Page 23 of The Drifter's Bride
“A new dress?”
“Yes. I realized what I have isn’t practical. Pretty, but not practical.”
“Rose has a fine selection of fabrics. She also has some beautiful day dresses. Not many, but a few already made.”
“Let me get my things and we shall head out. I need to check on Justine and see how she is doing while we are there.”
Addy returned to the house to gather her letter and a parasol, as there was no shade on the prairie and the summer sun was hot. Afterward, she went to wait for her aunt by the carriage house. A few moments later, Aunt Ingrid came with a basket on one arm and a rifle under the other.
“Goodness, Aunt. What are you expecting to find that you need a rifle?”
“I’m hoping for nothing. But it is better to be safe than sorry. There are wolves and wildcats. I never travel without a firearm.”
Addison shuddered. “Wolves and wildcats?” Thoughts raced through her mind of the day she was stuck in the rabbit hole. Thank goodness she hadn’t seen any wild animals. She would have had nothing to fight them off with but a stick and some berries.
“That is why we were so concerned when you didn’t return.”
“I’m especially glad Lukas found me then.”
“Me too, Addison. Me too.”
Aunt Ingrid led Molasses from the carriage house and soon they were racing across a packed, dirt road surrounded by wild grasses. Addison opened her parasol and held it over them to ward off the sun. It was warm on her face as she looked around the landscape.
Clumps of tall grasses dotted the landscape, and wild jackrabbits bounced between the clumps hiding from predators. In the distance, a large cry filled the air, and a cloud of cinnamon-colored feathers took flight, leaving a dust cloud behind them. There must have been at least forty birds with long curved beaks that flew low to the ground away from the buggy. Addison had never seen such a bird before.
“What are those?” she asked, pointing to the cloud of birds slowly rising in the air.
“They are Curlews. Came down from the Great Lakes and northern regions. They make a right mess of everything. They are headed to the river.”
Addison watched the birds until she couldn’t see them anymore. She would have to write about those in her next letter to Papa. He would be interested in something like that. They arrived in town and made their way to the mercantile. Addy loved the small shop. It had a bit of everything.
“Those seeds you ordered arrived yesterday, Ingrid,” a woman said, walking around the counter.
“Thank you, Rose. It only took six months. If I plant them tomorrow, I might have flowers by Christmas.”
The woman called Rose laughed. “At least they arrived. We haven’t received our order of canned goods. I swear Dillon is going to take a wagon himself and go to Denver to meet the train. Do you have time for a cup of tea, or do you need to run?”
“Not today, Rose,” Aunt Ingrid said. “I must mail these letters. Weston sent a small list. I need a sack of brown sugar. I thought I had some.”
“Are you making beans tomorrow?” Rose’s eyes grew wide.
“I am. I am glad I checked the pantry today.”
“I’ll donate that for the good of the town. Just don’t tell Dillon.”
“Don’t tell Dillon what?” A tall man with a thin mustache came from behind a curtain. He grabbed his wife from behind and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Is she giving my supplies away, Ingrid?”
“I have a list and I am more than happy to pay. I added a sack of brown sugar to the list. That’s all.”
“Brown sugar, eh? Must be for your bean recipe. Are you making them for the picnic tomorrow?”
“I am.”
Dillon went behind the counter and picked up a paper bag wrapped in brown string. “Here’s two pounds. Just don’t tell Rose I gave it to you,” he laughed.
“Thank you, Dillon. I will have plenty now.” Ingrid turned to Addison. “This is my niece Addison Aland. She is staying with us until October. If she needs anything, just add it to our ledger.”
“Welcome, Miss,” Dillon said. “I remember you coming on the stage a few weeks ago. How come it has taken you this long to arrive in town?”
