“I would have known you were Meg’s sister without an introduction,” Mrs. Allen said as she held her hand out to Rosemary. “Two true beauties.”
“And there are four more where they came from.” Maria smiled and Meg wiped her brow with her handkerchief thinking that maybe Maria would cooperate after all.
“Goodness, I can’t imagine. I would love to meet them all,” Mrs. Allen said and Meg held her breath at the thought.
Maria cocked an eyebrow at Meg and Meg knew whatever was coming would not be good.
“And I know that Mr. Archer and the family would love to meet you, too, Mrs. Allen. I feel confident that he would agree that we would love for you to join us for dinner one night during your stay.”
Meg took a step back behind Mrs. Allen and held her palms up, shaking her head violently at Maria and Rosemary, who both looked as if they’d love to burst out laughing. Fortunately, they were able to control themselves and Maria said, “Tomorrow night is a good night. Will you join us?”
Mrs. Allen looked to her right where Meg had been, and then looked around further to find Meg standing behind her, her hands clasped behind her back.
“Meg, what are you doing back there? How about it? Is that all right with you and Sam?”
“Is what all right?” Sam said as he waved at the customer he was helping on his way out.
“Maria has invited us to dinner at the ranch tomorrow night,” Meg said, hoping that he would read her mind and say, ‘no’.
“It sounds wonderful, dear, doesn’t it? It’s very gracious of them, and I’ve never been to a ranch before.” Mrs. Allen clasped her hands together at the thought.
“I think it sounds like a fine idea. I’d like to see Hank, after all, and I love the ranch. Thank you, Maria, and thank Mr. Archer for me as well. We’d love to come.”
Meg stared at him, her mouth open, not believing what she’d just heard.
“What’s wrong, Meg? Don’t you miss us?” Rosemary said with a sly smile.
“I…I suppose it would be all right,” she said slowly.
“It will be fine.” Maria winked at her. “I promise I won’t make anything too spicy.”
“Spicy?” Mrs. Allen said, her eyebrows raised. “I’d love to try anything at all. I’m always grateful for anything someone will cook for me, as long as I don’t have to cook for myself.”
“And we appreciate when you don’t cook, Mother,” Sam said, his eyes twinkling.
Mrs. Allen nudged him with her elbow as Maria and Rosemary laughed.
“Are these eggs, and is that milk in the pails?” Mrs. Allen leaned over the basket of eggs.
“Yes, we bring them from the ranch to sell in the mercantile. It used to be Meg’s job.” Rosemary picked up the pails of milk and headed toward the icebox in the corner of the store.
“I’d love to see what you do with that, if you don’t mind,” Mrs. Allen said as she followed behind Maria and Rosemary.
“We’d be happy to show you, and when you come to the ranch I’ll show you how to milk a cow.” Rosemary winked at Meg.
“Oh, this can’t be good,” Meg said when they were out of earshot.
“What do you mean?” Sam looked over at the ladies as they began to place eggs in smaller boxes.
“It’s been difficult for just the two of us not to make mistakes. Imagine adding nine more people into the equation.” She rubbed her forehead, pushing back a lock of her strawberry-blonde hair that had escaped her hair-do and shoving a hairpin back in that threatened to fall out.
Sam ran his fingers over his chin. “I hadn’t thought about that. Think we should back out?”
“It’s too late now. We’d never hear the end of it from Maria. She seems a little put out that she missed all the excitement, and this is her way to make up for it.”
Sam sighed as the ladies returned. “I guess we’ll just need to make the best of it.”
“That was so interesting,” Mrs. Allen said. “I can’t wait to actually gather some myself. Rosemary said she’d show me how.”
“I’m not sure why you even want to know how, but I’m happy to show you,” Rosemary said, laughing as she opened the door. “Meg, I wrote down what we delivered, and you can have Suzanne—um, you can just add it as a credit for the ranch.” Rosemary’s eyebrows shot up at her mistake, and she hurried through the door, calling over her shoulder, “Let’s go, Maria.”
“It was nice to meet you, Mrs. Allen, and I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow.” She smiled and hurried out behind Rosemary, closing the door hard behind her.
“Is Suzanne an employee of yours?” Mrs. Allen asked as she turned back to Sam and Meg.
“Yes, yes she is,” Sam said. “She works here part time.”
Whew, thought Meg as she walked toward the counter, wondering how she and Sam were getting so quick on their feet. She still knew it wouldn’t take much to stumble.
“Well, I’d like to do some shopping now, if you don’t mind, and then I’ll be getting back to the house. I have some things I’d like to do before the show tonight.” Mrs. Allen walked toward the back of the store, to the fabrics and sewing notions.
“I’ll be right there to help you,” Meg called. She rested her head on Sam’s shoulder and felt him stiffen, then relax. “All this is exhausting, don’t you think?”
Sam lifted his hand and then paused. She closed her eyes as he continued, stroking her cheek softly. “Yes, it is. And it’s only been a couple of days. I had no idea what I was asking you to do.”
He lifted his hand quickly as Mrs. Allen said, “Now, now, you two lovebirds. You’ll be alone soon enough.”
Sam squeezed Meg’s hand and bowed his head slightly as he headed back to the cash register. As he stood behind it, he winked at Meg and she headed over to help Mrs. Allen.
It didn’t take long before there was a pile of goods on the counter, waiting for Sam to finish with a customer. He looked through the pile, lifting up a juice squeezer. “You don’t need this. We have one.”
Mrs. Allen took it from his hand and placed it back on the pile. “Well, I don’t have one, and I’ve found it’s something I can actually make. I want it.”
“And what is this for?” He lifted up a biscuit cutter, turning it over in his hand.
“Obviously, it’s for cutting biscuits,” Mrs. Allen said, her chin jutting out.
“I know, but why do you need one?”
His mother laughed, taking the appliance and placing it back on the big pile on the counter. “Never you mind. I want these things, so please add up the cost, if you don’t mind.”
“Mother, I—”
“Must I explain to you again that it is a great pleasure to be supportive of your venture while at the same time purchasing things I sorely need?”
Sam reached for the bill of sale pad. “I am willing to admit when defeated. Thank you, Mother.”
“There. He knows when to quit,” she said as she took one last trip around the store while Sam added up the total.
“This really is nice of her to do.” Meg laughed behind her hand. “Suzanne and James will be delighted.”
Sam smiled, looked down and said, “It’s the least we can do for taking over their store. But what I don’t understand is why she’s buying all these things she doesn’t actually need.”
“What do you mean? She explained the juicer and the biscuit cutter.”
“Sort of, but all this fabric? And ribbons and needles and thread?”
“She said she wanted to make a dress. It’s beautiful fabric, isn’t it? It will look very elegant on her.”
Sam laughed loudly, and waved at his mother as she turned around and smiled. He leaned in to Meg and whispered in her ear, “My mother couldn’t sew a dress to save her life. She doesn’t know how to sew.”