“Sean, you seem upset. Is something wrong?”
“Not for me but I don’t want you to be upset that the Barretts paired us for today. They’re not being disrespectful to you or your late husband.”
Amelia wondered if he resented being her escort. “I realize that.”
“Out here, we have different rules than in the East or Deep South when it comes to mourning. I know life can be hard anywhere, but it’s especially so here. You have money and can support yourself with your shop. Most women can’t. When they’re widowed, they can’t wait years on their own before they remarry.”
“You mean they’d starve?”
“Aw, this isn’t coming out right. What I mean is that in this part of the country, widows remarry in as little as a few weeks or a few months. I didn’t want you to be upset with our hosts today.”
His remarks puzzled her. Was he saying she shouldn’t take any meaning from him being her escort or trying to prepare her? “I understand. Since I’ve been a guest in your home, I suppose linking us is a logical conclusion for others. I hope you don’t mind being paired with me.”
“How could I mind escorting a beautiful and intelligent woman? I’d have to be an idiot.”
“Thank you, Sean.” She was still puzzled about whether or not he was telling her not to jump to any conclusions about his interest simply because he’d escorted her today. Perhaps not. After all, he’d taken her on a picnic and to dinner.
She touched her lips, recalling his kisses. Did he kiss a lot of other women? She mentally listed the single women in Sweetwater Springs. There weren’t many.
The drive to the Barrett home was further than that to Murdoch Ranch. Sean kept her entertained with stories of the new construction.
“I’ll look forward to seeing the addition to the house. Do you think they’ll have a housewarming?”
“Hmm, don’t know if this qualifies. The house is old—only the wing is new. You can ask Charity this afternoon.”
The Barrett home was set among trees a short distance away from the main road. When they arrived, she was surprised to see Jonah waited on the front porch.
“You must have left church early.”
“Guilty but we’d warned Reverend Norton before the service.” He held the door open for Amelia, who was followed by the other female guests. “Please go on in. Lina is feeding Adam so he can take his nap. Otherwise we’ll have a cranky young man disrupting our meal.”
Amelia removed her gloves, shawl, and hat while inhaling the mouth-watering aromas drifting through the house. “Your home smells wonderful, Lina. Your kitchen is decorated so invitingly.”
“Please, won’t you be seated? As soon as Adam has eaten his fill, he can nap while we have our meal.”
Amelia sat next to Adam’s high chair and across from Lina. “How are you, Adam? Do you remember when you came to my hat shop?”
He stretched a marinara-covered hand toward her. Gently, she let him clasp her finger.
Lina laughed. “You’re a brave soul. Red sauce would not go well with your pink dress.”
“I’ll be careful. When he’s washed his hands, I have a little something for him.”
“How nice of you. Now you’ve piqued my curiosity.” She moved to dampen a cloth at the sink. After she let Amelia clean her hand, she rubbed the cloth over Adam’s face and hands. “Young man, let’s get you clean enough for your nap, shall we?”
When he was tidy, Amelia presented him with a cloth bunny. “This little bunny will keep you company while you nap.”
Adam hugged it to him and Lina carried him to the bedroom.
Trudy said, “Mrs. Jernigan makes those stuffed toys for the mercantile and splits the sale price.”
“Next time I need one, shall I go to her directly?”
“Please do. She needs the money. Her husband is not well enough to work and I don’t think she’s that healthy. Besides, she can’t leave him alone at home.”
“She can’t sell that many toys, can she? What else does she sew?”
Darcy said, “She altered some dresses for me. I had the train removed so they don’t drag the ground. Such garments were not meant for western living.”
Thinking aloud, Amelia muttered, “I wonder what I can find for her to do?”
Charity hugged Amelia’s shoulders. “She’s always worrying about others. You can’t believe how much she helped me with Aunt Edwina on the train. That was before my aunt met Kevin and regained her good humor.”
Amelia smiled at her friend. “But she’s a lovely person now. I’m so pleased she and Kevin have found one another. Who could have dreamed they’d be the perfect couple?”
