She licked her lips and returned her gaze to his. “After what just happened, I decided, no matter how hungry I get before I arrive home, I must make do with what I’ve already collected.” Her voice a whisper, she dropped her chin and stared at the ground between them.
“Ma’am, is there a reason your husband is not traveling with you? Even if he had been unable to, I would think he would have made sure you had sufficient funds.” Ash bent and canted his head in an attempt to catch her gaze.
“I’m-I’m a widow, sir.”
Ash straightened and nodded. In the silence that followed, he thought about how to make his offer—an unusual circumstance for a man like himself, who tended to make snap decisions and speak off of the top of his head. “Ma’am, I’ve got a proposition for you—one I hope you will consider honorable.” He waited until she lifted her gaze to meet his. “In exchange for you giving me your name and permission to address you, I would like to invite you to join me for dinner. That way, I don’t have to eat alone. I see several diners across the way.” He paused to gesture across the street. “I also would like to ensure you have enough money to purchase the food you need until you reach your destination. Which is where?” As he waited to see if she would trust him enough to tell where she was bound, he held his breath.
“Huntington, West Virginia. My sister lives there.”
“Huntington, huh? I think that is the route I’m taking to continue to Buffalo, New York.” It could be. Smiling, he crooked his elbow in her direction.
“Not unless you plan to cross the Ohio River twice, Corporal.” With a hint of a smile and a flick of her eyebrow upward, she glanced at his face. “I accept your offer, Mr. Henderson. My name is Mrs. Florence Crowley.” She placed her hand on his offered arm.
My next scheduled romance, Wyatt's New Bride, is currently on pre-order and scheduled for release on 9/26/24. To find the book description and pre-order link,
please CLICK HERE
Sweet Historical Christmas in July Romances
Includes my own VINEGAR PIE BY VARINIA and MARIGOLD
Please CLICK HERE
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