“But, surely—”
“Today, now—a fellah don’t get married very often, y’ know. I figured we’d oughta do somethin’ together. Enjoy the weather. Get some fresh air.” He aimed a sweet smile in her direction.
“So this is like—a honeymoon.”
“A short one, anyway. Maybe later on we can take a trip somewhere, if you like.”
His nimble skipping about, always one jump ahead of her, was growing tiresome. And irritating.
“Well, just what is it you do when you have nothing else to do?” she demanded.
“Ooohhh, sit at the kitchen table and figure out my cash ledgers. Sometimes meet some of the boys down to the Prairie Lot and shoot the breeze. Once in a while,” glancing her way, he raised a brow and added that sweet smile again, “I even open a book and try to remember how to read one or two printed pages.”
The lout. He was deliberately leading her astray, making himself out to be a yokel of some standing in the town, he and his compadres. Camellia wished she had brought along her little ivory fan, all neatly folded, so she could smack him on the wrist. Especially since he didn’t know that she was well aware of the Prairie Lot’s type of business.
“So your store is clos
ed on Sunday?” She tried to pin him down to at least one fact.
“Yep. Turn your muzzle straight, Balaam, if you would be so kind. We ain’t headin’ off into the grasslands yet today.”
“And the name?”
“Why, I thought you heard me say. Balaam. He’s prob’ly about the best that—”
“The name of your general store,” she informed him between her teeth. “It does have a name, does it not?”
He chuckled. “Well, now, there you have me. When I first started out, I tried to come up with some high-falutin’ moniker that would show my grand dreams. The Texas Emporium. The Establishment Par Excellence. The Store of A Thousand Necessities. The—”
Camellia rudely interrupted with a burst of laughter. “The Store of a Thousand Necessities? Forgive me, but that’s—that’s—” Unable to finish, she was off on another gale of laughter.
Fortunately, he didn’t take offense. Apparently agreeing with the humor of the situation, he merely grinned in response. “Yeah, kinda what I figured, too. So now it’s just Forrester’s.”
“Good. I like that. Simple, honest, and easy to remember.”
“Glad to know I have your approval.”
“Oh, any time. Now tell me all about this emporium of yours. What do you sell there, and to whom do you cater, and how is business?”
He looked surprised, “Why, I cater to anyone and everyone. Got three full floors of merchandise, just waitin’ for the right buyer. Hi, there, Balaam, let’s be turnin’ your lazy hindquarters. Time to head on back now.”
“That means, for the gentlemen, you have—”
“Minin’ tools and farmin’ tools and smithy tools, all on half of the first floor. Got a corner cut out with some clothes, boots, suspenders, wool socks, and so on. The other half has foodstuffs—gunny sacks of flour and sugar and salt, home-cured bacon, canned goods, fresh fruits and vegetables bought in season from some of the gardeners, spices, you name it. Per your good friend, the doctor, I keep a decent stock of medicines and herbs in a corner cabinet.”
The horse, his ears pricked forward resentfully, had obeyed orders and made a wide circle in the dirt road. Since he wasn’t ready to return from this happy outing, he made sure to snatch a few mouthfuls of luscious rye grass as he slowly complied. Camellia, noticing, hid a smile. The animal might as well get his own bit of enjoyment out of the day, since he was doing all the work.
“Then, on the second floor,” continued Ben, as if there had been no interruption, “I got stuff for the ladies. More privacy there, y’ see. Lotsa fancy clothes and hats, some shoes and stockin’s, some—uh—well, some unmentionables...gewgaws they might be interested in, bits of jewelry and bath items. Also, I set up space for kids, with some shirts and pants, toys, that sort.”
“Books?”
“Well, some, sure. But I ain’t about to compete with the library. Top floor right now is mostly for storage, movin’ things around as needed.”
The gas-flame blue of Camellia’s eyes deepened while she pondered. “It sounds a fascinating enterprise, Ben. And have you help, for when you’re—um—off getting married or something similar?”
“Yep. Got me a terrific assistant, named Jimmy Dunlap, been with me almost from the start. Then there’s Miss Elvira Gotham, who handles the female stuff. Also two strong young clerks that pitch in to load and unload, ring up sales. Kinda general.”
Silent, she pondered. The small frown between her brows that always appeared in consideration of some new situation now showed itself. “And shall I, as your wife, be able to take part in these business activities?”