The Heirloom Brides Collection Read Online Free Page A

Swallowing hard, she suddenly had a twinge of conscience about her outburst a few minutes ago. “I apologize for the fainting comment.” She wanted to offer an excuse. Something about how worried she was and that was the reason she chose those insulting words. But she knew that wouldn’t be a true apology, and after all, Stuart had been right there to help get Pops to Doc Avery’s.
    Stuart’s face softened, and he reached out for just a second and touched her arm. “I’m glad I was here to help. If you need anything, please let us know.” He touched his hat and walked out the door, leaving Betsy speechless at the uncommon gentleness from him.
    She stared at the closed door. Had she misjudged Stuart Fields all these years?

Chapter Three
    S till shaken from the twisted body he’d been forced to witness, Stuart walked into the store amid a jumble of activity. His ma glanced up from filling an order, and her face softened with relief. “Thank heaven you’re back.” Stuart grabbed his apron from the peg at the end of the shelves and tied it on with shaky fingers. “How’s Old Joe?”
    “Not good, Ma.” He kept his voice low. “I don’t see how he can survive, but Doc Avery and Junior Mahoney are doing everything they can.”
    “I hope you didn’t come back here just for me. It doesn’t hurt folks to wait a little while when there’s a crisis.”
    “There wasn’t much I could do to help the doc. Junior was there, so I felt like I was more in the way.”
    His mother nodded. Stuart appreciated her discretion in not mentioning his aversion to the sight of blood and broken bodies. Just the memory of Old Joe’s injuries brought on a bout of dizziness.
    “I can’t imagine what poor Betsy will do if Old Joe doesn’t pull through.” A heavy sigh accompanied her words, and she shook her head.
    “I told her to let us know if we could do anything to help out.”
    Ma’s graying eyebrows rose. “That was… kind.”
    Fortunately, a woman carrying a pair of men’s trousers approached the counter just then. She ordered several goods from behind the counter, and by the time she had paid for her purchases, Ma was occupied with another customer, so Stuart didn’t have to continue the conversation. They remained busy for the next four hours until closing. At five o’clock, Stuart locked up with a deep sense of relief that the day was finally over.
    Ma tucked a loose strand of gray hair behind her ear and dropped onto the bench next to the stove. “Gracious. What a day.” She offered him a weary smile. “I’m getting too far along in age to keep up on days like this.”
    Stuart grabbed the broom and began the nightly cleanup. “You just sit and rest, and I’ll tidy up. Then we can go over to Miss Annie’s for supper before we go home.”
    “Annie’s. The prices she charges are highway robbery.” Ma gave a snort. “And the food isn’t even that good.”
    A smile touched Stuart’s lips. “You know, Ma,” he said, swiping at the floor with the broom. “Eventually, you’re going to have to forgive Annie.”
    “Forgive? What on earth are you talking about? I have nothing against that woman except for her ridiculous prices and overcooked roast.”
    Not to mention the fact that thirty years ago, Miss Annie had invited Pa to the Sadie Hawkins dance before Ma had drummed up the courage to do so. Of course, Ma hadn’t confided this fact to him. Pa had. As much as he’d love to force her into an admission, he knew better. When Ma set her mind to something, there was no convincing her of anything else.
    She sat by the fire, staring out at the front window. “You know, I’ve been thinking.”
    “About what, Ma?” He collected the dust he’d just swept and walked toward the door to throw it outside where dirt belonged. He noted with some relief that the ice had stopped falling. He’d still have to help Ma cross the street to the restaurant, but the wagons going back and forth all day had helped melt some