“Gentlemen, please place your items here, and we’ll get it all tallied up.”
He is almost done with the final figures when I tell him. “I’ll also need that tea set packed for an extended trip, along with several boxes of Lady Gray tea if you have it. Oh, and two pounds of sugar cubes.”
“Not a problem, Mr. …”
“Mr. Kerns.”
“I’ll have Grayson gather the rest of these items and have them meet you outside. Is there a particular train car you want them all delivered to?”
“My men will meet you as you head that way with that cart. What is not theirs personally will be stored in one of the cargo trains carrying the furniture we will be hauling.”
The clerk gives me the total, and I hand him the banknotes to cover the amount, only to add a few pieces of candy and a small set of dice I see sitting on the counter.
“It was a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Kerns. Safe travels.”
“Thank you, Sir. I appreciate your kindness.”
When I walk out, I find them all waiting on me. “Gentlemen, if you all would accompany these clerks to the train and go ahead and board. I will gather Miss. Jessica and follow shortly.”
“Mr. Kerns, do you have any specific items that you would like delivered to the sleeper train? “
“Jacob, have the clerk show you the box that is holding the tea set and make sure it’s in a safe location. And if you don’t mind, just hold on to this package until I meet up with you all back at the train.”
“Not a problem, sir. Deven and I will get the rest in the storage cars with the other things.”
“Thank you, Jacob. I appreciate you taking the initiative.”
I look directly over at Caleb, who is too busy looking around to be of any help, and his actions seem to constantly rub me wrong. Before anyone can distract me further, I’m already crossing the street, and only relax when I walk in the door and see Jessica standing in front of a mirror, trying on a large-brimmed straw hat.
“That’s adorable, you have to have it.”
“Don’t you think it’s a little big?”
“Not at all, it will keep all that pretty skin of yours out of the sun.” Jessica blushes prettily as she turns, taking the hat back off. “Are you ready?”
“Yes, Violet is pinning the coat now, so I can finish it on the train. Reggie, you really didn’t need to get all of this for me, not that I don’t appreciate it, but I’ve never owned so many clothes in my life. To be honest, I am not sure what I will do with all of it when we finally get to where we’re going.”
“I’ll build you a wardrobe. I may not look like it, but I can be rather crafty when I need to be.”
“I am sure we are both going to have to learn many new things on this adventure as we go forward.”
My mind hits the gutter as I think of themany thingsI would like to teach her, only for the seamstress, whose name I’m assuming is Violet, walks out carrying several packages in her hands.
“Mr. Kerns, here are some of the items on your list for your wife. Just give me a few more minutes to wrap the others, and I believe we’ve managed to get this all done with time to spare.”
She disappears into the back again, and I glance around, noticing that Jessica has wandered off looking at a lace shawl with matching gloves. Her fingers are barely caressing the material, like she’s scared to accidentally ruin it. The bell over the door rings as other customers start coming in, and I walk up to the counter so that I can pay for the items gathered there.When the seamstress comes out of the back room, she looks over my shoulder at the ladies waiting.
“Ladies, please browse around. We are finishing up here, and I will be done shortly. Will this be all, Mr. Kerns?”
I glance back to make sure Jessica hasn’t walked up behind me. “I would like to add that shawl and the matching gloves as well. Can you wrap them separately?”
“Absolutely! It’s rare that I see a man pay so much attention to his wife and the things she needs.”
“Jess is easy to please and to buy for. I enjoy spoiling her.”
“I pray you two have many good years together, as she spoke just as favorably about you. I’ll have one of the boys who helps me out here run these bags to the train as soon as I get that last one wrapped.” She lowers her voice so that Jessica can’t hear us. “I’ll wrap the shawl with blue ribbon so that you know which one it is.”
“Thank you Violet, you’ve been more than helpful.”
