The Widow's Touch (A Whimsical Select Romance Novella) Read Free Page A

shawl protectively against the blowing wind.  But Eloda smiled when she realized that he had afforded her the perfect opportunity to have him spend time with her.  “But be that as it would, perhaps it’d be wise if you accompanied me while I’m in town.”
    “I’d be pleased to oblige, Mrs. Timmons.”  He tipped his hat, waved his arm forward, and invited her to lead the way.
    Eloda knew he was probably only trying to work himself into her confidence and esteem to gather more information, but she didn’t care. She was willing to accept his agreeable company in whatever form he was willing to give it. There was something different about him than any man she’d ever met.  Although she had spent nearly half her life in the intimate company of men, Jack’s presence made her feel weak and awkward.  The intense desire that welled within her was unfamiliar and she couldn’t determine whether she entirely enjoyed it or not.  After four husbands and numerous suitors, she had yet to experience love or desire, and the bedding practice with each had passed with anticipation of dread.  Yet standing next to Jack, she found herself musing upon those yearnings much more than she ought.
    “And please, call me Eloda. I’d like to think of us as friends,” she smiled. 
    “I mean no disrespect ,” he began, and the sheriff looked at her with curiosity beneath his hat.  He bent and offered his elbow towards her, and then continued asking, “But are you the least upset that your husband is dead?”
    “I believe anyone’s death is cause for some amount of sympathy, of course, but Mister Timmons was quite an unpleasant man to be around by measure of appearance and manner.  And truth be told, Sheriff, his foul odor in life wasn’t too far from that in death.”
    The y stopped at the entrance of the general store and young Miss Annie Garvey exited the door.  She had a beauty that only youth could express, and the young woman knew it.  She whipped her navy blue shawl over her shoulder and loudly harrumphed towards Eloda.  Snapping her head in the opposite direction, the woman raised her long, narrow nose into the air and strode down the walkway.
    “That is Miss Garvey,” Eloda said stridently to the sheriff.  “It is rumored that she was born with both organs of a male and a female.  I reckon that is why she’s perpetually in such poor temperament.”
    The woman t urned on her heels and her white, Barrett boots loudly echoed against the walkway when she stomped the wood planks and returned to Eloda. The aromatic water that the young lady generously applied was nearly as assaulting as her attitude.
    “That is a lie, Mrs. Timmons, a nd you well know it!” she whispered harshly.  She offered the sheriff an awkward smile. “It just isn’t true,” she emphasized to him.
    Eloda raised her hand and delicately touched her lips and surprise widened her eyes.  “But, Miss Garvey, the town has been rumoring that tale as long as I can remember, so surely that should prove it true.”
    The woman glared at her for a few moments, and having nothing of worth to say, whipped her gloves into her palm and marched away. But not before asserting to Jack Finley, again, that the rumor was a lie.
    “People don’t take to you overly well here, do they?” he chuckled.
    “That, sir, is because when I see a skunk I’m not shy of saying it has a stench.”
    “I’ve noticed that about you, Eloda,” he said.  His face was aglow and a light-hearted laugh left his lips.  “Quite honestly, I believe I’m taking a liking to it.”
    When he turned and flashed a broad smile, the sun struck him in just the right manner that a twinkle glinted in his bright blue eyes.  The warmness that sprang from Eloda made her feel all-overish inside and for the slightest second took her breath.  No man had ever ignited a spark within her that way.  Not even Noah Dithers, a man widely known for being the most fetching man in Caroline County. But