Wildflower by Lynda Bailey

‘round here. Even my brother’s taking the offer under consideration.”
    A fissure of disgust coursed down her spine at the mention of Dobson’s name. “Not Logan. He plans to keep the Standing T.”
    Sam shoved from his resting post. “Well, I best quit jawing. George is coming down the street and he’ll be wanting to git home. I’m lucky he leaves that wife of his long enough to fetch supplies. You give my regards to your husband.”
    “I will. Say hello to Elisabeth for me.”
    With a nod, Sam sauntered down the boardwalk as she entered the livery. Less than five minutes later, she retraced her steps back across the street.
    Gus had been surprised Logan needed more tonic rub considering he’d bought two jars last month. She was baffled, too, but figured maybe the jars had gotten busted somehow.
    She passed Dr. Bingham’s office door and Chuck came outside. She pulled to a stop. “You all right? You’re not sick, are you?”
    Chuck shook his head. “Nah. Just gettin ’ some laudanum for the ranch. After this influenza, we’re down to less than a bottle.”
    She fell into step beside the cook with a nod. “You and Dave get all the supplies loaded?”
    Chuck snorted. “What supplies? Told Logan yesterday we got plenty of what we need to last another month. He insisted on this trip, though, trying to stock up for the drive north, I reckon. On the bright side, you’ve got tea again.”
    Staring at the knotted wood boards as she walked, a grimace pulled at her mouth. First the tonic rub. Now the supplies. Logan wasn’t one to make such simple mistakes.
    Chuck halted by the saloon doors. “Dave and me are gonna wet our whistles before heading home. Hate to waste a trip to town.”
    She smiled at Chuck’s good-natured wink. “All right. I’ll see you both back at the ranch.”
    He saluted then disappeared inside. Since Sergeant was still tethered next to Turk in front of the bank, Logan had to be in the mercantile. She headed back across the street, waiting while four riders passed in front of her, then up the steps to Upton’s Emporium.
    Opening the door, the familiar tinkling of a bell along with the mingled smells of leather, coffee and spices greeted her. She inhaled deeply. As a child, she’d loved coming here, seeing what treat she could wrangle from Mr. or Mrs. Upton.
    The store bustled with its usual activity. A group of older men conversed by the potbelly stove in the corner while younger cowboys looked over a display of saddle tack. Small children scampered around the various tables piled high with everything from bolts of cloth to bags of salt and flour, much to the displeasure of their mothers. Mrs. Upton was busy behind the counter beside her husband. But Logan was nowhere in sight. Before she could leave, Mrs. Upton’s voice rang out.
    “There’s the new bride herself.”
    All conversation in the entire store died and every set of eyes landed on her. The women whispered behind their hands and pointed to her while the men gave her unflattering up and down looks. Even the children stopped running around to gape openly at her.
    Embarrassment heated Matt’s cheeks. She was a married woman, not some cow with two heads. Was that really so unbelievable?
    Mrs. Upton hustled toward her. With a deep breath, she pasted on a smile. “Hello, Mrs. Upton. I’m looking for Logan. Is he here?”
    The older woman waved a hand. “Your husband was here just a minute ago. Maybe he went round back.”
    Painfully aware everyone was still staring at her, Matt opened the door wider to escape. “Well, I best go find him.”
    “What’s your hurry?” Mrs. Upton asked. “You know a horsefly coulda knocked me and Frank over when he told us you two had gotten hitched. Isn’t that right, Frank?”
    Mr. Upton nodded. “Guess it was the right decision, though, considering your daddy had just passed. We were mighty sorry to hear ‘bout that.”
    “Thank you,” Matt said. “I really should go find Logan. We