by Jolene Faye
Chapter Three
A week had passed since the doctor and sheriff had come to see the stranger. Merely a week since Robert showed up and turned everything upside down. It had taken her hours to convince him she could handle herself and the stranger. She had wanted Robert back in her life so very much before Cole had found his way to her door, but now, things had changed. He had told her that he still loved her and still planned to leave Jane for her, but Sybil wasn't as delighted by those thoughts now as she had been before. Twice he'd chosen Jane over her and while she never doubted his love for her, Sybil had come to terms with the way things were. She'd tried her best to avoid Robert's advances the past week though once or twice the old feelings overwhelmed her and she'd found herself in the heated passion of his arms. What was it about the warmth of a man's arms? Something had changed in the way she felt when Robert would hold her against him and kiss her softly. A few times much to her dismay, the passion had been provoked by her mind turning to thoughts of Cole. She knew the warmth of his arms and though she'd tried to fight it, she wanted to know more of it. The horrors of his nightmares hadn't found him last night, but the one time she'd ventured into the room to check on him. Cole had pleaded with her to lay with him until he'd fallen asleep.
The gentle tapping of the snow and sleet melting on the cabin roof fell against the window as Sybil opened her eyes to the soft pastel glow of sunrise. Smiling as she pulled the warmth of the quilt around her shoulders, she drifted back to the warm of his arms around her last night. Every night his nightmares haunted him and she found herself in the soft embrace of his arms as she chased away his demons. She had decided after the morning she'd been awoken by the sheriff she'd not allow herself to stay in his arms all night again and though she struggled with her own resolution, she stuck to her promise and always returned to her own bed. He had been awake more the past week than he'd been when she first found him on her porch and they had talked over the things Daniel had told her about. Sometimes she felt he wasn't telling the whole story, but not once did Sybil think he had lied about anything to her. The night he told her of the Mexican woman named Cecilia, her heart sank. She had been the woman he loved and planned to marry when he returned from the war. Sybil could feel the longing and misery when he spoke of finding her again only to lose her the same night. She could almost sympathize with him on that, often feeling like she had found Robert again then lost him. Although she couldn't figure out why, his visits and his return to her recently didn't make her as happy as she'd thought she would be. She did miss her daughter though, very much. Two days ago when she had ridden into town, Sybil had been surprised by the arrival of the official adoption record. It was final. It was legal. Rose was her daughter. With the happy news and the longing to see her daughter, she had spent all day at the home of Daniel and Dancing Moon. To her it seemed Rose had grown so much in the few short weeks and had picked up so many more words from Charlie's older children. Before she left to return home Sybil promised her daughter she'd be coming home with Daniel on his next trip to the farm. That was two days away, she thought as she pulled the quilt off her and stood beside her bed.
Wrapping her thick robe around her, Sybil pushed the door to the cabin open. "Cole, we need to talk," she started as she cross the small kitchen and stared at the empty, neatly made bed. Looking around seeing his clothing and satchel gone, Sybil swallowed against her breath. Surely he hadn't just left without saying anything. She knew the swelling in the knot was gone and he'd been feeling much better yesterday, but she didn't think he'd just leave without saying a word. As she turned back toward her room to get dressed and head to the barn to check for his horse, she spotted a piece of paper on the table. Feeling better, went to town to get supplies, it said simply. A wash of relief fell over her as she traced her fingertip over the words on the paper. She didn't know what these feelings she had for the stranger that appeared on her doorstep one dark stormy night were, but she did know that she wanted the chance to find out. Humming softly as she poured a cup of coffee, Sybil went over the questions for Cole and the conversation they'd have about Rose.
