Free The Widows Choice by Hildie McQueen

giggled at the thought of someone boxing Winfrow's ears.  "I suppose not."
    With two bottles of tincture, Charlie left the apothecary and took her time walking towards the mercantile.  She considered if there was anything she needed to pick up and struck up an idea.  All three men were in dire need of shirts.  She and Mary Ellen could make them in the evenings.  It would give her something to do, not that she lacked for it.  But it would be a nice distraction.  She missed sewing for Daniel, who'd always said she made the best clothes.
    Plan in mind, she walked faster and went to the mercantile where Rafe stood outside.  She noted he'd loaded some packages into the wagon.
    "I'll be just a minute," Charlie said as she breezed past him into the interior of the mercantile.  The owner, a robust man with a thick mustache and just as bushy beard, Garth Evington looked up and waved in greeting before returning to wrapping a customer's purchases.
    Bolts of fabric took her attention and she made her way to the left side of the store, where she inspected the array of colors, deciding to pick a different color for each man.  Gray for Jerrick to bring out his eyes, blue for Joe as he preferred the color, and for Rafe, she would choose a dark green. 
    Her mind went back to the incident on the side of the road and how dark his eyes had turned after they'd kissed. The green fabric suited him perfectly.  How she'd handle the situation with him was another story.
    She'd not considered a relationship of any kind.  Since Daniel's death, there was so much to do around the ranch, the last thing she'd considered was romance.  Then there was the matter of Jessup Winfrow.  Any hint of any man interested in her would bring trouble.  And yet.
    If anyone could stand up to the arrogant bastard, it would be Rafe Preston.  His presence alone exuded assurance and demanded attention.  He was taller, broader of shoulder than Winfrow.  He'd only left her alone with the man after she'd asked and at the moment she'd seen the warring in his expression.  He'd wanted to disobey her orders and remain.  A protective instinct.
    "Hello, Charlie.  That is a pretty color, is it not?" Virginia Collins, a woman who lived just outside town studied her and looked toward the doorway.  "Who is that man outside by your wagon?"
    The woman cut to the chase, not one to waste time gathering any gossip she could.  Virginia was not Charlie's friend.  Often she'd spread rumors of Charlie entertaining men, after Daniel's death.  No one seemed to believe her, but at the same time, it left room for speculation.
    "A ranch hand," she purposely spoke in a light tone.  "I love the color green, don't you?  It reminds me of grassy fields and it is the color that represents envy too, doesn't it?"
    The woman flushed and let out a delicate huff.  "I prefer blue.  So is he new to the area?  I've never seen him before."
    It was best to reply to the questions and move on, although she didn't feel it was her place to give Virginia all the information pertaining to Rafe.  "He and his friend just arrived a couple weeks ago from Texas."
    "Good afternoon, ladies," Margaret Evington interrupted and smiled broadly at Charlie.  "It's nice to see you, Charlie.  You don't come to town often enough." It was interesting to her that Mrs. Evington didn't greet Virginia directly, instead the woman moved to stand by the fabric and lifted the bolt Charlie had been admiring.  "Have you had an opportunity to choose which ones you want?"
    Virginia took the hint and moved away to a different bin that held sewing notions.  Obviously in an attempt to get Charlie alone again if she purchased other items for her project.  Every once in a while, she craned her neck to peer out at the window to where Rafe leaned against the wagon, arms crossed, seeming to enjoy the time alone.
    Mrs. Evington cut the fabric and leaned closer to Charlie.  "That woman needs to find a hobby to keep her busy