Clarie finished packing her suitcase. She added the new pants and flannel shirts she asked Mrs. Brown to make for her so that she could help her brothers with some of the farm work. She included a couple of her new dresses, which she had to admit, she enjoyed wearing. She was very satisfied with her bedroom now that the bed had thick dark blue blankets and hunter green pillows

on it. It didn‟t look exactly like Austin‟s bedroom, but that was fine with her. It held a small lamp on her oak night stand which she

used to read a book late at night. The new oak headboard provided ample support for her back and the large pillows were Comfortable so she could sit all night reading if she wanted to.

She didn‟t bring many personal belongings. There was a picture of her family and a couple of worn out books she owned, one

being her childhood Bible. From the wedding gifts, she took a gold and oak clock so she knew what time it was, a crystal musical

jewelry box so she could keep the diamond necklace and earrings Austin had given her to wear at the wedding, and a bouquet of

ceramic red and pink roses which was a gift from her friend. She had to admit that she didn‟t mind her friend‟s gift. Flowers were

better on a dresser than on a dress.

Since it was December 24, she wore a red dress and a small gold cross necklace, which had been a gift from her parents.

She still wore her hair down. She was surprised by the number of compliments she received from this simple action, and the more she got used to wearing it that way, the more she liked it.

She was about to close her suitcase when she remembered that she would need a pair of boots to go with the pants and flannel shirts. She couldn‟t exactly do farm work in dainty shoes.

She zipped her suitcase and carried it down the stairs. She slipped on her coat and hat and waited for Clinton to arrive with his buggy.

She marveled that he would willingly give up Christmas Eve to drive her to her family‟s farm. The trip wouldn‟t be long but it

was still a special day. Austin's employees were loyal to him.

As soon as she saw Clinton‟s buggy approaching the house,

she grabbed her suitcase and walked outside to wait for him.

A good looking thirty-seven year old bachelor happened to be walking down the street and smiled when he saw her. He

tipped his hat and said, "Good day, Mrs. Hansworth. Or should I still call you Miss Lewisville?"

She wondered why so many men were asking her that ever since she got married. "In six months, it will be Miss Lewisville, so I suppose it doesn‟t matter."

"So you and Mr. Hansworth are serious about this marriage simply being a business arrangement?"

She nodded. "Yes. Why would it be otherwise?" That was the only way anyone would marry her. Or he would have to

be over half her age."Allow me to introduce myself. I am Tim smith."

She smiled politely. "It‟s nice to meet you. Do you live on this street?"

"Yes. As a matter of fact, I live six houses down from you. I saw the play on Sunday evening and must say I was impressed with it. Children are adorable. Even if they get the

lines wrong, they don‟t care because they are too busy having fun.

I often think that it would be nice to have children of my own someday, but I haven‟t found a lady who is worth considering for

marriage. I would like to marry someone who has a good heart for children."

She briefly noted that just as Clinton pulled up to the house, Austin set his suitcase next to hers.

"Would you like to have children someday?" he asked her.

"To be honest, I never considered the possibility. When you‟re a spinster, you don‟t concern yourself with such matters,"

she replied.

"Well, you don‟t necessarily have to go back to being a spinster after your six month business arrangement is completed.

You have caught the attention of some respectable bachelors who realize what they have been missing."

"I seriously doubt that, but it‟s kind of you to say."

"Mr. smith, it‟s nice to see you on this fine winter day," Austin quickly greeted.

"The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Hansworth," he replied.

Turning back to Claire, he asked, "Did you receive the flowers I sent you?"

"What flowers?" she wondered.

Austin cleared his throat. "Oh look, Mr.Williams is eager to get going. We don‟t want to be rude. He has to get back to his wife and children before dark. Come along, Claire. We don‟t want to keep him waiting. Good day, Mr. smith."

The man nodded. "I will see you after NewYear‟s," he told Claire ."Good day, Mr. Hansworth ." He continued his walk down

the street.

She shook her head. "The poor man has me confused with someone else. He never sent me flowers." She handed Clinton her suitcase."What did he want?" Austin asked her as he followed her into the buggy. He sat across from her.

"Oh, he just wanted to say hi and to say he enjoyed the play. There was nothing more to it than that."

"You just keep thinking that," he muttered under his breath.

"What?" She wasn‟t sure she heard right.

"I was saying that I hope he likes his new cat."

She decided that he probably did say that after all. She settled back into her seat.

"Why didn‟t you let me take your suitcase out for you?" he asked. "I don‟t mind helping you out."

"I didn‟t think you were coming."

"I told you I was."

"Yes, but that was days ago. I hadn‟t heard you mention it since then. I figured you would like to spend the season resting

from all the work you‟ve been doing to get your bank started.

"I signed a contract with you promising to counsel your father and brothers on the proper management of money. I see this as the perfect opportunity to do that."

She grinned as they moved forward. "Do you do everything for business?"

"I do most things for business, but I do allow myself some pleasure. Why do you think I‟m going to spend a week on the farm? The counseling will only take a couple of hours. I‟ll have the rest of my time to see what your family does out there, and it

might give me some insight into how you turned out so bold and daring."

She chuckled. "Bold, yes. You can thank Tristan for that. But daring?"

"Any woman with the courage to marry a confirmed bachelor has her work cut out for her, especially with the way you won‟t put up with anything that displeases you.""It was either you or Mr. Sussex. I didn‟t really have much of a choice. But I am having fun in your presence, when you‟re not throwing frilly dresses at me. I still can‟t believe you did that."

He grew serious. "I won‟t do anything like that ever again. I promise."

"I believe you." She shook her head in amusement. "It took me and several other women a long time to get all those

sequins off the floor. Next time I tear something up, I‟m going to make sure it‟s not going to cause a big mess."

He grinned. "That was a memorable moment."

"Would you really have undressed me to put another dress on?"

"Only if that‟s what you wanted," he teased.

She sighed as she looked at the houses they passed by. "I should warn you about my family. They are wonderful people

who will do anything for anybody, but they like to joke around a lot. I thought you

should be warned."

"I think I can manage. I got a glimpse of what they‟re like at the wedding."

"Well, more chaos is on the way."

"Tell me, were you enjoying yourself when they were giving you a hard time about being a shrew?"

"At first, I was horrified because so many people were watching but I can‟t stay serious around them for long. I‟m afraid after this week is over, you‟ll never want to have anything to do with them or me again."

"I doubt that. I always enjoy a good comedy."

"That‟s good. You‟re going to need a sense of humor.

Just keep in mind that what they do, they don‟t mean you anyharm. In fact, the more they like you, the more they‟ll mess with

you."

"I figured that much was true."

"I don‟t think you‟ll have any trouble winning them over.

You‟re actually good company."

"You are too," he softly admitted.

She turned her attention back to the scenery and enjoyed the rest of the trip.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^^

Much love

V.A 💙