Chapter Ten
After a delicious dinner, the women lingered in the kitchen and took care of the clean up while the men sat in the parlor.
“Do any of you know Paulette Norris?”
Darcy and Lina shook their heads.
Charity said, “You know I don’t know many people yet.”
Trudy folded her cup towel. “Paulette, her sister, and their mother live in a little more than a shack at the edge of town. Her father worked as a carpenter until he fell from a roof top, but then Mr. Norris died from complications of the fall. I’m sure they must be having trouble. The sister is younger.”
She paused. “I doubt this is common knowledge, but I know the church has helped occasionally. There are simply no jobs for women here.”
Amelia nodded at Trudy. “Then I’m glad I hired her. She’s going to work three days a week. I can’t pay her much but she appeared grateful and relieved.”
Lina’s smile lit her face and she clapped her hands together. “That’s wonderful, Amelia, and very kind of you.”
Darcy reached over and squeezed Amelia’s hand. “A good solution.”
Trudy nodded. “Better than charity.” She looked at Charity and smiled. “Not you, dear, but you know what I mean. Now she’ll have a little money to help her mother and the pride of earning their income.”
Amelia sensed a blush at their praise. “I can use someone on our busy days. I told her I need someone there so I can go to the privy and have time for my lunch.”
Apparently Lina couldn’t speak without moving her hands and now she gestured widely. “I do hope you have a growing business. You deserve to be successful. I heard what you did for Mrs. Murphy.”
Darcy asked, “What? Tell us?”
Amelia shrugged. “It’s nothing. We bartered a hat she wanted for eggs.”
Lina pointed at her. “Ha! You didn’t say that she got a lovely hat for only two dozen eggs—a dozen at a time.”
“But I need eggs,” Amelia protested. “I eat one each day and then use others for baking.”
Trudy nodded. “Um-hmm. She has a nice hat for the equivalent of sixty cents. That’s half what your price was and probably about your cost. Generous, but won’t keep you in business. Plus I know you gave Mrs. Norton her hats.”
Lina looked at Amelia. “You’re a good person and I’m glad you decided to settle in Sweetwater Springs.”
Charity, after pleading looks from Amelia, said, “Shall we join our husbands and Sean to see what they’re up to? I’ll bet they’re exchanging gossip and calling it a discussion.”
The women laughed as they filed into the parlor. Each of the five men wore a guilty expression at the women’s arrival.
Lina pointed at her husband. “Just as I thought, Jonah Barrett. You men were gossiping weren’t you?”
His grin gave proof to her comment. “Men don’t gossip, my love. Surely you know that.”
Logan said, “Actually, we were talking about the furniture I want Gideon to build for Charity and me. Our wing of the house is almost complete and we have rooms to fill.”
Charity sent her husband a loving glance. “Kevin gave us things from the attic, but hardly enough for our needs.”
Shy Gideon spoke low. “I told Logan I have several pieces in my workshop that he might want.”
Darcy sat b
eside her husband. “You mean that beautiful bedroom group?”
His silver eyes watched his wife. “And the table and chairs. I have most of what they might want. The cabinetmaker in town will have a good selection, too.”
Amelia asked Charity, “Are you going to have a housewarming when you get settled in the new addition?”
Shaking her head, Charity looked at Logan. “Not exactly. We plan to have a party to sort of christen the house. Although Kevin and Edwina are very kind and would let us entertain in the main part of the house, we look forward to having a place that’s truly ours.”
Sean winked at Charity. “I look forward to it, too.”
Charity blushed and Logan laughed.
***
Sean guided the buggy toward town. The horse knew the way so there was little need for him to tug on the reins.
“Wasn’t that a lovely party?”
“I enjoyed myself.” He glanced at the crate at his feet. “You’re taking home enough soup and sauce for a regiment.”
“Lina is a generous woman. As good as her cooking is, I wasn’t about to resist her giving me jars she’d canned.”
“She’s famous for that soup.”
“I haven’t had minestrone since I left Chicago. And, I’ve never had any as good as Lina’s.”
