Aundy (Pendleton Petticoats #1)(11)
Author: Shanna Hatfield

“Well, silly girl, I’ll be teaching you all about gardens, then,” Nora said, taking the trowel out of Aundy’s hand and shaking her head. “Erik always planted a garden, although none of the men liked taking care of it. He has all the tools you need, I’m sure of it. If not, you can always purchase them later. We’ll have to make a list of seeds you want to order. I have some extras, but you might want some different vegetables than I’ve got. Erik also has some lovely fruit trees down by the creek.”

“Fruit trees? What kind of trees?” Aundy asked, excited at the prospect of growing her own fruit. She had a sweet tooth and being able to make pies and crisps, as well as put up preserves for winter sounded wonderful.

“A couple of cherry, some apple, and pear,” Nora said, sorting through a stack of gloves, looking for a new pair. “And peach. He brought me the loveliest peaches last summer.”

Aundy was busy dreaming about the first bite of a ripe, juicy peach when she was bumped from behind.

“Beg your pardon, miss,” a good-looking man said as he stepped back from her. Aundy noticed he was about her height and quite handsome with an aristocratic appeal. He probably had women whispering about him behind their hands for miles around.

“Ashton Monroe, I didn’t know you were back in town,” Nora said, looking at the man as he stood staring at Aundy. “You were gone when poor Erik had his accident so you probably haven’t had a chance to meet his wife.”

“Wife? So it’s true? Erik really did send for a mail-order bride?” Ashton asked, tipping his head at Aundy and giving her an engaging smile. “I can’t believe someone as lovely as you, Mrs. Erickson, would have been unattached.”

Aundy blushed, thinking the man was either full of poppycock, as her father used to say, or had impaired vision. Looking at the thick fringe of lashes around his intense, dark eyes, she somehow doubted he had any problems seeing.

“Thank you, Mr. Monroe,” Aundy said, tipping her head demurely. Her mother had instilled impeccable manners in both her daughters, despite the fact their father thought it was a bunch of unnecessary nonsense.

“My condolences on the loss of your husband, particularly so soon after you arrived in our little town,” Ashton said, taking Aundy’s gloved hand in his and pressing a light kiss to her knuckles.

“Again, thank you, Mr. Monroe.”

“Please,” Ashton said, releasing her hand and gazing into her eyes. “I insist you call me Ashton. All my friends do, and I certainly hope you’ll allow me to be your friend.”

Aundy gave her head a barely perceptible nod, watching Nora roll her eyes. “Very well, Ashton.”

“That’s better,” Ashton said, beaming a brilliant smile at Aundy. “Now, what brings you ladies to town today?”

“We had a few things we needed to do,” Nora said, giving Ashton a smile that lacked any real warmth or sincerity. “What about you?”

“Just a few business matters that sorely needed my attention,” Ashton said glancing from Aundy to Nora. “Perhaps you ladies would join me for tea at Dogwood Corners one afternoon?”

“Perhaps,” Nora said, putting a hand on Aundy’s arm to keep her from saying anything. “We need to get through calving season first.”

“Oh, yes. How is the illustrious cattle business at Nash’s Folly?” Ashton asked. Aundy was surprised to hear a note of disdain in his voice.

“As good as ever,” Nora said, looping her arm through Aundy’s and giving it a gentle tug. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we need to finish our shopping.”

“Of course, Nora. It was a pleasure to meet you Aundy,” Ashton said, tipping his hat. “I look forward to seeing you again.”

Watching him walk toward a group of men gathered at the back of the store, Aundy looked down to see Nora shaking her head. “Don’t let his nice manners and fancy talk turn your head, honey. He’s not one to dally with. As handsome as he is, not to mention smooth talking, Ashton has broken more hearts than you can imagine. He’s nothing but trouble when it comes to pretty women.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Aundy said, following Nora to the store’s counter. “I don’t believe he’d be interested in someone like me anyway.”

“What do you mean?” Nora asked, stopping to look at Aundy.

“You know, someone plain and simple, without wealth or station or beauty,” Aundy said, stating what she felt was a fact. “Besides, I have no interest in becoming involved with a man. None at all. I’ve only been a widow for less than two weeks.”

