Page 24 of The Drifter's Bride
“I’m afraid I hurt my ankle the day after I arrived. I couldn’t do much until now.”
“I’m glad you are better now. Was there anything you were looking for while you were in town, or are you just keeping your Aunt Ingrid company?” Rose asked.
“I actually need to mail a letter, and I was hoping you might have some calico fabric for a dress.”
“I do. Let’s go over here and we can measure out what you need. Give your letter to my husband and he will get it sorted.”
“Addison, dear. I’m going to go see Mrs. McGuthry and make sure she knows that she and her daughter are coming to the picnic tomorrow. Dillon, I’ll be back shortly for Weston’s items.”
“I’ll put them in the buggy for you, Ingrid.”
Addison watched her aunt exit the shop and then followed the shopkeeper’s wife to the section where colorful bolts of calico filled a wall.
“I think this color would suit you,” Rose said, pulling a green from the shelf. “It would look lovely with your eyes. Brown is also very practical with all the dust out here. Ingrid mentioned you are staying until October?”
“Y-yes. I’d like to stay longer, but my Papa is expecting me back home. I do like it here.”
“Flat River is a wonderful place. The people are the best I’ve ever met.”
“Have you been here long?”
“Dillon and I were part of the first few settlers. There were about eleven of us in total. I remember when your Aunt Ingrid and Uncle Weston arrived. She showed up just about to birth those babes. Had Owen and Oliver right down by the creek. That cabin is still standing there. I think one cowboy lives there now.”
“So, you’ve seen this town grow.”
“From two buildings to five, to what it is today.”
“I’ll take four yards of this blue. That should be more than enough to make a dress. Three yards of brown should be enough to make a skirt, correct?”
“Two and a half would work fine.”
“Aunt Ingrid said you might have some pre-made dresses available?”
“They are on that rack. I’ll cut your fabric for you. Do you need thread?”
“I’ll need everything. I didn’t bring my sewing kit with me. And I can pay for it. No need to put it on Uncle Weston’s account.”
“That’s good. Neither a borrower nor a lender be.” Rose placed the bolts of fabric on her cutting bench. “I think I left my scissors in the back. I’ll be right back.”
While Rose fetched her scissors to cut the fabric, Addison moved to a rack of pre-made dresses hanging in the corner. They were very simple dresses. Not at all what she was used to in Boston. Simple, but practical. If she wanted to fit in, she would need to find a dress that was just that.
As she pulled out several to look at the styles, the door to the shop opened and two women walked inside. They were dressed in red silk dresses with black lace and feathers. Addison had never seen women dressed like that before.
One had black hair that was in tight ringlets against her head. She had a bright red fabric rose pinned against one side. The other had blonde hair that was half up and half down. It was apparent she had been crying as her eyes were watery and her cheeks blotchy.
“I can’t believe he did that to you. What a cad,” the first woman said.
“I know,” the second woman sniffled. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
“Have you told him?”
“He won’t even acknowledge me. I tried to tell him when I arrived in town, but that … that Mrs. Chapman nearly put me back on a stage.”
Addison’s ears perked up. Mrs. Chapman? Was this one of the women Aunt Ingrid met that day? She was madder than a wet hen when she came home, but she refused to talk about it.
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m not sure yet. I know I can only hide the baby for a bit longer before Miss Marcie becomes suspicious. I wish I had never met Lukas Arkin.”
