Emily's Place by Tracey V. Bateman

Author:Tracey V. Bateman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2013-09-26T00:00:00+00:00

ten

Emily was amazed at how quickly word spread. The forthcoming scandal weighed heavily on her mind, but she couldn’t help but be secretly thrilled with all the business the town’s curiosity generated for Emily’s Place. Jeremiah’s also seemed to be teeming with customers. Emily was glad, for Jeremiah’s sake.

Two weeks had passed since the snow had ceased to fall, and business had been practically nonexistent until the past couple of days. But now, folks were slowly digging out of their homes and coming into town for supplies. Already she’d practically sold out of household essentials such as lard and flour. Hopefully, the supply train would be able to get through soon.

She smiled at Mrs. McDonald. “Would you like that to go on account, Ma’am?”

“Yes, Dear.” The woman turned to her husband. “Take these out to the wagon, Rafe. I’ll be along directly.”

“Don’t be all day about it, Woman,” he said gruffly, but Emily noted he took the crate of supplies and moved through the door.

Mrs. McDonald turned back to Emily, a look of expectation plainly written on her lined face.

“Do you need anything else?” Emily asked, steeling herself for what would most certainly be the question on everyone’s mind.

Pink tinged the matron’s cheeks. “I–well. . .I don’t mean to pry, but I am curious about the wedding.”

“Wedding?” Emily glanced at the counter and brushed away an imaginary speck of dust. “Do you mean Lionel’s wedding? I thought your son wasn’t getting married until spring.”

“No, Dear. I’m speaking of you and Jeremiah Daniels, of course. If you don’t make an announcement soon, folks won’t have an opportunity to get you gifts.”

Emily released a sigh. “I appreciate the concern, but Jeremiah and I aren’t getting married.”

Mrs. McDonald fingered the cameo brooch at her neck. “Oh, my. You mean Jeremiah’s playing the cad? I never would have thought it of him. True, he started out a bit rough in his boyhood days, but he appeared to straighten right up once Tuck hired him.” She shook her head and clucked her tongue. “Don’t you worry. I will speak to Mrs. Daniels about him. She’ll put him in his place real quick like. You’ll be a married woman before you know it.”

Emily knew the only fair thing to do was to explain the truth of the situation. This would only be the beginning of the gossip. But for Jeremiah’s sake, she had to be honest. “To tell you the truth, he proposed immediately.”

Confusion clouded the older woman’s blue eyes. “Well, then—”

“I turned him down.”

“You turned him down?”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“But why?”

“Because I felt it was the right thing to do. Jeremiah and I did nothing wrong. I see no reason we should have to get married.”

A look of understanding suddenly replaced the woman’s confusion. “I’d forgotten you hold to all these newfangled ideas about votes for women and whatnot. Times sure are changing, and I’m not altogether convinced it’s for the best. Not that I am opposed to a woman having a little independence, mind you.”

The middle-aged matron leaned in close and dropped her volume.

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