Page 27 of May I Kiss the Bride
It didn’t take Rey long to decide. Peach pie on the day it was made was certainly better than the day after. “If it’s all right with Barb.”
Barb chuckled. “Oh, Sheriff, it’s all right with me.” She pulled out a fan from her shoulder bag and waved it vigorously in front of her face. “Now, who wants a cold lemonade from the mercantile before we head home?”
Elsie’s hand shot straight up. “I do!”
“I’ll have to meet you at home,” Rey said. “I need to check in with Thatcher first.”
As he strode to the sheriff’s office, he decided that it was indeed a nice day—the nicest of days. He was very much looking forward to the peach pie tonight, as well as whenever Viola Delany swept back into town. He had no idea what he might say to her, or what the future might bring between them, but for now, he was enjoying the humming of his heart.
EVERYTHING ABOUT WYOMING REMINDED VIOLA ofhim.
Everywhere she looked, she thought she saw a tall cowboy, but each time it was someone else. It didn’t help that so many men in Cheyenne wore cowboy hats and cowboy boots. Her heart had done more than one somersault, and her stomach wasn’t in much better condition.
She should just take a carriage to Mayfair and see him, once and for all.
And then she’d know. She’d know if her constant thoughts about him had merit and if he returned those same thoughts.
“Excuse me, ma’am,” a gentleman said as he moved past her toward the post office.
That’s where Viola stood now, with three letters clutched in her hand. One to Aunt Beth, explaining that she’d try to visit each weekend, but she thought that living in Cheyenne would help her focus more on her training. The second letter was to Miss Barnwell and the director of the San Francisco nursing school, thanking them for the recommendation. And the third letter was to Sheriff Rey. She didn’t know his address, but she assumed the titleSheriffwould be directed to the right person.
His letter was very general, with a brief update on what had transpired the last several weeks. And at the end of it, she thanked him again for all of his help and protection in Mayfair. She’d been sure to add the return address to the envelope of the nursing school where she boarded.
That way he’d know where to find her,ifhe ever wanted to find her. Sure, she’d most likely see Rey when she visited Aunt Beth next week. But she didn’t want the first time she saw him to be an awkward meeting—and she hoped that writing a letter explaining a few things would create a connection of friendship.
Was that really what she wanted? To have Sheriff Rey for a friend?
Yes, that’s what she wanted. For now. Because she’d just committed to nursing school, and that needed to be her focus. She stepped into the post office and posted the letters. There. It was done.
Viola smiled to herself as she headed back to her rented room. In exchange for doing the laundry for other boarders, her rent would be covered. She needed to prepare for the church social tonight. She wouldn’t let herself become a recluse, and despite all that had transpired with her parents, she wanted to honor her mother’s original plea that she keep up on her singing. Surely the church in Cheyenne had a Sunday choir.
“There you are,” Donna Dickson said as Viola walked into the back entrance by the rented rooms. “Are you coming to the church social still?”
“Yes, I just need to get ready,” Viola told the brunette woman who had a ready smile and quick laugh. They’d become fast friends. “Give me ten minutes, maybe?”
“Of course.” Donna flashed a smile and headed down the corridor.
Viola turned into her room and shifted through the bureau drawer to find her gloves. It was much too hot to wear themduring the day, but an evening social might require more formal attire. She removed her bonnet and refreshed her hair arrangement.
Someone knocked on the door, startling Viola. It had only been a handful of minutes. Was Donna really that impatient?
“Yes?” Viola called.
“Someone’s here to see you,” Donna said through the door. “I told him you’d be a few minutes.”
Him?Viola froze mid-motion adjusting her hair. Her heart began a slow pound. “Did he give his name?”
“Reynold Christensen.”
Viola was glad there was a door between her and her new friend because she had to rest her hand on the wall next to the mirror. She didn’t even know if she could get any words out to reply.
“Viola? Should I send him on his way?”
The curiosity in Donna’s voice was plain.
“No, tell him I’ll be out shortly.” When she heard Donna’s footsteps move away, Viola tried to resume fixing her hair, but her fingers were trembling.
Why was Rey here? In Cheyenne? At the nursing school? Maybe he had a message from Aunt Beth? Was everything all right with her? She gave up on her hair and sat on the edge of her bed.
