you less deserving of my respect. You took me in, fed me, doctored me.”
Not comfortable with the conversation, she grumbled, “Eat before the food gets cold.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She hazarded a look his way to gauge whether he was toying with her, but the seriously set eyes holding her own touched her in a way that made her break the contact in favor of something less discomforting, like putting vegetables on her plate.
They ate in silence for a few moments. “My apologies if I made you uncomfortable,” he said. “It’s how I was raised.”
“My brother does that with Regan. He tries with me, but I just ignore him. I don’t need that kind of respect.”
“What kind do you need?”
She paused. He had a way of asking questions she had no ready answers for. “None really. Not being respected hasn’t made me lose sleep.”
“But respect is a way of acknowledging how valued you are, or how much you mean to a person.”
She shrugged. “I suppose, but I value myself. I don’t need it from anyone else just because it’s the gentlemanly thing to do.”
“But what if it’s genuine, and not because of what society dictates?”
Spring had spent the past fifteen years focused on what she didn’t need: a man, respect, to be coddled. She wasn’t sure how to respond to his attempts to make her consider what else she might need besides the support and friendship of Ed Prescott, Odell, her brother, and Regan. “How’s your steak?”
“Steak’s fine.”
That he didn’t push her to answer earned him a measure of her respect. “So do you stand at the table and wait until the woman who may or may not be your intended sits down?”
He glanced over. “I do.”
“Does she have a name?”
“Yes. Emily. Emily Stanton.”
“Not known to frequent saloons?”
“No.”
“Does she mind all your questions?”
“No, just that I prefer carpentry to law. My father isn’t happy about it, either.”
“Then why are you entertaining the idea of maybe marrying her?”
“My father and hers are convinced we’d be a good match.”
“What do you think?”
“She and I are certain they’re wrong.”
“Problem solved, then.”
“If only our parents would agree.”
Spring was confused. If he and this Emily were of like minds, why was a match still being discussed? It sounded fairly simple to her. She reminded herself that the answer didn’t matter because he’d be returning home eventually and the outcome wouldn’t affect her life one way or the other, but she was admittedly curious.
“Emily is a crusader. She doesn’t believe marriage holds much benefit for women,” he explained.
Spring raised her cup in silent tribute.
He smiled. “I sensed you’d agree with her.”
“So you don’t want to marry her because she doesn’t want to marry you?”
“In part, but the other part is if I do marry, I want it to be to someone who fills my heart the way my mother fills my father’s heart. He adores her.”
Something rippled through her that was both faint yet powerful. For a moment she felt entranced, unable to do anything but look into his eyes and let him do the same to her. She broke the invisible thread and concentrated on cutting her steak. Realizing her hand was shaking, she cursed inwardly and drew in a breath to calm herself. “So you believe in love.” It was more statement than question.
“I don’t know if that’s what it’s called, but for the sake of conversation, yes. My mother is the light of my father’s world. You see it in his face whenever she walks into a room. I’d like to feel that way about the person I pledge my life to.”
“And it doesn’t happen with Emily,” she stated quietly.
He shook his head. “But she’s incredibly smart, funny, and a good friend.”
Spring thought him way more complicated than she’d initially assumed. His description of his father and mother fit how Colt and Regan felt about each other.
He added, “Of course, I may never find that person, but I’d like to hold out and see.”
Once again she was caught by the spell in his gaze. Tearing herself away, she said, “Good luck.” What she didn’t say aloud was: What in the hell is wrong with me?
“Thanks.” He offered up a toast. “Have you ever been in love?”
She glared.
“My apologies. Even I know that was too nosy to ask.”
“Just eat.”
After the meal, they did the dishes. This time he washed, and she dried. They worked silently, which suited her just fine. Because of her mood, she wanted to ignore him but found that difficult. Like before, there were