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word. I can t spend the rest of our lives measuring every word I say. I
can t be wondering if the next thing I say is the wrong thing or
something magical you want to hear. All I can be is myself. That s one
thing I have learned these last few days.
 This is about what happened this morning, isn t it? A stupid
question. Of course it was. But where did that leave them now?
Paul dropped his hands.  I think I ll take advantage of that swim in
the river while I have a little privacy. He brushed past her and on to
the door.
Belle watched him walk away. Maybe she was asking too much.
Maybe she was risking her only chance for happiness. Even knowing
that, she still couldn t make herself run after Paul. She had to be sure
she wasn t making a mistake. But wasn t it a bigger mistake to stand
there and do nothing?
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She nudged Charity awake.  Watch the little ones. Nodding, her
sister blinked against the sunlight.
Paul glanced over his shoulder as Belle ran up, then fell in step
beside him.  Decided to join me?
 Something like that. She clasped her fingers before her. Why did
she suddenly feel so nervous?
Just spit it out. Say it. What s the worst that could happen?
Sadly, she knew the answer and couldn t bear the thought of never
seeing him again. Some part of her longed to turn back the clock to the
simple time when they were friends.
 You said you never thought about marriage until I came along, but
isn t it also true that you didn t consider marriage possible until a few
days ago? Only last week you said you didn t consider yourself worthy
enough for me. Now you do. Such a quick change. Everything so fast.
Paul& we are best friends. Wonderful lovers. But marriage& don t you
want to be absolutely certain first?
 I am.
 And I m not. No matter how much I love you. Why can t you give
me the time I m asking for?
 How long, Belle? A week? A month? A year?
 As long as it takes. If we love each other, isn t it worth it?
Resigned once more, he laced his fingers through hers. How could
he argue with such logic? And didn t he often preach that anything
worth having was worth waiting for? Nothing like having words tossed
back in your face. He d be thinking twice before he used them again.
 Care to go swimming with me?
It wasn t exactly the answer she wanted, but it would do for now.
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CHAPTER 12
Home had never looked so good. Belle was stiff, sore, and plain old
bone weary from riding in the wagon. She d definitely lost her touch
dealing with children over the past two years. There was more than a
time or two she longed to be riding in the corn wagon with Cal rather
than to be dealing with the minor squabbles that broke out between
Taber, Mason, and Bessie. Pru was much more effective dealing with
them than she was. But she and Susannah rode with Cal.
Belle smiled. Cal probably didn t have it so good after all. Susannah
hated being still. If she could have paced the wagon bed, she would
have. Belle sure didn t have the patience to deal with that and the little
ones to boot.
Charity wasn t much help either. When she wasn t sleeping, she
had her nose buried in a book and was happy to turn over any
responsibility whatsoever to her older sister. It tightened Belle s jaw for
sure. But she didn t know if that was because Charity behaved that way
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or because Belle saw a lot of herself there and didn t much like what
she saw.
It was pretty close to sunset when they reached town. Still, the
clatter of two wagons brought neighbors to their front porches. The
Cyruses waved. Florine started to follow them home; Brady pulled her
back. Belle blessed him. She needed to settle in before company, even
well-meaning company, came over.
Paul and Cal maneuvered the wagons behind the boarding house.
Sid, Marty, and Clarence wasted no time coming out to help. Judging
from the napkin tucked in Clarence s neck collar, it looked like they d
left supper to do so. Daisy and Retha weren t far behind.
Retha folded Bessie and Mason into her arms.  Such sweet, sweet
little younguns. You just come inside and Aunt Retha will fix you a
plate of food to fill those little bellies. Then we ll all clean up, tuck in,
and sleep snug as a bug. She hugged them tight and carried them into
the house, fussing over them all the way. The children soaked up the
attention.
Daisy took charge of Belle s sisters.  Grab your bags. I ve got a
room all ready for you. I hope the three of you don t mind sharing.
Supper s on the table, hot and waiting. I m sure you ll want to clean up
first.
Tired as she looked, Prudence still managed to give Daisy a smile.
 We ve been sharing a bed all our lives; I doubt it makes much
difference now.
Daisy stared at her while she struggled for something to say.
Finally, she wrapped her arm around Pru s shoulder and led her toward
the house.  You re sharing the room, sweetie, not the bed.
 Good, Charity said.  Because Susannah kicks. I never get a good
night s sleep.
 Come on you three, Daisy called over her shoulder.  Supper s
waiting for you, too.
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Cal didn t wait to be told a second time.
Paul looped an arm around Belle s waist.  You heard the woman.
And she was hungry as all get-out. But they were home now, in the
middle of town. Robbery was rare, but Belle just couldn t walk away
and leave the money sitting there.  I just have to get this box. She
snagged the rope handle and tugged.
He slipped her fingers free.  You can t carry that. Cal and I will get
it later.
She glanced around to make sure no one hovered nearby, then
whispered,  Ma s got a small fortune tucked away in the chest. Looks
pretty close to five hundred dollars.
He let out a low whistle.
Belle poked him in the ribs.  Shh, I don t want the world to know.
 Here I thought you slept in the wagon with me last night because
you couldn t stand to be away from me. And all along you were
guarding the box. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]