Page 3 of A Groom for Millie
“She married him?”
Faith nodded. “I know. Have you read your letters yet?”
Millie’s grasp tightened on the satchel. “Not yet. I just can’t bring myself to read them.”
“I read mine. No one can compare to my Aaron.” Faith’s voice choked. She pulled a handkerchief from her reticule and dabbed her eyes. “I should probably get back to the office before my tears freeze.”
Millie reached out to rub Faith’s arm. “It will be alright. We need to keep the faith. There is a reason this happened.”
Faith gave a light chuckle. “Now you sound like Pastor Collins.”
Millie smiled. “My goodness, we can’t have that, now, can we?” She looked at the mercantile door. “I need to pick up a few things and get home before dark.” She released Faith’s arm. “Promise me you’ll come by and have tea? It’s not good for us to be so alone.”
Faith gave a little nod and with a wave, she walked back towards the post office.
Chapter Two
Millie turned around to see Mary Rose disappear into the store. She quickly followed and a blast of heat hit her in the face. There was a cast-iron stove in the corner and Millie could see the heat distorting the air around it. Through the grate, she spied flames flickering. Mary Rose had already shed her scarf and mittens and was racing through the store towards the candy counter. Mrs. Talley always had a gumdrop or two for visiting children.
“Afternoon, Millie,” Mr. Talley called from behind bolts of fabric. “We just unpacked these.” He ran his finger down the ends of the bolts. There were beautiful calicos and poplins just waiting to be cut.
“Thank you, Mr. Talley,” Millie said, “but I need to limit my purchases right now.” The words felt stuck in her throat. When George was alive, she never had to worry about finances. If she wanted to buy enough calico for a dress, she could. “I made a list,” she said, handing the shopkeeper a piece of paper.
Mr. Talley lowered his glasses to the bridge of his nose and scanned the list. “I’ll have all this in a few minutes.”
“Thank you,” Millie said, following him to the counter. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Talley.”
“Good afternoon, Millie.” Mrs. Talley reached over the counter and dropped two gumdrops in Mary Rose’s outstretched hand. “You enjoy those, alright?” Mary Rose nodded enthusiastically and popped both treats in her mouth. Mrs. Talley put the lid back on the glass jar and moved over to the counter. “How are you doing, Millie?”
“I think the same as everyone else. I’m still in shock.”
“Did you hear men are just showing up in the town?”
“What?” Millie was surprised.
Mrs. Talley nodded. “I guess they read the article and are just arriving, hoping to snatch up one of our women.”
“How do we know who they are? They could be outlaws.”
Mrs. Talley shrugged. “I am just glad we have a sheriff once again.”
Millie furrowed her brow. “A sheriff?” She really didn’t know what was going on in town if Celia was already married and there was a new sheriff.
“Well, he hasn’t accepted the job yet. But I know he will,” Mrs. Talley said enthusiastically.
Millie was saved from responding by Mr. Talley placing several items on the counter. “How much cheese did you want?”
Millie mentally counted out the change in her reticule. “About a dime’s worth.”
Mr. Talley pulled over the cheese board and removed the cloche. He cut a wedge from the cheddar round and placed it on a piece of wax paper. Mrs. Talley pulled it over and tied it with a string, adding it to the stack of Millie’s purchases.
“That will be thirty-six cents.” Mr. Talley held his hand out for the change. Millie counted out the coins and then closed her reticule.
“Come on, Mary Rose,” she called. “We need to get your scarf and mittens back on.”
When she was done bundling up Mary Rose, she picked up her sack and gave the shopkeepers a little wave. A blast of heat hit her as she neared the door. It was a stark contrast to the wicked wind that chilled her to the bone once they were outside.
Mary Rose ran ahead, watching her boots make tracks in the snow. She shuffled along and Millie followed in her footsteps. They had just reached the corner when Heather’s buggy pulled alongside them.
