Lone Wolf (First in Lone Wolf Series)

Chapter Fourteen

Dawn hated when someone else was right and she was wrong but given the fact that her backside felt like it was dragging a full twelve feet behind her ankles, she was forced to admit that Grange had been right.

She. Was. Tired.

She knew she’d have to close up early. She was simply too exhausted to keep the bakery open until five when it was only two and she was already falling asleep where she stood behind the counter, wrapping up cookies for a young boy.

“Thank you!” he said happily as she placed the brown paper package in his eager hands.

“You’re welcome. Just don’t eat those before dinner and ruin your appetite.” she warned. The boy laughed.

“Yes ma’am.” She watched the boy leave and pushed herself to her aching legs. Her body felt as if it had been run over by an entire stampede of horses. Not sweet loving horses, no, fire breathing, red eyed, evil horses that had a sick obsession with trampling unsuspecting women beneath their dirty, pointed hooves.

She walked around the counter, her feet dragging the ground with every step she took as she made her way to the door. She was just about to flip the store sign to closed when she saw Gladys Bishop approaching the bakery.

Dawn wished she could just hide but the woman had already seen her. Dawn was in no mood to argue, fight or be called names this afternoon. And she was alone with no one to back her up or run Gladys off.

Grange was delivering firewood. Trig was out delivering bread since Dawn had been too tired and Nickolai had gone to the mercantile to get Dawn some more supplies.

Dawn opened the door and stepped away, allowing Gladys and her hips to enter.

“What can I do for you this afternoon?” Dawn asked, forcing politeness into her voice. “I was actually about to close up early.”

“Are you feeling okay, dear? You look very tired.” Dawn self consciously ran her hand over her hair and touched her puffy eye lids. Why did people insist on pointing out when you looked tired? Did they think it was a polite way of saying ‘Oh my Lord, you look like hell’?

“I am rather tired today.” Dawn admitted with a nod.

“I won’t take up much of your time, Dawn.” Gladys assured her as she wrung her hands on the tiny green clutch she was grasping tightly. “I actually came to apologize.”

“Apologize?” Dawn asked with surprise. She certainly hadn’t been expecting that!

“Yes.” Gladys said sadly. “I was horribly cruel and judgmental. I assumed the worst about you and your living situation and it was not fair. It is clear that you and Grange are very much in love and I had no right to treat you the way that I did.”

Dawn blinked several times and then nodded.

“Thank you, Gladys.” she replied. “And I accept your apology.” Glady’s perked up at that news and smiled warmly.

“Perhaps you’ll also accept my offer as well then.”

“What offer?” Dawn asked suspiciously.

“I feel that I pushed Grange and you into getting married. You did not get a big wedding with the guests and food and celebration that is customary in our town whenever there is a marriage. I would like to arrange a big ceremony for the two of you. I’ll cover the costs and arrange everything, all you would need to do is show up.”

“That’s really not necessary, Gladys, but thank you.” Dawn said with appreciation.

“Are you sure?” Gladys insisted. “I feel that I owe it to you both for the way I acted. I feel as if I made you rush into half a wedding in order to save your bakery and that just wasn’t right of me to do.”