Free Yesterday's Magic by Beverly Long

Freida carries
the things a person needs. Saul carries the things a person with
fancy notions might believe they want.”
    “Well, it’s my mission and I’ve decided to
accept it.”
    “What?” That was the oddest thing he’d heard
anyone say in some time.
    “Never mind,” she said. “You should probably
get to Aunt Freida’s.”
    “Oh, I will,” he said. And he intended
to—right after he shopped at Saul’s. He fell into step next to her.
“Who knows? Maybe Saul has something I can’t live without.”
    They walked side by side, like a man and a
woman did when they were sweet on each other. He glanced at her to
see if she saw it as odd or too forward, but she didn’t seem to be
bothered.
    She didn’t say anything about the cold but he
noticed that she slipped her hands in the pockets of her cloak. “I
believe Freida sells gloves,” he said.
    She just raised an eyebrow. He couldn’t let
it go. “Most people enjoy wearing something on their head in this
kind of weather, too.”
    No response this time.
    “I think if we get much snow,” he said,
“those shoes of yours won’t do you much good.”
    She stopped, so abruptly that he was two feet
ahead of her before he realized it. He turned around and his first
thought was that if Bart had been impressed with her flashing eyes
before, he’d probably expire from looking at her right now.
    Lord, she was beautiful. And mad.
    “I was just trying to be helpful,” he said,
knowing the comment was like heaping a log onto a dying fire—the
heat was going to increase and burn longer. But he couldn’t seem to
help himself. He couldn’t remember a time when he’d enjoyed goading
a woman but suddenly, it was like he couldn’t poke enough.
    “Sheriff McNeil, you’re extraordinarily
helpful,” she said, her tone so polite that any fool could see that
what she really meant was Sheriff McNeil, you’re like a burr
under a saddle. “You protect the town and give fashion advice,”
she added. “How very…useful.”
    He wanted to laugh and that startled him. He
was not the type who went on about nothing with a woman and then
laughed at his own stupidity. Before his tongue could get him in
more trouble, he settled for tipping his hat. “Think nothing of it,
Mrs. Wainwright.”
    They continued on in silence and he assumed
she was grateful for that. When they reached Saul’s, she hesitated
for just a second as she scanned the merchandise that Saul had
sitting near the window. Her black eyes were bright, alert, and it
dawned on him that Bella Wainwright might not be woman to
underestimate.
    She opened the door and a bell that was
rigged to the door jingled. She stepped inside. He followed. Saul’s
store was smaller than Freida’s and didn’t carry nearly as much
merchandise. That made it easier to get around.
    “I’m in the back,” a voice called out. Jed
recognized it as Saul’s. “I’ll be right there.”
    Bella smiled. “Take your time,” she said.
“I’m in no hurry.”
    She’d made it to every aisle but one before
Saul emerged from the back. He was a small, dark haired man who
never went without oil in his hair. His shirts were too bright for
Jed’s taste and he always smelled of spicy foods. He’d arrived in
Mantosa without a wife or children but he hadn’t caused any
trouble.
    “Morning, Saul,” Jed said. Across the store,
he saw Bella fold the paper she’d been making notes on and slip it
into the pocket of her cloak.
    “Sheriff,” Saul said. He looked pleased to
have him in the store and Jed felt sorry about his part of the
ruse. Granted, Freida was his friend but as sheriff, he had a
responsibility to all the merchants in Mantosa.
    “What can I interest you in this morning?”
Saul asked.
    Jedidiah picked up the closest thing. It was
a small wooden box, with a glass top. He didn’t realize it was a
music box until he sat it down on the counter. “I’ll take
this.”
    “Oh, that’s an excellent choice.” Saul turned
the box over