Page 14 of Love on Target
Frustrated with the direction of his thoughts, Josh yanked them in line and went back to work. Only, instead of keeping his attention on the belt, his gaze roved to the window while his thoughts wandered to the mercantile, contemplating why Rena was there and what had brought her into town.
When he struck his thumb with the mallet, Josh tossed it down and shook his hand in hopes of relieving the pain.
“Tarnation,” he muttered even as he strode across his shop, grabbed his hat from the rack by the door, and stormed outside. He crossed the street in a few long strides, marched past the bank, and jogged up the steps to the mercantile. He reached for the door, ready to charge inside when it swung open and Rena stepped out, her arms loaded with paper-wrapped parcels.
“Oh, Mr. Gatlin,” she said, smiling at him when recognition set in. “How does this day find you?”
“Well,” he said, lying through his teeth. Hadn’t he been well until he’d spied her riding up the street? Nothing seemed well now, though. “And you? What brought you into town today?”
“Theo and I both wrote to his sister, letting her know I arrived. I wanted to mail the letters. Since I was in town, I returned the basket and dishes to the hotel. Mrs. Piedmont is wonderful. I also needed a few supplies.” She glanced down at the packages she carried.
Josh realized he must look like a big oaf, blocking her way. He removed his hat and stepped aside. “May I help you with those, Miss Burke?”
“I’ve got them, but thank you.” She rushed down the steps and began tucking parcels into the saddlebags straddling the back of the mule. When she had them all secured, she looked back to find him watching her.
Josh hadn’t even realized he’d followed her down the steps until the breeze carried her fresh, sweet scent to his nose. He wanted to bat it away like a bothersome gnat but instead inhaled a deep breath. She smelled like flowers and sunshine with a hint of adventure thrown in just to further ensnare his senses.
Infuriated with himself, he brushed his finger beneath his nose and took a step back.
Rena gave him a curious look, as though he was a puzzle with missing pieces. “It was so nice to meet you and Gabi yesterday. Thank you again for such a lovely meal.”
“My pleasure. Gabi couldn’t stop talking about you. In fact,” Josh glanced up at the position of the sun in the sky, “she’ll be getting out of school any minute, so I’d best return to the shop.”
“Of course. Did you come to the mercantile for a reason?” Rena picked up the reins she’d tied around the hitching post and walked around to her mule’s left side.
Mindful of appearing like the dunce he was sure she thought him to be, he nodded. “I did. I reckon we’ll see you Sunday if not before.”
“See you later,” she said, easily swinging into the saddle with her long legs.
Josh remained rooted to the street, watching as she turned the mule north and headed out of town with a friendly wave over her shoulder.
It took a moment before Josh realized someone stood beside him. He looked over at Doctor Evan Holt as the man held his doctor’s bag in one hand and a box of supplies in the other.
“See something of interest?” the doctor asked with a smirk.
“Nothing at all,” Josh said, glowering at the doctor before storming back toward his shop. The man’s laughter followed him across the street.
Josh slammed the door so hard, the windows rattled when he returned to his shop. Too worked up to continue the detailed work on the belt, he went into the back room and decided it was a perfect time to start the spring cleaning he’d been putting off.
However, the onerous task of scrubbing shelves and polishing windows until they shone did nothing to remove the image of Rena’s smile from his mind.
Guiltoverherreactionto Laura’s gift, and the fact that she hadn’t actually read the entire letter from her cousin, weighed heavily on Rena. From the moment she awoke Saturday morning, she knew she wouldn’t be at peace until she read the letter in its entirety and then properly thanked Laura for the gift.
Even if Rena didn’t believe romance was in her future, Laura had meant well.
Still not quite ready to read what her cousin had shared, Rena kept herself busy, tidying the cabin and then baking cookies. She thought about taking Scout for a ride, but the animal needed his rest. Theo had been asked to work extra hours at the mine, so he’d left early again that morning, and Rena had another day to herself.
After cleaning the barn and bathing in the creek, she returned inside, aware she’d put off Laura’s letter long enough. With a careworn sigh, Rena climbed up to the loft, removed her boots, and settled onto the end of the bed. Her hand brushed over the inlay in the lid of the case that held the unique pistol. It really was quite a splendid case. Something to be treasured.
So, why on earth had her cousin shipped it all the way to her in Holiday?
Likely, the answer was in the letter she’d angrily skimmed the other night. Had she taken the time to read it thoroughly, perhaps it wouldn’t have left her so exasperated and out of sorts with Laura.
Then again, the combination of exhaustion, meeting Josh and Gabi, and finally reaching Holiday after weeks of travel might have added to her reaction.
Rena glanced out the window that allowed light into the loft area. She could see trees and sky, and it calmed her to know nature was so near. The loft room Theo had prepared for her was more than she could have hoped for. Although it was open to the room below, he had hung a curtain on a rope across one corner to give her a private area for changing. There was a small desk and chair beneath the window, a dresser with a mirror above it, and a soft, comfortable bed with a fluffy pillow and warm blankets, which seemed essential during the cool mountain nights.
“I’m grateful for this new home and my cousins,” Rena mumbled to herself, refusing to consider her thoughts a prayer. Not after what she’d suffered through. Alone.