bed until noon, having a man wait on me, shopping until I
dropped, not one little worry entered my mind.” Jillian waved her
hand dismissively. “I couldn’t have cared less what was going on in
the small town of Gladewater, Texas.” She ducked her head under the
counter so her friend wouldn’t see her guilt over the
lie.
“ Does this guy have a
friend?”
She found a rag and rose. “No, he’s a
loner.”
“ Sounds familiar. Did your brother get
a hold of you? He called me Sunday looking for you.”
“ I talked to him last night after I
got home. He wants me to get some appraisals on the house. As
usual, he needs money.” Jillian shifted several items on the
counter, and then brushed the surface with the cloth. “Apparently
he has a stock going bad, and he’s strapped for cash.” She scowled
at the thought of getting appraisals.
“ Well, maybe if you buy him out, he’ll
leave you alone for money.”
“ Are you kidding? Michael can’t handle
his finances. Every time he’s ahead, he pulls another dumb stunt
and winds up needing money again. I love him dearly but
sometimes...” Jillian’s voice ended with a growl. She twisted the
rag as if wringing his neck.
“ Okay, so what did you buy in Dallas?”
Karen Ann’s face lit with a mischievous grin. “Anything
sexy?”
“ Oh my gosh, I didn’t even think of
that.”
“ Your lover didn’t complain that you
weren’t trying to entice him into bed?”
“ Funny, I don’t remember him
complaining.”
“ But you did buy some new clothes. If
I’m guessing right, that’s a new outfit.”
“ What do you think?” Jillian struck a
pose, moving back and forth like a model. “Do I look like the new
young and clever hardware store owner?”
“ Well—the young part seems
right.”
She noticed her friend’s normal attire
of blue jeans and a T-shirt printed with, Why be shy? I want your body.
“ Thanks for the vote of
confidence.”
“ Gosh, Jillian, everyone knows you’ve
been running this store for the last two years. Your father only
showed up when he had nothing better to do. You don’t have to dress
up for everyone to respect you.”
“ Right. Then why do I still feel as if
everyone is waiting for me to fall on my face?”
“ You’re imagining that,” Karen Ann
argued. “We all know how hard you’ve worked to keep this place
profitable. What you really should be doing is going out and having
fun.” Her face brightened, and Jillian waited for her friend to
suggest something outrageous. “Why don’t we head over to Longview
tonight and take in a movie?”
“ Why not? You only live
once.”
Surprised by the response, Karen Ann rushed
with the details. “Okay then, I’ll pick you up about seven and
we’ll head out.” She hurried to the door. “Got to go. See you
later.”
She left the shop before Jillian could
change her mind. Laughing, she watched her friend leave. Amazed at
how easy the conversation with Karen Ann had gone, she mentally
patted herself on the back. She’d dreaded lying to her best friend
about her weekend. But then, she hadn’t really lied. Karen Ann had
just chosen not to believe the truth.
Of course, it’d come out soon enough if she
came up pregnant. Thinking about the possibility brightened
Jillian’s mood, and she got back to work. There were a number of
things to do before she could relax and enjoy that particular
adventure.
****
The lonely sound of a train whistle drew
Jillian’s attention. Out the front window, the train chugged
consistently down the center of the shopping area. Boxcars rocking,
wheels turning, slow and steady, it continued on its journey.
She stretched. She’d managed to restock saw
blades, tool belts, batteries, and rope this morning. But as usual,
the day had passed too quickly. She still had power tools and locks
to place on the shelves. Why was there never enough time to do all
the things that needed to be done?
Hearing the bell above the door ring, she
glanced
dropped, not one little worry entered my mind.” Jillian waved her
hand dismissively. “I couldn’t have cared less what was going on in
the small town of Gladewater, Texas.” She ducked her head under the
counter so her friend wouldn’t see her guilt over the
lie.
“ Does this guy have a
friend?”
She found a rag and rose. “No, he’s a
loner.”
“ Sounds familiar. Did your brother get
a hold of you? He called me Sunday looking for you.”
“ I talked to him last night after I
got home. He wants me to get some appraisals on the house. As
usual, he needs money.” Jillian shifted several items on the
counter, and then brushed the surface with the cloth. “Apparently
he has a stock going bad, and he’s strapped for cash.” She scowled
at the thought of getting appraisals.
“ Well, maybe if you buy him out, he’ll
leave you alone for money.”
“ Are you kidding? Michael can’t handle
his finances. Every time he’s ahead, he pulls another dumb stunt
and winds up needing money again. I love him dearly but
sometimes...” Jillian’s voice ended with a growl. She twisted the
rag as if wringing his neck.
“ Okay, so what did you buy in Dallas?”
Karen Ann’s face lit with a mischievous grin. “Anything
sexy?”
“ Oh my gosh, I didn’t even think of
that.”
“ Your lover didn’t complain that you
weren’t trying to entice him into bed?”
“ Funny, I don’t remember him
complaining.”
“ But you did buy some new clothes. If
I’m guessing right, that’s a new outfit.”
“ What do you think?” Jillian struck a
pose, moving back and forth like a model. “Do I look like the new
young and clever hardware store owner?”
“ Well—the young part seems
right.”
She noticed her friend’s normal attire
of blue jeans and a T-shirt printed with, Why be shy? I want your body.
“ Thanks for the vote of
confidence.”
“ Gosh, Jillian, everyone knows you’ve
been running this store for the last two years. Your father only
showed up when he had nothing better to do. You don’t have to dress
up for everyone to respect you.”
“ Right. Then why do I still feel as if
everyone is waiting for me to fall on my face?”
“ You’re imagining that,” Karen Ann
argued. “We all know how hard you’ve worked to keep this place
profitable. What you really should be doing is going out and having
fun.” Her face brightened, and Jillian waited for her friend to
suggest something outrageous. “Why don’t we head over to Longview
tonight and take in a movie?”
“ Why not? You only live
once.”
Surprised by the response, Karen Ann rushed
with the details. “Okay then, I’ll pick you up about seven and
we’ll head out.” She hurried to the door. “Got to go. See you
later.”
She left the shop before Jillian could
change her mind. Laughing, she watched her friend leave. Amazed at
how easy the conversation with Karen Ann had gone, she mentally
patted herself on the back. She’d dreaded lying to her best friend
about her weekend. But then, she hadn’t really lied. Karen Ann had
just chosen not to believe the truth.
Of course, it’d come out soon enough if she
came up pregnant. Thinking about the possibility brightened
Jillian’s mood, and she got back to work. There were a number of
things to do before she could relax and enjoy that particular
adventure.
****
The lonely sound of a train whistle drew
Jillian’s attention. Out the front window, the train chugged
consistently down the center of the shopping area. Boxcars rocking,
wheels turning, slow and steady, it continued on its journey.
She stretched. She’d managed to restock saw
blades, tool belts, batteries, and rope this morning. But as usual,
the day had passed too quickly. She still had power tools and locks
to place on the shelves. Why was there never enough time to do all
the things that needed to be done?
Hearing the bell above the door ring, she
glanced
Similar Books
