Staff Feature: Abbey Downey
September 1904
Elkhart, IN
The showroom in the front of the Conn Instruments factory bustled with exactly forty-two ladies and only three salesmen to handle their demands. Perry McAfferty wiped his forehead with his jacket sleeve before turning to address the next musician in line at the counter. “Name?”
“Priscilla Cunningham.”
The name, along with her gentle response in a roomful of enthusiastic ladies, sent a thrill through Perry as he scratched the letters onto the form with his pen. He’d prayed for an opportunity to speak with Miss Cunningham, and now he had it. Helen May Butler and her Ladies Military Brass Band had grown wildly popular after playing alongside John Phillips Sousa’s band at the St. Louis World’s Fair over the summer. But it was Miss Cunningham who had captured Perry’s interest through newspaper photographs of the band. He liked that she was from Indiana, though she hailed from farther south than Elkhart. Still a hometown girl of sorts.
A glance assured Perry that the cameras hadn’t exaggerated her beauty. Shining dark hair and piercing blue eyes complemented her willowy figure. She wore the same deep purple skirt, white shirtwaist, and plumed hat as all the band members. But she would stand out among them in any situation.
Even though he shouldn’t, Perry held her gaze longer than necessary. “That’s a beautiful name. I’m Perry McAfferty.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Mr. McAfferty.” Her sweet smile stole his heart right out of his chest.
Then a nudge from his fellow salesman broke the spell momentarily. “No fraternizing with the girls, remember?” Elias whispered.
They’d been given strict rules before the band arrived. The men at Conn Instruments were only to take down information and help the women select the instruments Mr. Conn had offered as part of his sponsorship of the band. No extraneous socializing. Absolutely no flirting. The band members were held to high standards of behavior and could be fined or even dismissed for breaking them.
The last thing Perry wanted to do was jeopardize Miss Cunningham’s musical career.
Miss Cunningham continued to watch him curiously, having missed Elias’s reminder thanks to the din of forty-two women attempting to pick out instruments all at once. Not only did their excited chatter fill the air, but many of them were testing instruments, adding a cacophony of horn blasts and flute trills.
Perry gathered himself, mentally shaking off his star-struck silliness. “Alright, Miss Cunningham. You play the baritone, correct?” She nodded, and Perry filled in the line on the form, even though he’d already known. “Let’s go to that section and try a few. Then I’ll complete the order for the model you like.”
He led the way across the showroom, weaving around musicians and displays. When they reached the back corner that housed a small selection of baritones, Perry pulled his favorite from the shelf. “In my opinion, this model has the warmest, richest tone. Mr. Conn has arranged for each instrument to have matching silver plating like this display model. Would you like to try this one?”
“I would love to. It’s beautiful.” Miss Cunningham lifted the horn from his hands and tested the valves a few times. Then she put her lips to the mouthpiece and drew a deep breath. Those perfectly shaped lips transfixed Perry, leaving him staring as she released a few long, low notes, the kind that vibrated in the very soul of the listener. She played beautifully, as he expected from a musician who toured with Mrs. Butler’s band.
When Miss Cunningham lowered the instrument, Perry had no choice but to seize the moment. “That was breathtaking. And so are you.”
Pink tinged her cheeks, and she turned to place the horn carefully back on the display shelf. “Thank you, Mr. McAfferty. But you really shouldn’t say such things. I’m certain to be reprimanded if Mrs. Butler finds out.”
Perry’s hand clenched at his sides. He couldn’t lose the opportunity to convince this woman that they should get to know one another. But he also wouldn’t be able to forgive himself if he caused her to lose her spot in the band.
Before he could utter the apology that reached the tip of his tongue, an elbow against his back pressed him and Miss Cunningham together in the corner. Perry managed to twist his neck to see what had happened, but the four-foot-tall bass drum the company had created as an advertisement for the band blocked his sight. It had been rolled across the corner on a wooden cart, completely obscuring anyone’s view of them.
Elias stuck his head around the drum. “Sorry about that. We needed to move the drum out of the way for a moment. Won’t be long.” As he walked away, Elias threw Perry a wink and mouthed Here’s your chance.
The scoundrel.
But Perry had been presented with an opening to try to win her interest. “I apologize for the tight spot, Miss Cunningham. I’m sure they’ll move the drum momentarily.”
She gazed up at him with her lips parted. But her blue eyes sparkled, removing any concern that she felt uncomfortable so close to him. “Oh, I’m sure they will.”
Sarcasm? From a woman with such an angelic appearance? Perry’s interest grew exponentially. “Until then, you don’t mind the proximity, I hope?”
He kept his tone light, with a hint of irony to match hers. And she caught on, because her lips tilted upward. “It might be the only time we get to really talk, as your colleague noted.”
So she’d seen Elias’s not-so-subtle wink. And she still didn’t protest being stuck here with Perry.
“Well then, tell me about yourself.” Grinning, he denied the urge to get closer and instead braced his hand against the shelf next to her head, leaning back to examine her face. There would be time later for physical affection. Right now, he had a beautiful woman to get to know.
And thanks to give for that serendipitous corner.
A lifelong Midwestern girl, Abbey lives in central Indiana with her husband, two kids, and one rather enthusiastic beagle. She loves watching her kids in their activities and fixing up a 125-year-old farmhouse with her husband.
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