The Whippoorwill Trilogy - Sharon Sala Page 0,170

stacked and fingered the textures, wishing she had time to send off for something suitable for a veil. There were a couple of bolts of something sheer near the bottom of the stack, and she started shifting them to get a better look. As she was struggling with a rather large bolt of calico, she smelled skunk. Before she had time to consider the oddity of the scent with where she was standing, the woman who’d been in the back of the store spoke to her.

“Need some help?”

Fannie turned, and then wrinkled her nose as the skunk scent grew even stronger.

Letty sighed. She could tell by the look on the woman’s face that she’d gotten a whiff.

“Sorry,” she said. “I had an unfortunate encounter with a skunk.”

Despite the woman’s objectionable smell, Fannie grinned.

“Bless your heart,” Fannie said. “I can’t say I know how you feel, but I can honestly say I know how you smell.”

It was the forthrightness of the remark that made Letty laugh.

“At last, an honest woman,” Letty said, and then reached in front of Fannie and lifted the top bolts away, giving Fannie access to the cloth she’d been eyeing.

“Thank you,” Fannie said, as she pulled it out from beneath the pile. “My name is Fannie Smithson.”

“I’m Sister Leticia Murphy, traveling associate of Reverend Randall Ward Howe. He’s come to Dripping Springs to marry a couple.”

Fannie gasped. “Oh! How fortuitous! I’m the one who’s going to get married.”

Letty smiled, although it had to be said she felt a moment of pure envy. Why couldn’t she find someone with whom to spend the rest of her life? This little woman was somewhat homely, yet even she had found true love.

“Well, now,” Letty said. “It seems congratulations are in order. I’ll bet you’re as nervous as a cat, aren’t you?”

“Not so much nervous as just uncertain,” she said, then fearing she’d said too much, began fiddling with the fabric, unwinding some and then holding it up to the light to see if it was sheer enough to pass as a veil.

Letty glanced toward the back of the store where the owner was still deep in conversation with the farmer who’d brought in the eggs. After her success with the young woman in the other town who’d tried to do herself in, she felt it was her duty to caution new brides. Not that she knew what the hell there was to caution them about, but it seemed like a duty that a traveling association of a preacher should do.

“You say you’re uncertain. Are you referring to your feelings, because if you are, you should not marry a man you don’t trust.”

Unconsciously, Fannie clutched the fabric against her breasts as if it was a shield. She started to speak and then stopped. It seemed ridiculous to confide in a total stranger. But then the more she thought about it, the less ridiculous it seemed. Who better than a stranger? She would never see the woman again. What did it matter if she embarrassed herself once if it got her the answers she so desperately desired.

“It’s not that I don’t trust him,” Fannie said. “Because I do. He’s a wonderful man.”

“Then what’s the problem?” Letty asked.

Fannie glanced over her shoulder, making sure they were still alone, then lowered her voice.

“He doesn’t have a problem. I fear it is I who is lacking.”

Letty frowned. “Lacking how?”

Fannie glanced at Letty, then quickly looked away.

Suddenly, it dawned on Letty that the girl was embarrassed, and if that was the case, it had to be about sex.

“Have you spoken to your mother about your fears?” Letty whispered.

Fannie quickly shook her head. “My mother is deceased and I can’t speak to Father about such things.”

Letty stifled a smirk. Being skunked hadn’t dulled her instincts. It was about sex and the Good Lord only knew she was an expert at such.

“What things are you talking about?” Letty asked.

Fannie blushed.

Letty put a hand on the young woman’s back and pushed her toward the door.

“Let’s take a little walk, shall we? I know I smell bad and it’s not so disgusting in the fresh air.”

Fannie didn’t realize how desperate she looked as she laid the fabric down.

“I shouldn’t bother you with such things,” Fannie said.

Letty grinned. “Trust me, dear, it’s not a bother.”

Fannie beat her to the door.

“Ask away,” Letty said. “I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”

Fannie clasped her hands beneath her chin and swallowed nervously.

“Truly?”

“Truly.”

“Are you a married woman?” Fannie asked.

“Not now,” Letty said, letting the