Where the Wild Rose Blooms (2 page)

She had come to stand with Morgan, and he performed the introductions. "Addy, this is Clay Taggart."

"Hello, Mr. Taggart." Her voice was rich and cultured.

"Hello, ma'am."

"What can we do for you today?" she asked.

Clayton reached toward his breast pocket, and a moment later they started on the list he withdrew. Everything from sugar to sewing needles was piled on and around the counter. Mitch and Morgan did most of the work, and Clayton fell into conversation with Mrs. Fontaine. He learned they had just moved from Boston, and she learned that his was the only home past their own.

"Your mother must be Elaine."

"Yes."

"Please tell her how thankful we were for the baked goods she left at the house, and also apologize that I've not had time to come to see her. I do plan on it."

"I'll tell her, but there's no rush to come. My sister is ill and it might be best if you wait."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Is there anything we can do?"

"Actually, she's on the road to recovery, but thank you for asking. I'm sure my mother would welcome a visit. Maybe sometime next week."

"I'll plan on that, Mr. Taggart."

"Please call me Clay."

"In that case, I'm Addy. I've noticed that people in town use first names, and to tell you the truth, I'm more comfortable with that."

The two exchanged a companionable smile, and Morgan joined them.

"I think that's everything, Mr. Taggart."

"Please call me Clay."

"Clay it is. I'll start these out, shall I?" He lifted a sack. "Where are the boys?" Morgan suddenly asked Addy.

"In the storeroom," she told him simply.

"Ed! Jack!" Morgan raised his voice to a shout. "Come out here."

Clayton had just thrown a sack of oats onto one muscular shoulder when they appeared.

"Boys," their father continued. "Help Mr. Taggart out with his things."

Clayton couldn't move. The
boys
were two of the most gorgeous females he'd ever laid eyes on. One was cute and the other was drop-dead beautiful. They weren't very tall but already showed signs of lovely womanhood. They both had clean, starched-white aprons covering their dresses, which only worked to accentuate their dark blue eyes and mahogany-colored hair. Clayton knew he was gawking but couldn't seem to help himself. He took in the amused gaze of one of the young women and still stared, but when his eyes swung to her beautiful sister, he saw only haughty disdain. Suddenly, Clayton's amusement matched that of the first girl.

"Come on," Morgan urged, and both girls lifted parcels and started toward the door. Clayton came behind them, his eyes on the girls' hair, which they both wore long and shiny down their backs.

"Here you go," Morgan spoke. "We'll bring the rest out for you, Clay. We'll only be a moment."

Clayton was only too glad to stand and wait; it gave him a chance to get over his shock. Morgan Fontaine made one trip and said goodbye, as he had other customers to wait on, but the girls made two more trips. On the final load the lovelier of the girls tripped on a high board and almost fell on her face. That Clayton found this amusing was more than obvious.

She caught his laughing eyes, and he watched in fascination as her chin went into the air. She tossed her hair back with just the movement of her head, and her eyes flashed dark blue fire.

"A gentleman would never laugh," she told him in a contemptuous tone.

Claytons smile only deepened. "Well, then, we both know where I stand."

Anger covered her exquisite features before she turned away and returned to the building in a huff. Watching until she disappeared,

Claytons eyes swung to the remaining sister. They grinned at one another.

"She doesn't like you," she said cheekily, and Claytons shoulders shook with silent laughter.

"She made that quite clear." Claytons voice was deep. "Are you two really named Ed and Jack?"

"Edwina and Jacqueline. Eddie and Jackie to everyone but Father, who always wanted boys."

"But he got girls," Clayton clarified unnecessarily.

"Yes." Her dimples were still in place. "Five of them."

"Five?"

"Yes."

They both laughed now, and when Clayton sobered he said, "Are you Jackie or Eddie?"

"I'm Eddie. Jackie is the one who doesn't like you." Clayton only laughed again. "I wonder if I'll be able to do anything about that."

Eddie cocked her head to one side. "I think you probably could, but something tells me you won't."

Clayton shook his head. It was disconcerting to be read so easily. He could probably sweet-talk circles around the lovely Miss Fontaine, but Eddie was right, he wouldn't.

"Well, Mr. Taggart, I'd best get back to work." "Please call me Clay, or Tag, like my friends do." The adorable head cocked again. "Well, now, since I hope we'll be friends, I'll call you Tag."

Clayton smiled at her, but a moment later his eyes went back to the door.

"Would I be out of line to ask how old you ladies are?"

"Yes," Eddie told him good-naturedly, "but I'll tell you anyway. I just turned 18, and Jackie's 15."

"And the rest of you?"

"You are nosey," Eddie teased. "Danny is 13, Lexa is 12, and Sammy is 10."

"Lexa?"

"Alexandra," Eddie supplied. "Father calls her Alex."

