Page 100 of On the Mountain

Wade felt the first stirring of his temper. “This is my wife. Mrs. Haddock.”

He wasn’t certain why he added this last part, but he was certainly satisfied with the results. Anger flashed in her eyes. “If it was a wife you were looking for, you needn’t have looked further. You knew I would have married you at the drop of a hat.”

“The wife I took wouldn’t also have shared her bed with half the men in town.”

Fire lit her eyes. “She won’t be able to satisfy you Wade. No other woman knew how but me.”

Beside him, he felt Anna’s muscles grow taut and wasn’t certain from anger or hurt. Slipping his arm around her waist, he drew her small body up close to his. “She does just fine. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have some shopping to do.”

This time he brushed past her and didn’t care how rude he appeared. Keeping his arm protectively around Anna he marched her to the general store. Outside the entrance, he stopped them and turned her around to face him.

“I have some business dealings with Walter Grisham,” he told her. “I’ll meet you back here in thirty minutes. Do not wander away.”

She nodded and he left her to head across town toward the office building where the lawyer who handled his family’s affairs since his father arrived in the Colonies, was located. There w

as something he had to do. It had been on his mind for a while now, however his marriage to Anna only made his decision more appropriate.

* * *

Anna entered the shop and tried to forget that hateful woman. However, that was easier said than done. She was fully aware of their relationship. Far too aware, and Anna wasn’t even sure if Wade still made frequent visits to the saloon. By the sounds of the woman it didn’t appear that way, but she knew Wade was a very active member of the opposite sex in that field. Just not with Anna.

A stabbing disappointment pierced her chest and she automatically raised her hand and rubbed the area over her heart. The storekeeper looked up when she entered and offered her a bright and warm smile. He had always been so kind and understanding to her family. Unlike many of the townsfolk in Lantern.

“Morning, miss,” he said, then quickly corrected. “Mean, Mrs. Haddock, and congratulations.”

“Thank you,” she replied quietly and hoped the other customers in the shop did not overhear. It would be terribly embarrassing if the people in town were aware of Wade’s extra activity in the saloon. They would also know, then, that she was not a typical wife and that their marriage was a sham. Keeping her chin down, she removed a small pouch and put it on the counter in front of the shopkeeper.

He looked puzzled. “What’s this?”

“I believe the money my family owed you.” So humiliated by the fact her family had to resort to stealing to survive, in particular from such a kind and decent man, Anna couldn’t bear to look him in the eye. Since employed at the Circle H, she had been saving almost every single dollar she made to repay her family’s debt.

There was a moment’s hesitation before he spoke soft and low so that the other clientele could not overhear their conversation. “That’s not necessary miss. I was happy to help out where I could.”

She pushed the sack closer to him. “Please, take it.”

Again, a pause, then he took the money without any more comment or scene. Anna sighed inwardly. It was difficult enough having to do it.

“Was there anything else the miss wanted today?”

“I am to pick out some new clothing.” She self-consciously looked at the elegantly dressed ladies in the back of the shop.

“Of course.” He led her to a lovely day dress in his shop window. “This style in particular is very practical and we always keep it in stock, though I am certain I would not have a size small enough for your frame. There is a seamstress in town who could take it in for you.”

“No, thank you. I’m quite capable of doing that myself.”

He nodded and asked, “Would you like to have a look?”

Anna looked at the dress and thought it was far too pretty to wear around the ranch. She simply could not see herself mucking the stalls or milking the cows in such a fine dress. “Do you carry pants?”

She obviously surprised him, for his eyes automatically dropped down to her attire. Anna felt her face go red. “Of course. Perhaps the miss would prefer pants from the boy’s department?”

Nodding, she heard the ladies begin to whisper and wished terribly that Wade had not decided to go visit some man by the name of Walter Grisham. She had no idea who he was or where she could find him, but the idea of remaining in the shop with the women mocking her was unbearable.

“Excuse us.” One of the ladies wandered over and tapped Anna on the shoulder.

Reluctantly, she turned around but said nothing.

“Are you Wade Haddock’s new wife?”

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