by Jolene Faye
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Sybil wiped the thin layer of sweat from her forehead before shoving the handkerchief into her back pocket. The wind was still cool from last night's storm but inside the barn shuffling the hay around was hot. After tending to the animals this morning, Sybil started on the task of clearing the tack and tools from the extra stall and worked most of the morning preparing it for Cole's stallion. The gentle smile she'd woken with returned to her lips as she thought of Cole. The way his dark black curls folded behind his ears and fell on his shoulders always made her think of Rose and how long her hair had gotten. The deep green sparkles of his eyes showed more often the last few days he'd been feeling better and the softness she found deep inside those seas of green haunted her dreams. She couldn't keep her mind off the strength and warmth of his arms wrapped around her when she'd lay beside him to comfort him in his sleep. A ripple of giddiness rose inside of her as she turned over the images of Cole and the growing feelings she had for him. The soft thudding of horse's hooves brought a smile to her face as she had been awaiting Cole's return. While she had intended to give him a good talking to about traveling without the doctor checking him out, she silently admitted to herself that she had missed him this morning. She wanted to tell him about Rose, find out more about him and, hopefully if he had no plans of moving on just yet, discuss building him a room as they had done for Jed. As the soft clatter of the horse's hooves got closer, she sighed softly and muttered out loud the thought running through her mind, "Or he could just stay in the cabin with me."
"Sybil," his voice startled her as she turned still pulling her coat over her shoulders and stared almost not believing it was him. "Robert? What are you doing here," she questioned quietly thinking if it had been some crazy illusion she wouldn't be heard talking to herself. As he walked into the shadow of the barn, Sybil traced over the stretched expression on his face. A million thoughts ran through her mind as he walked quietly. "Is it Jed? Robert, has something happened to Jed," the very thought of something happening to the gentle old man she loved as dearly as she had her father threatened to bring Sybil to tears. "No, Sybil no. I haven't heard from Father since he left a few weeks ago," he assured as he pressed his hands over her shoulders and pulled her close. For a moment in the lull between fear of her thoughts and the realization of his words, Sybil pressed her forehead against his shoulder. Feeling his breath catch in his throat as his arms dropped slowly around her waist, Sybil straightened and quickly stepped out of his grasp. "Then what are you doing here Robert. What do you want?" Her short quick snap of questions and the loss of her soft body from his arms left Robert dumbfounded; standing there for a long moment with his mouth opened giving no response. "I.. uh.. I he-" he started as he watched Sybil turn and head back toward the stall. Dropping her jacket back over the rail of the stall, Sybil turned flipping her hair over her shoulder and exhaled loudly, "What is it Robert, Jane not happy again? She leave you again and you thought you'd come running back to me?" A punch of satisfaction hit her as the words she'd been longing to say finally rushed from her lips. The almost inaudible groan had her second guessing herself though as the slow shuffle of his feet approached her. Clearing his throat as she turned back toward him, Robert swallowed hard and tried to straighten the sadness creasing the features of his face. "I just came to check on you Sybil," he started slowly with his head hanging low. Guilt twisted around her heart as the pain of her words soaked heavily in his voice. "I saw the stranger out and about in town and I-," he continued again without raising his eyes, "I just wanted to make sure you and Rose were going to be ok." Sighing heavily knowing that the brief triumph of finally letting her hurt flow wasn't worth the pain she could see on his face nor the sadness in his voice. Sybil swallowed hard as she shoved her hands into the pockets of her jeans. "I'm sorry Robert," she started low as she stepped toward him, "I shouldn't have said that. I'm fine and Rose is with Dancing Moon. Thank you for your concern, but everything is fine." Raising his gaze from the ground, Robert lifted his arms pressing his palms against her shoulders once again. "Sybil, I'm the one who should be sorry. I never wanted to hurt you. I love you and Rose both so very much. I don't know what is going to happen with Jane and I, but I know she is not where my heart is," his words were different, but the feeling was the same it had always been before. Sybil did truly believe he loved her deep down inside and once she had loved him too, but now she wasn't sure. She was different, or at least her feelings for Robert were. "Robert, come let me fix you some coffee. I think it's time we finally talked about all this," she offered the truce as she pulled her coat back on and slipped her arm around his.
