Genevieve: Bride of Nevada (American Mail-Order Bride 36) by Cynthia Woolf Page A

to make Stuart and Billy matching shirts. The same material would make wonderful soft diapers for Lucy. The ones she had in the dresser drawer, were nearly too small. The baby also needed several new gowns as she was growing out of the ones she had. Also, Genny wanted to make her two pairs of rompers so crawling was easier. She’d make them big enough that Lucy could wear them for several months.
    She also picked out pretty blue gingham for new dresses for her and Lucy.
    “Lucy will be walking in a few months, do you have baby shoes?.” Genny said to Edna.
    Edna shook her head. “We don’t stock those but—”
    “She can wear the ones Billy did,” Stuart interrupted. “They’re in the boxes in the spare room.”
    Surprised by his deep voice, Genny looked up and found him just a couple of feet from her. How did he do that? Was he part cat that he could sneak up on her like that?
    “There’s probably a lot of things in that room,” said Genny. “I wasn’t sure what I could do with them, but I think I’ll go through the trunks and see what I can use. If you don’t mind, perhaps I could cut down Martha’s dresses and use the material for clothes for the kids.”
    He shrugged. “If you want. Do as you please with them.”
    Genny put back the gingham material. “I think I’ll see what we already have before I buy more dress material.”
    “Are you ladies done?” asked Stuart.
    “Yes, I believe so.” Genny lovingly fingered the gingham material.
    He pulled a list from his pocket and handed it to the shopkeeper. “Here’s the supplies we need.”
    Genny looked at Edna. “Is there cinnamon on that list?”
    Edna glanced at the paper and shook her head. “No cinnamon.”
    “Then add that and some canned peaches if you have any,” said Genny.
    “I’ve got a couple of cans.” Edna quickly scanned her shelves of canned goods. “I’ve got canned cherries, too.”
    “I’ll take them. Two cans of each, three if you have them.”
    Edna looked at the shelf again. “I have three peach but only two cherry.”
    Genny nodded. “That’s fine. And that’s all for me. You can fill Stuart’s list now.”
    Frowning Stuart said, “Thank you for allowing me to do my business.”
    Genny ignored his sarcasm and walked across the floor to the stove and helped herself to a cup of coffee.
    Stuart and Edna talked about his order for a short while and then he walked over to Genny.
    “They won’t have the order ready for loading for another hour or so. Would you like to get something to eat while we wait?”
    “I’d love to.”
    “Let’s go down to the Hot Springs Hotel. They have a pretty good restaurant.” He turned and looked at Edna over at the counter. “We’ll be back in a while, Edna.”
    “Take your time. Is the buckboard out front?”
    “Yes, you want me to move it?”
    “No, I’ll have Robert move it around back so we can load the grain first.”
    Stuart looked outside and then back at Edna. “Be sure and set aside the oil cloth tarp. I think we’ll need it to get home.”
    Genny followed his gaze and saw that snow was just beginning to fall. At first she couldn’t see it because the flakes were so light and slow. Then she spotted a sparkly crystal of white floating down to the ground.
    “Yup,” said Edna. “You’ll definitely need it.”
    Stuart and Genny donned their gloves and rewrapped their scarves around their necks before venturing outside.
    The moment they stepped on the boardwalk, the wind whipped by and shoved Genny into Stuart.
    He caught her and put his arm around her shoulders.
    “You’re liable to blow away in this wind. Put your arm around my waist and walk with me,” he ordered.
    She wasn’t sure she wanted to be that close. His nearness brought all sorts of feelings to the forefront. Suddenly she didn’t hear the wind or see the snow. Her entire consciousness was filled with her husband.
    His tall, broad body protected her from the wind. He wore his hat low on his head