Page 352 of Conveniently Wed
Aundy jerked it free and gasped at the writing that appeared to be in blood. She sincerely hoped her imagination ran away with her and it was only paint.
Garrett took the note from her hand and read it in the fading light. He folded Aundy into his arms. Whoever wrote the note was clearly lacking in basic spelling skills.
“Git rid a ’em sheep or git of the farm, ya dum wuman!”
“I’m sorry, honey. Do you think Marvin Tooley wrote this?” Garrett asked as Aundy stood with her head pressed to his chest. Although he appreciated the opportunity to wrap his arms around her, he was outraged that anyone would threaten her. She had every right to raise whatever she wanted on the farm and if he had anything to say about it, she’d never leave.
“I don’t know. He was quite drunk earlier. I don’t know if he would have come back this soon.” Aundy breathed deeply andstepped away from Garrett. Taking back the note, she stared at it a moment before opening her door.
“Thank you for seeing me home, Garrett. I appreciate it,” she said and walked inside the house.
Garrett stood in the doorframe, peering into the empty house. “Want me to come inside and make sure everything is fine?”
“That won’t be necessary.” Aundy was determined not to let fear override her need for independence. “Thanks again.”
“Are you certain…?” Garrett started to ask, but she quietly closed the door, shutting him out.
Aundy trembled with fear. She wanted Garrett to hold her hand, light all the lamps, and promise her everything would be fine.
Since that wasn’t going to happen, she pulled the gun out of her reticule and walked through the house, prepared to shoot if anything moved.
In her bedroom, she lit a lamp and heaved a sigh. Why did the neighbors have such a hard time accepting her sheep? They weren’t hurting anyone. Nik kept them contained. She didn’t go around commenting on the state of her neighbors’ livestock, which included a herd of scrawny cattle, some horses that looked abused, and a pair of mean dogs that had to be part wolf for as vicious as they seemed.
Maybe it wasn’t so much about the sheep but about her, a woman, taking over the farm. Although she had a lot to learn, she was willing to try and gave her best each day to make the place a success.
Not a thing could be done right then, so Aundy changed into her nightgown, blew out the lamp, and slid between her cool sheets.
15
Aundy didn’t mention the note she found on the door to anyone the next morning. Nora called right after breakfast to see how she was and she told her everything was fine.
It was fine.
Or it would be when whoever was trying to frighten her figured out she wasn’t leaving, wasn’t selling, and wasn’t giving up.
With renewed determination to ignore whoever was taunting her, especially if it was Marvin Tooley, Aundy did laundry all morning and hung the last sheet up to dry when Li suddenly appeared next to her clothesbasket.
“Missy, come eat with us?” Li asked, smiling at her imploringly. She’d eaten a few meals he prepared and the food was always delicious. The thought of not having to make herself dinner was too appealing to tell him no. That, and the fact he looked at her nodding his head, trying his best to make her agree.
“I’d love to, Li. Thank you for the invitation.” Aundy smiled gratefully at her cook. “May I bring something?”
“No. Li cook.” He continued smiling and nodding his head.
“Okay, I’ll see you later then.”
“Yep, Missy.” Li started to go back to the bunkhouse then stopped and gave her an inquisitive look. “Missy, why wear britches, big hat, day you help Li?”
Aundy almost swallowed the clothespin she held in her mouth. Quickly snatching it from between her lips and hooking it on the sheet, she looked at Li with raised eyebrows.
In the weeks since she’d met the man, he hadn’t once mentioned her being the person who found him. She’d hoped, in his pain-induced state, he wouldn’t remember. It looked like he wasn’t quite as incoherent as she thought when she’d dragged him out of the stairwell to her horse.
“I didn’t think you knew that was me,” Aundy said quietly, looking around to see if anyone else was close enough to hear the conversation. It appeared they were alone. “I was trying to buy sheep and no one would talk to me as a woman, so I dressed like a man. I don’t plan on making a habit of it.”
“That good.” Li grinned at his boss. “You pretty lady, not man.”
Aundy laughed. “Thank you, I think.”
“Pretty boss lady,” Li said in a singsong voice, making Aundy grin. “Pretty lady. Pretty lady.”
