Page 36 of A Soft Kiss in Summer
“Josiah?”
He blinked when she said his name.“Huh?”
She laughed.“Where did you go?You looked a million miles away.”
“Just thinking.”He looked toward the trees that lined the area behind the jail.It was full dark now.He’d always hated looking into the forest at night.You never could tell what was looking back.“Let me grab my gun belt and I’ll walk you home.”
“That’s not necessary,” she said.“It’s not far.”
“But it's dark.”
“And I’ve walked home after dark more times than I can count.”She smiled and headed away from the door.“Goodnight, Josiah.”
He watched her hips swing as she walked away, that little voice in the back of his head whispering she doesn’t have to leave before he said, “Goodnight, Violet.”
When she stepped around the corner, he shut the door and looked around the empty room.The ticking of the clock seemed loud now and as he stood there in the stillness, he wondered if she’d come back if he asked her to.
She hadn’t taken three steps onto the sidewalk when a shadow across the street caught her attention.A figure moved along the new seamstress's dress shop and she froze, her heart racing as Josiah’s offer to walk her home whispered back through her head.
The figure stepped into the street and she didn’t realize she was holding her breath until the moonlight lit them enough she could properly see her grandfather’s beaming face lit with laughter.
“Scerit, ye, didna I?”
“Grandda?”She scowled.“What are you doing out here skulking around in the dark?”
“Just making my rounds.”She rolled her eyes and waited for him to cross the street.He looked at the dirty dishes in her hands.“Did yer new husband like his supper?”
Violet ignored the way her heart fluttered at the mention of her new husband.“He did.”She lifted the dishes a fraction.“But he doesn’t have a proper set up in that tiny room.He doesn’t cook, so there’s no sink or even a counter to put a wash bucket.”
“Hmm…” Ewan stared over her shoulder toward the back of the jail.“Weel, that can be fixed easy enough.”He reached out and took the dishes from her.“I’ll take these home.I was headed that way when I saw you.”
“Oh, I can—”
“—Your place is with your husband, not out here traipsing around town after dark.Now get on back to him, girl.”
He didn’t give her a chance to argue.She watched him head home and thought,now what?She couldn’t follow him.He’d ask too many questions, the main one being why she wasn’t sleeping at Josiah’s.
You could always say you needed to grab your things.
She chewed her bottom lip.All her belongings were still in her bedroom.Going home wouldn’t draw any suspicion if she was just there to grab some things, but knowing her grandfather, he’d personally watch her pack and escort her right back to Josiah’s.
But she couldn’t go back to Josiah’s.
Could she?
He’s your husband.No one will think a thing about you being there.
No one but Josiah.
She blew out a breath and headed back around the jail.The area beside the building was dark, so she took her time walking to his door.The lamps were still lit.She could see the amber glow through the window, but didn’t hear anything when she stepped up on the small stoop.
She tapped on the door with her knuckles and waited.Josiah opened the door a moment later, his brow raised in question.“My grandda was on the street and saw me.He took the dirty dishes and told me to, ‘get back to yer husband, girl,’ so I didn’t really have a choice but to come back.He doesn’t know our marriage isn’t real.I should have expected him.He’s so restless.Can’t ever sit still for long.”She blew out a breath and glanced toward the bed.“Do you mind?”
He said nothing but held the door open wider and stepped back to let her in.The room looked exactly as it had when she’d left, except the bed covers had been turned back.
Josiah shut the door behind her and headed to the stove, picking up a bucket.“The stove reservoir is empty, so I was just headed out for water.I can light the stove to heat some for you to bathe in if you’d like.”
“Oh, don’t trouble yourself.I can bathe in cold water as easily as warm.”
