Gertrude by Kirsten Osbourne

Author:Kirsten Osbourne [Osbourne, Kirsten]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Unlimited Dreams Publishing
Published: 2017-10-22T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

“It’s Gertrude. Please let me in!” Gertrude knocked on the doors to Jed’s wagon.

It was before six in the morning, and Gertrude could hear Jed grumbling a bit as he moved around in the small wagon. A few moments later, he opened the door, rubbing his bleary eyes. “Gertrude? Come on in.”

“No, thank you.” Gertrude’s tone was stiff and formal. “I have a few questions for you.”

“All right. Let me pull some clothes on and come outside.”

Gertrude was in shock. She couldn’t believe Jed would acknowledge that he wasn’t wearing any clothes, or that he had invited her into his wagon, knowing that he wasn’t wearing clothes. She was glad that Sarah Jane wasn’t there to see it. She was one of the more judgmental of Gertrude’s sisters, and she didn’t approve of any inappropriate premarital behavior or flirtation. Being in a room with a man without his pants…that would certainly have crossed the line.

After more grumbling, Jed opened the door to the wagon and stepped out. He wore a wrinkled shirt, his usual brown pants, and had put on his hat to block the sun from his face. “Morning, Gertrude!” Jed smiled broadly.

“First question, please tell me more about your faith. You haven’t mentioned it.”

“Well, actually, when I spoke to your parents, I told them how I donate part of my income to my church. It’s about halfway between here and Austin. I know I should really start going to the local church, but that’s the church I was baptized in, so I have kept going back.” Jed’s answer was easy and honest.

Gertrude felt a wave of relief wash over her. She was so grateful that Jed loved and worshipped God like she and her family did. There was absolutely no way she could ever marry a man who didn’t consider church a big part of his life.

“Next question. Do you ever see yourself having children?” Gertrude hoped Jed would answer this question well, too.

“I love children, you know that. I have so much fun with them. I’d love children of my own one day, but I’d want the space to raise them right. I don’t think a book wagon is going to be sufficient for that…or for my future wife, for that matter.” Jed’s eyes sparkled playfully.

Gertrude realized she’d been holding her breath and exhaled. So far, Jed was passing her test with flying colors.

“Where do all your books come from? And how do they all fit in that little wagon?” Gertrude stared at the wagon curiously. It still mystified her.

Jed chuckled. “My books come from many of the places I’ve traveled to. As you know, I used to go from town to town. I’d make friends, and occasionally I write to them and they will send me books. They come from shops and libraries and mercantiles. That’s how I have such a great variety.”

Gertrude frowned as she looked at the wagon. “But the wagon is so small!”

“I can show you if you’d like…” Jed said, standing closer to Gertrude and whispering in her ear.

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