Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Someone had brought the bag she’d dropped by the sidewalk back inside the house. Violet stared at it as she soaked in the tub, not bothering to get out until she was squeaky clean, then headed downstairs.
Daisy was busy cooking and insisted she tell her everything that had happened. She wasn’t sure what surprised her sister the most. The fact Archie was shot in his own establishment or that Violet had to play doctor and dig a bullet out of his chest.
“Is he all right now?” Daisy asked.
“He was when we left. Of course, infection is still possible.”
Supper was set out, and she waited for Josiah to join them, but he never made an appearance.
She debated making him a plate but figured if he bathed at Mabel’s, she may have fed him.
Knowing Mabel, she probably did. The real question now was, did she go to the little room behind the jail and wait for him or stay here?
She hadn’t missed his small confession from earlier. He’d gone to Elkin. Or started to before turning back. She could only think of one reason he’d have been going there, and that was to get their marriage annulled, just as he’d said he would.
Disappointment made her heart ache, and she wasn’t sure why. She knew from the moment they stood and repeated marriage vows that it was all a lie. That it was a sham of a marriage and would end.
So why did the knowledge that he’d been going to see it through hurt so much?
Because you’ve been living in the land of denial.
She sighed and brushed crumbs off the tablecloth. In a perfect world, she’d tell her family goodnight and go home to Josiah’s place, and spend the evening with him. As it was, she wasn’t sure what to do.
Rose walking into the kitchen put an end to that line of thought and when her sister started firing off questions about what happened at the saloon, she settled in to repeat her earlier story instead, which was fine by her.
It took her mind off Josiah and at the moment, she was so confused where he was concerned, a distraction was just what she needed.
The town was all but deserted now that the excitement of Archie being shot had died down. Josiah crossed the street to the sidewalk and looked toward the other end of town, toward the Campbell’s place.
He hadn’t seen Violet since he told her to go bathe and assumed she was still at home. He’d wondered endlessly while he cleaned up if she’d come back to his place afterwards and found himself hopeful she did.
Then hoped she didn’t in the next instant.
Why couldn’t he get her out of his head?
He didn’t want any sort of relationship with her.
With any woman for that matter, but seeing her every day—and waking up with her in his arms—was starting to make him think maybe things could work out, and he needed to stop.
It was too dangerous. Falling for her would be the worst mistake of his life—and hers.
It was too risky and he wouldn’t endanger her like that.
He couldn’t. Her well being depended on it.
“She’d make ye a good wife.”
Josiah nearly jumped out of his skin when Ewan Campbell spoke. He turned and saw the old man sitting on one of the benches that sat along the front of the mercantile.
“Ewan,” he said. “I didn’t see you sitting there.”
“I dinna think so, not with the way you just jumped.” The old man cackled and slapped his bare knee as he laughed.
Josiah grinned and sat on the end of the bench. “Isn’t it getting a bit late for you to be out and about?”
“Och. Now you’re sounding like my Rose. She thinks I’m too feeble to be walking around after dark, but I’ve been managing my own business for longer than she’s been drawing breath.”
Josiah laughed and looked back down the road.
“Heard my Violet played doctor today.”
“She did.” Josiah leaned forward and braced his elbows on his knees. “She did a fine job of patching Archie up.”
“She’s a great cook, too.”
“I’ll agree.” Had Ewan not lived in the same house as Violet, he would have found the comment oddly random. “The chicken pie she brought me yesterday was the best I’ve ever eaten.”
“No doubt. And as I said, she’d make a good wife. Cooks, cleans, can run a business, and dig bullets out of a man and patch him back up. What more can a man ask for?”
“Nothing as far as I can see, which is good seeing as we’re already married.”
Ewan laughed so loud, Josiah wondered if Gideon and Victoria Hart could hear them from where they lived down the road.
When the old man finally stopped cackling, Ewan shook his head. “Come now, lad, surely you don’t think I believe this whole wedding business.”
Actually, he did. The old man did nothing but grin at him. “Did Violet tell you?”
“She dinna have ta.” Ewan shifted on the bench and nodded toward his house.
“That girl’s been waiting for a husband since she came of age to marry.
Her hope chest is so full, she has to sit on it just to get it latched and I know fer a fact she’s been pining for ye since ye got to town.
If it was a true marriage between ye, she’d be over the moon ecstatic and she’s not.
She’s acting as if it's any other day. If the marriage was real, I’d know it. ”
Josiah blew out a breath and leaned back on the bench. “This whole mess is her doing. She told a white lie, and I didn’t correct her and it just snowballed from there.”
“That’s the way of lies, I suppose.”
He nodded. “I planned on heading into Elkin and getting it annulled.”
