He peeped out of one eye to see who was in his room, and all he saw was Patience standing there. He knew it was just too good to be true to think that Susannah had come to pay him a visit. He sighed and opened the other eye. Patience was carrying a tray piled with a lot more food than they’d been feeding him before. His stomach growled with anticipation.
“Is that eggs and bacon I smell?” he asked, his voice heavy with sleep.
Patience smiled, batting her lashes. “Why, it sho’ enough is!” she exclaimed in her newly practiced accent.
Lee looked at her as if she’d just spoken in a foreign language. “What’s wrong with your voice?”
She placed the tray across his lap. “Whatever do you mean, Sheriff?” she drawled, giving him another smile and another round of extremely fast eye batting.
“You sound funny, and you’re starting to do that thing again with your eyes,” he told her bluntly as he picked up his fork and scooped up a good-sized helping of eggs.
Patience frowned and her shoulders drooped. If Susannah were here, he wouldn’t say that she sounded funny! She made a quick mental note to never bat her eyes again. Emma Hadley couldn’t be correct about everything!
She cleared her throat. “Uh … it must be the spring air … or … something,” she explained lamely.
He didn’t seem to hear her, though. He was much too busy eating.
Ignored again, she thought. She looked about the room, then down at her wringing hands. “Well, I’ll just leave you to your breakfast,” she muttered and started out of the room.
“Wait a minute.”
Patience stopped, not quite believing that she had heard him correctly. Slowly, she turned toward him. Against her better judgment, hope started to bloom within her chest.
Lee motioned toward the chair by the bed. “Why don’t you keep me company? Unless … you have something to do?” he asked sincerely.
The cows had to be milked, the eggs needed to be gathered, and the chickens needed to be fed. “No,” she heard herself answer. “I can stay for a few minutes.”
Lee saw the hopeful expression on Patience’s face and had a moment of doubt. He didn’t want her to think that he was attracted to her, but he found himself enjoying her company. For the last two days, he’d found Patience to be surprisingly easy to talk to. She was intelligent and funny, at least when she wasn’t trying to spin her feminine wiles on him.
He hoped that she would realize that they could be friends and get over her apparent infatuation!
He took another bite of his food and swallowed. “I was just wondering if you can fill me in on what’s been happening around here in the last few days? Billy let me know about what’s been going on as far as the law goes; but I feel like the world kept spinning and living, and I slept right through it.”
Patience put on a saucy grin and sat in the chair beside him. “You’re not telling me that you want to know all the gossip in town, are you?”
He took on a look of mock indignation. “Hasn’t anyone ever told you that men don’t gossip?” he admonished.
Patience scoffed at that statement. “Someone forgot to tell Mr. Harold Ray Norton about that. If it’s worth knowing, he probably knows about it. Of course, he probably hears it from Miz Hayes,” she told him, speaking of the storekeeper and her beau.
“You have a point,” he agreed, smiling.
For a moment they sat in silence as he finished the rest of his breakfast. He wiped his mouth with his napkin, and Patience took the tray and placed it on the bedside table.
“Now,” Lee said as he settled back against his pillows. “What’s been happening around here?”
Patience filled him in on the little things that happened during the week, and then she casually brought up the ice cream social that he’d missed.
“Everyone was there,” she told him. “Susannah was there, too,” she added, testing his reaction.
It irritated her when he immediately perked up. “So … how is she doing? Was she there with anyone?” he asked, trying, but failing in his act of nonchalance.
Patience stifled a sigh. “Oh, she’s fine. Just fine.” She fiddled with the pleats in her skirt. “She didn’t come with anyone to the social, but I did see her talking a lot to Bobby Joe Aaron.”
His eyes narrowed. “Oh, really.”
She nodded, looking out toward the small window, just beyond his bed. “Yes. They’re related, you know.”
He immediately looked relieved. “Related? I didn’t know that. I didn’t even know that they knew each other.”
She shrugged. “Well, I guess that they’re not really related. I mean, she was his late wife’s sister.”
“Oh.” His shoulders slumped, and Patience realized how much he liked Susannah.
Was it worth it? Was it worth trying to get the attention of a man who clearly preferred someone else? At first she’d only been attracted to him because there weren’t many bachelors around Springton. No good Christian men, anyway. He just seemed like good husband material.
But now, after spending so much time with him, Patience’s reasons for liking him had changed.
He had a fine quality about him. But more than that, there was something about him that seemed to reach out to her and speak to her woman’s heart. She loved to hear him laugh. She loved to sit and talk with him. Everything about him was interesting and attractive to her.
Patience knew that he liked talking to her, but she was also smart enough to realize that he felt no attraction to her as a woman. He treated her as if she was his little sister or his pal. Would that ever change? Or would she have to be content with being only his friend and watch him as he courted Susannah Butler or some other woman?
Looking at him now, seeing the concern that he had for Susannah, Patience couldn’t bring herself to give up. This was too important. He was becoming too important to her.
She couldn’t give up. Not yet.
“You know, I never heard Billy Aaron speak of even knowing Susannah,” Lee told her, breaking into her thoughts.
