Page 339 of Conveniently Wed
“Ya dad-burned fool woman! Did ya really go and buy a herd of sheep?” Marvin spewed a disgusting stream of tobacco just inches from Aundy’s feet.
“My goodness, news travels fast around here, doesn’t it?” Aundy struggled to be pleasant although she’d rather yell at her nasty neighbor. “As a matter of fact, I did buy some sheep. Would you like to see them?”
“No, I don’t want to see ‘em.” Marvin glowered at her. “What I want is ‘em gone. They stink, they’ll bring diseases to our farms, and they ain’t nothin’ but a nuisance. You get rid of ‘em, or I’ll do it for you.”
“Now, see here, Mr. Tooley. You have no right to tell me what to do on my own land. Unless you’d like me to return the favor, I suggest you get on your horse and ride back down the road.”Aundy’s rising temper made her fight to hold on to her ability to be civil.
“Why, I ought to…”
“Bid the lady good day,” Ashton Monroe said, as he dismounted his horse and walked briskly to Aundy’s side. “If I’m not mistaken, she asked you to leave.”
“Should’ve known ya’d be in cahoots with the troublemaker,” Marvin said. He glared at Ashton as he mounted his horse then turned his attention back to Aundy. He spit another stream of tobacco her direction. “Ya ain’t heard the last of this, Miz Erickson. Far from it.”
Marvin smacked the end of his reins to the rump of the horse and raced down the lane in a cloud of dust.
Aundy watched him go, wondering how she’d missed Ashton’s arrival. She’d been too distracted by her conversation with Marvin.
Her attention shifted to the man standing next to her with his seeming impeccable manners. She gave him a long look. Dressed in an expensive tailored suit, Ashton wore a brocade vest, silk tie, and crisp white shirt. His boots were polished to a high shine and the hat he held in his hand looked like it had recently been brushed or was new.
Ashton Monroe gave the appearance of a southern gentleman, but Aundy’s bruised shoulder reminded her that he didn’t always behave like one, at least when he wasn’t in the presence of ladies.
“Thank you, Ashton, for your assistance with Mr. Tooley.” Annoyed another man had come to her rescue, Aundy wished he had waited to see if she could handle the situation before getting involved.
Was there something about her that screamed helpless female? She was quite certain the men she’d met since moving to Pendleton would be hard pressed to find a woman morecapable than she was at taking care of herself. With her fierce determination to be independent, there was no reason she couldn’t face whatever came her way.
“I’m just glad I was here. No telling what could have happened if I hadn’t run him off when I did.” Ashton puffed out his chest as he spoke.
Aundy would have laughed aloud if she could have gotten away with it. Ashton would have demanded to know what was funny and she didn’t want to explain to him he looked like her pompous rooster, Napoleon.
“Yes, wasn’t I fortunate that you happened to come by this morning?” The tone of her voice dripped with sarcasm and she turned away so she could roll her eyes without her unexpected visitor noticing. “I suppose you heard about my sheep and are here to tell me I’ve lost my sense and need to sell them.”
“Not at all, fair lady.” Ashton took her elbow in his hand and walked her up the porch steps so they could sit on two chairs by the door. “I did hear you’d purchased sheep and thought I’d stop by to make sure everything was going well. Your hands aren’t fond of the animals, or so I’ve heard.”
“That is a fact,” Aundy said with a smile.
Ashton laughed and launched into a conversation about interesting things he’d seen on his last trip out of town. For a few minutes, Aundy forgot her work and troubles as she listened to Ashton’s tales.
When Nik strolled around the corner of the house carrying Butter, she rose to her feet. Aundy hurried down the steps and took the lamb from the boy. “Nik, this is one of our neighbors, Mr. Ashton Monroe. Ashton, this is Nikola, my shepherd.”
“Nikola. Sounds like a foreign name. Are you not from around here?” Ashton asked, turning a probing gaze to Nik.
“No, sir.” Nik looked at the man before him with a disinterested glance before returning his attention to the lamb Aundy held.
“Well, Mrs. Erickson, I won’t detain you from your duties any longer this morning,” Ashton said, setting his hat on his head and stepping away from Aundy and the lamb. “Enjoy your day.”
“Thank you, Mr. Monroe. I plan to.” Aundy largely ignored her departing company as she scratched Butter behind his ears. The lamb leaned his little head against her chest and Aundy thought she heard him release a contented sigh.
“Time to feed this one?” she asked Nik. He’d tried to get several of the ewes to take the orphaned lamb, but none of them seemed interested in feeding the hungry baby. Nik suggested they bottle-feed him. Dent found a baby bottle Erik had used with a runt piglet the previous year and they were able to keep Butter fed with it.
“Yes, ma’am. He let me know he was nearly starving.” Nik pointed to slobbers on his pant leg. “He’s hungry enough to eat anything that doesn’t run away from him.”
Laughing, Aundy set down the lamb. She and Nik fed him then the boy started to pick up Butter to take him back to the flock.
“You can leave him here, if you like.” Aundy waved her hand toward a grassy spot in the shade of a tree in the yard. We’ll close the gate on the yard and he should be fine, don’t you think?”
“He might make a mess of your flower beds,” Nik said, shaking his head. “I think I should take him back.”
“Oh, he’ll be fine. If he causes too much trouble, I’ll bring him out to you,” Aundy said, realizing it was almost noon. “Would you like to eat lunch with me before you go back out?”
