Calico Christmas at Dry Creek. Janet Tronstad

woman’s eyes.

      But that couldn’t be right, Elizabeth told herself. The furs covered the little one so completely that no one could even tell a baby rested in Jake’s arms. The woman was definitely staring at the furs, though. She must have been watching them through the windows.

      “Good afternoon, Annabelle,” Jake said.

      The woman did not answer. Her skin was flushed and her chin defiant. Her face looked kind, even if her eyes were braced for battle and focused on a spot to the right of the doorway. She was past middle-aged and some gray showed in the light brown hair she wore pulled back into a bun. Her white blouse was freshly pressed and her black wool skirt was proper.

      Elizabeth thought the other woman wasn’t going to answer Jake, but finally she did.

      “Good afternoon to you, as well.”

      Only then did the woman meet Elizabeth’s eyes.

      Elizabeth forced herself to smile. Even if the woman wouldn’t want to socialize with them for some reason, surely she would be polite. And, if Elizabeth were even more polite in return, the woman would need to continue answering back.

      “You have a good store here. Your shelves are completely full. I see coffee and spices. Flour, too,” Elizabeth said. “You must be proud.”

      The store looked well enough stocked to meet anyone’s needs. The front counters, showcase and shelves were a dark wood made shiny from repeated rubdowns. To the left, there was a tobacco cutter. Behind the woman there were tins of face powder and hand mirrors with matching brushes. A cracker barrel stood in front of the case. A few leather-bound books lay on the top of the counter.

      Farther back, Elizabeth saw a tin of tea that was the same kind that had been left at her wagon. Beside it was a china teapot with lovely pink roses painted on its side.

      “It’s not my store. I just clerk here,” the woman said stiffly.

      “Still, you must make recommendations and I can’t think of anything your shelves are lacking.”

      “We do have a good selection,” the woman admitted. By now her face looked pale as though she needed to force herself to stand by her words. “For our better customers.”

      Elizabeth could see Jake’s jaw clench.

      “I didn’t know you had different kinds of customers,” Jake said.

      Annabelle was silent for a minute. “Your friends were here this morning, after you left.”

      “Higgins and Wells?”

      Annabelle looked miserable, but determined. “Our other customers complained.”

      “I know they can be a little loud,” Jake said. “But I’ve never known them to mean anyone harm.”

      The store clerk’s face tightened.

      “I…ah—” Elizabeth tried to think of something to say to relieve the tension “—I am surprised to see such a fine store. Back in Kansas, we hadn’t expected to see something like this way out here. My husband would have—”

      Elizabeth faltered to a stop, but then continued. “My husband wanted to own a store like this someday.”

      Annabelle took her eyes off Jake and turned them toward Elizabeth. Something flickered in the woman’s eyes, but she didn’t say anything.

      Jake looked at the shelves behind the counter and then turned to the clerk. “We need to buy a wedding ring.”

      Oh, dear, Elizabeth thought. She was not sure she could marry another man who wanted to spend money so freely. She accepted that she would be the one responsible for providing most of the food and clothing. She had always had to do for herself and those around her. But cash money was hard to come by and she didn’t like to see it slip away no matter who had worked for it.

      “I don’t need a new ring,” Elizabeth whispered as she leaned closer to Jake. She had no desire to embarrass him in front of the store clerk, but they needed to come to some understanding. “We can use the one I already have.”

      “I won’t use your husband’s ring.”

      Elizabeth watched as the clerk turned to look for something on the shelf behind the counter. Elizabeth figured the woman was giving them some privacy. She smoothed down the skirt of her dress.

      “The ring was my mother’s,” Elizabeth murmured quietly. She’d been given it at her parents’ funeral and had kept it all the years since. Matthew had been relieved that he didn’t need to buy a ring for her. “And it’s an expense that we don’t need.”

      Elizabeth watched Annabelle turn around and set a tray on the counter. The woman’s face softened slightly as she studied Elizabeth. “You’re that woman, aren’t you? The one out by the fort who lost her husband and baby?”

      Elizabeth gave a jerky nod. So that was the problem. “The doctor says I’m past the time of getting the fever, though. You don’t need to worry.”

      The woman reached over and set her hand on Elizabeth’s arm. “I felt so sorry for you. I sent a tin of tea out with one of the soldiers. I hope you got it. Tea always soothes me when I don’t feel good.”

      Elizabeth relaxed. Maybe the woman was just cautious with strangers. Or maybe Jake’s friends had upset other customers by cursing or something. It was likely a misunderstanding of sorts. Annabelle seemed to be a nice person.

      “That tea was such a lovely gift,” Elizabeth said as she smiled at the other woman. “I don’t know when I’ve had tea that I’ve enjoyed as much. I had some sassafras bark in the wagon with me, but I used most of it up when my husband was sick.”

      Elizabeth didn’t think she’d ever be able to drink sassafras tea again without picturing Matthew dying. Even the smell of it made her feel ill.

      The woman nodded. “That tea was from England. We got it with our last shipment.”

      Elizabeth thought the woman was going to say something more, but instead she glanced up at Jake and all of the friendliness in her face drained away. She looked worried and afraid.

      Jake didn’t see it because he was looking down at the rings, but Elizabeth did.

      “We’ll want a gold ring, of course.” Jake was looking at the tray of rings the woman had set on the counter. Dozens of rings were lined up in shiny rows.

      Annabelle bit her lip and, when she didn’t move, Jake looked up.

      “Perhaps you would care to wait outside while she tries on the rings,” Annabelle suggested softly.

      Elizabeth could see the woman had needed to brace herself to say those words.

      “Some women like to try on several,” Annabelle added as her face flushed.

      Jake nodded, although he looked doubtful. “I guess I should see about sending that note to the reverend anyway. Otherwise he’ll probably leave the schoolhouse before we get there.”

      The store clerk watched Jake walk out of the store and close the door before she turned to Elizabeth.

      “I can’t let you do this,” the woman whispered in a rush. She had bright spots of color on her cheeks. “I’m a widow, too. I know what it’s like. And he is a striking man. But, surely you’re not so desperate that you’ll marry him.”

      Elizabeth stiffened. “I know it’s unusual. And I haven’t known him long, but he seems like a good, God-fearing man.”

      Elizabeth saw no need to tell Annabelle about the arrangement she and Jake had made.

      Annabelle pursed her lips. “A man like him needs to fear God a little more if you ask me.”

      A man like what? Elizabeth wondered. “If it’s the girls. I know they are Indians, but I understand that Mr. Hargrove is not. Besides, I believe we are all God’s