“Out. It’s no business of yours.” For the first time in her married life, she didn’t care what he thought.
“Why, you—!” His usual roar sounded pathetic as he tried to come to his feet... and failed. “What—what did you d—?” His head hit the table with a loudthunk.
She walked out the door, climbed into the buggy, and grabbed the reins.
For the first time in a very long time, she took a full breath and smiled.
What a lovely day.
nine
“Am preparing a preliminary paper giving a brief diagnosis of all my new species. Some have been in my collections six or eight years and are yet unknown to science.”
~Earl Douglass
THURSDAY, JULY13, 1916•JENSEN
“You’ve hardly said a word. Are you sure you’re up for this?” Devin brought his horse a bit closer to Eliza’s. The ride into town had been peaceful and quiet so far. Two things he greatly appreciated. But the puffiness around Eliza’s eyes told the story she wasn’t telling. Usually she started off quiet, and then her emotions would explode out of her. He wanted to be there for her when it happened.
“I am.” The emotionless expression she sent him grew into a slight smile. “Don’t worry. I don’t think I’m ready to pitch a fit. Yet.”
He chuckled. “I only called it pitching a fit that once. And you were twelve.”
“I know. The memory made me smile though and I needed that.”
“But”—better to get it out now rather than in front of people—“everyone needs to vent at some point. I know you, and if you don’t go storming up a mountain today ready to lasso the clouds down to earth, I’ll be worried.”
Her lips curled as she narrowed her eyes. “Devin Schmitt. There is no need for me to storm up a mountain.”
“Okay. How about hammer a rock to smithereens?”
“That’s more like it.” She lifted her chin as she faced forward once again.
Oh, how he loved her. “Good. And if you need to yell and holler at anyone, give me fair warning so that we can go into the wilderness somewhere, and no one can hear us. Then I’ll let you yell at me for as long as you want.”
Her shoulders shook with a silent laugh. “You’re a good friend, Devin.”
“I know.” As they reached the outskirts of town, he winked at her.
They tied up their mounts in front of the hardware store and then Devin held the door open for Eliza.
Barely five steps into the store, Eliza exclaimed, “Deborah!”
Devin stepped up beside the two women.
Mrs. Hawkins’s head snapped up from whatever she was studying on the counter. Her cheeks flushed pink as she gave them a grin. “When I heard that you were ordering yourself tools, I decided that I wanted to have my own as well. So I had Mr. Wayne order the same for me.” She gripped Eliza’s hand. “This is so exciting!”
Eliza’s smile actually reached her eyes as she hugged her friend. “You know, I love that you are so enthusiastic about this. It really helps right now.”
“I’m sorry about your grandfather.” Mrs. Hawkins leaned in and whispered.
“Thank you.” To her credit, Eliza held it together as she walked up to the counter to speak to the proprietor. “Mr. Wayne, I received word you have my order?”
“Yes, Miss Mills.” The burly man walked over to a large floor-to-ceiling shelf and pulled down two brown-paper-wrapped packages. “One is for you. One is for Mrs. Hawkins.” He peered at the other woman over Eliza’s shoulder.
The women paid for their purchases and Devin reached over and grabbed both. “I’m assuming these go into the bag you’re going to have me carry?”
Her laughter rang out in the store.
