Beauty for Ashes Page 0,27
to see me.”
“Well, one of you has to make the first move. You can’t let this go on. What if something terrible happened to him? You’d live with the guilt forever. Is that what you want?”
“Of course not. But nothing’s going to happen.”
“Oh, so now you’re God. Now you can predict the future.”
She stopped to stare up at him. “What’s the matter with you today? Did you come to see me just to start a disagreement?”
They reached the park. He plopped down beneath a towering hickory tree and patted the ground. She sat down beside him.
“I apologize. I don’t mean to be cross with you. But I’ll admit I have been feeling peevish lately. I don’t like the way that Rutledge character looks at you. Just yesterday he stood outside the post office and followed your every move, all the way to the mercantile. Don’t tell me you didn’t notice.”
“I noticed. But you shouldn’t worry about it.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she was assailed with guilt. She was attracted to Griff Rutledge despite herself. Did it show?
“Are you sure about that, Carrie? I saw the two of you that day at the wedding. And then you asked him to help you move.” He pulled at a blade of grass. “Something as important as that, I figured you might have asked me about it.”
“It was entirely coincidental. I happened upon him on the road and acted on impulse. I was so upset, I wasn’t thinking about who should do the honors. I only wanted out from under Henry’s roof as soon as possible.”
“I guess I can understand that. But maybe you ought to know, some folks are wondering about Rutledge and what all went on before he came here.” His gray eyes sought hers. “I don’t want you to get mixed up with the wrong sort of people.”
“I’m not mixed up with anyone. Mr. Rutledge and I have spoken only a few times since Henry’s wedding.”
“If you say so.” He leaned against the trunk of the tree and squinted at the patch of sky above them. “I sure do feel bad for Henry and the way things have turned out. I don’t like seeing the two of you at odds. Nothing this side of heaven is more important than family.”
Did Nate honestly think she didn’t already know how precious a family could be? She missed Henry terribly. And she felt guilty for storming off the way she had—or she would if she allowed herself to think about it. A rush of anger at Mary Stanhope displaced her sadness. Why did Mary have to be so judgmental? So thoughtless and demanding? If Henry had to marry at this late date, why couldn’t he have found someone sweet and thoughtful, someone like Ada Caldwell?
“. . . anyway, that’s my idea. What do you think?”
She blinked. “Sorry. What?”
“I offered you a job again. While you were woolgathering just now, I was explaining that I’ve bought out a store in Saint Louis. The inventory will be here on the train next week, and I’ll need help sorting it, marking it for sale and such. You’ve seen my shop. It’s all a-jumble.”
“I won’t argue with you there.” She smiled, her thoughts of Mary forgotten. “Even so, there’s something about it that makes me feel good from the moment I step inside.”
“Wish I knew what it was. I’d bottle it like snake oil and make a fortune.”
She caught the look of worry in his eyes. “You told me weeks ago that business is bad. What in the world are you going to do with even more books?”
“I don’t rightly know. But it seemed too good a bargain to pass up. Enrollment at the college is up this year. The students will need books. And I’m counting on the Race Day visitors to buy them too.”
“Then the town council approved Mr. Gilman’s plan?”
He nodded. “They took a formal vote Tuesday night. Mr. Gilman is beside himself because Rutledge is sticking around to ride that black colt of his.” Nate paused. “So will you help me with the shop? I can’t pay much but—”
“Of course I’ll help, but I won’t charge you a cent.”
“We’ve been over all that. I wouldn’t feel right not paying you when you need the money.” He took her hands and smiled into her eyes. At moments like this, she truly loved him. Loved his quiet affection and innate goodness. What more could a woman ask for? Ada was right. She was