The City of Luling is doing a fantastic job preserving this landmark and it helped me greatly to understand how a mill works, all the various tasks that could be performed with a waterwheel and how many separate buildings were required. A large mill was a small town by itself.

Unfortunately the waterwheel is not in place yet, but can’t you picture Bailey here, fishing by the dam?

Don’t you love to visit communities that treasure their heritage?

So that’s Molly’s Caldwell County for ya. Of course now Lockhart offers all the modern conveniences you could imagine…and the best Bar-B-Q in the world (just ask them). So if you’re ever in Austin, it’s worth the drive out to Lockhart and Luling to see these rich, historical sites.

And tell ’em Molly sent you.

The post Molly in Lockhart, Texas appeared first on Author Regina Jennings.