Page 29 of A Soft Kiss in Summer
“It didn’t look that way to me.”
He didn’t owe this man any sort of explanations about anything, but found himself riffling through the paperwork on his desk.“I had a few things to take care of before I joined her.”
“Well, I’ll walk over there with you so I can say my goodbyes.”
“I don’t think that’s necessary.”
“Oh, I insist.”
Of course you do.
There weren’t but a few people out on the street when Violet finally made her way around the jailhouse.The desire to step onto the sidewalk and go see what Josiah was doing was so strong, she had to turn and hurry away before she made a fool of herself and did something stupid like—beg him to come have breakfast with her.
Mabel’s boarding house looked the same as it always did but she knew more than likely Edwin was within the walls plotting more ways to make her life miserable.
She ran past the house in case he was looking outside and saw her and hurried up the front steps of her own home when she reached it.
It was loud inside when she opened the door, but that wasn’t unusual.It normally was.Her grandfather didn’t understand the concept of an “inside voice,” and always talked as if you were three houses down when you were sitting right next to him.
Daisy was scurrying about when she stepped into the kitchen doorway, putting platters of food on the table while her grandfather went on about the new saloon down the street.When he saw her, he grinned and slapped a hand down on the table.
“Weel, if it isn’t my newly marrit granddaughter!”He leaned back as if to look behind her.“Where’s yer new groom?”
“Um, at the jail.He had some things to do.”
“Will he be joining us?”
“I’m not sure.”She changed the subject and said, “What’s this about the saloon?”
“Oh!I was just telling Daisy how Archie has it fixed up.It's looking like a proper saloon now.”
“You don’t need to be going over there.You’ll find nothing but trouble in that place.”
“Och…” He waved a hand as if to swat her words away.“A good shot of whiskey keeps yer joints limber.”
She laughed.“If you say so.”
Rose and Graham walked into the room as she pulled her chair out and sat down.They’d obviously caught the tail end of his story because Rose scowled at her grandfather from the doorway.“Stay out of that saloon, gramps.”
“Rose!”Her grandfather stood from his chair.“I was just telling Daisy how quiet it's going to be now that you and Violet both have moved out.”
“It doesn’t sound too quiet,” Graham said, giving her a wink before taking a seat beside her.
“I’ve not moved out,” Violet said.“All my things are still in my room.”
“Och, weel, they may be at the moment, but you’ll be taking it with you to Josiah’s, won’t you?”
She and Rose exchanged a look.Apparently her sister hadn’t told their grandfather the marriage was fake when she and Graham saw him and Daisy home the night before.Daisy probably didn’t know either.
Rose had a tiny smile on her face and the way Graham was looking at her, she knew Rose had at least told him what was going on.It was anyone’s guess on when he’d say something about it.Graham had a way of getting under your skin with a few simple words and made you smile while he did it.
Neither said a word to her, though, and she was grateful for it.
“Noise is just a sign of good fellowship,” her grandfather said, changing the subject again.“Why, back in the time of my ancestors, the great hall was filled with mighty Campbell warriors, and the noise was deafening.”He leaned over to catch Graham’s eye.“The great hall was the biggest room in a Keep, you see, so every large gathering was held there.”
Rose rolled her eyes.“Enough with the stories, gramps.”
“Oh, never you mind,” her grandfather said, shushing her before launching into a story about the Scottish Castle his ancestors called home.Graham listened as if every word the man said was laced with gold and, even though Rose would never say it, they were all glad he did.
