The Heart's Frontier by Lori Copeland Page B

here in Gorham were decent people, but they would do whatever they could to strike a good deal, even at the expense of a family in trouble. That was the nature of a settlement like this, to make money off the few travelers who happened into town. He’d been dickering for deals in settlements like this for a dozen years, ever since his first trail ride at fourteen. Of course, it might take a while to convince Jonas to settle on a pair of mules when he had his heart set on oxen. Providing, of course, they were lucky enough to find even a mule for sale in this tiny, out-of-the-way settlement. More likely they would end up hiring a horse and cart. Still, how long could it take to inquire?
    No need to mention it to Jesse, either. Everything will be fine as long as I get back in a decent time .
    He slid the notes back in his wallet. “I guess I can spare a few more minutes.”
    The Switzers expelled a collective breath. He caught his first sight of a dimple in Emma’s cheek when she tilted her head sideways and smiled her thanks up at him. Quite an improvement over the suspicious look she’d awarded him earlier. He couldn’t help smiling back.
    “Shall we go?” He gestured down the street toward the blacksmith shop.
    Jonas and Emma both fell into step beside him, and Rebecca practically skipped off the bottom porch step in her hurry to catch up.
    Mrs. Switzer halted them with a stern voice. “The girls will stay here and leave the bargaining to the men.”
    Both Emma and Rebecca came to a halt with a puff of dust at their feet. Rebecca let out a disappointed moan. “Papa, please,” she pleaded.
    Emma reached out and gave her sister’s sleeve a warning shake. “If Maummi says to stay, here we will stay.” The stern note in her voice brooked no argument, though she cast a quick longing glance of her own down the street.
    Luke turned to face the old lady, who stood with her arms folded tightly across her chest. “Ma’am, that shady porch is pretty inviting, I’ll give you that, but I’m thinking you might want to go into the store and start selecting some provisions while we check on transportation. That is, unless you’re planning on going without food until you get wherever you’re going.”
    The scowl on her face deepened, but the grip of her hands on her arms loosened as she considered his suggestion.
    “Oh, I’m sure Papa can arrange for our provisions,” Emma told him. “After all, whether we go on to Troyer or return to Apple Grove, we’ll arrive in another three days…at least, as long as the weather stays good and we don’t encounter even more trouble. Surely he can get everything we need for only three days.”
    Though she spoke in a tone free of guile, Luke noticed her eyes went a little rounder with what might be feigned innocence. The effect of her words on her grandmother was obvious. The woman straightened and her hands dropped to her sides. Her eyebrows drew together as she studied Jonas with obvious mistrust. Apparently, she didn’t like the idea of leaving the responsibility of food shopping to her son.
    After only a moment’s hesitation, she marched down the steps and into the street. As she passed, she hooked arms with both girls and dragged them with her.
    “We’ll need two baskets,” she announced. “One for each of you to carry.”
    If she knew she’d been manipulated by her eldest granddaughter, she didn’t deign to show it. Jonas nodded, a smile twitching the corners of his clean-shaven mouth. He exchanged an amused glance with Luke and then started after them.
    Luke followed, watching the three black-clad women stride down the street, arm-in-arm. There was nothing dull-witted about that Emma. She knew how to get what she wanted.



SIX

     
    E mma stood in the open doorway, a basket slung over her arm, while Rebecca followed Maummi around the small store. The shopkeeper sat on a stool behind a wide counter arranged with a variety of goods, puffing on a pipe. The tangy odor of