AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Suit yourself,” he said before clicking his tongue and hollering at the horses to get them moving once more. They had to cross through some deep snow before they were able to slide onto the frozen lake.
Erika held on tightly to the edge of her seat as the wagon jostled her around a bit until the smooth crossing over the ice commenced. The lake wasn’t as wide as it was long and they reached the other side in no time. Once again, the wagon was tossed around as the horses had to break through fresh snow. Trying to keep her balance, she was annoyed, however when she found herself thrown against Jay’s huge build.
When at last they got back on the trail, the sun had reached its highest peak of the day. Thankfully, they had left a great portion of thicket behind so were able to enjoy the full extent of the sun’s warmth.
As promised, it was nearly an hour later when the first farm appeared on the horizon and Erika thought she had never seen such a wonderful sight. If she didn’t sit for the rest of the e
ntire upcoming year, her bottom felt that would be far too soon.
The farm belonged to an elderly couple who were more than pleased to see them approach in the wagon. They appeared very frail and weak and the homestead hardly appeared as if it had been properly maintained.
The brothers exchanged greetings with them before unloading the supplies from the back of the wagon. The old man looked pleasant enough when he peered up at Erika sitting on the wagon bench. “Who is this lovely young lady who looks too fine to be travelling these back parts of the country?”
Ryan reached out and held a hand out to escort Erika down. “This here is my good friend, Erika Snowden. Erika, this is Angus and Mathilda Layman.”
The wrinkled man’s congenial expression vanished and his eyes narrowed as he looked at her closer. “Wouldn’t be any relation to Gerald Snowden, would ya?”
“Yes, actually, he is my grandfather.”
His wife shot an angry glare at Jay. “Is this some cruel joke?”
“Relax,” Jay told them while he slipped his hat off his head and ran his fingers through his hair. “I wouldn’t be such a fool. She’s harmless.”
But they didn’t look convinced and Erika shriveled inward from the look of disdain on their faces. Never before had she been on the receiving end of another human being’s displeasure. She was astonished to realize she had no idea how to handle it. Giving her posture a straightening, she stood tall and confronted the old man, holding his gaze until at last he snorted and turned toward the house.
The old woman continued to stare unpleasantly at Erika until at last she muttered, “Well, you’ve brought her all this way. I ain’t uncivilized enough to ask her to wait outside.” Then she turned and trudged back to the house.
With alarm, Erika shot a look at Ryan. Not only was her bottom sore, but the cold was starting to penetrate her bones. A fire—any fire—would have been welcome right about then, not to mention the warmth of a shelter. Even one such as the neglected house the old couple headed toward.
Ryan only shrugged and made an awkward face. It momentarily occurred to her that he ought to have come to her defense. She wasn’t sure what their issue was with her grandfather, but Erika had nothing to do with it. Never before had she even met these people.
Behind her, Jay went to follow, but as he passed, he leaned over and quietly said, “Nice first impression, princess.”
She shot him a dark look and not for the first time, wished she could have smacked him instead. With the return of her anger also came her finely tuned dignity. Born and raised a lady, she would not allow herself to be treated as inferior.
“I’ve brought some sweets.” They all stopped and looked back at her. “Our cook, Fiona, is most probably the best in the whole vicinity. No one makes maple fudge quite like she does.”
The old man rubbed his chin but still eyed her with suspicion. “Fudge, eh?”
Ryan ran to the back of the wagon and retrieved the basket. “And danishes and tarts. There’s plenty.”
“Well,” Angus Layman grumbled, but peered into the basket. “Let’s see what ya got.”
Erika looked at his wife and said, “I’ve also brought some wonderful tea biscuits baked with the finest flour imported from Italy.”
“What do I need with fancy biscuits?” The old woman wrinkled her forehead up at her. “I make a fine biscuit myself, and maple fudge for that matter.”
Instead of being discouraged, Erika offered her brightest smile. “I wouldn’t be surprised in the least if yours were just as delightful. However, as I have never tasted your cooking, I’m hardly one to offer a fair comparison.”
The woman’s wrinkled skin folded more as she frowned at Erika, but offered, “Well, I think I may have some biscuits stored up from the winter. You bring ‘em treats in, and I’ll see what I can gather for sweets of my own.”
As the woman disappeared into the house, the old man peered longingly into the basket until Jay said, “You mind you save some for the other settlers. Besides, those teeth of yours couldn’t do for much more sugar.”
Instead of looking put out, the man shot him a toothless grin and told him, “Hell, I’ve gone and lost most of ‘em any way.”
As they all turned toward the house, Erika happened to look over at Jay and was surprised to notice him watching her with what she thought was approval. But after giving a double look, realized she must have been mistaken for he had turned away and was pushing past her to enter the dark house.
She stiffened immediately by his obvious lack of etiquette, though relaxed considerably when Ryan stepped aside and allowed her to proceed first. Being out in the rugged and wild terrain, she was pleased to know there was at least someone who still behaved civilized.
