Page 344 of Conveniently Wed
“Yes, please, and have him take a bath, too. I don’t want people wrinkling their noses at him when we go shopping today.” Aundy grinned, thinking of the protests Nik would no doubt utter at taking a bath in the middle of the week. “I’ll be ready to go at nine. Tell Nik to meet me at the barn then.”
“If you say so.” Dent snitched a cookie on his way out the door.
After finishing the dishes and writing out a shopping list, Aundy donned her yellow and cream walking suit Garrett had admired. She styled her hair on top of her head with a few loose tendrils trailing down her neck and pinned her hat in place. She picked up a pair of gloves and her reticule, stuffed the grocery list inside, checked to make sure the house was set to rights then hurried down the kitchen steps toward the barn.
Nik sat on the buggy seat, freshly scrubbed and ready for an adventure.
“Ready?” Aundy asked, climbing in beside him and giving him a thorough observation. He’d carefully combed his shiny brown hair and left off his tattered old cap. Although his attire wasn’t new by any means, the outfit he had on fit a little better than the clothes he normally wore. He’d attempted to polish his shoes, but they were so far gone it only served to highlight their sorry state.
“Dent said I’m to accompany you to town today,” Nik said, doing his best to sound formal and educated.
“That is correct, kind sir.” Aundy offered him a playful wink. “I think I’ll sit back and enjoy this beautiful day while you drive the buggy.”
“Really?” With an animated grin, Nik picked up the reins.
“Really. Just be careful, though. No wild racing or terrifying tomfoolery,” Aundy cautioned, trying to look and sound serious.
“No, ma’am.” Nik gave the reins a gentle flick that started the horse moving forward.
On the way to town, Aundy listened to Nik talk about his family, his heritage, and things he enjoyed doing when he was a small boy.
As they drove down a busy street in Pendleton, Nik turned his attention to handling the horse in the traffic.
He stopped near Aundy’s favorite store and they went inside. She gave her shopping list to the clerk to fill while she took Nik over to the ready-made clothing section. Aundy helped him pick out two pairs of denim overalls, a pair of pants and a vest to wear to church, and four shirts, along with a sturdy pair of boots and a new hat.
“Aundy, this is too much.” Nik’s eyes shined with gratitude and awe. “I haven’t earned this much pay. I can’t take this.”
“You can and you will.” She patted Nik on the back with motherly affection. “Anyone in my employ will be properly fed and clothed, and that’s all there is to it.”
Nik looked at her and saw her grin, smiling in return. “Yes, ma’am.” He brushed his hands over his new shirts. Aundy quietly asked the clerk to add socks and underclothes for the boy to her growing pile.
As the clerk boxed up her purchases, he snapped his fingers suddenly. “Those seeds you ordered just arrived, Mrs. Erickson. Let me get them for you.”
“Seeds?” Nik asked as he stood next to Aundy. It took a great effort on his part not to jump off one foot to the other in hisexcitement at having brand new clothes. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d owned something new that wasn’t someone else’s used castoff.
“For the garden. We need to get it planted soon.” She lifted the lid on a jar of lemon drops and motioned for Nik to take one. His eyes twinkled as he fished out two pieces, and held one out to her. She was going to refuse then decided she wasn’t quite grown up enough that she’d turn down candy. The two of them popped the lemon drops in their mouths, enjoying the sweet treat.
“Please add two lemon drops to the bill, Mr. Johnson.”
“No need, Mrs. Erickson. You’ve purchased more than enough to earn a few pieces of candy.” The man tucked Aundy’s seeds into one of the boxes while she handed Nik his new cap. He settled it on his head with a wide smile.
Aundy paid her bill while Nik carried their purchases out to the buggy. She asked Mr. Johnson to have someone call when her order for Nik’s school supplies arrived.
“Have a wonderful day, Mrs. Erickson.” Mr. Johnson waved as she followed Nik out the door. Aundy stared at a plow on display outside the store when a bump to her side nearly knocked her into the street. She would have fallen, had she not caught herself on a post.
“Might want to watch yourself, Miz Erickson.” Marvin Tooley sneered at her. His hand flexed into a fist. He took a menacing step toward her, reaching out and grabbing her upper arm in a vise-like grip. “No telling what might happen if you let your guard down.”
She yanked her arm out of his grasp and narrowed her gaze. Nik hurried to her side with a frightened look on his face, trying to figure out what happened. He watched as Marvin growled and stalked into the store.
“Who is that man?”
“No one to worry about.” Aundy took Nik’s arm and directed him down the boardwalk. Although she’d been considering the purchase of a small gun, Marvin had just helped make up her mind.
After entering a store that sold both new and used merchandise, Aundy left Nik browsing through a section of musical instruments while she went straight to the proprietor behind the counter.
“I’d like to purchase the gun in the window,” she said, pointing to a display in a glass case by the front door.
“A gun?” the man asked, shocked that a woman marched into his store and wanted to buy a weapon.
