“Oh, do you want any help?”she asked, frowning a little.“Iforgot how muchIordered,” she added, in a tone of confession.
“It’s fine—I’vegot it,”Iassured her.“Goon—I’llmeet you in the produce aisle in theEastWing.”
She smiled at our shared joke and nodded before heading in the opposite direction.
I watched her go—Icouldn’t seem to help myself.Ijust couldn’t keep my eyes off her.
I had no idea how much of a problem that was going to be in the near future.
FOURTEEN
VIVIENNE
I couldn’t believe the wayKorhad putBarbrain her place.Shehad never liked me—I’dheard whispers that she was set to beCarter’sbride before the prophecy was made andIwas chosen instead.Ifonly she knew howIwished she could have taken my place—Iwould have been so happy ifIcould go back in time and let her marryCarterinstead.
But such things are impossible, of course, soIsimply ignored her when she made her little snide comments and rude remarks.Fightingwith aPackmember would have been beneath me, soIheld my head high and ignored her.ButIcouldn’t help secretly cheering inside whenKortold her off.
Still feeling vindicated,Iwalked intoBowman’sGrocery—where the whole town shopped—and got myself a hand basket.
I only needed a few things for dinner—Iwas going to make some steaks and baked potatoes and some fresh asparagus, if they had some.Andmaybe some strawberry shortcake for dessert.Despitehaving a cook for so many years,Iliked to keep in practice in the kitchen myself.Cookingand baking were like therapy for me—they helped me take my mind off my life for many years.
ChetBowman, the owner of the store, nodded respectfully at me asIcame in through the sliding glass doors.
“GoodMorning,PackMistress,” he rumbled.
“Good morning,Chet,”Isaid, giving him a smile.Hehad always been friendly with me, andI’dnever heard him talking behind my back like so many of the otherPackmembers.Hiswife—a plump, motherly woman with a ready smile—was often there helping him and she was always kind to me too.
SoIactually liked going grocery shopping andIwent as often asIcould.Itused to be a way to get out of the house and away fromCarter, but now thatIwas alone, it was a way to combat the lonelinessIfelt.
Not lonely now though,whispered a little voice in my head.NotsinceKorcame.
I pushed it away.Icouldn’t pin my emotional well-being on a manIbarely knew.He?—
“Good afternoon, and who might you be?”Chetsaid andIturned my head and saw him looking atKor, who had just come in.
“I’mKorwynJamison—the nephew of your latePackMaster,”Korsaid, smiling.Heoffered his hand toChet, who took it and pumped vigorously.
“Say, that’s quite a grip you got there,” he remarked, when the handshake released.“Youmust be a strong young fella.”
Kor grinned.
“Well,Iwork out from time to time.Thanks.”
“Actually…”Chetcame out from behind the counter he’d been standing behind.“Ihave kind of a favor to ask of you—if you don’t mind.”
“A favor?”Iasked, frowning.“Whatkind of favor?”
“Oh, nothing much.”Chetshrugged.“JustthatIhave a few crates of produceIcan’t lift—bad back ya know.”Heput a hand to his back and winced dramatically.“Myregular guy,Ronnie, is out right now—had to go over the mountains to the dentist.Hadan impacted molar, don’t you know.”
I murmured in sympathy, butIhad an idea of what the grocer was trying to do.Heand every otherWerein town wanted to know how strongKorreally was…and if he stood a chance againstHarrisMurdoch.
To be honest,Iwanted to know, too.SoIsaid nothing—just waited to see whatKorwould do.
“I don’t mind helping as long as you’re not going to keep me in the back stocking groceries all day,” he said toChetwith a grin.“Iworked at a grocery store in college—it’s not an easy job.”
“No, it’s not.You’reright about that.”Chetnodded.“Ijust have a few crates that need to be moved from one side to t’other.Thedamn fools who delivered ‘em left the whole mess right in the middle of my stockroom, may theMoonGoddesscurse their eyes.”
“Well then—lead the way,”Korsaid.Heshot a glance at me.“Thisshouldn’t take long,Vivienne.I’lljust be a minute.”
