I’m not,” she said. “I, um, have a friend who is.”
The clerk raised one eyebrow but said nothing.
“Let me show you.”
As the woman pulled out one after another of the most beautiful baby dresses, Blossom all but melted into a puddle on the floor.
She fingered the embroidered hem of a too-cute-for-words gingham sundress. “Pink still seems to be very popular.”
“Purple, too,” the clerk agreed. “Or should I say lavender?”
But it was the tiniest things that called to Blossom. She drifted toward a white basket heaped with layette items from receiving blankets to booties before her gaze fell on an artfully stacked pile of baby hats on the same table.
“The hospital in Kansas City orders these for the newborns,” the clerk told her. “Parents like them for home, too. We have some really nice ones.”
Blossom picked up a multicolored cap in pink and blue and yellow that covered all the bases. To her delight it had an interwoven cowboy/cowgirl motif. “Maybe my friend would like this.”
“I’m sure she would. That’s one of our new designs.”
Blossom couldn’t leave the store without buying something, having taken up the sales associate’s time, and the tiny cap warmed her heart. It didn’t cost that much, which seemed to disappoint the saleswoman but suited Blossom’s budget, and Ken wasn’t here to tell her she didn’t need it.
Moments later she was on the sidewalk again with another bag to carry.
At the end of the street she hurried into the Mother Comfort Home Health Care Agency, her original destination.
“Hi, Blossom.” At the reception desk in the front room, an attractive dark-haired woman had been typing on the computer. When she glanced up, a slight frown crossed her face. “Everything all right on the Circle H?”
Not really. She’d stepped over a boundary with Logan yesterday because of that kiss, and on the way into town she hadn’t known what to say to him. “Fine,” she said, struggling to remember the woman’s name. A few days ago she’d helped Blossom fill out her application.
“I had a terrible time finding someone for Logan. I’m glad you filled the bill.”
“I’m not sure about that but—” She didn’t go any further. “I wanted to ask about my pay. I wasn’t sure of the arrangement.”
The woman’s frown deepened. “The agency collects the money from a client, we take our commission for placing you, then cut a check.” She paused. “It’s not Friday so I can’t pay you yet for the week. But don’t worry. The Hunters always meet their bills and if they didn’t—”
“I’m not worried.” Which was a lie for a different reason. “But...could I get cash instead?”
“That’s not our usual policy.” She hesitated again. “If it’s inconvenient for you to come to town again, we could do direct deposit at your bank.”
Blossom’s pulse skipped. That was even worse. There was no way she’d open a bank account. She wouldn’t give Ken a trail to follow. She’d already made one slip soon after she left Philadelphia. “Not cash then?”
“I can check with my accountant.” She gave Blossom an encouraging smile. “Or I could mail the check to you.”
“No, I’ll come in on Friday.” If she lasted that long before she had to move on again.
Shifting her packages, Blossom finally remembered the woman’s name was Shadow. Her brown gaze was very direct. “Is there a problem, Blossom?”
“No, of course not. I like the Circle H,” she said, which was true. “I was just wondering. Please ask your accountant.”
Her heart was still thumping by the time she finally finished the grocery shopping. The ranch cupboards and pantry, the huge double freezer, held plenty of food so she didn’t need much, but a few items had been missing for the dinner she planned to make tonight. Assuming she could think straight by then. A check? Up until now she’d worked for cash doing odd jobs or waiting tables whenever she ran out of money.
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