“How much do you need?”
“Three, maybe four yards?”
“Beatrice?”
“I’ll have Martha cut it right away. Why don’t you two go on to the mercantile, and I’ll have this all ready when you come back this way?”
Grant takes my hand in his, and not only can I not wipe the smile off my face as we head down the wooden walkway, but I would probably fall off for looking at him.
“Stop staring.”
“I can’t help it,” I giggle. He shakes his head before smacking me playfully on the bottom and opening the door to the general store. Never can I remember a time when life was playful and full of smiles.
CHAPTER 13
GRANT
I was only steps away when I saw Lauren step out of the dress store, her eyes shifting right over me. Smiling, I was just about to call her name when she turned and froze.
Oren, who also did not recognize me, said something to her that I can’t hear, but by the way she’s holding herself, it certainly wasn’t pleasant. Three steps later, I am standing against her back, one hand on my pistol and the other on her trembling waist.
“Did you just speak to my wife, Lieber?”
He runs off like the coward he is because he knows he’s a dead man walking now, but Lauren is my main concern right now. I will deal with him later. Her small body is trembling so hard I can hear her teeth rattling.
It takes me a little while to calm her down and get her back in the dress shop, but then she and Beatrice start rambling about how different I look, and I go along with it just to see Lauren smile, glad that haunted look is leaving her face. As we walk into thegeneral store, I almost knock old man Harvey over as I’m utterly focused on Lauren and the feel of her ass under my hand.
I reach out, grabbing him before he falls. “Good catch there, youngin. How may I help you two? Lord, is that you, Grant?”
“Yes, … good heavens, I had no idea shaving my beard off and cutting my hair would confuse everyone so badly!”
“You went from a smelly beast to a fine-looking gentleman and usually, those two things can’t wear the same skin. What can I help you two with today?”
“Bread, we need bread.”
Lauren and old man Harvey both laugh at me.
“No really, she wants a stove, and I told her to pick it out. We also need some other supplies. Lauren, look around and gather up whatever you think we may need. I just saw Mr. Kerns walk by, and I need to talk to him about some lumber.”
“You don’t want to help me with the stove?”
“Nope! Harvey, I leave her in your care.”
He nods thoughtfully at me, knowing what I mean, as I walk out hailing the lumber yard owner.
“Mr. Kerns, if you have a moment, can we speak?”
The older gentleman turns my way when he hears my voice. “Good day, sir. What can I do for you?”
It’s me, Grant Hayes.
“My, if not for your size, I may have called you a liar. Most don’t change their appearance much with or without their hair, but that’s neither here nor there. What can I do for you?”
“I am looking to purchase enough lumber to build a nice-sized home, two barns, and fencing. I would like to keep the money locally, but I have a problem with one of your staff, and I don’t want his hands touching a thing I order.”
“I see. … Are you the one who saved the girl Oren had bought? That man has a mean streak a mile wide when it comes to females.”
“Yes, and that girl is now my wife.”