Patience puzzled over that little bit of information. “Hmm. That’s strange. When I talked to her she acted like …”
“You talked to her?” he interrupted.
“Yesterday, I went … I mean … uh …,” Patience stammered, realizing what she just said and mentally kicking herself for the slip.
“Wait a minute. You saw her yesterday? Where?” he demanded.
Patience looked at his suspicious face and sighed. “I went to her house.”
“You what?”
Patience jumped up from her seat and started pacing about the room. “I went to her house. Is that a crime?” she asked, throwing up her arms dramatically.
He opened his mouth, then shut it. “Well, no. It just seems strange that you would go there. I didn’t know you were acquainted,” he finished lamely.
“Why should you know? I don’t remember us being acquainted until you fainted at my feet!”
“I did not faint! I passed out!”
Patience rolled her eyes. “Thank you for clarifying that!”
But Lee was not to be deterred. “Why did you go to Susannah’s house, Patience?” he asked once again.
Patience’s mind raced. She couldn’t tell him the real reason. But she couldn’t lie, either. So she compromised. “I just went to get to know her. She is new in town, you know.”
Lee stared at her for a moment. “You just suddenly got the urge to befriend her yesterday?” he asked, unconvinced.
Patience pulled up an innocent face. At least, she hoped it looked innocent. “Yes. Do you have a problem with that?”
Lee sighed. It just took too much effort and energy to understand this woman. He knew there had to be more to this visit with Susannah, and he just hoped that she wasn’t trying to sabotage his chance for a relationship with the pretty teacher.
Then he felt bad for thinking ill of Patience. She didn’t seem like a spiteful person, and he knew that he shouldn’t judge
her.
“Well,” he said finally, “I guess I’ll try getting up and getting dressed today. I feel much better.” He slowly got out of bed; and for the first time, he didn’t feel light-headed.
Patience rushed over to him. “Be careful, Sheriff!” she admonished. “Maybe you’re rushing it.”
Lee put his hand out, stopping her words. “Miss Patience, I’m doing fine. I’m feelin’ plenty good enough to take care of myself.” He smiled at her, flexing his arms out. “You and your mother have done a good job taking care of me, and I know you must be anxious to get me out of your hair.”
Patience felt her heart drop to her toes. He was leaving? So soon? Logically she knew that he’d have to leave sooner or later, but she was hoping that it would be much later. She needed more time to figure out what he wanted in a woman. She needed more time for him to get to know her and she, him.
What would Emma Hadley do? What would she say at a time like this?
Patience thought for a minute and suddenly got a wonderful idea.
“You have been no trouble at all, Sheriff. But I’m sure you know what’s best for you,” she said happily. She went to the tall pine armoire and opened it up. Carefully she took out the clothes that he’d arrived in, all freshly laundered. “Here you go.” She handed the clothes over to him.
Patience noticed that Lee looked relieved that she wasn’t making a fuss about it. Obviously, he was expecting her to do that very thing.
He took the bundle and nodded to her. “Thank you,” he said, his voice holding a question, as if he was unsure of what she was about.
“I’m sure you’re anxious to get back to keeping all of Springton safe and sound!” she said briskly as she picked up the tray of dishes. “I’ll just let you get ready.”
She walked toward the door, and he called after her, “Uh … yeah. Well, thanks.”
When she got to the door, she paused and turned to Lee. He was standing there, poor man, like he was waiting for the next shoe to fall.
And it did.
“Oh, by the way,” she began. “I wouldn’t think of letting you fend for yourself while you are getting your strength back. I’ll be bringing meals to your work and your house so that you won’t have to worry about all that.” She waved her hand airily about and with a pert smile, she left, closing the door behind her.
As usual, he felt emotionally drained when Patience left the room. Talking to her was like being on a boat during a storm—tossed up and down and left feeling dizzy in the end!
He was sure that she was up to something, but what? Surely she wasn’t using the meals just to get close to him! He did have to eat, and heaven knew he’d rather eat someone else’s cooking than his own.
He shrugged and proceeded to dress himself. It would be good getting back to his house. He lived on a moderate-sized piece of land outside of Springton in a small house he’d built himself. It wasn’t much, consisting of just two bedrooms, a living room, and a kitchen; but he had plans to build on to it. His father and brother had come up to help him, and they’d made it sturdy.
But as small as it was, it still felt too big to live there all by himself.
Suddenly a picture of Patience filled his mind. She was standing out on his little white porch. He shook his head and wiped his eyes. He really was going to have to stop doing that! Why was he constantly thinking about her?
It must have been because he was in her house and constantly seeing her. At least it made him feel better to think that!
It was definitely time to go home!
When Patience took the tray to the kitchen, her mother was standing there waiting for her. She didn’t look happy.
“Patience Primrose, it’s already nine o’clock and not one of your chores is done. This farm doesn’t run itself, you know. If you would spend less time mooning over the sheriff and reading that worthless book that you’ve always got your nose stuck in, maybe we could get things done.” She folded her arms under her bosom and narrowed her eyes at her daughter. “And I hate to say it, but you’re making a fool of yourself over that man. Practically throwing yourself at him! He’s not unconscious anymore, and it’s unseemly for you to be in his room for the length of time that you’ve been spending in there!”
