Loving Liza Jane (41 page)

The children had wandered away out of boredom and had taken up with looking at various items about the store. Finished cutting the fabric, Mrs. Winthrop carried it to the cash register and pretended busyness, then took up a writing utensil with which to jot some figures.

“Find some suitable place in which to live,” she finished, miffed at herself for being so forthright.

“In Hickman?” He grunted in disgust, trailing it with a cold chuckle. At that, Mrs. Winthrop gave a mighty sniff, causing both adults to turn their gazes on her. Hastily, she resumed her figuring. Mr. Callahan looked down his nose at Sarah. “In that case, you might be lookin’ a while. You’ll not find much finery in these parts, lady, and from the look of you, you’ve been conditioned to enjoy life’s finer offerings.”

His mocking manner unnerved her, the way he perused her from top to bottom, as if she were some piece of furniture he’d been pondering buying and couldn’t quite determine whether it would mesh with his older pieces.

“I’ll have you know I’m quite adaptable, sir!”

As if he had good reason to disbelieve her, he gave a half-nod. “No need to be snappish,” he chided. Then with a twist of his head, he glanced at the children who’d wandered to the back of the store. “Don’t touch anything,” he ordered. At the harsh tone, his niece and nephew jolted to attention.

“Now who’s the snappish one?” she asked, sticking out her chin.

Clearly irritated, he ignored the remark and moved to the cash register where he pulled out a sheaf of bills from his pocket. Sarah examined the roll of greenbacks from where she stood.

A palpable tightwad, that’s what he was.

Mrs. Winthrop stated her price, and Mr. Callahan frowned. “You sure about that? Seems high to me.”

“It’s extremely reasonable, Mr. Callahan,” Sarah inserted. Mrs. Winthrop’s shoulders sagged with gratitude.

“Oh, fine,” was his annoyed response, passing the proprietor a single bill then waiting while she made change. Once she slipped it to him, she gathered up the paper parcel containing the rose-colored material and handed it over to Sarah.

Man and woman faced each other as rivals. “Bring Rachel by Emma’s tomorrow afternoon,” she issued. “I should be ready for her first fitting by then.”

“Tomorrow?” His brow gathered into a frown. “Don’t know as I’ll have the time tomorrow.”

Rather than react, Sarah merely gave her head a little toss. “Well, I can’t put the finishing touches to the dress without first fitting her.”

Broad shoulders went into an impatient shrug. “Oh, all right—tomorrow.”

“Good.” Then to Rachel, she bent just slightly and placed a hand on her tattered, wool bonnet. “See what you can do about finding those mittens, okay?”

The girl nodded, her expression bleak. Sarah smiled at both unfortunate waifs. Clearly, they needed attention.

As for the man, he deserved nary a glimpse backward as she tugged open the heavy door and marched out into January’s harsh breezes.

❅ ❅ ❅ ❅ ❅

About the Author

Born and raised in western Michigan, Sharlene MacLaren attended Spring Arbor University. Upon graduating with an education degree, she traveled internationally for a year with a small singing ensemble, then came home and married one of her childhood friends. Together they raised two lovely daughters. Now happily retired after teaching elementary school for thirty-one years, “Shar” enjoys reading, writing, singing in the church choir and worship teams, traveling, and spending time with her husband, children, and precious grandchildren.

A Christian for over forty years and a lover of the English language, Shar has always enjoyed dabbling in writing—poetry, fiction, various essays, and freelancing for periodicals and newspapers. Her favorite genre, however, has always been romance. She remembers well the short stories she wrote in high school and watching them circulate from girl to girl during government and civics classes. “Psst,” someone would whisper from two rows over, and always with the teacher’s back to the class, “pass me the next page.”

Shar is an occasional speaker for her local MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) organization, is involved in KIDS’ HOPE USA, a mentoring program for at-risk children, counsels young women in the Apples of Gold program, and is active in two weekly Bible studies. She and her husband, Cecil, live in Spring Lake, Michigan, with Dakota, their lovable collie, and Mocha, their lazy fat cat.

The acclaimed Through Every Storm was Shar’s first novel to be published by Whitaker House, and in 2007, the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) named it a finalist for Book of the Year. Loving Liza Jane is the first in the Little Hickman Creek trilogy, which includes Sarah, My Beloved; and Courting Emma. Shar’s contemporary romance, Long Journey Home, is her latest release. In January 2009, look for Hannah Grace, the first in her newest historical trilogy, The Daughters of Jacob Kane.

You can e-mail Shar at [email protected] or visit her website at www.sharlenemaclaren.com.