“Annulled!” Ewan bristled at his side. “Now why would ye go and do a thing like that?”
“I don’t need a wife.”
“Och,” Ewan said, waving his hand. “That’s a load of shite if I ever heard it. Every man wants a sweet smelling woman to take care of him.” He stood from the bench. “Might as well keep the one ye got, lad. I know fer a fact she’ll make ye happy if ye just give her half a chance.”
Ewan left without another word. Josiah watched him amble home and didn’t move until the old man climbed the steps to his house. The windows in the big two-story were glowing, his wife-in-name-only tucked inside somewhere.
He blew out a breath. He needed to put a stop to all of this and soon, especially if Violet has been “pining for him” like Ewan said she was.
He had no doubt Violet would make some man the perfect wife, but he wasn’t that man. He couldn’t be, regardless of how much the thought popped into his head. Marriage wasn’t for him, and he had to tell her that once and for all.
He stood and started across the street to the jail but stopped when he heard voices. He wasn’t surprised to see Ewan, one hand on Violet’s arm as he ushered her down the steps of their house and onto the sidewalk.
The old man threw his hand up in the air and yelled, “Don’t ferget yer wife, lad!” before turning back to the house. When Violet started toward him, he ignored his thumping heart and the way his hungry gaze ate up every step she took toward him.
Fake marriage or not, he did enjoy the sight of her.
Someone was banging on the door. Violet cracked one eye open. Pale light shined in around the curtain. It was too early to get up.
Josiah stirred behind her. He was spooned against her back, pressed against her from shoulder to foot and one of his hands rested against her bare stomach, her nightshirt bunched around her waist. She smiled and closed her eyes again.
She’d retold the story of Archie’s shooting to Rose, then again to Graham when he joined them the night before and had been contemplating what to do—stay there for the night, or go to Josiah’s—when her grandfather walked into the house and escorted her out to the porch, saying her place was with her husband.
She’d secretly loved every step he marched her to the sidewalk and never said a word when he yelled to Josiah, who had been standing in the middle of the road.
Josiah had given her a look that made her love-starved heart think he was relieved to see her when she finally reached him and they’d prepared for bed as usual.
Only last night, they’d actually talked while lying in the dark, the topic of conversation once again about her running into the saloon when someone was shooting the place up.
His concern caused silly notions to pop into her head—like maybe he was beginning to care for her and she hoped he was.
Their marriage might have started out as a way to get her out of a tough spot, but there was no good reason to end it.
Not to her, there wasn’t. Josiah had told her he wasn’t interested in marriage, but he’d never said why.
If Daisy’s plan worked, then maybe he’d change his mind.
Whoever was at the door wasn’t going away. They banged on it again, hard, and she opened her eyes when Josiah shifted and sat up.
He ran a hand over his face, then through his hair before standing. “Its too early for someone to be at the door. Something must be wrong.”
Since the bed was almost in perfect alignment with the door, Violet grabbed the blankets and pulled them to her chin, peeking out over the top of them to see who was there.
Her grandfather’s grinning face was the last person she expected to see. “Gramps.” She sat up, holding the blankets to her chest. “What’s wrong? Is Daisy all right?”
He nodded and gave her a wink. “Everyone is fine.” He pulled on his belt, adjusting his kilt, the sword he always wore banging against his leg. “I know you have to work the store today and the marshal is always busy, so I wanted to come fetch ye before your day got started.”
“Fetch us for what?”
His grin widened. “To take you out to yer new home.”
Josiah stiffened a bit at her grandfather’s words. “What new home?” he asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
“The one the town provided fer ye.” Her grandfather scratched his jaw. “It’s not a huge place, but it’s bigger than this little room.” He stuck his head inside the door and looked around. He straightened and said, “Now get dressed and we’ll take you out there.”
“We?” Violet asked.
“The townsfolk. Well, some of ‘em.” He turned, saying, “Be quick about it,” before walking away. Josiah glanced at her over his shoulder. “Think he’ll come back if we don’t go meet him out front?”
She laughed and tossed the blankets back. “Worse. He’ll drag us there by the ear, even if we’re still in our nightclothes.”
They both dressed, Josiah turning his back to her when she slipped out of his nightshirt, and she wanted to stall long enough he’d turn around and see her, but didn’t want to keep her grandfather waiting too long.
When they were ready, they headed toward the jail together, surprised to see so many people waiting for them. Her grandfather and Daisy were both there. As were Clay, Levi, Rufus, and Tanner. Rufus headed toward the jail. “I’ll keep an eye on everything while you’re gone, Marshal.”
Josiah acknowledged him with a nod and a quiet, “Thanks, Rufus.”
“All right,” her grandfather said, clapping his hands. “Let’s get this party moving. We’re burning daylight.”