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Wade’s mouth set in a grim line. “Wasn’t one of my initial responses.”
Marion feigned shock and ran a hand up and down his arm. “Turned you on did she with her flat little boy’s figure?”
He snatched her wrist in a tight grasp. “I have an errand to run, so if you’ll excuse me.”
She arched one brow theatrically. “There was a time when you couldn’t get enough of my company.”
He held her gaze with a blank expre
ssion, then dropped her wrist. “Good day, Marion.”
The saloon woman looked at him one more time, then brushed him off and left the shop with a sarcastic chuckle echoing throughout the store. Wade looked around and noticed they had created an audience. He cleared his throat and approached the storekeeper. “I’m looking for a veil.”
The man looked slightly surprised, but led him over to a bunch of fabric. Wade frowned as he looked down at all the different kinds. Kathleen had said there was only the one to choose from. “Are you sure these are veils?”
The man grinned and pulled the closest fabric towards Wade. “This one in particular is lovely. Very soft to the touch.”
Wade studied the cloth, then looked back at the others. There was one in particular that jumped out at him. It was one in a soft lilac color and reminded him of the dress Kathleen had given Anna at Christmas. “I’ll take that one.”
The shopkeeper smiled and nodded his approval. “Two yards plenty?”
Wade paused, not having a single clue, but the shopkeeper was clearly one step ahead. “Is this for the young lady from the mountain?”
He sighed awkwardly and shoved his hands deep in his pockets. “That’s right.”
“Then two yards will be plenty.” He grinned and his plump cheeks puffed out. “I have a lovely pair of gloves in the same lilac shade. Perhaps the miss would like them as well?”
Wade stared hard at the man. “Fine.”
The man went over to the counter with the purple veil and placed it gently on the counter. Wade looked around uncomfortably. A few older ladies were in the shop watching his every move. He tipped his hat at them, then turned back to the clerk. He was unlocking a cabinet from which he retrieved a pair of gloves.
Wade frowned. “They’re in a locked cabinet? How expensive are they?”
The man grinned once again. “I had them on display with a diamond brooch.”
While he rang up Wade’s purchase, he wandered over to the cabinet and looked at the brooch sparkling in the glass case. It certainly was beautiful. “How much?”
“Well,” he started, and put his pen down to come over and look. “It is a rather exquisite piece. I ordered it from the Victoria catalog at Christmas, but unfortunately it never sold. I suppose I could make a reasonable deal.”
He took it from the shopkeeper for a closer examination, as he was quoted a price.
“Is it for the young lady?”
Without even moving his head, his eyes shifted to the shopkeeper than back to the brooch. “My sister.”
“Yes, of course. Well deserving.”
Wade handed it back. “I’ll take it. You’ll have to add it to my account as I only brought enough money for the veil.”
“Certainly Mr. Haddock.” The man locked the cabinet up once again. “Would you like it wrapped?”
“Yes, thank you.”
He waited near the counter as the shopkeeper placed the brooch in a velvet box then wrapped it in colored paper. “I remember the miss coming into town with her mother and siblings.”
Wade looked at the man and knew he was only being polite and making conversation, but he just wasn’t sure he wanted to talk about Anna publicly.
“Very sweet young girl. Didn’t say much, though. I believe she was a little on the shy side.”
