Page 349 of Conveniently Wed
Aundy tossed aside the shovel and marched to where Marvin sprawled in the dirt.
“You are completely pathetic,” Aundy muttered as she grabbed his horse’s reins and led it to the barn. The last thing, the very last thing, she wanted to do was take Marvin Tooley home, but she couldn’t very well leave him in the road and there was no way she was letting the man in her house, the barn, or the bunkhouse. She wanted him off her property, posthaste.
Swiftly hitching a horse to the buggy, she tied Marvin’s horse to the back then pulled up beside the drunken man. Without any of the hands around, she was on her own if she planned to take Marvin home.
“Mr. Tooley, I can’t and won’t lift you up. You’ve got to get to your feet without my assistance. Now up!” Aundy prodded him with the toe of her boot.
Although he grumbled at her, Marvin did manage to stagger to his feet long enough to collapse into the back of the buggy with his legs dangling off the end.
“If you fall out, so help me, I’ll leave you there,” Aundy warned then set the horse down the lane at a good clip. She’d never been to Mr. Tooley’s farm, but had an idea where to find it from everyone warning her to stay away.
Not daring to think about what she did, she drove north until she came to a crossroad and turned left. She followed it for a mile or so until she reached another crossroad and turned left again. A short distance down the road, she looked to her right, spotting a derelict house and barn off the side of the road. Since it was most likely her destination, she turned the buggy that direction.
When Marvin’s horse whinnied from behind the buggy, Aundy was sure she’d found the right place.
She stopped the buggy close to the door of a house that may have at one time been nice. Quickly stepping out of the buggy, she untied Marvin’s horse and led him to the barn. After removing his saddle and bridle, she turned him into the pasture.
When she returned to the buggy, Marvin was nowhere in sight. Grateful she wouldn’t have to smell or speak to him again, Aundy climbed into the buggy and headed home.
What a wretched, detestable man!
Thanks to the time she spent taking Marvin home, she would be hard-pressed to be ready in time to go to Ashton’s for dinner. While she’d dearly love to stay home, her curiosity drove her to visit his place. From what she heard, it was quite something to see.
At the barn, Aundy unhitched the horse and started brushing him down when George walked in.
“Howdy, Aundy,” he said with a friendly smile, taking in her windblown hair and sun-reddened cheeks. “Can I help you with something?”
“George, your timing is providential. Would you mind finishing this for me? I’ve got to get up to the house.” Aundy dropped the currycomb in his hand. On her way out the door, she called “thank you” before lifting her skirts and breaking into a very unladylike run across the yard and up the steps to the kitchen.
While water filled the bathtub, she laid out the clothes she planned to wear, glad she’d pressed the dress the previous evening after Nik finished his lessons.
After taking a bath and washing her hair, she stood in front of the kitchen stove combing out her long tresses, hoping to dry them faster.
As quickly as possible, she tugged on her dress and slipped her feet into a pair of dressy shoes that originally belonged to Mrs. Erickson. She rushed to style her hair in a loose upsweep with a few wispy tendrils falling along her neck and by her ears. Hastily fastening a rose made out of ribbon in her hair, she gave herself one more perusal in the mirror before deciding she looked as good as she could.
Aundy yanked on her gloves and picked up her reticule then decided she might need a shawl on the way home. She chose the soft white covering that belonged to Erik’s mother then rushed into the front room as the jingle of harness let her know the Nash family arrived.
Garrett offered her a startled glance with his hand still poised to knock when she suddenly swung open the door.
“Hi,” she said, breathless from her frenzied preparations to be ready on time.
“Hi.” Garrett stared at her, mesmerized. He had no idea about women’s fashions, but the pale blue gown Aundy worewith touches of lace made her eyes sparkle and accented her fine figure. The blue rose in her hair just made him want to take it out and unpin all her glorious wavy locks.
Quickly pulling the door shut behind her, Aundy smiled at Garrett, wondering why he looked at her so strangely.
“Shall we?” Aundy motioned toward the surrey where his parents waited. “We don’t want to be late.”
“No, not late,” Garrett mumbled, holding out his arm to her. Instead of acting the part of a gentleman, he really wanted to pull her to his chest and kiss her repeatedly. “You look beautiful, Mrs. Erickson.”
“Thank you, Mr. Nash.” Aundy felt warmth fill her cheeks at Garrett’s intense study from the flower on top of her head to the toes of her ivory shoes. Brazenly returning his gaze, she nearly stumbled on the walk as she took in how utterly appealing he appeared. “You look quite handsome this evening.”
“You think so?” Garrett glanced down at his pressed pants, fancy vest, and suit coat. Nora insisted he dress up instead of going to Ashton’s in his denims and a cotton work shirt.
“Yes, I do.” Aundy turned her attention to J.B. and Nora in the front of the surrey. This was the first time she’d seen J.B. take the reins. It must mean he felt better.
“Good evening.” Aundy squeezed Nora’s hand in hers before Garrett helped her into the back seat of the surrey.
“I don’t know how you manage it, honey, but you get prettier every time I see you,” Nora said, turning around in her seat to smile at Aundy. “Blue is definitely your color.”
