Page 348 of Conveniently Wed
“I’m glad you all enjoyed it.” Aundy wished she’d had a bite or two. With Li taking over the cooking, she was able to spendmore time learning about farming and taking care of some chores around the house that needed attention, but she missed the lively conversations that took place during breakfast and supper.
Now, the meals seemed so quiet and somewhat lonely with all the men eating at the bunkhouse. Occasionally, Nik would eat with her before they launched into his lessons. The boy had already figured out to ask what was on the menu at her house and the bunkhouse before he made up his mind where he’d eat.
“You should come next time he makes it. Everyone would be glad to have you there,” Nik said, walking with Aundy as she started back toward the house.
“Maybe.” Aundy smiled at Nik and rubbed her hand across his shoulders. Although he remained thin, he was starting to fill out his frame.
Butter bleated and ran around her legs. She knelt and gave the lamb a thorough petting before doing the same for Bob. The dog rolled onto his back and held still, in perfect bliss, while Aundy scratched his belly.
“Okay, you three, I really do need to get back.” Aundy rose to her feet again.
“Where did you say you’re going?” Nik asked.
“Ashton Monroe’s place. The Nash family will be going as well, for dinner.”
“Oh.” Nik studied the toe of his boot.
“Why? Something wrong?” Aundy wondered what caused his sudden pensive mood.
“Nothing. It’s just… I think Mr. Monroe likes you.” Nik let out a sigh as he looked at Aundy, trying to judge her reaction to his words. “I like Garrett much better, though.”
“Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the subject, although I’m here to tell you right now, I’ll be staying single.”
Nik looked at her with his happy-go-lucky smile back in place. “That’s good, Aundy. You stay single and when I’m old enough, you’ll marry me.”
“You are a tease, Nikola Zorian Gandiaga!” Aundy laughed again, walking away with a wave. “A real tease.”
Back at the house, she washed the few dishes she’d dirtied to make lunch and decided to clean the chicken coop. She hated the job even more than she did gathering eggs, but she had time to take care of it before she had to get ready for dinner.
Almost finished with the unwelcome chore, she noticed a horse stirring a cloud of dust as it raced up her lane.
She expelled a heavy sigh as she watched Marvin Tooley pull his horse to a stop at the end of her walk. He weaved his way through the front gate, down the walk, and up the porch steps, pounding on the front door.
Aundy wished she had her gun with her. Instead, she rushed out of the coop, grabbed a shovel on her way to the house, and ran around to the front yard. Fearful Marvin’s wild thumping would break the frosted glass panel out of the door, she raised her voice to be heard above the racket he made.
“Mr. Tooley, cease your pounding!”
He stared at her with bleary eyes. “Told ya to sell them durn sheep, woman. Done told ya to,” he slurred.
Aundy hadn’t seen many drunk people in her life but it was obvious Marvin imbibed in something either quite potent or quite a lot of it.
Marvin sneered at her. “Now ya’ll pay the piper.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Aundy asked, standing her ground. “Is that another of your threats?”
“Nope. Not a threat. It’s a fact.” He cackled loudly. The sound made the hair on the back of Aundy’s neck prickle. Marvin Tooley sounded like a lunatic.
“Be that as it may, would you please take yourself and your facts off my property this instant?” Aundy pointed her hand in the direction of Marvin’s lathered horse.
“I warned ya, woman. Done told ya. But ya jes won’t listen.” Marvin weaved down the steps.
Aundy wasn’t sure the crazy drunk would be able to get back on his horse much less take himself home.
He glanced back at her as he fumbled to put a foot into his stirrup. “Stubborn, fool woman. It’ll teach her to listen to me.”
Unbothered by his comments, she offered him an insincere smile. “Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Mr. Tooley. Have a lovely afternoon. If you come back making more threats, I’ll pay a visit to the sheriff about you.”
“Don’t threaten me!” Marvin yelled, somehow managing to get on his horse. He rode a few yards down the lane before falling off.
