AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Selina didn’t know how to feel about this whole thing. Didn’t quite know how to act, either. Finally, she chose a mixture of muslin and cotton materials in blue, pink and yellow. And enough blue, brown and black denim to make several pairs of trousers not only for herself but Michael, too. She also picked out matching thread and a package of needles.
Leah looped arms with her and led her to the shoe section. She picked up a pair of black lace-up shoes with small heels. “How about these? These are darling.”
Selina glanced down at her cowboy boots and then over at the shelf next to the women’s shoes. “I’d rather have a pair of those.” She picked up a brand-new pair of brown cowboy boots that looked to be her size. New leather filled the air. She looked around to make sure no one would see her. The lady at the counter was busy helping the only other customer in the store, so Selina slipped her boots off and tried the new ones on. They fit perfectly. Felt right nice, too. “I’ll take these.” She smiled at Leah.
They laid all of her purchases on the counter where the other customer had been.
“Hi, Mrs. Marcel.”
“Good morning, Leah. How are you?”
“I’m doing great. How about you?”
“If I were any better, the Lord would have to take me home because I wouldn’t be able to handle so much joy.” She smiled and more lines filled her beautiful skin.
The gray-haired woman looked over at Selina. Selina waited for the usual look of disgust, but none came. Instead, the lady’s lips curled upward into a warm, welcoming smile as she extended her wrinkled hand toward Selina. “I’m Bertie. Bertie Marcel. And you are?”
Selina took her hand and shook it gently. “Selina Bowen, ma’am.”
“Bowen?” Her gray brows rose. She looked over at Leah then back at Selina.
“This is my new sister-in-law, Mrs. Marcel. Michael’s wife.”
“Well, I’ll be. That boy finally up and got married. About time. And to such a beauty, too. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Selina. And please call me Bertie.”
“Thank you kindly, ma’am. It’s a pleasure to meet you, too.” Selina had to fight back the tears burning the back of her eyes. These people here were sure different. Folks who owned the mercantile back home wouldn’t even look at Selina, let alone be nice to her. The only thing they ever did was turn their noses down at her and ignore her as if she didn’t exist. Money sure had a way of making people act un-Christian-like.
“Oh. Leah, some letters arrived for you yesterday. My, you sure have become popular lately.” She chuckled. “I’ll get them for you.” Bertie went to a room with metal bars.
“Here, try this.” Leah handed her a square piece of something brown.
“What is it?”
“Just try it. You’ll love it.” Leah bit into a piece and chewed slowly.
Selina turned the piece around in her hand and looked it over before taking a bite. Yum. Sweet and creamy. “What is this? It sure is mighty tasty.”
“Chocolate.”
“Ain’t never heard of it before.”
Leah offered her some more, but Selina didn’t want to be greedy so she turned down the offer even though she sure did want another piece. She liked chocolate a whole lot.
Bertie returned and handed Leah a stack of letters held together with a string. Seeing all those letters reminded her of Michael and the stack he’d read her at the train station. Letters that had changed both of their lives forever. And not in a good way, either. Poor Michael. Well, she didn’t want to think about that now. It was too depressing.
Selina finished getting what she needed, and then they headed home, laughing and talking a sow’s ear off all the way back to the ranch.
They arrived home shortly before noon. Selina set her purchases down on the sofa. She noticed Michael had already eaten again. She’d have to talk to him about why he hadn’t waited for her to fix him something. Until then, she had work to do. So she ate a biscuit with strawberry jam and a slice of ham on it, put on a pot of stew, then she got right to work sewing herself some new clothes.
Hours later, she held the trousers and shirt she’d made against her body.
“Where did you get those?”
Selina whirled at the sound of Michael’s voice and the banging of the door. She’d been concentrating so hard, she hadn’t even heard his footsteps echo on the porch, or the door squeak. It was nice seeing his handsome face again, warmed her like sunshine. She held the new outfit up proudly. “I made them.” She smiled, knowing she had gotten all the money’s worth possible out of the cloth.
