Chapter Eighteen
Rachel shoved her gloved hands into her pockets and looked around.
It was very busy on the main street, the shops all looking bustling and overflowing.
She’d walked up and down with Isabelle earlier in the day before heading into the dress shop, and she’d been fascinated with everything.
If they hadn’t been focused on getting the dress, which took longer than she thought to size up and measure, they would’ve explored the rest of the shops.
As it was, Rachel felt an anticipation in her veins.
This was where she could properly look around. The walk around Mercy Creek had been beautiful, but to see it alive with people was something else.
And she was pleased that Nate had asked her to come along.
He’d been contrite when he’d apologized earlier, slightly ashamed at what he said.
Rachel didn’t think he’d even apologize after what happened the day before.
She’d also noticed that he was exhausted, dark circles under his eyes and looking paler than normal.
He was working too much. Why couldn’t he have a rest every now and then?
She worried that he was going to have a mental or physical breakdown, and then someone else would have to be the town marshal.
Mercy Creek was small, but not so small that there was just one marshal. It was too much, even for one person.
However, Rachel had a feeling that Nate wouldn’t agree if she said something. If she brought up the idea of having another marshal to help him, he would likely refuse, saying he could handle it alone. Nate was a proud man.
But even proud men needed to swallow that and admit they needed help.
The winter air was cold, biting against her cheeks, as they walked along the sidewalk toward the general store.
Nate had said he needed to gather more supplies and suggested getting more ingredients to bake her own bread.
Rachel appreciated that he was thinking about her, and she was glad he was allowing her to do that and making a mess.
Baking soothed her and made her feel better.
She remembered her days in the bakery and how much she loved it. If she got to work in a bakery again, it would be like a dream. However, Rachel had to admit she was glad to have a slightly slower pace of life as a wife. Even if she was alone for most of it.
Nate showed her into each of the stores, including the bakery with the jolly owner behind the counter, who greeted her warmly, before moving on to a haberdashery that felt like walking into heaven.
Rachel could imagine ladies getting lost in the small space, looking for things to wile away the evenings.
Then they went into the library, and Rachel marveled at all the books.
She loved reading, and she hadn’t had much chance lately.
This would be an ideal way to get back into it.
Cleaning was vigorous, but it wasn’t as bad as she thought.
Isabelle said if she kept on top of it, then it was easy enough to handle and wouldn’t take long at all.
Rachel hoped that was the case; it gave her time to do other things she’d neglected.
Not really neglected. More like she had no time for it when she was busy working.
The orphanage gave their charges plenty of rest, but they still had to work.
Rachel was beginning to realize that she had a better opportunity as a married woman than working at the place she’d grown up in all her life.
Maybe Miriam did do the right thing. Rachel was still upset that she’d been tricked into this and she hadn’t been given an option, but Miriam had known that this would be more beneficial for her. Rachel wasn’t about to go out and find a husband of her own, or start afresh somewhere.
And given what had happened to Mae Whitlock, what were the chances of that happening to her? She wasn’t prepared for that to occur to her. That was too scary for words.
How could anyone treat girls like that? To take advantage of them when they were vulnerable and seeking to improve their position.
It was just horrid. Rachel was glad that Nate was actually decent.
He was a grumpy man who liked things a certain way, and he drove her mad, but he was a decent person. And he looked after people.
That was enough for her, even if she had to deal with his grumpiness.
She thought about the dance and felt a flash of disappointment. Isabelle had said she should come along and enjoy herself, get to know her new neighbors. And they’d even gone out to get her fitted for a new dress. And now Nate was refusing to go. He hated those occasions.
Rachel didn’t think she could go alone. She would end up feeling really embarrassed and shy, which would just make the situation even worse. It would be better to go together.
Not that she could change Nate’s mind. He was stubborn when he wanted to be; she’d learned that quickly enough.
They entered the general store, and Nate turned to her in the doorway.
“I’m just going to collect what I need. It’ll be delivered to the house later.” He nodded at the other side of the store. “There are some books and some yarn over there. If you want to pick something to do in the evening, then you can get it. I’ll buy it for you.”
Rachel blinked.
“Really?”
“I’m sure you would like something else to do when you’re not baking.” His smile was lopsided. “Although the way you bake, I don’t think you’re going to be out of ideas.”
Her spirits lifted. He was being kind, and it was strange but nice. She managed a smile back.
“All right. But I won’t make it expensive. I don’t want to put you out.”
“You won’t be putting me out at all.” He paused. “When we get back, we should organize giving you an allowance. Unless you want to look for a way to make money?”
“You wouldn’t mind?”
“I don’t want you to get bored, and I’ve got simple needs and tastes. But giving you an allowance will give you a bit more freedom. It will save you coming by me to get what you need all the time.”
Rachel wondered if he could hear himself right now.
She didn’t think she recognized the man in front of her.
But she wasn’t about to argue. Happy that he was allowing it, she went over to the rack and looked at the various items displayed.
There were a few books and magazines, all brand new and clearly published recently.
Soon, she was sure they would end up in the library, where it would be easier to obtain one, but the idea of buying a brand-new book that was solely hers was tempting.
There was also plenty of yarn and a variety of knitting needles.
She’d tried knitting before, and it just seemed to fall apart. She couldn’t get it to hold together.
