Free Jessie by Lori Wick Page B

when Cassidy got married, Jeanette purchased it from her and took over, opening the shop door to the public four days a week. Heather worked with her now, and on Wednesday morning when the shop opened, both women were busy inside.
    They were working on several orders at the moment, but they weren’t swamped. Cold weather, they had learned, was not the most conducive to business, but they were busy enough. This is the way Rylan found them when he stopped in on his way to the livery.
    â€œGood morning, ladies.”
    â€œGood morning, Rylan. Come in and warm up a bit,” Jeanette invited. She was nearest the stove, and Heather was at the sewing machine.
    â€œThank you, I will. I’ve got to get to the livery pretty soon, but I thought I’d stop and see how you’re doing.”
    Rylan heard all about Netty’s birth, well and truly pleased that Cassidy was doing fine and that Joey had a baby sister.
    â€œPastor Rylan,” Heather suddenly asked, “do you have news of your own?”
    Rylan smiled at her, not sure how she knew but very glad she did. These women were very dear to him, and it seemed most fitting that they would know as soon as he could tell them.
    â€œAs a matter of fact, I do. It’s early yet—we’ve only told the Vicks—but Sabrina is expecting.”
    The women were as thrilled about this news as they were about Trace and Cassidy’s. Both of them hugged Rylan and nearly made him late for work with their questions. He hadn’t been gone ten minutes when Jeanette realized she wanted to see Bri. Heather urged her to go, and it was for this reason that Nate arrived at the shop and found Heather on her own.
    â€œHello,” Heather greeted with a smile. “You just missed Jeanette.”
    â€œActually, I thought I saw Rylan over this way.”
    â€œYou just missed him too,” Heather said, laughing a little.
    Nate smiled at her laughter and wondered at the fact that every time he saw Heather Wales, he wanted to find reasons not to end the conversation too swiftly.
    â€œDo you have many orders?” Nate asked, trying not to stare at her hair or eyes, both of which he found very nice.
    â€œJust enough,” Heather said. “We expect two to be picked up today—those are done—and then three items were ordered on Friday and Saturday. I’m working on those now.”
    â€œDid you make this shirt?” Nate asked, having forced himself not to stare and spotting a man’s shirt hanging on a hook.
    â€œI’m not sure. Jeanette might have done that one.”
    â€œHow do you divide up the work?”
    â€œI just do what Jeanette tells me.”
    Nate could not stop his smile, his eyes filling with amusement.
    â€œWhat did I say?” Heather asked, unable to miss how much he wanted to laugh.
    â€œYou don’t by any chance want to go into law enforcement, do you? Having someone simply do as I tell them would be a dream come true.”
    Heather laughed with him then, and this is the way Jeanette found them.
    â€œWell, Nate! How good to see you.”
    â€œHello, Jeanette.”
    â€œHow are the wounds?”
    â€œHealing fast. I’m looking forward to spring.”
    â€œIt is cold out there today!” Jeanette agreed, going close to the stove and keeping her coat on.
    â€œWell, I’d best let you ladies get back to work.”
    â€œThanks for stopping,” Heather said as he left. She bent back over the machine. It took some time for her to see that Jeanette was staring at her.
    â€œHow is Bri?” Heather asked.
    â€œDoing well. The Jarviks are going to come to supper tonight, so you can see her then.”
    â€œOh, good.”
    Heather went back to work but then found Jeanette’s eyes on her again.
    â€œIs something wrong?”
    â€œI don’t think so, but I did wonder if you wanted to tell me something.”
    Heather glanced around, wondering what she had missed,