would've just been better if everything had stayed the same. Of course, there was no use wishing for what could have been. Nothing in their lives would ever be like it used to be. They were on a journey—one that circumstances had foisted on them. More than anything, they needed to see it through to the end. They needed to trust in God and pray that they'd understand His will.
As they made their way through the streets of Santa Fe, Vanessa hoped to see those signs from God, letting her know that everything was happening just as it should. She'd feel better if she was reassured that He was leading them in the right direction.
She looked around the bustling town expectantly, hoping for something, anything, to signal reassurance. But all she saw were men and women going about their business.
"We'll stop right here, at this general store," Clayton murmured, just moments before pulling on Lee's reins. "We need some supplies."
Vanessa hurried to halt Coco as well.
Two boys about fourteen years old hurried to greet them at the livery. "Ma'am. Sir," the shortest one said, tipping his floppy straw hat.
Clayton threw them both a coin. "Rub down the horses, then take our bags to the hotel."
"Yes sir."
After Vanessa rearranged her skirts, she clasped Clayton's forearms as he swung her out of the saddle. "Yes, I sure will enjoy a bath tonight," she declared brightly, hoping he wouldn't see the hurt she felt when he stepped away from her the moment her boots touched ground. What had happened to the tangles of awareness that had been strung between them the night in the Willoughby's barn? "And to wash my hair."
"I'm ready to shave with warm water," he admitted, leading her inside the mercantile. "My cheeks will thank me, I believe."
The front face of the store was made of reddish clay bricks.Its architecture was intriguing, though it was hardly bigger than a line shack at the Circle Z.
After a moment, they were greeted immediately by a man dressed in black from head to toe.
"Clayton Proffitt," the somewhat rotund proprietor said, flashing a grin. "Never thought I'd set eyes on you again."
Clayton laughed. "I was thinking just the opposite about you, Hank. I'd hoped you'd still be here." For the first time in two days, he curved a hand around Vanessa's waist, bringing her closer to him. "Please meet Vanessa, my wife."
"Mrs. Proffitt," Hank nodded, his gaze full of frank appreciation.
"How do you do?" Vanessa asked, hardly aware of anything except for Clayton's touch—and his introduction. This was the first time she'd heard herself referred to as Mrs. Proffitt.The title felt right.
When he ran his hand down her arm, finally linking her fingers with his own, Vanessa once again felt a pull toward him that had nothing to do with friendship and everything to do with the memories of his kiss on their wedding day.
"I do fine, real fine," Hank replied before turning to Clayton."Didn't know you got yerself hitched, Captain. It's a big country, but I still manage to hear things from time to time."
"Our marriage, it was a recent thing."
"Well, ain't that something? That's even better! Congratulations."
"Thank you," Vanessa replied, though she couldn't help but notice that Clayton looked uncomfortable.
After clearing his throat, he released her hand. "Honey, you want to look around for a spell?"
"Of course," she said with a smile. Though the store was small, it looked to be packed with treasures, and it was toasty warm. After miles and miles of staring at vast open spaces, the cramped mercantile was a welcome change.
Clayton forced himself to turn away from his wife when he noticed Hank regarding him with a bemused expression. "So.Did you ever marry again, Hank?"
"Nope. After Penny, no woman seemed like a right fit." He shrugged. "Besides, women are hard to come by here in New Mexico Territory." He winked. "At least the good ones, anyway.Mrs. Proffitt is a real lady, Captain. You must be proud."
"I am, thank you." Looking at
As they made their way through the streets of Santa Fe, Vanessa hoped to see those signs from God, letting her know that everything was happening just as it should. She'd feel better if she was reassured that He was leading them in the right direction.
She looked around the bustling town expectantly, hoping for something, anything, to signal reassurance. But all she saw were men and women going about their business.
"We'll stop right here, at this general store," Clayton murmured, just moments before pulling on Lee's reins. "We need some supplies."
Vanessa hurried to halt Coco as well.
Two boys about fourteen years old hurried to greet them at the livery. "Ma'am. Sir," the shortest one said, tipping his floppy straw hat.
Clayton threw them both a coin. "Rub down the horses, then take our bags to the hotel."
"Yes sir."
After Vanessa rearranged her skirts, she clasped Clayton's forearms as he swung her out of the saddle. "Yes, I sure will enjoy a bath tonight," she declared brightly, hoping he wouldn't see the hurt she felt when he stepped away from her the moment her boots touched ground. What had happened to the tangles of awareness that had been strung between them the night in the Willoughby's barn? "And to wash my hair."
"I'm ready to shave with warm water," he admitted, leading her inside the mercantile. "My cheeks will thank me, I believe."
The front face of the store was made of reddish clay bricks.Its architecture was intriguing, though it was hardly bigger than a line shack at the Circle Z.
After a moment, they were greeted immediately by a man dressed in black from head to toe.
"Clayton Proffitt," the somewhat rotund proprietor said, flashing a grin. "Never thought I'd set eyes on you again."
Clayton laughed. "I was thinking just the opposite about you, Hank. I'd hoped you'd still be here." For the first time in two days, he curved a hand around Vanessa's waist, bringing her closer to him. "Please meet Vanessa, my wife."
"Mrs. Proffitt," Hank nodded, his gaze full of frank appreciation.
"How do you do?" Vanessa asked, hardly aware of anything except for Clayton's touch—and his introduction. This was the first time she'd heard herself referred to as Mrs. Proffitt.The title felt right.
When he ran his hand down her arm, finally linking her fingers with his own, Vanessa once again felt a pull toward him that had nothing to do with friendship and everything to do with the memories of his kiss on their wedding day.
"I do fine, real fine," Hank replied before turning to Clayton."Didn't know you got yerself hitched, Captain. It's a big country, but I still manage to hear things from time to time."
"Our marriage, it was a recent thing."
"Well, ain't that something? That's even better! Congratulations."
"Thank you," Vanessa replied, though she couldn't help but notice that Clayton looked uncomfortable.
After clearing his throat, he released her hand. "Honey, you want to look around for a spell?"
"Of course," she said with a smile. Though the store was small, it looked to be packed with treasures, and it was toasty warm. After miles and miles of staring at vast open spaces, the cramped mercantile was a welcome change.
Clayton forced himself to turn away from his wife when he noticed Hank regarding him with a bemused expression. "So.Did you ever marry again, Hank?"
"Nope. After Penny, no woman seemed like a right fit." He shrugged. "Besides, women are hard to come by here in New Mexico Territory." He winked. "At least the good ones, anyway.Mrs. Proffitt is a real lady, Captain. You must be proud."
"I am, thank you." Looking at
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