A Mail Order Bride for the Fur Trader: Joy & Henry (Love by Mail #3)(10)

“How was yours?” he said instead.

“Claire’s having a Bible study session today, so I made cookies. I thought I’d give you some, too.”

She took off the patterned cloth that covered the basket and handed Henry a wrinkled paper bag. Henry couldn’t help but notice a white, leather bound Bible, with gold letterings embossed on the cover.

“Is that yours?” He nodded at the book.

Joy followed his gaze. “Oh, yes. It’s mine.”

“Is that covered with...?”

“Kid leather.”

“May I?” He looked at Joy, who nodded.

He ran a hand down the smooth, soft texture. “Who did you commission to do this?”

“No one.” Joy smiled at his shocked look. “The leather was from a friend of mine. She had gloves custom made, and there were extra patches and strips left that she didn’t need. She let me have them and I made this.”

Henry grinned. “It looks nice.”

Joy curled a strand of hair on her finger. “Thanks.”

Light pink dusted her cheeks, and Henry resisted the urge to brush the sides of her face.

“Henry Briggs? Henry?”

Henry turned around to see an older, plump man, bent over at his doorway.

“I’m getting too old for this.” The man straightened up and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. It was hard to miss the glistening gilded star pinned to his chest.

“Sheriff Miles, what can I do for you?” Henry greeted him.

The older man took off his hat and ambled over to Henry. “There’s a bit of a problem we need your help with.”

“‘We?” Joy asked.

The sheriff’s brows jumped at her. “Oh, missus Briggs! Didn’t see you there - sorry -”

“Oh, we’re not married yet,” Henry said.

Joy pursed her lips.

The sheriff shook his head. “Sorry ‘bout that. Anyway, there’ve been outlaws causing trouble ‘round town. And we need someone good with a weapon, a horse, and his way ‘round dangerous trails.”

“Dangerous?” Joy gasped.

The sheriff raised his brows at Henry. “Some say they’re working with Jesse Evans’ boys. We need all the manpower we’ve got to send those bandits to the baloose.”

“But I’m just a simple fur trader.” And Henry really wanted things to stay that way.

“I heard different.” The sheriff shifted his mighty girth and placed his hands on his hips. “Your brother says you’re a hunter of the first water, lad. We’ll leave tomorrow at sunup so get some rest early.”

Henry sighed. “Yes, sir.”

He only agreed not to antagonize the lawmaker in the town he was about to settle in. He gritted his teeth. He was supposed to be settling down, not running off again on some near-death scouting mission. He turned to Joy, whose pale face nearly matched the white leather bound Bible she was holding.

He grabbed her shoulders. “Joy, are you all right?”

She took a deep breath and blinked at him, as if she had just woken up. “You’re going with them?”

Henry shrugged. “Doesn’t sound like I have much of a choice.”

“But it’s dangerous! Jesse Evans? Didn’t his gang run with Billy the Kid before?” She grabbed his arms. “You can’t seriously be thinking...?”

He sighed, and she gestured towards the fur behind her.

“But what about your shop? Who’ll look after it?”

Henry looked at her. He couldn’t ask his brother. Elias was a miner, busy with his own work. There was no one else, but suddenly instead of fear he felt excitement fill him. An idea formed in his head.

“You,” he said.

Henry waited for some response, and for a minute he wasn’t sure she had heard him. The silence lingered, then, “What?”

He smiled and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“I trust you to handle the shop while I’m gone. I’m sure Claire, or Mercy, or Hannah will help you out so you’re not alone.”

Her lips quivered. “B-but I don’t know anything about running a business...”

“And I don’t know a thing about marriage, but I agreed to your terms, didn’t I?”

Her mouth opened, but he knew straight away he stroke the right nerve.

“You’ll do fine,” he said. “Just think of this like a sorta test before our marriage.” Wait, that didn’t come out quite right...

But her eyes lit up. “A test?”

“Yes... It’s a test.” Well he might as well stick to his word choice.

Joy straightened up and pressed her hands against her dress. “Well, then, I think I can handle it.”

She didn’t seem offended by the thought of a test. Henry mentally patted himself on the back.

“That’s sorted, then. I’ll have Elias open and lock up the store for you. We also have a delivery, but if anyone gives you trouble just tell them to come see me later.”

She grabbed his arm. “Be careful out there. I don’t want to lose you before I get to call you my husband.”

Suddenly the shop felt as hot as the desert where he once hunted. Maybe he should put in more windows.... He wiped his sweaty palms against his pants.