Nora laughed and wrapped an arm around Aundy’s waist. “You may not have grown up wealthy or in high society, but there is nothing plain or simple about you, honey. Not a single thing. We all know you and Eric weren’t in love, didn’t really know each other. I wouldn’t worry too much about being the grieving widow. After all, we did talk you out of wearing black. When the right man comes along, the one who makes your stomach fill with butterflies and your breath catch in your throat and all sense fly right out of your head, you’ll be ready to rethink that notion about staying away from the male species.”

Aundy looked at her friend in surprise and felt a grin tugging up the corners of her mouth as Nora smiled back at her. She’d never admit it, but Nora had accurately described what happened to her anytime she was near Garrett.

Finishing their shopping, they placed Aundy’s ad in the paper and left word with a few of the businesses in town they were hiring out at the Erickson farm.

Going to a charming little restaurant, they enjoyed a leisurely lunch with Nora introducing Aundy to several people she hadn’t yet met.

Aundy insisted on buying lunch, and then the two women were soon on their way out of town.

“When Ashton invited us to Dogwood Corners, where is that?” Aundy asked, unable to keep her curiosity from getting the best of her.

“That direction,” Nora said, pointing to a road as they passed it. “If you follow that for a few miles, you’ll see a big house up on a hill. He had dogwoods sent out here and hires a gardener to try to keep them alive. So far, he’s been successful, although with our cold winters, I don’t know how.”

“Oh,” Aundy said, trying to envision an imposing big house surrounded by dogwoods. She didn’t think she’d ever find out what it looked like, and that was probably for the best.

Chapter Six

“Site down the barrel and hold it steady,” Garrett said, finding it hard to instruct Aundy in how to shoot his revolver with her floral scent teasing his nose and a wayward wisp of hair engaged in a teasing dance by his cheek.

His mother returned from town with Aundy in tow, saying J.B. agreed to give her lessons in farming in the afternoons and they shouldn’t miss a single day. Spending a couple of hours at the kitchen table taking notes as J.B. shared information about farming, Garrett interrupted the lessons when he stopped by the house to ask his father a question.

Aundy appeared to be as taken aback as he was when Nora insisted he give the girl a shooting lesson right then.

“Ma, I just needed to ask Pops a question,” Garrett said, backing toward the door, hoping to escape. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to be around Aundy. The problem was that he wanted it too much. He’d like nothing better than to spend the afternoon sitting somewhere quiet listening to her lilting voice and getting lost in her sky blue eyes.

“I’m sure Garrett has much more pressing matters this afternoon,” Aundy protested, getting to her feet from her place at the table. “I really should be getting home anyway.”

“Nonsense. Garrett could use a break from his work, couldn’t you?” Nora asked, raising her eyebrow at him in challenge.

“Sure, Ma, but Mrs. Erikson isn’t exactly dressed for a shooting lesson,” Garrett said, taking in Aundy’s pretty outfit from the frill of lace around her long neck to the fancy stitching on the hem of her skirt that was the exact same shade of blue as her sky-colored eyes.

“She can leave off her jacket and put on one of my aprons. She’ll be fine,” Nora said, hustling to pluck a clean apron off a peg and tying it around Aundy before she could protest. Placing a handful of cookies in Garrett’s hand, Nora pushed him and Aundy toward the door. “Have fun.”

Garrett shook his head, but led the way behind the barn where he set some old cans they saved for target practice on top of a few fence posts.

Taking out his revolver, he planned to have Aundy shoot it once or twice and send her back to the house, but she held the gun in her hand, looking at it expectantly. Holding back a sigh, he took the gun and described in detail how it worked, how she should hold it, gun safety, and everything a beginner needed to know about the weapon.

When he finished, she smiled at him, causing him to forget what it was he was going to say. He pointed toward a post and told her to try to shoot one of the cans.

Aundy was having a hard time holding the gun steady using only one hand and her first shot went wild.

“Here, let me help you,” Garrett said. Aundy started to hand him the gun, but he stepped close behind her and put his arms around her. Placing his big hands over her smaller one, he helped her raise the gun, his cheek pressed against her temple.