Maybe this was a good time to start. Have something of her own that wasn’t being borrowed or given second-hand. Rachel smiled and ran her fingers down the spines. The leather was smoothed, not cracked. It was very pretty.
“Are you looking for anything in particular?”
Rachel turned. A young woman of her age with golden hair pinned back stood beside her, looking at her with a curious smile.
“I’m just browsing for now,” she replied. “Thank you.”
“Are you truly Nate Calloway’s wife?”
The question caught Rachel unawares, and she wondered if she’d heard the woman correctly. She frowned.
“What?”
“I heard that Nate had gotten married, and then you were pointed out when you came in with him.” Her eyes were wide. “Are you really his wife?”
Rachel wondered whether people talked about her so openly and whether they were actually as rude as this. It was very brazen to ask something like that.
“I… how am I supposed to answer such a bold question?” she countered. She didn’t want to be on the back foot.
“So that’s a yes?”
“I…”
The girl sighed, looking wistful, and clasped her hands to her chest.
“Oh, you are so lucky. Nate is the most handsome man in Mercy Creek. Every eligible woman wanted to get his attention. You know how it is when there’s a good-looking man around.”
“I don’t, actually,” Rachel murmured, but she didn’t think the girl had heard her. She was still going.
“When we heard he’d gotten married, we were very surprised and confused. Nobody had heard anything about him courting someone, and then suddenly he had a wife. He was very good at keeping that quiet.”
“I don’t think he had much of a choice.”
“And then I saw you, and I knew it had to be you. You’re a stranger here, and we would know who you were immediately. And you came in with Nate.” The girl shook her head. “It’s a shame he’s married now. I would give anything to be his wife. He’s such a handsome, strong, dependable man…”
“I think you need to remember who you’re talking to, Angela.”
Nate’s voice made Rachel jump, and she turned to see Nate standing behind her. He was looking at Angela with raised eyebrows, his arms folded, his head tilted to one side. Angela blushed bright red, the color reaching the roots of her hair. She started stammering.
“Nate… I… you were… I didn’t…”
“I know you didn’t, but talking about me to my wife in such a bold manner is probably not a good idea.” He glanced at Rachel. “Have you decided what you wanted? My supplies are being dealt with. I just need to pay.”
Rachel didn’t want to stay in the store any longer, and she was grateful for an escape.
She shook her head and hurried out of the shop, the sharp cold hitting her in the face.
Sidestepping a few people coming in, she leaned against a post and waited for her heart to stop beating so fast. She should be prepared for people to ask her questions about her sudden marriage, but there was something about the way Angela spoke to her about Nathan that made her uncomfortable. It was like she was rooted there.
“Rachel.”
Nate appeared at her side, something wrapped in brown paper under his arm. He frowned at her, and Rachel felt her face getting warm. She pushed herself upright and dusted herself down.
“I’m fine. Sorry, it…”
“Angela’s a bit much.”
“Are women around here normally so forward and blunt?”
Nate chuckled.
“Not all of them, but number of them are.”
Rachel couldn’t help but smile at that.
“You make it sound as if everyone here is uncouth.”
“Wouldn’t say uncouth. We’re just a lot more… confident. And I don’t doubt that people have been talking about our marriage, given it came out of nowhere.”
Rachel didn’t doubt that, either. But she didn’t like how brazen it had been. Angela seemed to want a reason to talk about Nate, as if she was jealous that Rachel had gotten him as a husband and not herself.
She glanced toward the store and saw the girl peering through a gap in the shelves at them.
“Someone isn’t happy about you getting married,” she remarked. “Angela might’ve sounded otherwise, but she wasn’t happy.”
“Well, I’ve never seen her as a possible wife. Even if I was looking for one.” Then Nate remembered that he was holding something and passed the parcel to her. “I got this for you. You didn’t say anything, but I thought you might like it.”
Rachel took the parcel, careful not to touch his gloved hands, and opened it. The book she’d been looking at was inside, the gold on the leather glinting up at her. She stared, unable to believe her eyes.
“I saw you looking at it, and I thought you’d like it.” He hesitated. “Did I do the wrong thing?”
“No, not at all,” Rachel said hurriedly. “It’s a really sweet gesture. Thank you.”
His cheeks colored a little, and he cleared his throat.
“You’re welcome.”
Rachel wrapped the book up again, shivering as a cold wind whipped around them. She was glad for the coat Isabelle had let her borrow, but she wished she didn’t feel like she had to accept handouts. Nate frowned.
“Maybe we should get you a winter coat of your own,” he said.
“I can’t afford one just yet,” Rachel protested.
“But you’re going to need one. I won’t have you becoming sick while you’re here. It’s very easy to do.”
“But…”
“I can afford to get you a coat,” Nate insisted. “It’ll be what you need. Something that belongs to you. I know you don’t like borrowing things.”
Rachel frowned.
“How do…?”
“The look on your face when you know you have to borrow it. It’s subtle, but I can tell it’s there.” He smiled. “You don’t have to worry about that. You can have your own things. Within reason, of course.”
“Of course,” Rachel murmured.
She couldn’t describe the lightening of her heart when she heard this. He was giving her some freedom, and he wasn’t telling her what to do.
It sounded as if he was making an effort. And she liked it a lot.