Read Online Deborah Camp by Tender Kisses Tough Talk - Free Book Online Page B

and potatoes.”
    “The first train in tomorrow is supposed to be bringing us some supplies, including potatoes,” Adele assured her. “We buy our lard at the butcher shop. I’ll send someone around for it later.”
    Mrs. McDonald nodded and turned to go back into the kitchen.
    “Mrs. McDonald.” Adele waited for the woman to face her again. “Do you sew?”
    “Used to. I haven’t for a long time though. Why?”
    “I have some material and patterns you can use tomake yourself some work dresses like ours, if you’d like.” Adele reached out to touch one of her sleeves. The satin slipped across her fingertips. “This is too fine for the kitchen.”
    Mrs. McDonald’s face flushed bright pink. “Yeah, well, this was what I used to wear to work. I’d appreciate the material and patterns, ma’am.”
    “Fine, and you can call me Miss Adele.” She noticed the woman’s startled reaction. “If you have a problem with that, you can call me Miss Bishop.”
    “But you’re married now, aren’t you?”
    It was Adele’s turn to be startled. For a few moments her tongue refused to move as her mind whirled. Married. Yes, she was married. She had taken the vows and had signed her name to the certificate of marriage, but should she take Reno’s name? Should she carry the farce that far? “I meant … Well, yes, I’m married now, but you can still call me—”
    “Mrs. Adele,” Reno spoke up, as he entered the restaurant. “Or Mrs. Gold,” he tacked on with an insolent grin. “Just don’t call her Dellie, Mrs. McDonald. That’s reserved for those closest to her.” He essayed a wink, which garnered a big smile from the cook. “How about a cup of coffee and a bacon sandwich? My belly’s so empty it’s rubbing up against my backbone.”
    Sally released a sharp, bitter laugh. “Will you listen to that? He comes staggering in here and barks orders like he’s lord of the manor.” She glared a challenge at Adele. “Are you going to obey or rebel?”
    “Good day to you, too, Sally Ann.” Reno swung a leg and landed on one of the counter stools. A band of sunlight streamed through the windows and fellon him. He squinted his blood-shot eyes and turned his back on the light.
    His clothes were rumpled, having been slept in, and his hair had received a rough finger-combing. Unshaven and smelling faintly of whiskey, he was every bride’s nightmare.
    “No gentleman would show his face in public looking like that,” Sally said, pointing at Reno. “He stinks like a still.”
    Reno grinned at Sally, opened his mouth, and released an horrendous, eardrum-rattling belch. Sally fell backward as if she’d been shot, her eyes growing huge and all color draining from her face. While Adele knew she should be shocked to the soles of her feet by such behavior, she had to bite her lips to keep from laughing.
    “You are a heathen!” Sally declared. “Just like your ancestors.”
    “Oh, that’s right. You never approved of my bloodlines, did you?” Reno said, running a hand along his whiskered jaw. “Never had much use for Indians or Gypsies.”
    “I appreciate
civilized
Indians,” Sally corrected, wrinkling her nose at him as if he were a cow pattie. “You seem to enjoy being the black sheep, the poor relation. Win used to say you made a vocation of it.”
    “Did he now?” He smirked at that, then pounded the counter with his fist. “Where’s my coffee?”
    Adele stepped forward and Reno swung his attention to her. Immediately she saw the frost in his eyes melt and his grin lose its bitterness. For all his blustering and surliness, she could still reach his heart, and that softened hers toward him. Once again sheyearned to fashion him into the man she knew he could be.
    “If you’ll clean up, comb your hair, and change into fresh clothing, I will see that you are fed.”
    The corners of his wide mouth dipped in displeasure. “I have to meet with your approval before I get fed, huh?” He shook his head. “I