Page 428 of Conveniently Wed
He opened the door and ushered her in with a touch to the small of her back. The bell tinkled above their heads, and Josiah had to duck to avoid hitting it with his hat.
Sadness filled the pit of her stomach with heaviness, and she looked around in an effort to rid herself of the gloom. Shelves stocked with buggy harnesses, saddles, and cowboy boots filled the air with the smell of new leather. One side of the store was set up for the men, displaying clothing, hats, and footwear. Tools and feed were available in the back corner.
The other side of the store displayed bolts of calico, cotton, silk, and wool. Notions of thread, buttons, hats, and footwear filled a corner. Dishes, baking needs, ripe cheeses, and a beautiful glass showcase at the front showed off the hard work of Winnie’s touch. Jewelry, pocket watches, glass dolls, and serving dishes filled in every square inch. She gravitated to that side of the store and Josiah to the other.
Two women huddled in the corner spoke just loud enough for her to hear. “She thinks she’s something now that she’sMr. Richardson’s wife. But look at how she dresses like the commoner she is.”
“Don’t you worry, Laurie. He’ll tire of her. Mark my word.”
“Outward beauty only lasts so long, and the novelty wears thin when culture and sophistication are what a man of his social standing needs.”
“He’ll have his romp in the hay with the farm girl, and then you’ll be there to pick up the pieces, as it was meant to be.” Their titter filled the air as they lifted their heads and strolled by. They called out a welcome and waved to Josiah before stepping out of the store with a glare in her direction.
Katie’s stomach twisted as she looked down at her plain clothes. What an embarrassment she must be to Josiah. No wonder he’d insisted on a new wardrobe.
He caught her eye and smiled, moving across the store to her side.
Robert emerged from the storage area. He slapped white dust from his work apron without looking up and ran a hand through his thick, unruly mop. The powder from his hands streaked his hair gray and left a white mark across his bronzed cheek.
“Robert, what happened?”
His head snapped up. “Katie, I mean…Mr. and Mrs. Richardson, so glad to see you.”
Katie moved forward and nudged his shoulder. “I’ll always be Katie to you, and you know Josiah.”
“I’d shake your hand, but I better not.” He lifted his white palms. “I’ll go get Winnie. She’s been cooking up a storm for our lunch, so excited that you’ll be joining us. I’ve been left to attend the store. None too successfully, I might add. I just busted a sack of flour.”
Katie snuck a sideways glance at Josiah and stifled the laughter. The minute Robert disappeared behind the curtainthat separated the storage room from the store, Katie and Josiah let loose, each trying to muffle the sound. Robert had looked hilarious covered in the powder. She looked up at her husband with laughter still bubbling out.
“You don’t know how good it is to hear you laugh,” he said.
She reached on her tip toes to plant a quick kiss on his lips. His eyes turned smoky gray with desire, and he bent his head for more.
“Well, well, Katie. I see married life agrees with you.”
They jumped apart at the sound of Winnie’s voice.
“I wasn’t going to interrupt.” She chuckled. “But it didn’t look like the end was in sight. And”—she pointed to Hattie out the window—“the town gossip is making her way across the street. We don’t want to start a scandal now, do we?”
Katie was shocked at herself. What had started out as a quick kiss had left her with little thought to her surroundings. When she glanced up at Josiah, he looked rather like a proud peacock.
The bells tinkled as Hattie burst in and slammed the door behind her. “Why, I do declare.” She panted heavily with her hands planted on both sides of her rotund girth. “I know you two are newly married, but that’s just not acceptable.” Her pasty white cheeks, covered in far too much talcum powder, puffed like a steam engine.
“Imagine, kissing in public.” She pointed a chubby finger in their direction. “Mr. Richardson, you should be ashamed of yourself. That belongs in the bedroom, if at all.” She clucked out her disgust like an old hen and lifted her head with a jut to her chin. “In the future, see to it that you remember where you are.” She turned on her heels and, with a wiggle of her wide hips, flounced out of the store. She cast one more disapproving glare through the window as she passed by.
Winnie grabbed Katie’s arm and focused on Josiah. “I’m stealing your bride for some ladies’ talk. Try not to miss her too much.” Her eyebrows waggled.
As they passed her husband, coming from behind the curtain, Winnie gave him a smile. “Robert, don’t forget—I’m heading to the dressmaker with Katie this afternoon, and you have to man the store.”
18
Josiah pulled out his pocket watch and whistled as he pushed back from the lunch table in the apartment above the store. “We’d better get going. Clarisse will be waiting.”
“I’ll clean up.” Robert waved them on. “You go enjoy.”
“But the store?” Winnie said.
“Pa is fine for a few more minutes downstairs.”
