Courting Trouble Read Online Free Page A

Gillespie. It takes more than tightly clamped sticks to skin an animal this cleanly. Now, how much oatmeal were you needing?’’
    She measured out the exact amount he asked for, not questioning for a moment whether or not Mr. Crook wanted the hides. When she started on the rice, Jeremy wandered over to the gun cabinet, keeping his hands clasped tightly behind his back.
    Mr. Crook joined Essie. ‘‘What do you think you are doing, Miss Spreckelmeyer?’’
    ‘‘Lower your voice, Mr. Crook. I’m filling Jeremy’s order. What does it look like I’m doing?’’
    ‘‘It looks like you are giving away the store.’’
    ‘‘He brought in a trade.’’
    Mr. Crook flipped through the hides. ‘‘These hides are worthless. I’ll not trade good merchandise for—Great Scott!’’ He flung back the top three and stared aghast at the fourth. ‘‘What is that?’’
    ‘‘It’s a possum.’’
    ‘‘A possum ?’’
    ‘‘Hush,’’ she whispered, tying a knot around the top of a small burlap sack filled with rice. ‘‘Can’t you see his family is starving? Just look at the boy.’’
    Mr. Crook began to roll up the hides. ‘‘No. Absolutely not. I will not trade for these ridiculous skins. Go return those items to their appropriate bins. I will handle this.’’
    She grabbed his arm. ‘‘Don’t. Please, Hamilton.’’
    His jaw slackened and it took her a moment to realize she’d used his given name. She’d been thinking of him in her imaginings as Hamilton, and it had accidentally slipped out.
    Her face burned, but she remained firm. ‘‘Surely this one time will not hurt.’’
    ‘‘The Gillespies have been charging all their purchases against this year’s crop, and cotton is now at five cents on the Exchange and dropping. I cannot afford to extend any more credit to anyone. Especially not the Gillespies.’’
    ‘‘How much for this rice and oatmeal, along with a vial of cod liver oil?’’ she asked.
    ‘‘He wants liver oil, too? Ridiculous.’’
    ‘‘How much?’’
    He picked up the two small sacks of oatmeal and rice, judging their weight in his hands. ‘‘Two seventy-five for these, plus twenty-five cents for the liver oil.’’
    She quelled her reaction to the extravagant quote. Her family bought their grains by the barrel. She had no idea small portions cost so much.
    ‘‘And the hides?’’ she asked. ‘‘How much credit for the hides?’’
    He held her gaze. ‘‘None.’’
    He made to move past her, but she tightened her grip on his arm. ‘‘I’ll replace your rice and oatmeal tomorrow from my own personal stock and pay for the liver oil with cash.’’
    ‘‘Absolutely not.’’
    ‘‘Why? What possible difference could it make?’’
    He leaned close. Whiffs of his shaving soap teased her nose. ‘‘I do not know what you think you are doing here, Miss Spreckelmeyer, but you are coming perilously close to overstaying your welcome.’’
    She lessened the pressure on his arm, changing it to more of a caress, then softened her tone. ‘‘I’d like to purchase those hides you have for three dollars even, please, sir.’’
    He studied her over the rim of his glasses. ‘‘You will have to buy them from Jeremy, then. I would not lower myself to carrying possum hides.’’
    ‘‘It would wound his pride and embarrass me. Please. Just this once?’’
    He hesitated in indecision, then slowly straightened. ‘‘All right, Miss Spreckelmeyer. I will award the Gillespies three dollars credit for the hides . . . just this once.’’
    ‘‘I’ll pay you back.’’
    ‘‘No. No you won’t. But leave me out of the negotiations and make sure Jeremy understands not to set foot in here again with any more hides. Is that clear?’’
    For a moment she imagined what it would be like once they were a couple. She would fling her arms about him and thank him effusively for his consent. For now, she simply let the warm feelings flow freely through her eyes and