under a load of deadwood and arguing loudly with herself. Jemima made a wide circle around her without slowing down.
The trading post was the logical place to find a traveler, buttoday there was just shiftless Charlie LeBlanc and Obediah Cameron, half-asleep in front of a game of skittles. Anna stood behind the counter sorting through a box of buttons, but seemed glad enough to see Jemima come through the door.
“Tobacco, is it? Fond of his pipe, is Isaiah Kuick. Now why is it he don’t come down here himself? Shy, is he?”
She was looking at Jemima out of the corner of her eye. Information about the widow’s son was a rare commodity, and one that Jemima would spend wisely. She considered how she might tell Anna what she wanted to know in return for news of Liam, but it was a tricky business; she could easily give away more than she got.
Jemima had just decided to keep silent when the door opened behind her and Anna let out her high shrill laugh.
“Liam Kirby!” She put down the button box with a rattle and came out from behind the counter.
Her screeching would have annoyed Jemima to the point of leaving, but then nobody could ask an impertinent question like Anna so she stepped back to watch and listen, fitting herself into the corner between dusty crates of Turlington’s Balsam of Life while Anna walked right up to Liam to put both hands on his shoulders.
“Look at you. Ain’t you a sight.”
Liam was big, but then so was Anna; she barely had to look up to shout into his face.
“Grown into a man, and not hard on the eyes neither. Your hair’s come in right dark, ain’t it? And those fine blue eyes you got from your ma, Lord rest her. She was a handsome woman in her youth, and you take after her. Took you long enough to stop in and see old friends. Suppose you heard about me and Jed getting married, two old fools that we are. Next Saturday. You stay long enough and we’ll fix you up too. You come home to claim a bride?”
He flushed his irritation for the world to see, from the neck of his shirt to his hairline, an answer just as clear as words on a page and one that made Jemima’s stomach lurch into her throat.
“Cain’t say that I have.” He removed himself from Anna’s grip gingerly. “A man ain’t allowed more than one, according to the law. I’m here on business.”
“Now there’s some news. Liam Kirby married. I expectthere’s more to tell, it’s been near ten years.” Anna pointed to a stool. “Sit yourself down over there by the fire—Charlie, you’ll grow roots in front of that skittles board if you don’t take care. Make some room now, Liam’s come to call and he’s got stories to tell. You remember Charlie, Liam, but what you don’t know is he finally found hisself a wife. Married Molly Kaes but the bloom is off the rose, plain enough. He spends more time in front of my fire than he does his own.”
“Now Anna—” Charlie began, but she cut him off.
“That there’s Obediah Cameron, you’ll remember him when he had hair. And here comes Miss Wilde—I’ll be with you in a minute, Eulalia—she’s a new face to you, but then we’ve got lots of them in Paradise these days. Keeps house for her brother. I expect you saw the Wilde orchards on your way in. Have you ever seen so many apple trees? Jemima Southern there—did you recognize her? All grown-up and thinking she can hide herself in plain sight. In service at the widow Kuick’s since she lost her folks to the quinsy. Bought the mill from John Glove, did the widow. You look like you swallowed your tongue, Jemima. Got nothing to say to Liam Kirby? If I recall correctly you were sweet on him at one time.”
Hot words rushed up and Jemima would have let them fly right in Anna’s face if it weren’t for the way Obediah’s ears perked up. The Camerons liked gossip only slightly less than a tankard of ale, and Jemima must make sure that he got no ideas about her and Liam that might make their way back to the
The trading post was the logical place to find a traveler, buttoday there was just shiftless Charlie LeBlanc and Obediah Cameron, half-asleep in front of a game of skittles. Anna stood behind the counter sorting through a box of buttons, but seemed glad enough to see Jemima come through the door.
“Tobacco, is it? Fond of his pipe, is Isaiah Kuick. Now why is it he don’t come down here himself? Shy, is he?”
She was looking at Jemima out of the corner of her eye. Information about the widow’s son was a rare commodity, and one that Jemima would spend wisely. She considered how she might tell Anna what she wanted to know in return for news of Liam, but it was a tricky business; she could easily give away more than she got.
Jemima had just decided to keep silent when the door opened behind her and Anna let out her high shrill laugh.
“Liam Kirby!” She put down the button box with a rattle and came out from behind the counter.
Her screeching would have annoyed Jemima to the point of leaving, but then nobody could ask an impertinent question like Anna so she stepped back to watch and listen, fitting herself into the corner between dusty crates of Turlington’s Balsam of Life while Anna walked right up to Liam to put both hands on his shoulders.
“Look at you. Ain’t you a sight.”
Liam was big, but then so was Anna; she barely had to look up to shout into his face.
“Grown into a man, and not hard on the eyes neither. Your hair’s come in right dark, ain’t it? And those fine blue eyes you got from your ma, Lord rest her. She was a handsome woman in her youth, and you take after her. Took you long enough to stop in and see old friends. Suppose you heard about me and Jed getting married, two old fools that we are. Next Saturday. You stay long enough and we’ll fix you up too. You come home to claim a bride?”
He flushed his irritation for the world to see, from the neck of his shirt to his hairline, an answer just as clear as words on a page and one that made Jemima’s stomach lurch into her throat.
“Cain’t say that I have.” He removed himself from Anna’s grip gingerly. “A man ain’t allowed more than one, according to the law. I’m here on business.”
“Now there’s some news. Liam Kirby married. I expectthere’s more to tell, it’s been near ten years.” Anna pointed to a stool. “Sit yourself down over there by the fire—Charlie, you’ll grow roots in front of that skittles board if you don’t take care. Make some room now, Liam’s come to call and he’s got stories to tell. You remember Charlie, Liam, but what you don’t know is he finally found hisself a wife. Married Molly Kaes but the bloom is off the rose, plain enough. He spends more time in front of my fire than he does his own.”
“Now Anna—” Charlie began, but she cut him off.
“That there’s Obediah Cameron, you’ll remember him when he had hair. And here comes Miss Wilde—I’ll be with you in a minute, Eulalia—she’s a new face to you, but then we’ve got lots of them in Paradise these days. Keeps house for her brother. I expect you saw the Wilde orchards on your way in. Have you ever seen so many apple trees? Jemima Southern there—did you recognize her? All grown-up and thinking she can hide herself in plain sight. In service at the widow Kuick’s since she lost her folks to the quinsy. Bought the mill from John Glove, did the widow. You look like you swallowed your tongue, Jemima. Got nothing to say to Liam Kirby? If I recall correctly you were sweet on him at one time.”
Hot words rushed up and Jemima would have let them fly right in Anna’s face if it weren’t for the way Obediah’s ears perked up. The Camerons liked gossip only slightly less than a tankard of ale, and Jemima must make sure that he got no ideas about her and Liam that might make their way back to the
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