Heidi ducked her head, then looked up at him, tilting her head. “Thank you, Michael.”
He could feel the sweat beading on his upper lip. “You’re welcome. Get some rest.” He touched her cheek briefly and then waited until she entered the house and closed the door before he hurried down the steps to return to work.
By six o’clock, he had his key in hand to lock up the store and leave. The afternoon had been difficult with Heidi out. The amount of people who asked after her amazed him. She’d only been with him a couple of days, but she’d already made an impression. He had young David mix up sodas after he finished his deliveries, which freed Michael to prepare prescriptions. Now, with sore feet and a growling stomach, he grabbed his coat and locked up.
He welcomed the numbness in his brain as he traveled the dark streets to his home. His small house came into view, the only shadowy structure on the block. He drove the buggy into the carriage house, and took care of the horse before entering through the back door.
Familiar objects came into view as he moved from lamp to lamp to touch the wicks with a match. The dark blue sofa, with its embroidered pillows, compliments of his sister, Rachel, offered comfort to the tired body. Two overstuffed chairs sat in front of the fireplace, as if waiting for him to select a wife and settle there each evening. Something he’d promised himself years ago he would never do.
While leftover vegetable soup heated on the stove, he lit the fireplace, then stood staring at the flames, his arm resting on the mantle. What was he to do about Heidi Lester? The idea of them being merely employer and employee had evaporated this afternoon, when he’d kissed her, and she didn’t object. Even though she swore her determination to stay for a month, and taste some freedom, she could still change her mind and return to the comfortable and coddled life she’d left. She had adoring parents and an anxious fiancé ready to escort her back at a moment’s notice.
Why the hell would he care? Hadn’t one broken heart been enough?
Chapter Seven
After a busy week, Clarence boarded the train at the Oklahoma City station. He cursed under his breath as he settled in a seat across from a bulky man smoking a cigar. The train being crowded, there were no other seats available, so he reconciled himself to choking his way to Guthrie.
Guthrie! Every time he thought about his newly stubborn fiancée, anger shot through him. Tonight he should have been paying the obligatory weekly visit to her parlor right here in Oklahoma City, and then heading to his mistress’s house for a night of pleasure. Instead he sat on this miserable train to pay homage to the woman who held his comfortable future in her hands.
The fact that she lasted all week rankled. Had he been a betting man, he’d be short quite a bit of funds right now. Never in his wildest imaginings would he have thought she’d have the nerve to pack up and leave her home, let alone last a week working in a store like a common shopkeeper. The girl had cowed under her parents’ edicts all her life. He’d expected to have the same sort of wife. Why had she picked now, when his ambitions were within grasp, to defy them all?
Two and a half hours later, the train pulled into the Guthrie station. Clarence checked his watch. Seven minutes past eight o’clock. Obviously the store would be closed, so his best plan would be to check into the hotel and see if he could locate his mother, who might know the whereabouts of his fiancée. The whole situation bordered on outrageous, and he needed to talk some sense into the girl so everyone could quit this place.
The hotel lobby radiated a bit of warmth. The walk from the train station hadn’t taken long, but the lowering temperatures outside made the blazing fireplace welcome. Clarence blew on his hands as he approached the desk clerk.
“I’d like a room, please.”
The desk clerk shifted a cigar from one side of his mouth to the other, and pushed a large book in his direction. He handed him an ink pen. “Sign here.” While Clarence wrote the information, the clerk turned, and after studying an array of keys hanging from the hooks on the large board behind him, took one and handed it to Clarence. “Room eighteen.”
“Do you happen to know if Mrs. Manfred is in the hotel this evening?”
The clerk thought for a moment. “She left a bit ago with Mr. and Mrs. Lester. I think one of them mentioned The Pollard Theater.”
“Wonderful,” Clarence mumbled to himself as he reached for his satchel, then climbed the stairs to the second floor. Here he stood in this blasted town, with no way to locate Heidi and begin his campaign to convince her to come back with him when he left Sunday.
After unpacking his few belongings, his growling stomach reminded him he needed to eat. Afterward he would visit the saloon and look up his favorite whore, whose name he still couldn’t remember. Not that he cared what her name was. He only cared about her body and her willingness to do anything he paid her to do.
****
“Heidi, since we’ve established night air is not good for your health, I’ll continue to see you home you each evening.” Michael pulled the keys to the store from his front pocket, and held the door for her.
She clenched the soft woolen scarf tighter around her neck and face, when a blast of cold air struck her as they stepped into the street. “I hate to inconvenience you. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
Michael shook his head, and gripped her elbow. “No. It’s no trouble.”
Heads down against the icy wind, they hurried to the livery where his buggy and horse stood waiting. Michael nodded at the liveryman as he helped Heidi in, and handed her the heavy wool blanket from the back seat.
She shivered as she tucked its warmth snugly around her legs. Michael climbed up, wrapped the leather reins in his large hand, and slapped the horse’s back.
Once on the road, he turned to her. “Did you have a nice lunch wit
h your parents?”
Heidi’s shoulders shook with the cold. The woman definitely needed to put on some weight. He resisted the urge to pull her close, share his warmth.
“Y-y-yes I did.” Her jaw trembled as she spoke.
“Are things a little easier with them now?”