That was his first mistake.

His second was taking a deep breath. Nearly undone by her soft rose fragrance, her warmth seeped into him, making him feel slightly overheated.

“Normally, you’d learn to shoot using both hands to steady your weapon. Since that isn’t an option, you’ll just learn to do it one-handed from the start,” Garrett said, desperately wanting to kiss Aundy. “You hold it like this, see?”

Aundy nodded her head, unable to see or think. Not with Garrett so close to her. He smelled of horses and sunshine, and some musky scent that was alluring and inviting.

Stepping behind her, pressing close, she felt her knees wobble and fought the desire to lean back into his strength. Her stomach fluttered as Garrett’s breath stirred the hair by her ear then she felt his cheek against her temple. His deep voice filled the air and her soul. She blinked her eyes, trying to keep from collapsing at his feet.

Blocking out just how wonderful it felt to have Garrett’s arms around her, she instead focused on the can on top of the fencepost.

“When you feel ready, gently squeeze the trigger. Don’t pull or tug it, just let it come easy,” Garrett said, drawing on what was left of his restraint as he kept his arms around Aundy, helping steady the gun in her hand.

Aundy pulled the trigger and hit the can, knocking it off the post.

“That’s great, Aundy,” Garrett said, giving her an enthusiastic hug around her waist. Realizing what he’d done, he dropped his hands and stepped back. “You seem to be a fast learner. Try the next one.”

Aundy wasn’t sure she could concentrate enough to hit the side of the barn, but tried to regain her focus. She missed a few, but the more she shot, the more she hit until she was grinning as broadly as Garrett.

“I’m very proud of you, Aundy.” Garrett was amazed at how quickly she picked up shooting, especially since she was learning one-handed.

“Thanks,” Aundy said, beaming a smile at Garrett, rather pleased with her efforts considering she’d never before held a gun. “I can see why Dent said you should teach me to shoot. You’ve been so patient and informative.”

“Glad you think so,” Garrett said, taking the gun from her and reloading it. “Want to try again?”

“I believe I’ve killed enough cans today. However, I’d like to see you shoot,” Aundy said, wondering if Garrett would hit all the cans he lined up on the posts.

“Are you sure?” Garrett asked, returning to stand beside her, holstering the gun.

“I’m absolutely certain,” Aundy said, nodding her head for emphasis.

Garrett whipped out the gun, knocked all the cans off the posts, and returned it to his holster so rapidly Aundy had barely seen anything. She wasn’t sure she’d even had time to blink.

“No wonder Dent said you should teach me,” Aundy said with a laugh. “Were you a gun slinger in a past lifetime?”

“No, ma’am,” Garrett said, grinning. He didn’t usually show off, but he was in the mood to do so today, wanting to impress his neighbor. “I practiced a lot growing up. I guess I read one too many western adventures as a kid.”

“I can’t believe your mother would allow you to read dime novels,” Aundy said, giving Garrett a look that he thought might make his knees buckle beneath him. She looked so alive and pretty with her cheeks flushed and wayward strands of silky golden hair twirling in the afternoon breeze.

“No one said she knew I was reading them,” Garrett said with a devilish smile. “She’d have boxed my ears good if she knew I was reading those instead of the books she deemed acceptable.”

“Now I’ve got something to hold over your head,” Aundy said with a teasing glance at Garrett.

“Just try.”

“I’ll save it for a day when I really need it.”

As they strolled around the side of the barn toward the house, Garrett breathed deeply of Aundy’s rose scent and tried not to stare at her tall figure and trim waist. “I’ll come over soon and we can set up some targets so you can use Erik’s guns. They’re yours now, so you should practice shooting them, get familiar with how they feel in your hand.”

Thrilled at the idea of spending more time with Garrett, Aundy knew she shouldn’t be. A wave of guilt swept over her for enjoying the time she spent with her handsome neighbor as much as she did. Her husband was only gone a few weeks and she just told Nora earlier that morning she was not getting entangled with another man. The last two relationships had both ended with the men she cared for dying and she couldn’t go through the pain of losing someone else again.