Page 404 of Conveniently Wed
He hesitated, with a darted glance toward Josiah.
What had she done improperly?
Abe placed her hand in his. The warmth from his calloused palms engulfed hers as he gave a firm squeeze. “Most ladies don’t shake the hand of my color.”
“I’m not like most ladies.”
He turned to Josiah. “You done good. I like this fine lady already.” He turned back to her. “And you let me know if this youngin’ gives you any trouble. You hear?” He nodded his head in Josiah’s direction.
“From my perspective, I wouldn’t be calling him a youngin’.”
Abe’s laughter filled the room. “This indeed is the lady for you. She’s not going to worship the ground you walk on like those silly town women.” He pulled an old rag from his pocket and brushed a sheen of sweat from his brow.
“I do believe both you and your lovely wife Delilah are going to be my good friends,” Katie said.
“And me?” Josiah asked.
She lifted her head with a saucy retort on her lips, but the look on the normally confident Mr. Richardson’s face stopped her jest. A vulnerability filled his smoky-gray eyes. It was not a moment to tease. She nodded. “And you.”
His smile widened to flash a row of straight white teeth.
Katie moved out of his intense stare and gazed around the shop. A collection of woodworking and farm tools hung neatly on wall pegs. A wheel was suspended between two sawhorses, and a fire crackled in a hearth against one wall. She breathed in the smell of sawdust, grease, sweat, and smoke. A sense ofhominess enveloped her. “Hope you don’t mind a visit now and then, Abe. There’s something about this place I like.”
“You’re more than welcome anytime, girl. Anytime.”
“Shall we?” Josiah offered his arm. “We’ll stop by the house, pick up our lunch sack, and head out. As far as I’m concerned, we still have the best part to see—the land.”
With one look back, she stepped into the sunshine. How would she ever feel at home in the big house when this humble shop drew her in? Under the heat of the sun, a shiver crawled down her back.
10
Josiah could not pull his eyes away from his wife. He caught a peek of the britches he’d given her as she swung her leg over the mare and settled in.
She leaned forward and patted the horse’s mane. “You’re a good old lady. Yes, you are.”
“Sorry, old Ella is far less horse than you can handle, but the Yankees owned up to all my prize horse flesh. That will change soon, and you’ll be one of the first to take your pick.”
Her eyes lit up, and her smile blossomed like an unfolding rose. “That will be wonderful.” She straightened and sat tall and comfortable in the saddle. “But today, I don’t care what I ride. It’s just nice to be on a horse again.”
He swung onto his horse beside her. Excitement brought a rosy blush to her cheeks and a spark to her eyes that were completely irresistible. His mind wandered to her very kissable lips. The wind brushed tendrils of wavy hair across her cheeks as she waited for his instruction. He resisted the urge to reach out but held onto his reins tighter than he should have. His stallion pranced backwards.
“Head on out.” He pointed to the gate. His heart rate needed a moment to calm.
She nudged the flanks of the horse. With a soft voice and firm touch to the reins, she was off. His heart swelled at the sight of her. She was a mixture of wild and worry, happy and sad, confidence and shyness. Everything about her moved him.
He trotted down the drive after her. “Where did you learn to ride?”
“Pa had an unusual philosophy. He was raised a servant’s son. When he broke free, he found he could learn most anything. He was insistent we all, whether male or female, have the opportunity to learn whatever we liked, and I liked riding and everything about horses. I also like math.”
“Math?”
“Numbers fascinate me.”
This woman continued to surprise him. “Well then, once you get settled, if you so desire, we shall see if you have an aptitude for bookkeeping. I know how to do it, but detest it, and it’s one of the most important parts in running a successful ranch.”
“Do you mean that? I would love to learn.”
“Absolutely. You’d be helping me out enormously. Why would I say no to that?” And if he could give her something she enjoyed, all the better.
