Page 55 of A Soft Kiss in Summer
Josiah stilled.“Did you say his pa died?”
The sheriff nodded.“Yeah.Been at least six months or more now.”
Josiah turned back to the window and looked toward the mercantile.Edwin had told Violet his pa was sick, not dead.He’d thought maybe his insistence on getting married had something to do with his pa’s bad health, but if the man was already dead…
“I’ve not had any trouble out of Edwin or the men he’s been hanging out with,” the sheriff said, “but there are a lot of back door deals taking place over there.Nothing illegal that I can tell, but something has been off with Edwin ever since he buried Eugene.I don’t know if it's stress from having to manage the store alone or if he’s got himself mixed up in something shady, but something isn’t right with him.”
A man walked into the sheriff’s office needing immediate attention and Josiah thanked the sheriff for his time before leaving him to carry on with his business.
He started for the mercantile and headed inside the building but knew the moment he stepped foot inside the door, the conversation he wanted to have wouldn’t happen.The store was filled with people.
He saw Edwin near the counter.His hair was disheveled, his face red as he conversed with a balding man who seemed to be arguing with him about something.
A glance around the store showed him no one else that looked as if they worked there.Was Edwin running the store alone?Was this why he wanted to marry Violet so badly?
No, it had to be more than that.He could marry anyone to help out around here.
Heading back outside, he started toward the doctor’s office.He found Violet talking with Bonnie when he stepped inside the building.Archie’s eyes were closed, either sleeping or unconscious.He couldn’t tell which.When they saw him, they cut their conversation short.
“Any luck talking to Edwin?”Violet asked.
“No.The mercantile was slammed with people.I’ll have to try again later when its not so crowded.”He nodded his head toward Archie.“How is he doing?”
“Better,” Bonnie said.“His fever is coming down.The doctor seems to think he’ll recover, but it may take another few days before he’s out of the woods.”
“That’s good.”He glanced out the window.He could see the hotel from here.The windows on the left side of the building were where the restaurant was located and he could see people sitting inside at the tables.
He turned back to Violet and Bonnie.“Who wants breakfast?”
“I do,” Violet said, standing from her seat.“I’m starved.”
Bonnie bit her lip and looked at Archie.“I hate leaving him.”
“We can bring you a plate back,” Violet said.
Bonnie smiled.“That would be perfect.”
They said their goodbyes and headed across the street.The wait for a table wasn’t long and when they were seated near the windows, giving them a full view of the town, they read their menus in silence before ordering.
“So,” Josiah said when the waitress took their menus away.“What happened in the mercantile with Edwin?”
Violet blew out a breath and told him everything.He wasn’t any less mad about the exchange now than he had been earlier.He folded his arms on the table and leaned toward her.“You should have woken me before going over there.”
They both looked up at their waitress when she set down two mugs and filled them both with coffee.Violet added a spoonful of sugar into hers and a dash of cream before stirring it.“You being with me wouldn’t have changed the conversation any.”
“No, but it would have changed the way his interaction with you would have gone down.”He sipped his coffee, the black brew strong like he preferred.“Why you felt the need to talk to him so early is what’s baffling me.”
She turned to the window and blew out a breath.“Our conversation last night made me realize how trapped you are.”She met his gaze and gave him a smile, but something about the look in her eyes was filled with sadness.“I appreciate what you did for me, Josiah.You didn’t have to go along with my lie or even agree to marry me to get Edwin to leave, and I’ll forever be grateful you did, but I can’t let this farce go on any longer.It’s not fair to make you participate in something you clearly want no part of, so once we find that preacher, you’ll be done with me once and for all.”
Just saying the words hurt.Violet sipped her coffee and tried to ignore the pain in her chest.The last thing she wanted was to have their marriage annulled, but it wasn’t fair keeping Josiah bound to her.He didn’t want a wife at all, so despite her wishes, she had to give him the freedom to live as he wanted.It was cruel not to knowing his past.
“I knew what I was getting into when I agreed to this, Violet."
“I know, but it wasn’t fair to drag you into it to begin with and for that, I’m truly sorry.”She glanced out the window, a sudden melancholy mood making her chest ache with regret.“I should have just been firm with Edwin to begin with.”
“Probably, but Edwin doesn’t strike me as the type to take no for an answer.”
“He doesn’t.”She blew out a breath and met his gaze.“How did your talk with him go?”
