Sunset Embrace by Sandra Brown

Author:Sandra Brown [Brown, Sandra]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical, General
ISBN: 9781455546381
Google: 1_i9BQAAQBAJ
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 2015-12-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Lydia was hanging laundered clothes on the line Ross had stretched between tile corner of their wagon and a young cottonwood tree when Anabeth came running up to her, panting from exertion, excitement dancing in her eyes. "Guess what just rolled in down by the river?"

Without waiting for an answer, she continued, "A peddlers wagon. He's toting more goods than a body can shake a stick at. 'Course Leona Watkins is raisin' Cain on account of It bein' Sunday and sayin' folks ain't supposed to buy nothin' on the Lord's day, but Mr. Grayson said this wasn't tike normal times and folks couldn't just run into town on a Saturday. I seen that Priscilla buy a candy stick with my own two eyes, and she hid it in her pocket. And Ma said for you to come on down there 'cause she already spotted a bolt of cloth that would make you a right pretty dress for the Fourth of July."

Lydia had paused in her chore to listen as the girl rattled off the exciting news seemingly without taking a breath. Ross, who was mending a bridle, had stopped to listen to the tale too. Simultaneously, they burst into laughter.

Things had been so strained between them since the morning after Owentown that their laughter surprised them both. When they looked at each other, it dwindled until they turned their heads away, embarrassed.

"Well, ain't you gonna come down and see what he's got?" Anabeth demanded disbelievingly when Lydia calmly returned to hanging up the wash.

"I don't need anything," she said quietly.

"But Ma said this material would look better on you than anybody 'cause it's kinda gold and with your hair and all ... I mean . . . you just gotta come see the wonderful things he has."

"I've got chores to do, Anabeth," Lydia said patiently and glanced toward Ross. He set the bridle aside and went into the wagon. She didn't need or want anything, but it would have been nice if he had offered to walk her down to the peddlerman's wagon just to look.

She should have known not to expect any kindness from him. He had barely spoken to her since he had learned that Winston Hill had called on her while he was gone. Every night he made sure she and Lee were settled, then he unrolled his bed beneath the wagon. No one on the train noticed. Many of the men slept outside where it was cooler.

Lydia noticed. She missed the sound of his breathing across the wagon floor. She missed his presence. She missed watching him take off his shirt and boots.

"Is your ma going to let you buy something?" Lydia asked, trying to ignore (he ache in her throat.

"Pa give us each a dime."

"You'd better get on then and do your own shopping before Priscilla Watkins buys everything up."

Anabeth laughed, then her spirits collapsed again. "Reckon I'd better. Sure you won't come along?" She had been so delighted to be the one appointed to inform Ross and Lydia about the peddler.

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