“When she first came here to marry Jonah, she brought food in her trunk, probably as much as she used for clothes. Her grandmother sent her all kinds of things—cheese, pasta, sauces, pickles, jams. I’m always happy to be invited to eat at the Barrett home.”
“Sounds like a nice family. I’ll bet they miss her.”
“I don’t know what made her decide to be a mail-order bride, but Jonah is certainly happy she married him.”
“Was she the first mail-order bride in the area?”
“Trudy was first, next Darcy, next Lina, and then Prudence Morgan over at Morgan’s Crossing—you’ll meet her soon, I’m sure. Then, Amanda Kincaid, Gormlaith Garrett, both near Morgan’s Crossing, and so on. We have quite a few in this part of Montana Territory due to a shortage of women.”
“I wonder why Paulette hasn’t married.”
“Don’t know. Maybe she thinks she can’t leave her mother. You can ask her on the next day she works.”
“No, I can’t but maybe she’ll get around to sharing that with me.”
As they approached her shop, he hated to see the day end.
Amelia nudged his arm. “Why don’t you come to dinner tomorrow? I’ll serve you Lina’s soup or make something else, whichever you prefer.”
Satisfaction spread through him. At least she enjoyed his company. “Sounds good to me. By then I’ll be hungry and won’t care what you serve.”
She sent him a glare.
Before she could give him an earful, he added, “I’ll be happy I’m dining with such an attractive and intelligent woman.”
“Quick thinking, Mr. Murdoch.”
“Hey, you know I haven’t been around enough women to have learned how to speak in polite society. I’m still training.”
She laughed at him. “Edwina will set you straight.”
Happy the tension had passed, he pulled up in front of her shop. When he had carried her crate of canned food into the kitchen, he kissed her sweet rosebud lips. She smelled of lavender and honeysuckle and Italian food.
“Goodnight, Amelia. Thank you for your company today.”
She stood with her hands on his chest. “I look forward to seeing you tomorrow, Sean.”
He allowed himself another brief kiss—the most he could risk without losing his control. Pivoting on his heels, he left her rooms before he weakened and begged her to let him stay.
Sean hummed to himself as he drove toward the livery to exchange the rig for his horse. He really ought to consider buying his own buggy soon and saving the rental fee.
***
Monday afternoon, Amelia waited while Millie Pershing poked at each hat on display. “Are you looking for a particular color or style, Mrs. Pershing?”
The woman poked at a hat and dislodged a feather. “I just wanted to see your selection. Nothing special here, is there?”
Holding her temper, Amelia forced a smile. “They’re all special to me. I enjoy creating hats.” She quickly repaired the damage Mrs. Pershing had done.
“Mrs. Cobb’s are good enough for anyone. She doesn’t need a strumpet setting up nearby.”
Amelia froze for a second then strode to face the woman. “What did you call me? A strumpet? I beg your pardon, Mrs. Pershing, but you have no right to say such an untrue thing. I’m a respectable woman.”
The other woman smirked. “Having the Murdoch boy here at all hours is not proper. Don’t think just because you’re a widow that folks don’t notice.”
“I do not have him here ‘at all hours’. He sometimes comes for dinner then leaves at a respectable time. Sometimes he escorts me to the café and then leaves me at my door.”
“Does he now or does he step inside your bedroom? Doesn’t take long for a man to have his way with you, does it? You trying to maneuver your way to a share of the Murdoch fortune?”
Amelia fought hard to control her temper. She had an almost irrepressible urge to take a swing and knock the smirk off Mrs. Pershing’s face. “For your information, I have plenty of my own money. You should be ashamed of yourself for even thinking such things. You obviously have an evil mind, but don’t judge me by your ugly thoughts.”
“I’m just saying what everyone in town is thinking. Now I’ll leave you to consider what your actions will bring you.” With that, the odious woman left.
For the rest of the afternoon, Amelia fumed. The nerve of Mrs. Pershing. The woman was Mrs. Cobb’s friend—maybe her only friend. They must be creating rumors at Amelia’s expense.
