Page 23 of A Steadfast Heart
She took a deep breath, her hands fingering the hem of her jacket and her eyes still refusing to meet his own. “I looked through the dresses in the bureau. They’re too big, but I could alter them, if you don’t mind, um, seeing them.”
Relief flooded him. She needed both clothes and shoes, and he needed to save every penny he could for his brothers’ homes. Amanda had never worn a hand-me-down in her life. When Kaitlyn had appeared in her own dress, he’d assumed she felt the same. She kept surprising him.
“That would help out.” Was that gravelly voice his? He took her arm and guided her into the shoe section of the general store. “Kids, you can look around, but don’t touch anything.”
Jo and Tillie shot to the exact places he would have expected. Jo to the horse tack and Tillie to the candy. Neither was touching anything, so he’d count that as a victory.
David surprised him. He moved to the boys’ clothing. Drew’s heart squeezed. The boy needed new pants so badly. Since Kaitlyn was remaking Amanda’s dresses, maybe they could afford a single pair.
Mr. Thomas was tied up at the counter, filling orders for a customer, and three more waited in line. Plus, several people searched the store for items on their own lists. He’d better help Kaitlyn, or no telling how long it would take to get out of here. Or how much trouble his kids would find in the meantime.
He took Kaitlyn’s arm. “Let me see your shoes.”
She glanced around the store, her cheeks rosy red. “I couldn’t.”
“No one will see but me, and I am your husband, after all.”
Her eyes flew to his. “But we’re…”
Sleeping in different rooms. He could easily finish her thought. His own cheeks warmed, but her embarrassment had to be more intense. Best he play things down. “Yep, we are. And will. Still means I’m allowed to see your ankles.”
She looked around again, then lifted her skirt high enough for him to see the tops of her shoes.
Tillie joined them and tugged at the bottom of his coat. “I told you, Pa. Her shoes aren’t glass.”
Nope. Definitely not glass. But they might as well be, so far as practicality went. Okay, the heels were only a couple of inches high, but they were so narrow. And how on earth did she fasten them without a buttonhook?
Kaitlyn dropped her skirt back to the floor, looking around to see if anyone had heard Tillie’s comment. She sank into the chair set out for people trying on boots.
“Tillie, go find your brother.”
Tillie trudged off. Drew glanced over the women’s boots. “What size?”
“Five.” Kaitlyn’s voice was low.
He found a size five in a simple lace-up leather boot. “Here, try these.”
She didn’t move to take them. He smothered a groan. She probably thought they were beneath her, but she had to have them. Or something like them. Too bad Merritt was busy teaching. She could probably explain it better.
He held them closer to her. “I know they aren’t fashionable, but you need them.”
“You don’t understand.” Her voice was pitched so low he barely heard her.
He squatted beside her. “Explain it to me.”
Her voice lowered further. “I, um, can’t get to my shoes easily.” She looked everywhere but at him. She hugged herself, trying to disappear. “And I didn’t bring my buttonhook.”
His mind flashed back to watching Amanda with her shoes. Long skirts and corsets made it difficult to reach them. She had usually removed her shoes after her dress. Certainly not an option here.
His collar felt as if it had shrunk two sizes in the last thirty seconds, but he ignored it. The more matter-of-fact he appeared, the easier this would be for Kaitlyn. Right now, she looked like she’d spent hours over a hot stove. In July. With the windows closed.
He cleared his throat. “Since you appear to have misplaced your lady’s maid, I’ll be your buttonhook.”
“I didn’t have a lady’s maid.”
Kaitlyn’s family had enough money for a lawyer but not a lady’s maid? What kind of family did she come from?
He shook his head. He’d probably never know. “We can’t exchange sizes easily. You have to try them on.”
