Chapter Thirteen
Two weeks had already passed, and Josie was beginning to get a little stir-crazy. She needed to get out of the house. Leave the ranch. It was safe—safer than anywhere else she’d been in a long while, but lately, she felt a little suffocated. Maybe even a little trapped.
It wasn’t even just because she was now someone’s wife. Someone she didn’t love. It wasn’t about Cash or his brothers, really. It was the fact that she had done nothing but ranch work and housework since the wedding.
She knew it was a bit dangerous to show her face around Austin, with Randall looking for her and Samuel, but a short trip into town with Clara wouldn’t be much of a risk. Would it?
The two of them had decided to go out on the town the day before, and Clara had promised to come and get Josie right after breakfast that morning. Josie was more than ready to get out of the house, but she was still a little worried when the familiar rattle of wagon wheels became audible outside.
She finished drying the last dish and ran outside to see Clara pulling up in front of the house, reins in hand, a bright smile on her face.
Josie grinned from ear to ear as she trotted down the steps.
“C’mon,” Clara called. “You ready to go?”
Josie didn’t hesitate for even a second.
She dashed back inside and hung up her apron in the kitchen, then went to her bedroom to get Samuel from his nap.
She tied the sling around herself and scooped him into it.
She caught up her meager pouch of savings and spared a glance at the looking glass to check her hair.
Then she hurried back outside, practically tumbling down the front steps in her hurry. “You’re sure it’s not any trouble?” she asked breathlessly as she trotted up to the wagon.
Clara huffed, waving off the question with a smooth wave of her hand. “Not a bit. I’ve been meaning to get you out of here for days. You need some time to get out of the house!”
Josie laughed, climbing up and settling Samuel against her chest. The little boy stirred but didn’t wake, his soft breaths warm against her neck. She adjusted a blanket around him, then nodded to Clara.
“Alright,” she said. “Let’s go.”
With a flick of the reins, Clara set the wagon in motion, and they rolled back down the road, the dust kicking up behind them.
“Let’s stop by the general store first,” Clara suggested with a grin. “It’ll do you some good to browse. Maybe you could buy a new dress.”
A new dress? Josie couldn’t remember the last time she had worn a new dress, or even looked at them, besides the ones she’d made herself.
“I’d like that,” she said, a smile beginning to spread across her face.
***
Austin was a breath of fresh air. Josie walked through the dusty main street of town, Samuel bundled in a sling against her chest, with Clara chattering beside her faster than she could listen. But Josie didn’t mind. It was nice having someone to talk to again.
It almost reminded her of Amelia before she was sick. Before Randall.
She found herself blinking away tears, and tried to focus on something else. As they passed the bakery, an intoxicating scent wafted across her path: the scent of baking bread. She inhaled deeply, trying to soak it in, as though she could taste it if she sniffed hard enough.
“We’ll get something before we leave!” Clara promised as Josie lingered by the entrance.
Josie smiled. She felt almost like a normal woman for a moment.
They made their way to the general store, and that was almost more enjoyable than the bakery.
It was filled with the comforting smell of spices, dry goods, and tobacco.
Clara led the way through the aisles, knowing already where everything was, and went right to the bolts of fabric along the back wall.
Josie grinned. “Don’t get enough fabric at the shop?”
Clara shrugged. “You never know when they might have something new and lovely.”
Josie shook her head and ran her fingers over a stack of fresh linen. She wasn’t really looking for anything in particular, just enjoying the time away from the ranch. Away from the Montgomerys.
Not that they weren’t doing her a great kindness. She wasn’t sure what it was that made her so restless. She was starting to feel on edge. Maybe she was getting too comfortable.
A soft hum fell from her lips as she fingered the beautiful linens along the back wall.
Until she felt it. A prickle at the back of her neck. A feeling she knew too well.
Someone was watching her.
She turned her head just a bit, jumping as she met the eyes of a man across the store. He was leaning against a shelf next to a wall of preserves, his eyes glued to her, his expression unreadable.
Her grip tightened on Samuel.
The man was tall and broad, black hair slicked back. He held his hat in his hand. The rim was peculiar. There was a chunk missing, like a shark had taken a bite out of it.
His suit was bright and clean, a light tan she hadn’t seen another man wear. Not in these parts. It wasn’t practical in the least for a place like this. Or anywhere she had ever been, for that matter. Wasn’t he afraid of getting dirty?
But when she looked down at his boots, they were muddy and stained, utterly out of place with the rest of his polish.
