City Girl Read Free

Rawlings sidestepped a running child and the woman darting after him and made his way into the downtown shop. Each and every time he was in St. Louis to see his parents, he took a gift to his housekeeper, Katy. Knowing her personality, it had always been something practical. This time he was going to surprise her.
    â€œMay I help you, sir?” asked a friendly woman who met him in the middle of the store.
    â€œYes, please. I’m looking for something for someone who is a little older. I’m not even sure she’ll welcome the idea,” Cash added with a smile, “but I’m going to give it a try.”
    The perfume shop owner’s smile was genuine, her eyes twinkling as she said, “I believe I have just the thing.” She turned and led him to one of the three perfume counters, slipped behind it to face him, and from under that glass countertop withdrew a tray full of tiny bottles .
    â€œTry this,” she said, uncorking a small vial and waving the lid in his direction.
    â€œThat’s nice,” Cash said, but it had a scent he would term romantic. He almost shuddered as he pictured Katy’s reaction.
    â€œToo romantic?” the woman shocked him by saying.
    Cash looked down at her and blinked. “As a matter of fact, I was thinking that very thing.”
    â€œI was hoping you were, in case you realize you have a second lady at home who would enjoy some perfume.”
    She was openly flirting, and Cash’s smile was kind, but he stuck to the business at hand.
    â€œI’ll just shop for my housekeeper this time,” he said, not unkindly. “Have you something else in mind?”
    â€œI do,” she stated, all at once becoming very professional. She put the first tray back under the counter and had Cash follow her to the next counter.
    â€œThis is what I should have shown you in the first place. I believe you will like it.”
    The woman was right. Cash inhaled the gentle scent and thought that not even Katy would be able to hide her pleasure.
    â€œThis is perfect,” he stated quietly. “I need it giftwrapped and able to travel.”
    â€œRight away,” the woman agreed with a smile, wondering why some woman had not snatched up this charming, redheaded cowboy. His manners were faultless, and if the cut of his clothing was any indication, he was not living on the streets. But the thing she was most drawn to was his eyes. A deep shade of brown, they were so warm that even a stranger was made to feel as though he cared.
    The package wrapped and secured for travel, the proprietress walked Cash to the door as if it were an everyday occurrence. It wasn’t, but she couldn’t deny herself the sight of watching him put his hat back in place and then seeing his long legs take him down the street. She knew her business would never survive out of the city, but for a moment she wondered just how far west she would need to go in order to find a town where the men were all like that.

    â€œHow are you, Libby?” Virginia asked as soon as she returned from meeting with the dressmaker. Virginia’s dress was done, but she had caught some of the excitement that surrounded this wedding and had gone in person to make sure it was being delivered that very day as promised.
    Having removed her hat and gloves, she now came over to hug the younger woman and kiss her cheek. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you came down.”
    â€œThat’s fine. I’m feeling much better, thank you. I had a good breakfast, and I just came back from a walk.”
    â€œDid Slater go with you?”
    â€œNo, a message came for Dak, so he went to Darvi’s to deliver it.”
    Virginia took a seat but didn’t bother to get comfortable.
    â€œAt moments like this, I wonder if any of us are going to survive this.”
    Liberty smiled with compassion. “When we went to dinner the other night, Darvi told us her mother wanted her to have a