Page 41 of A Soft Kiss in Summer
ChapterTwelve
Someone had brought the bag she’d dropped by the sidewalk back inside the house.Violet stared at it as she soaked in the tub, not bothering to get out until she was squeaky clean, then headed downstairs.
Daisy was busy cooking and insisted she tell her everything that had happened.She wasn’t sure what surprised her sister the most.The fact Archie was shot in his own establishment or that Violet had to play doctor and dig a bullet out of his chest.
“Is he all right now?”Daisy asked.
“He was when we left.Of course, infection is still possible.”
Supper was set out, and she waited for Josiah to join them, but he never made an appearance.She debated making him a plate but figured if he bathed at Mabel’s, she may have fed him.Knowing Mabel, she probably did.The real question now was, did she go to the little room behind the jail and wait for him or stay here?
She hadn’t missed his small confession from earlier.He’d gone to Elkin.Or started to before turning back.She could only think of one reason he’d have been going there, and that was to get their marriage annulled, just as he’d said he would.
Disappointment made her heart ache, and she wasn’t sure why.She knew from the moment they stood and repeated marriage vows that it was all a lie.That it was a sham of a marriage and would end.
So why did the knowledge that he’d been going to see it through hurt so much?
Because you’ve been living in the land of denial.
She sighed and brushed crumbs off the tablecloth.In a perfect world, she’d tell her family goodnight and go home to Josiah’s place, and spend the evening with him.As it was, she wasn’t sure what to do.
Rose walking into the kitchen put an end to that line of thought and when her sister started firing off questions about what happened at the saloon, she settled in to repeat her earlier story instead, which was fine by her.It took her mind off Josiah and at the moment, she was so confused where he was concerned, a distraction was just what she needed.
The town was all but deserted now that the excitement of Archie being shot had died down.Josiah crossed the street to the sidewalk and looked toward the other end of town, toward the Campbell’s place.
He hadn’t seen Violet since he told her to go bathe and assumed she was still at home.He’d wondered endlessly while he cleaned up if she’d come back to his place afterwards and found himself hopeful she did.
Then hoped she didn’t in the next instant.
Why couldn’t he get her out of his head?He didn’t want any sort of relationship with her.With any woman for that matter, but seeing her every day—and waking up with her in his arms—was starting to make him think maybe things could work out, and he needed to stop.It was too dangerous.Falling for her would be the worst mistake of his life—and hers.It was too risky and he wouldn’t endanger her like that.He couldn’t.Her well being depended on it.
“She’d make ye a good wife.”
Josiah nearly jumped out of his skin when Ewan Campbell spoke.He turned and saw the old man sitting on one of the benches that sat along the front of the mercantile.
“Ewan,” he said.“I didn’t see you sitting there.”
“I dinna think so, not with the way you just jumped.”The old man cackled and slapped his bare knee as he laughed.
Josiah grinned and sat on the end of the bench.“Isn’t it getting a bit late for you to be out and about?”
“Och.Now you’re sounding like my Rose.She thinks I’m too feeble to be walking around after dark, but I’ve been managing my own business for longer than she’s been drawing breath.”
Josiah laughed and looked back down the road.
“Heard my Violet played doctor today.”
“She did.”Josiah leaned forward and braced his elbows on his knees.“She did a fine job of patching Archie up.”
“She’s a great cook, too.”
“I’ll agree.”Had Ewan not lived in the same house as Violet, he would have found the comment oddly random.“The chicken pie she brought me yesterday was the best I’ve ever eaten.”
“No doubt.And as I said, she’d make a good wife.Cooks, cleans, can run a business, and dig bullets out of a man and patch him back up.What more can a man ask for?”
“Nothing as far as I can see, which is good seeing as we’re already married.”
Ewan laughed so loud, Josiah wondered if Gideon and Victoria Hart could hear them from where they lived down the road.