He looked like one of those rich men she’d seen in every town she’d ever gone in. The kind of man who could buy anything he wanted.
She used to dream of being married to a man like that—until she’d gotten to know some of them. She had never met a rich man who was also kind. Not once.
He smiled at her, almost devilishly, and pulled his hat low on his forehead, his stare unwavering. She couldn’t see his eyes anymore, but she knew they were still fixed on her. Something about him set her badly on edge.
Clara, oblivious, waltzed over proudly with a bright purple fabric. “Look at this!” she exclaimed. “Isn’t this lovely?”
But Josie didn’t reply right away. Clara seemed to sense her uneasiness and followed her gaze to the man, who was looking at both of them now.
Then man seemed to notice that Clara was also looking at him—and apparently, he took it as an invitation. He straightened up, tugging on the lapels of his suit, and sauntered over in slow, long strides.
Josie’s stomach knotted.
“Afternoon, ladies,” he greeted them, with a smile that showed his yellow teeth.
Clara smiled politely. “Afternoon.”
He tipped his hat and narrowed his eyes at Josie. “Didn’t mean to intrude, but sounds like you’re new in town, miss.”
Josie froze.
“She’s been visiting,” Clara answered sternly. It was a tone that made Josie stiffen. She didn’t want to draw even more attention to herself by causing some kind of argument.
But then Clara smiled politely, her firm expression disappearing as if she sensed Josie’s fear. “If you’ll excuse us,” she said with a brisk nod, “we really should be getting back.” Softly, she tugged Josie away, prompting her to come along.
But that wasn’t hint enough, apparently. “Visiting, huh?” the man asked, darting around the girls, cutting them off.
“Visiting,” Josie agreed, almost shakily. Why is he determined to talk to us?
“Who ya visiting? Miss Whitmore here?”
Josie shot a nervous glance at Clara. She knows this man?
Who is he?
Clara placed herself in front of Josie, almost defensively. “She’s a friend of mine, and we’re just doing a little shopping today.”
The man’s eyes were plastered on Josie—and then they moved down to Samuel. “That’s a sweet baby.”
Josie forced a nod, gripping the sling tighter. If she didn’t like him before, she certainly didn’t trust him now. Not even a little bit.
He smiled at her, his eyes quickly returning to Samuel. “How long you stayin’ in town for?”
Josie’s throat went dry. Why does he want to know that?
Clara must have noticed the shift in mood, because she looped an arm through Josie’s. “Not long,” she said brightly. “We’d best be going.”
She practically dragged Josie toward the door, jerking her by the elbow. The man didn’t follow—but Josie could feel his eyes on her back as they left.
What does he want with me?
***
By the time they climbed back in the wagon and rode out of town, Josie’s entire body was still shaking. The entire interaction had been strange. It made her feel uneasy. Watched.
Clara squeezed her arm and put her at arm’s length. “What was that about?”
Josie swallowed hard, shaking her head. “I don’t know,” she said. “Who was that?”
Clara sighed deeply. “That was Grayson Remington.”
“Oh—that’s Remington?” The man who wanted the Montgomery ranch—and the man who’d shot it up, loosed the horses, and cut the fence line, all in the span of two weeks.
No wonder she’d had the feeling that he wasn’t safe.
I need to get back to the ranch. Now.
“Are you going to stay a while when we get back?” she asked Clara, hoping she wouldn’t sound as worried as she felt. But her voice betrayed her, anxiety seeping into her tone.
Clara nodded with a reassuring smile, clearly sensing her nervousness. “I’ll come back with you and have dinner. Then I’ll ride back into town before suppertime and get some more dresses made.”
Josie was terrified, but she didn’t want Clara to see it. One thing was certain: there had to have been a reason that a man like that had taken such an interest in her, and it could not be good.
“That would be lovely,” she said, as if a simple response like that was good enough to dismiss her fears.
Clara nodded again, holding the reins tightly. “Don’t worry about Remington,” she said nonchalantly, which was almost more unsettling to Josie than a tone of concern. If she didn’t have to worry, why in the world did Clara push her out of the store that fast?
But Clara kept on talking smoothly. “The Montgomery boys wouldn’t let anything happen to you, and Remington has no quarrel with you outside of them. Besides, he doesn’t know you’re staying there. He probably just thought you were pretty.”
Josie nodded, still uneasy, but clicked her tongue at the horses pulling the wagon. Her heart pounded with every hoofbeat. The conversation with Clara hadn’t done anything to make her less uneasy.