Chapter Eight

Ezra took a deep breath before opening the door of Brown's mercantile. Ever since his first altercation with the miserly owner a year earlier, he hated to come into the store. He would not shirk his duty and fail at his assigned task. His brothers were counting on him to procure the supplies they needed to take care of JD.

He opened the door and entered the mercantile. His senses were immediately assaulted by an assortment of aromas; coffee brewing on the wood stove in the back of the store, dill pickles in vinegar, pungent onions, new leather, and flowery perfume. The aisles were packed from floor to ceiling with everything from tools to household items to toys and bolts upon bolts of bright fabrics.

Ezra glanced around and saw no signs of Zeke Brown. He gave himself a little shake and boldly walked up to the front counter where he was relieved to find Mrs. Brown. Fanny was as kind and friendly as her husband was miserly and mean.

"Morning Missus Brown."

"Morning, Ezra, how can I help you?"

Ezra took out the piece of paper the brothers had used to write down a list of items they thought they would need for JD. He would trust Mrs. Brown with knowing what else they might need.

"I have a list here of items a friend's mother has requested I purchase for her." Ezra said, handing her the list, "Mrs. Davis wanted me to ask if you knew of some sort of supplement she could give her baby to go along with her, well, uh…"

"Natural milk?" Fanny asked gently.

"Yes ma'am," Ezra made a great show of looking relieved.

"Natural milk or cow's milk is what's best for babies, but I do have a can or tow of this powder called 'Mama's Milk'. I reckon it won't do know harm to try and only needs water added to it."

"Then I'll leave you to pick out the items on the list while I make the rest of my selections."

"I'll have them gathered shortly," Fanny told him.

Ezra turned from the counter and headed toward the section of the mercantile where men and boys clothing were located. He wrinkled his nose at some of the more coarse materials, and gravitated toward the denims and cotton and flannel shirts. He had become accustomed to wearing cotton, flannel, and denim since meeting his brothers, but still longed for the silk shirts and linen trousers he used to wear when he was with his mother.

He chose two pairs of denims and two shirts, one cotton and one flannel, for each of them, as well as socks, undergarments, boots, and toiletry items. He carried the load up to the front of the store and deposited them on the counter, where Fanny had placed the items she had accumulated for JD. By the time Ezra finished choosing sweet rolls, penny candy, several ham and cheese sandwiches, pickles, apples, and hard boiled eggs for supper for him and his brothers, Fanny had already calculated the other items he was purchasing for him. She quickly added the cost of the food to the previous total and told Ezra what everything cost.

Ezra ended up using all of their nest egg money, plus a couple of dollars out of the money Josiah had given him. Mrs. Brown was wrapping everything up and placing it in a box for him to carry when he heard the thundering step of Mr. Brown coming downstairs from the family's living quarters above.

Panic filled Ezra and he felt his heart begin to beat overtime the closer Zeke Brown's footsteps got to his location.

His alarm must have shown on his face, because Fanny set the last item in the box, hefted it off the counter and moved toward the door with it. Ezra was at the door in a flash and gladly took the box from her and left the store at a run.

He had gone several feet before the weight of the box and his running began to wear him down. He slowed to a walk, his heart hammering in his chest as much from his fear as from exertion. He was glad he had a few blocks to go before he reached their alley. It would give him enough time to calm down.

His brothers knew nothing about the time Zeke Brown had caught him sleeping under the back porch of the mercantile and slapped him around before Fanny stepped in and stopped her husband. Fear of the man was present in him every time he went inside the store. He would not allow Zeke Brown to make him a coward.