Patience lowered her head, shamefaced. “But, Mama, I didn’t mean anything by talking to him, and I’m not throwing myself at him,” she defended, though it came out weak. She always had a hard time standing up to her mother.
Prudence just shook her head and started rinsing out Lee’s dishes. Patience stared pensively at her mother. She needed desperately to talk to another woman about what she was feeling, but she didn’t know how her mother would respond.
“Uh … Mama?” she began. “Could I talk to you about something?”
Prudence sighed impatiently, but didn’t stop what she was doing. “Mercy, girl. All you do is yap! What is it now?”
Patience bit her lip and looked down at her clinched hands. “How does a woman go about getting a young man’s attention? I mean, how did you and Papa meet? Did you like him before he liked—”
The dishes crashing in the sink stopped Patience from continuing. Prudence whirled around, her face white. “I don’t want to talk about that, you hear? Ever! You just leave it to the Lord to find you a man. Chasing after one don’t bring nothing but trouble, you hear? Trouble!”
With that, Prudence stomped out of the house.
Shocked, Patience stood staring at the door. What had she said that was so wrong? All she’d mentioned was her papa.
Slowly Patience sat down at the kitchen table, her mind racing. For as long as Patience could remember, they’d never really talked about her father. When she was little, she remembered her mother saying that he’d died and that had been it!
What was it about her papa that got her mother so upset? Had he been a mean man? Did they not get along?
Patience pushed a stray hair from her face and looked longingly at Lee’s bedroom door. Was her mother right? Should she just wait on God to send her the right person? But what if God wanted Lee for her, but he was just being too stubborn to realize it?
No. She must persevere! And she must keep trying to become the woman that Lee wanted!
Chapter 5
A winter chill was in the air as Patience drove Lee back to his house. Patience guided the wagon with the ease of one who’d been handling a team of horses for a long time.
It was late October; and though summer had lasted way into September, it was now staying cool throughout the day. They passed several homesteads and farms on their way to his house. A lot of the trees had been cut down and cleared for farming or grazing. But between the clearings, the oak trees stood tall, their leaves painting the skyline in several shades of gold and orange. And, of course, there were the pines. The smell of them tickled her senses like a gentle perfume.
It was the smell of home, and she would never tire of it.
But her attention was not on the trees or the way they smelled. It was on Lee and the fact that she would miss him being with her every minute.
Thank goodness, their ride was not a short one!
Lee’s homestead was located not more than four miles from her mother’s; but because of how the roadways were laid out between properties, they ended up having to drive twice that far. So far their conversation had consisted of the weather and the scenery.
It wasn’t what Patience had in mind at all when she suggested that she be the one to drive him instead of getting Billy Aaron to do it. Somehow she’d pictured a romantic ride where he’d suggest that, because of the chill, she move closer to him. She could almost see them all cuddled up and talking intimately.
So far, when she’d told him that she was chilly, he’d taken off his jacket and handed it to her. When she protested that he might catch a chill, he told her that the cold didn’t affect him that much.
Patience sighed. This was not going the way she’d imagined it. Nothing ever did when dealing with the sheriff of
Springton!
She discreetly peered at him from the corner of her eye. He was looking out over the land and smiling. She watched as he took a deep breath, breathing the clean, crisp air, and then let out a contented sigh.
Her heart started beating a little faster as she looked at him. It wasn’t only because he was a handsome man, but that he had a confidence about him. A demeanor that implied that he was happy with his life and his world. He just had to be the most perfect man she’d ever encountered. She wondered if Emma Hadley had ever encountered such a man; and if she had, would she even have been able to capture his affection?
She looked ahead and saw his little white house far in the distance. “Oh! Isn’t that where you live?” Of course, she knew that it was his house, but she didn’t want him to think that she knew everything about him.
He nodded and, for the first time, looked her way. He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. He had the strangest look on his face.
What was he thinking?
Lee knew exactly what he was thinking; he just couldn’t believe he was thinking it.
He’d turned to tell Patience about his land, when he’d looked at her and noticed that the wind has loosened several curly strands of her hair and her cheeks were rosy from the chill. But it was her eyes that caught his attention. They were a brilliant light blue that seemed to light up her whole face.
She was lovely.
Confused, he hastily looked away.
“Were you going to say something?” Patience asked him.
He took a breath and decided that he was cold and must have been hallucinating. “I was just going to say that I hope Billy Ray did a good job of feeding my livestock while I was gone.”
She looked at him a second and then nodded. “I’m sure that he did. You know Billy is always proud to do something for you.”
Glad to have his mind on something else besides her, he chuckled. “He’s a good man. I know that he’d like nothing better than to be a full-time lawman himself. But Bobby Joe would never let him go without making him feel guilty about not sticking with the family business.” He took a deep breath while looking over the horizon. “I just wish that Bobby Joe would loosen up, you know? Daniel and Tommy give him plenty of help.”
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