the boxes.”
“I don’t blame you. If they are repeat offenders, they need to be made aware of the problem they are causing. Then he looked over at Bobby. “Our wagon is the one in front with the matching blacks.”
“Yes, sir, Mr. Wharton. I’ll get everything in there, lickety-split.”
“Thanks, Bobby.”
The storekeeper nodded. “My thoughts, exactly.”
“Thanks for getting our order ready,” said Adele, glad for a normal conversation.
Edward looked at Adele. “Did you find everything you need?”
She gazed over her purchases including the wrapped ones and nodded. “I have everything.” Some of the wrapped goods were Edward’s presents. She’d gotten those when Edward went to look at the tools.
In addition to the dolls, she’d picked up material for a pretty Christmas dress for her and Lissa in addition she placed some candy on the counter.
Ready to pay for her purchases, she noticed several oranges behind the counter. Adele pointed at them. “Jeremiah, are those for sale?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He picked up one of the oranges and handed it to her. “They came in on the stage yesterday. They’re pretty expensive though. Came all the way from Florida.”
Adele sniffed the fruit and sighed. “I used to have oranges all the time in New York. I hadn’t realized how much I miss them. I’ll take them all,” she stopped speaking to count, “All six.”
Jeremiah’s eyebrows rose and his eyes widened. “Are you sure? That’ll be twelve dollars. Lissa’s dolls aren’t that much.”
“I’m sure. My family deserves a little spoiling. They’ll be perfect for Thanksgiving dinner.”
“Are you having turkey?”
“Yes,” said Edward. “I ordered one especially for Thanksgiving.”
Jeremiah chuckled. “Seems to me you usually do. I don’t think Horst has ever gone a year, since he arrived in town, that you didn’t buy a turkey from him.”
“Good for Horst,” said Adele. “We rarely visit the butcher, usually only for pork. I didn’t realize we purchased turkey, too.”
“We better pay you for our purchases.” Edward eyed her items, but his gaze didn’t linger.
The storekeeper added up everything for Edward and the separate items for Adele.
“You want this total on your bill, Edward.”
“Yes, I’ll pay you on the first as usual.”
“How about you, Adele? Do you want me to start a separate bill for you?”
“No, thank you. I’ll pay for mine now.”
“With the oranges, the total comes to twenty-five dollars and fifty cents.”
She opened her reticule and paid him. She didn’t carry a lot of cash, leaving most of her money in the carpetbag she’d sewed it into. Adele still wondered why Edward had never asked her for it, or even to see it. As far as she knew, he didn’t even know where she kept the cash.
Jeremiah wrapped the rest of her purchases. He’d already wrapped the pipe and tobacco she was giving Edward for Christmas. He wanted the items, but wouldn’t buy them because of the cost.
Taking the dolls, Jeremiah carefully wrapped them double. “This should help protect them, too. He placed them in a box between the bolts of cloth she bought for her and for Lissa’s Christmas dresses. Red velvet for Lissa and dark green velvet for her.
He placed the bolts upright in a wooden box. Between the bolts he placed the oranges, pipe and tobacco, then the dolls. On the very top was the thread for the dresses, needles and two thimbles. She was sure that Ruama had needles and a thimble, but she wanted her and Lissa to have their own.
Adele would gather some of the sawdust when Edward next cut logs for the fireplace and make her and Lissa both pin cushions.
She smiled, pleased with her purchases. “Thank you so much. I’m thrilled you had everything I needed.”
Jeremiah puffed up his chest. “We do aim to please. You all have a great week.”
Adele waved as they went out the door. “’Bye, see you next week.”
“Bye, Jeremiah,” said Edward. He carried the box with Adele’s purchases out to their wagon and put the box under the seat.
“That should give it some protection. I’d hate for Lissa’s dolls to break before she even gets a chance to play with them.”
“So would I. Thanks for taking extra care with them.”
Looks like Bobby loaded our regular order.
Edward gave her his hand and helped her into the wagon.
She straightened her skirt and sat on the bench. Adele smiled when she remembered how sore she’d been and the kindness Edward showed by giving her a blanket to sit on.
She looked over toward Angel Palace and saw Richard standing outside the bathhouse directly across the street from the mercantile.