Page 23 of Married By Midnight
Ian looked at Dell and nodded. “I’d like to.”
“Good. We could use the help. Pay’s lousy, but the vittles are good. We don’t know how much longer we’ll be able to keep going before Sarah is forced to sell the farm.”
“Sell the farm?”
“Hard thing for a woman to run a farm all by herself.”
Ian thought about that for a moment. “I guess so. I’ll head to town and be back as soon as I can.”
“We’ll start you out easy,” Dell laughed.
Ian asked direction to town from Dusty and Jesse. They offered him a horse, but Ian preferred to walk. He was part of the way down the hill towards town when he spied a man standing on the side of the road.
“Ian, my lad. How are you today?” the man said moving towards Ian.
“Do I know you?” Ian held the tin tighter to his chest. He didn’t want anyone stealing his money.
“I’m not going to steal it, boy. I just wanted to see how you were recovering since you hit your head.”
“How do you know that?”
“You don’t remember me from the train?” Ian shook his head. “Fluff and nonsense. I didn’t think you were hit that hard. That is bothersome.”
Ian scooted around the man and continued down towards town.
“Wait!” the man called. “You really don’t remember anything?”
“No, I honestly don’t.”
“Well, let me introduce myself. Mr. Edward Pennyworth at your service. May I walk with you?” he asked pointing towards town with his cane.
“I guess,” Ian said as he continued walking.
“Are you doing some shopping in town?”
“No. Just running an errand.”
“If you get a chance you should go by the bakery. Truly delightful. A young couple recently purchased it. They make the best cakes.”
“I’ll see if I can find it.”
“The mercantile is down there too.”
“What would I need from the mercantile?”
Mr. Pennyworth raised his shoulders. “I don’t know. Perhaps a new notebook or some tea?”
“Tea?”
“It is a thought. How is Miss Sarah doing?”
“Sarah? I guess she’s fine.”
“Lovely young woman. Will make someone a fine wife.”
Wife? It didn’t surprise him, but the thought of her being married to someone else bothered him immensely. He shouldn’t even be having thoughts like that. The woman simply cared for him while he was recovering. There was nothing else.
He had really enjoyed their evenings reading together. Maybe he only imagined the look in her eyes when she walked into the room last night.