Clayton nodded, his smile back in place. "Well, Eddie, it's been a pleasure. I hope to see you again."

"Don't tell lies, Tag," she coined his nickname immediately. "You hope to see
Jackie
again."

Clayton didn't reply to this but threw her a huge grin. A moment later he'd climbed onto the buckboard and started the team toward home.

"Is that you, Clay?" his mother called from the bedroom as he walked in the door.

"Yes, I'm back."

A moment later Elaine Taggart came into the kitchen of the small house.

"I think I got everything on your list."

"Thank you, dear," she said as she crossed the room to take one of the sacks from his arms and place it on the table.

"How's Milly?"

"You can ask her yourself. She's not had a fever today, but she's bored with her own company."

Clayton started toward the stairs that led to two bedrooms, Milly's and his parents'.

"No, Clay, she's in the front room. Settle in, and I'll bring you both some lunch."

Clayton walked quietly into the living room. His sister was curled on the sofa, covered with a light blanket. Her eyes were closed, and Clayton assumed she was asleep. His own bedroom was a small room right off the living room, and he stepped quietly inside to get a book. Returning to the living room, he took a comfortable chair. He opened the book and had read only the first page when he glanced up to find his sisters eyes on him.

"You got a haircut," she said unnecessarily.

Claytons hand went to the back of his neck. Since he'd arrived late last night and left that morning before she was out of her room, she hadn't seen how much he'd needed one.

"Did you see Dad when you were out?"

"Yes. He's just up at Silver Plume, and I would think he'd be home by the end of the week. Probably sooner if he'd known you were sick."

Milly smiled at the thought. She loved her father dearly and missed him so much when he was away. The way she was feeling at the moment, she knew she would cry if she kept on thinking about him, so with a small note of desperation in her voice she

asked, "Who did you see in town?"

"The regulars were at the barber shop," Clayton began and then obliged her with a detailed account of all he'd seen and done. He finished with his talk with Eddie while in front of the general store and Milly spoke up.

"I met Eddie Fontaine one day when Mom asked me to take them some muffins. I think the youngest girl was there too."

"About ten years old?"

"Yeah."

"That would be Sammy. Eddie told me there are five, all told."

"And all with boys' names."

"Well, the nicknames their father has given them may be masculine, but
they're
definitely feminine."

"What's Jackie like? Isn't she the one my age?"

Claytons brows drew together. He did not usually speak ill of people, but Jackie was hard to describe. "She's your age, all right, but I would say that you're going to have a hard time liking her very much."

"What exactly does that mean?"

Clayton dropped his eyes. He should never have put ideas into her head.

"I'm sorry, Milly. That was wrong of me. You might get along fine, but I sense that the move here wasn't the easiest for her. Georgetown's not Boston, and I don't know how much of a sense of humor she has."

"Is this your way of saying she's a snob?"

Clayton grimaced slightly; his sister was no fool, but he'd seen something in Jackie's eyes that was difficult to describe. Finally he replied, "I think she's more scared than she is a snob, but it's not going to come across that way."

Milly nodded. Though she didn't have a fever or headache today, she was still tired, and the conversation was wearing her out. It was a relief to have her mother come in with large mugs of soup and thick pieces of bread. Both Elaine and Clayton stayed with Milly while they ate, but she was soon in need of a nap. Mother and brother left her alone. Elaine had baking to do, and Clayton had some letters to open and answer.

"Okay, Dan," her father panted. "Lift that end now."

Thirteen-year-old Danny tried to do as she was instructed. She was able to lift the box, but it was just too heavy to move once she had it in the air.

"It's too heavy."

Morgan frowned at her, but the young teen took it in stride.

"Where's Ed?"

"Reading a letter from Robert."

The frown turned into a dark scowl.

"That's quite a face," Addy commented softy as she approached. A reluctant smile tugged at Morgan's mouth. He could grow angry, and often did with nearly everyone in the world. However, just the sight of his precious wife was enough to calm him. She had given him all girls when he had specifically asked for boys, but he'd even forgiven her that. She now smiled into his eyes and put a gentle hand on his chest as she passed. Morgan took a quick glance around the store before he landed a quick swat to her backside. She turned indignantly.

"Morgan Fontaine! We're in the store!"

"No one's here, Addy," he replied reasonably.

"You call Danny 'no one'?"

"You didn't see anything, did you, Dan?"

"Not a thing," she told them with eyes wide to match her smile.

Addy shook her head in mock despair and heard Morgan tell Danny to go for Eddy.

"She's reading a letter from Robert," Addy informed him in a voice that caused Danny to stay still. Her mother had a way with her father.

The words still caused Morgan to scowl, but he said, "Then where is Jack?"

"Oh, she's home, trying to figure out what to wear for the first day of school," Danny informed him calmly.