Moving from Maryland by Christine Sterling

Author:Christine Sterling [Sterling, Christine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sweet Promise Press
Published: 2019-05-17T05:00:00+00:00

Barrett flexed his hands several times. So, it was true. He knew the boys had mentioned it, but he didn’t want to believe that Jasper was courting Gracie.

And why shouldn’t he believe it? Gracie was a very desirable woman. She was beautiful and smart. Jasper was a bachelor. And between Moss and Jasper, he’d rather see Gracie on Jasper’s arm.

“I was just leaving.” Barrett turned to Gracie. “I’ll tell the boys you will be there. They will be looking forward to seeing you.”

“Me too,” Gracie replied. “Thank you for the invitation.” She looked as though she wanted to say something more. Barrett gave her a moment and then headed out the door.

Barrett tipped his hat to Jasper “Have a nice night.” He reached the bottom of the steps and paused. Turning around he saw that Jasper wasn’t by the door anymore. He must be in Gracie’s apartment.

The thought bothered him more than he cared to admit. It wasn’t his business who courted her. Then why was he so upset about it?

He pondered that as he walked to the mercantile. His whole purpose for going to see her really was to invite her to the barbeque. And instead, he attempted to kiss her.

Her lush curves made him think all sorts of ungentlemanly thoughts. It had been a long time since he reacted to a woman, and to think this little slip of a thing could make him want to forget his manners and beat his chest was astounding.

She was nothing like Eliza. Or Louisa.

Speaking of which…

He entered the mercantile and walked to the counter where Louisa was engaging Mrs. Handley in a bit of gossip. Barrett tried not to say anything to her. The last thing he wanted was to be the subject of talk in the town.

“Are you ready to go? I know Mrs. Handley wants to close up shop.”

Mrs. Handley reached out and patted Louisa’s hand. “I was just having a lovely conversation with Louisa. She was telling me all about the fashions back East.”

“And Olivia was telling me that Miz May opens the boarding house dining room on Saturday nights. They have a man there that cooks. His specialty is steak. Perhaps we can have supper before we head back home?”

Olivia? No one called her Olivia. She was always Mrs. Handley. Barrett debated if her own husband called her Olivia, as all he heard the shopkeeper refer to her as was Mrs. Handley.

Barrett shook his head. “Mrs. Parker has probably made dinner for us. We need to get back.”

Louisa took his arm and batted her eyes at him several times. “I told Mrs. Parker that we might be late. Let’s go to dinner, Barrett.”

“You should go and have fun,” Mrs. Handley agreed. Louisa jumped up and down, clapping her hands.

“Thank you, Barrett,” she cooed, kissing his cheek.

“Let me finish wrapping your packages and then you can be on your way.”

“How about we stop by tomorrow and pick them up?” Louisa suggested. “That way Barrett and I can go and see this restaurant you are raving about.

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