Jewel by Beverly Jenkins

Author:Beverly Jenkins [Jenkins, Beverly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, General, Romance, Historical
ISBN: 9780061737312
Google: mIyZwGCtRLMC
Amazon: B0011UGN40
Publisher: Harper Collins
Published: 2009-10-13T05:00:00+00:00

The ride to Niles took a little over an hour and the closer they got to the city limits the wider the roads became and the more people they passed. Niles wasn’t a large place by any means, but it was large enough to have a train station, which made it a metropolis when compared to the Grove.

Jewel had to admit she was enjoying herself. For the first few miles she’d bemoaned all the chores she’d left behind, but then put them out of her mind. As Eli noted, the work wasn’t going anywhere, so she decided not to fret anymore and to just relish the freedom of the journey and his company.

As they drove down Main Street, passing stores and businesses, she saw people of many races on the walks and driving down the street. “Where are we going first?”

“Jeweler friend of mine named Jake Adler.”

She didn’t know Mr. Adler or how to deal with the idea that they were here after a wedding ring. The wearing of a ring to show a woman’s married status had become popular after the war. Now it was all but expected, but again, she’d never thought she’d be wearing one.

Eli turned down a side street then stopped the buggy in front of a small storefront with a sign above the door that read, Adler’s Fine Jewels and Stones. He came around to help her down, then escorted her inside.

The indoor electric lights that were all the rage back east hadn’t made their way to the small towns of the Midwest, so the store’s interior was shadowy and dim like most stores its size, but the light from the smile of the thin-boned man who walked out from behind the counter upon their entrance could have lit up the entire town.

“Eli!”

“Afternoon, Jake. How are you?”

The two men shared a handshake of greeting then Adler looked down at Jewel. “And this is?” he asked.

“My wife. Jewel.”

“Beautiful name for a beautiful woman. Honored to meet you. Welcome to my establishment, Mrs. Grayson.”

“Thanks. A pleasure to meet you as well.”

Jake turned to Eli. “Please tell me you’re here to get her something.”

“I am, and to give you something.” Eli reached into the inside pocket of his suit coat and pulled out the bank draft he’d written that morning.

Jake took it, scanned it, then studied Eli. “What is this?”

“What I owe you.” Jake had been one of the friends who’d lent Eli money when the Gazette’s finances began to spiral out of control, and he was pleased to be able to repay the debt. “I’m on solid ground now, so thank you.”

“You sure?”

“Positive.”

And when Jake seemed satisfied, Eli said, “Now. Jewel needs a ring.”

For such a small shop, there was a wide selection of styles; some too elaborate for Jewel’s liking, and some just right. Picking up one of the latter, she tried it on and looked at the beauty and simplicity of the gold band on her finger. “This one.”

“Sure you don’t want something more showy?”

“I’m sure.

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