Someone Like You by Elaine Coffman Read Free Book Online Page A

Violette said, holding up her hand for emphasis. “Not by anyone.”
    “But why?” Susannah asked.
    “I have my reasons,” Violette replied. “Perhaps you will understand one day.”
    “I will never understand,” Dahlia said quickly.
    “Oh fiddle, Dally Bradford. Sometimes I think you are the most irritating woman. The two of you will simply have to trust me on this. Now take me to the mercantile so I can get my knitting needles.”
    “So you can stab us with them,” Dahlia said so sourly that Susannah was instantly humored. Her spirits may have lifted, but she was still shocked. Once she and her aunts were inside the mercantile, Susannah glanced out the window and noticed that Reed Garrett was leading his roan toward the parked wagon. After tying his horse, he leaned against the wagon and crossed his legs at the ankles.
    Let him wait! Served him right if he had to stand there a year and a day. Susannah began to order the things on her list. When they returned to the wagon, Reed jumped to their assistance, grabbing parcels right and left, then loading them.
    “Why, thank you, Mr. Garrett,” Violette said. “I do believe I’m going to like having you around.”
    “I won’t.” Dahlia snatched her parcels from Reed. “I can carry my own, thank you. I’ve been doing it for almost sixty years.”
    “You’ve been in a bad mood for sixty years, too, but that’s nothing to crow about.”
    Dahlia was outraged. “Honestly, Violette, I think you would like a case of the plague if it had a handsome countenance.”
    Violette ignored her and held out her hand. “I’m Violette Wakefield. This is my niece, Susannah Jane Dowell. The sourpuss is my sister, Dahlia Bradford.”
    “Pleased to meet you,” Reed said. “I guess you heard that my name is Reed Garrett.”
    Violette laughed. “The whole town heard,” she said as she climbed into the wagon, then patted Susannah on the knee. “I think it will be quite nice having a man living on the farm again,” she said cheerfully. “Don’t you agree?”
    Susannah shook her head. “I don’t know. I have a very uneasy feeling about this.” She neither looked at Reed nor bothered to lower her tone.
    “Well, come along, Mr. Garrett,” Violette said. “We’d best be heading home before we get into mischief. We need to have you settled in before dark.”
    Reed adjusted his saddle, letting the stirrups out. Curly was a bandy-legged fellow, and he’d hitched the stirrups up as far as they’d go. When he finished, he heaved himself into the saddle.
    As they headed out of town, Reed rode behind the wagon, giving the three women time to discuss him in depth. His ears certainly were burning. Not that he could blame them. Women living alone couldn’t be too careful. He was mighty beholden to them for all they had done.
    His gaze went to the back of the one called Dahlia. Thin-nosed and hardheaded, she was going to be difficult to win over. Her sister, Violette, had a face as warm and open as a sunflower. He knew she was as wise as she was considerate, the milk of human kindness flowing through her veins. The one they called Susannah—well, she was hard to get a handle on. Studying her rigid posture, obstinacy was a word that sprang to mind. Did she ever laugh?
    He rode along, listening to the soft murmur of the women’s voices, the creak of a wagon wheel, the hollow ring of hooves striking hard ground, and the distant rumble of thunder.
    He looked up at the sky and saw nothing but blue dotted with an occasional white puffy cloud. That blow he’d taken must have raided his brains, because, he realized, that wasn’t thunder he heard. It was his stomach rumbling.
    After a while, when it seemed the ladies had tired themselves out talking about him, he urged his mount forward until he was riding next to them. Dahlia gave him an unwelcome look. Violette smiled warmly. Susannah stared right through him as if he were as thin as air. He smiled inwardly at that thought. If he