By six o’clock, Amelia was more than ready to close. She let Sean into the shop and slammed the door behind him before turning over the sign.
He help up his hands in surrender. “Whoa! What’s caused this mood?”
“I’m so angry at Mrs. Pershing, I could gladly strangle her—and Mrs. Cobb. Apparently they’ve been having a gossip fest at our expense.”
“Ah, I see. Amelia, I’m sorry but don’t let those two upset you. No one pays them any mind. Spreading rumors is their hobby. Remember Reverend Norton’s sermon several Sundays back? He was looking at them.”
“Then they didn’t pay attention.”
He took her hand and led her to the parlor. “Sit down and give yourself a few minutes to regain your composure. They’re not worth your concern.”
She sat on the couch. “I can’t help worrying. Mrs. Pershing called me a . . . a strumpet. This is my home now and I want people to like me. What if no one wants to buy my hats or have anything to do with me?”
Sean sat beside her. “You have the security of knowing you won’t starve, but I assure you no one pays any attention to the rumors those two women spread.” He took her hand. “Let’s talk about the Barrett’s party. Everyone there is your friend. Didn’t you enjoy yourself?”
Amelia took a deep breath and released it. Thank goodness Sean had come by this evening. “Yes, I had a lovely time and the food was amazing. Even if it had been inedible I still would have enjoyed myself.”
“Me, too. Soon Logan and Charity will host a party so you can look forward to that. Eventually, the Walkers will host one and you can see their unbelievable house.”
She leaned her head against his shoulder a moment. “Thank you, Sean. I let that woman have too much control over me. Fie on her.”
“Fie? You’ve been reading old books again, haven’t you?”
“Caught me.” She leaped to her feet and took a fencing position. “On guard, you knave.”
“Amelia, that stance is more impressive if you’re holding a sword.” He laid a hand on his heart. “Of course, I’m dying of hunger so even if I had a sword I wouldn’t have the strength to wield it.”
She laughed and patted the top of his
head. “You poor dear. I’ll get your supper on the table right away before you expire. As you can no doubt guess from the aroma, we’re having pot roast.”
He stood and rubbed his hands together. “I’ll set the table.”
While they ate, Sean filled her in on what had been happening at the ranch then pitched in to help with the dishes. “We’ll finish the new addition day after tomorrow unless we have more snow. Logan’s already lugging furniture inside the rooms that are complete.”
“From what Charity said, the wing sounds large.”
“Big as a house. They’ll still eat with the family but they have their own kitchen, parlor, and four bedrooms. Actually, there’s a room off the kitchen that could be a fifth one if needed but Logan plans to use it as his private study. There’s a little alcove off the master bedroom where Charity can seek solitude.”
“Are they planning a lot of children? I thought Charity only wanted two or three.”
“That’s the plan. Logan and I didn’t have to share a bedroom so he didn’t think his children should have to unless they choose to do so.”
“Charity said next they’re going to start on a wing for you. Will yours be the same size?” She folded the dishcloth and laid it beside the sink.
He emptied the dishwater for her and set the pan in the sink. “Their rooms look good. Wait until you see the place. I’d like something similar.”
“Good thing you don’t have another two or three brothers. The house would look like a giant spider.”
He chuckled. “Wouldn’t that be something? I—” Whatever Sean would have said was interrupted by a loud crash. “Stay back, Amelia.” He pulled his revolver and rushed to the shop.
Amelia followed with tentative steps. As she reached the shop doorway, she saw a gaping hole in the glass of her front door.
Sean held up a brick. “Some youngster more than likely.”
Sheriff Mather stood on the other side of the door. “Heard a crash. Too bad. Glass is hard to replace.
Amelia laid a hand at her throat. “Thank goodness the window was spared.”
The sheriff smiled at her. “That’s a real nice attitude, Mrs. Douglas. Most men get mad while most women cry. Any idea who has a grudge against you?”
Montana Sky: Bride's Adventure (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Loving A Rancher Book 4) Page 8
