She pointed past him at the crowd milling around on the boardwalk in front of the store. “What’s happening down there?”
He followed the direction she pointed. “The mercantile started carrying tinned food and everyone wants to try it.”
Adele lifted her brows. Tinned food was something she was aware of, but Richard refused to allow it in the house. When she cooked, she did everything from scratch with the freshest ingredients possible. Sometimes he simply came for dinner…nothing else. “Oh, how convenient. Have you bought any?”
“I have. Actually, the sellers are calling it canned food…vegetables and fruit. The varieties were too many to try them all, although I did get some of each kind of fruit. Two cans of most. I was hoping you’d know how to bake a pie or cobbler, maybe. All of us at the ranch have a bit of a sweet tooth.”
“How is it you managed to get it before anyone else? Who are all of us?” How many people would I be cooking for?
“I usually come to town on Wednesday’s and Jeremiah, the mercantile owner, gets his delivery of groceries on Tuesday. Most everyone else comes on Saturday. At least the ranchers do. The store is way too busy then for my liking. But, as you can see, I did my shopping today instead and I was there as soon as he opened, since I wasn’t sure when the stage would be in. Their schedule is laughable. Anyway, getting supplies now will save me a trip back next Wednesday.”
She wanted him to continue talking. His deep, baritone voice washed over her like the finest silk, leaving her with goosebumps…the good kind. “I remember you writing that you try to avoid people.”
“Yeah, I don’t like crowds.”
“It sounds like you’re saying, you’re a bit of a loner, aren’t you?”
He shrugged. “I am. I like it that way.” Before she could ask anything else, he added, “Let me help you up.”
Taking her by the waist, he lifted her into the wagon.
“Oh!” When he set her on the floor of the wagon, she realized he was stronger than she thought, as she was not a thin woman, but very curvy. Richard had liked her curves.
Blushing, she adjusted her skirt and sat. “Have you always been that way?”
Edward climbed up and sat next to her. “What are you getting at?” he growled.
She didn’t let his response deter her. After all, this man would be her husband. She had the right to know more about him, but hoped he didn’t ask too much about her. “I’m thinking that maybe you were not such a loner when your wife was alive.”
He sighed. “Yes, I was. We enjoyed the company of friends before she left.”
I remember now Catherine left with another man before she died. “I’m sure they comforted you then.”
“Oh, right, they liked learning I couldn’t keep a wife happy.”
Her mouth dropped open. “I’m sure that’s not at all what they were thinking. More than likely they would have understood her leaving was not your fault and supported you.”
He cracked the whip over the horses’ heads. “I didn’t want their support. They wouldn’t have given it anyway.”
“Maybe they would have, if you had let them.”
“Hmpft. I doubt that.” He slapped the reins on the horse’s rumps.
She persisted, not knowing why he felt the way he did, because she wanted to know him better. “Is that the way you would have responded had the same unfortunate event happened to one of your friends? Would you have just written him off as a man who couldn’t keep a woman happy?”
He put the reins in his left hand and ran the right one around the back of his neck. “No, I wouldn’t have. I’d have supported him.”
He urged the horses into a trot just as the wagon hit a particularly deep rut. She held on to the side of the seat for balance, as they went past the mercantile and the butcher.
The road was terribly rutted, and the wagon kept jolting her. Adele tried as much as she could to stay on her side of the bench. It wasn’t really very wide and as hard as she tried, she couldn’t stop her leg from touching him on his thigh. Ignoring it she decided was the best thing. “See, you weren’t always a loner. If you’d give your friends the chance, I’m sure they would support you just as you would them.” She had debated with Richard on occasion always taking the opposite position. They’d both enjoyed making up.
He shrugged. “Maybe I didn’t want to find out whether or not they would spurn me or support me. So I ended the ridicule before it began.”
“Maybe there wouldn’t have been any ridicule.”
“I didn’t care to find out, so now I stay out of town except for supplies.”
Adele rolled her eyes and prayed for patience. “You are a stubborn man.”
He chuckled. “You are a feisty woman. Giving me your guidance before we’re even married.”
Adele straightened. “I figure to start a marriage in a way that it will continue. I don’t think it fair for you to find out I’m also stubborn and opinionated after we wed.” She pulled off her filthy gloves, folded them and placed them in her reticule. “If you want to change your mind, now is the time to do it.”
He turned his head and gazed at her for a moment. “I think I’ll marry you. I probably need some of your opinions to keep me from destroying my family. I wrote you about my seven-year-old daughter. She also had friends among the people I let go and so she lost her friends because of me.”
Feeling bold, she placed a hand on his knee and smiled up at him. “Maybe, after we’re married, you can throw a…oh, say, a party to introduce me to the town. That wouldn’t be so unusual, would it? And, if it is, maybe you can start a trend.”
He looked down at her hand on his leg, lifted a brow and then turned his gaze back to her. “You know, touching me as you are is considered scandalous unless we’re married. Even then, the action should only be done when others can’t see.”
“In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m not one for convention. I do as I please. If someone doesn’t like it that person doesn’t have to look or listen, as the case may be.” I should be more careful. My words are those of a loose woman and I don’t want him to repudiate me.
Edward turned to her and grinned. “I like you Adele Jensen. I think we’ll do well together.”
She laughed. “I agree.” Looking forward Adele couldn’t keep the smile from her face. Things will work out well for us, Edward. You’ll see.
CHAPTER 2
Arriving at the Carrolls’ home Edward climbed down and came around to her side of the wagon.
She looked for a way to get down from the bench but couldn’t figure it out. He’d have to show her next time.
Edward raised his arms. “Lean over. I’ll catch you and lift you down.”
Trusting he would not drop her, she did as he asked.
He caught her under her bosom and lifted her down. Was it just her imagination or did his hands linger just a little longer than necessary?
“Thank you. You can let me go now. Um…could you grab my carpetbags for me? I’d like to change clothes, if possible.” Adele broke the spell and blushed as he removed his hands from her body. She was almost sorry. She felt like his hands belonged there…on her. Stop thinking your fanciful thoughts. He probably doesn’t even notice.