customers.
Turning back one last time, he met Jacob’s gaze and added, “At the rate yer goin’, yer life won’t be worth more than that can of beans.” With that, Joe walked out the store and left his sorry excuse for a friend behind.
***
“What an interesting place to live!”
Elizabeth couldn’t satisfy her curiosity quickly enough to suit her. She somehow needed to convince Annabelle to go into town with her and show her around. Not that sitting for a little while after that long, arduous walk uphill was objectionable. And visiting with her sister-in-law was certainly enjoyable. She hadn’t talked to another woman since… Well, it had been a long time.
“It is a different sort of place, isn’t it?” Annabelle offered a small smile, appearing amused by Elizabeth’s enthusiasm.
“You have such a lovely home. I had no idea my brother was so…comfortable.” Elizabeth admired the small parlor they were sitting in, eager to see the rest of the house and, eventually, the rest of the town. “Would you mind if I take a look around?”
“Not at all. I’d love to show you our home.” Pride filled Annabelle’s voice as she ran a hand down her long blond hair. Just the words “our home” seemed to lift her spirits. Elizabeth grinned. How wonderful that her brother’s wife was so excited about the life she and Jacob were building together.
As Annabelle showed Elizabeth around, her excitement grew. There was the small kitchen with floral print paper covering the walls. The table was small but elegant, and the space was larger than the kitchen she and Sarah Anne had at home. Upstairs were the bedrooms—two of them. One was for guests, where Elizabeth would be staying. The room was done in greens and browns, and Elizabeth found it quite elegant with a large dresser and matching wardrobe.
Annabelle and Jacob’s room was grand. The walls boasted red-and-gold-striped wallpaper, and a red carpet covered the floor at the foot of the bed. But it was the bed itself that really captured Elizabeth’s attention. It was so big! Elizabeth admired the carved headboard and striped spread that matched the rest of the décor.
“This is magnificent.” Elizabeth looked about her in awe. “Why, this might be even better than a room in a hotel!”
Annabelle’s laugh was full of merriment. “I wouldn’t think so, but I do love it. Jacob spared no expense.” At those words, the laughter left her lovely blue eyes.
As they headed back down the narrow stairs, Elizabeth asked, “Would you show me the town, too? I know I just got here, but I can’t wait to see more of it.”
Annabelle shook her head. “No, I don’t think that’s a very good idea. Virginia City is still a rather rough town, even though there’s good society here, as well.”
Elizabeth cocked her head, noticing for the first time that Annabelle’s speech seemed to be rather slow. It wasn’t that her words seemed uneducated. It was more like each word was chosen carefully. Looking up to find Annabelle watching her, she scrambled for something to say and ended up returning to her plea. “Oh, but it would be so much fun! And we’ll be going together, so we should be fine, right?”
Once again, Annabelle shook her head, not quite meeting Elizabeth’s gaze. “I’m rather tired, aren’t you? Why don’t we wait here for Jacob to come home?”
“Well, I guess if you don’t really want to go to town, maybe I could just venture a quick look around by myself.” Elizabeth thought her eager countenance would coax a smile from Annabelle, but instead, she frowned.
“Elizabeth, I really don’t think…”
“Oh, don’t worry. I’ll be careful, and I won’t be gone long.” Before Annabelle could protest further, Elizabeth rushed outside. Surprised at her own boldness, she turned back around to stare at the closed door. Since when had she become so fearless? And since when had she become so rude? Elizabeth pressed on downhill, afraid that if
Turning back one last time, he met Jacob’s gaze and added, “At the rate yer goin’, yer life won’t be worth more than that can of beans.” With that, Joe walked out the store and left his sorry excuse for a friend behind.
***
“What an interesting place to live!”
Elizabeth couldn’t satisfy her curiosity quickly enough to suit her. She somehow needed to convince Annabelle to go into town with her and show her around. Not that sitting for a little while after that long, arduous walk uphill was objectionable. And visiting with her sister-in-law was certainly enjoyable. She hadn’t talked to another woman since… Well, it had been a long time.
“It is a different sort of place, isn’t it?” Annabelle offered a small smile, appearing amused by Elizabeth’s enthusiasm.
“You have such a lovely home. I had no idea my brother was so…comfortable.” Elizabeth admired the small parlor they were sitting in, eager to see the rest of the house and, eventually, the rest of the town. “Would you mind if I take a look around?”
“Not at all. I’d love to show you our home.” Pride filled Annabelle’s voice as she ran a hand down her long blond hair. Just the words “our home” seemed to lift her spirits. Elizabeth grinned. How wonderful that her brother’s wife was so excited about the life she and Jacob were building together.
As Annabelle showed Elizabeth around, her excitement grew. There was the small kitchen with floral print paper covering the walls. The table was small but elegant, and the space was larger than the kitchen she and Sarah Anne had at home. Upstairs were the bedrooms—two of them. One was for guests, where Elizabeth would be staying. The room was done in greens and browns, and Elizabeth found it quite elegant with a large dresser and matching wardrobe.
Annabelle and Jacob’s room was grand. The walls boasted red-and-gold-striped wallpaper, and a red carpet covered the floor at the foot of the bed. But it was the bed itself that really captured Elizabeth’s attention. It was so big! Elizabeth admired the carved headboard and striped spread that matched the rest of the décor.
“This is magnificent.” Elizabeth looked about her in awe. “Why, this might be even better than a room in a hotel!”
Annabelle’s laugh was full of merriment. “I wouldn’t think so, but I do love it. Jacob spared no expense.” At those words, the laughter left her lovely blue eyes.
As they headed back down the narrow stairs, Elizabeth asked, “Would you show me the town, too? I know I just got here, but I can’t wait to see more of it.”
Annabelle shook her head. “No, I don’t think that’s a very good idea. Virginia City is still a rather rough town, even though there’s good society here, as well.”
Elizabeth cocked her head, noticing for the first time that Annabelle’s speech seemed to be rather slow. It wasn’t that her words seemed uneducated. It was more like each word was chosen carefully. Looking up to find Annabelle watching her, she scrambled for something to say and ended up returning to her plea. “Oh, but it would be so much fun! And we’ll be going together, so we should be fine, right?”
Once again, Annabelle shook her head, not quite meeting Elizabeth’s gaze. “I’m rather tired, aren’t you? Why don’t we wait here for Jacob to come home?”
“Well, I guess if you don’t really want to go to town, maybe I could just venture a quick look around by myself.” Elizabeth thought her eager countenance would coax a smile from Annabelle, but instead, she frowned.
“Elizabeth, I really don’t think…”
“Oh, don’t worry. I’ll be careful, and I won’t be gone long.” Before Annabelle could protest further, Elizabeth rushed outside. Surprised at her own boldness, she turned back around to stare at the closed door. Since when had she become so fearless? And since when had she become so rude? Elizabeth pressed on downhill, afraid that if
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