At last the meal was at an end and the kitchen was cleaned. She took Joy upstairs and got her ready for bed, going through their nightly rituals of prayers and a lullaby.
When she tucked the covers up under Joy’s chin, the little girl looked up at her with concern in her gaze. “Did you see a spider while you and Mr. Cooper were out picking dewberries?”
Verity gently brushed the wisps of hair from her daughter’s forehead and attempted a smile. “Yes, pumpkin, I did. In fact, two of them got on the sleeve of my dress.” She still remembered the sweet way Nate had held her after his “rescue” of her, the way he’d tried to comfort her and make her feel safe and not at all foolish. How could this be the same man who’d done something so awful, so disregarding of the hurt he was doing to others?
“I thought so.” Joy’s self-congratulatory words brought her back to the present. “Because you looked all dis-bob-u-lated when you got home.”
Verity smiled at her daughter’s mispronunciation of discombobulated, one of her aunt’s favorite words. But the smile faded quickly. “You’re a very smart little girl to figure that out, but I’m all better now.”
“You don’t look all better.” Joy dragged her hand out from under the covers and patted Verity’s cheek. “Don’t worry, Mama, I don’t think those bad spiders followed you home.”
Touched beyond words by her daughter’s love and concern, Verity gathered her in a tight hug. “Thank you, pumpkin, I’m sure you’re right.” Then she let her go and tucked her back in. “Now, you get a good night’s sleep and don’t worry about me and the spiders anymore. Okay?”
“Okay.” And the girl rolled over on her side and shut her eyes.
Verity knew from past experience that Joy would be sound asleep in a matter of minutes.
Pleading a headache, she bid good-night to her aunt and uncle then escaped to her own room to turn in early.
But not to sleep. Because the numbness she’d felt since Nate—no, Mr. Cooper—had driven away was wearing off. In its place was an aching sense of loss.
She sat on the edge of her bed and grabbed a pillow, hugging it to her chest and rocking back and forth.
She kept trying to reconcile the man she’d come to admire so deeply with the man who’d done that terrible thing he’d admitted to this afternoon.
He was a bank robber. A man who’d carried a gun into a place of business, a place where innocent people, people with families who loved them, would be present. And he’d tried to forcibly, maybe even violently, take what didn’t belong to him.
There was nothing heroic about such an act. About such a man.
No wonder he’d felt so guilty whenever she used that word. Why hadn’t she believed his protests?
When she thought about how she’d acted around him today—teasing him, flirting with him, throwing herself into his arms. And then letting him kiss her. No, more than that, she’d practically invited that kiss. What a besotted fool she’d been. She’d let herself be led by her emotions rather than reason. There’d been nothing reasonable about this afternoon, no thought about the consequences of her actions.
And look where it had gotten her.
She touched her lips. But for that moment—that moment just before he’d abruptly ended that kiss—it had been so sweet, so wonderful, so exhilarating.
No! She wouldn’t think of that.
It had all been a lie.
But it hadn’t felt that way.
* * *
Verity got very little sleep that night. At some point she began worrying about how she would act toward him next time they encountered each other. And given his involvement with the choirs, there would be no way to avoid him completely, not until Zella got back at any rate.
She supposed she could deal with his playing on Sunday mornings.
But to have him working with the children? That seemed wrong on a number of levels. It wasn’t that she thought he would do anything to harm them—that thought was too ludicrous to even contemplate—but his influence over them would be questionable, and if his story ever came out, it would confuse the children.
Not that she would reveal his secrets. Even knowing what she now knew, she couldn’t bring herself to expose him to such critical scrutiny. But for her peace of mind she’d have to replace him as her partner on the children’s choir project, and she needed to do it before the next practice session on Tuesday.
First thing in the morning she’d have a talk with Mrs. Peavy. After all, she usually served as Zella’s stand-in.
Just how had it happened that Mr. Cooper had ended up in that position this time, anyway?
* * *
Verity didn’t get quite as early a start the next morning as she’d planned. She’d barely made it downstairs when Meechum Smith was brought into the clinic with a broken arm. It was a bad break and she’d worked beside her uncle for several hours to help him get the limb cleaned, set and splinted properly. By the time they’d completed the procedure, Mr. Smith was unconscious. So Verity had prepared a bed in the infirmary for him. She tried very hard not to remember the last patient who’d spent time there. Luckily his wife, Ellen, had accompanied him and she planned to spend the day with him, so Verity could make her escape as soon as he was properly installed there.
After cleaning up she was finally able to slip away. She trudged down the sidewalk toward the Barr home with a heavy heart. During the time she’d worked beside her uncle this morning, she’d been able to forget her world had been turned upside down yesterday. But as soon as she’d been dismissed it had all come flooding back.
She should never have let her emotions have sway over her. Much better to let reason be her guide. Her marriage to Arthur may not have been the fairy-tale romantic relationship she sometimes found herself dreaming of, but it had been comfortable and safe. If Arthur hadn’t made her feel the same fluttery anticipation she’d felt with Mr. Cooper, neither had he made her feel this dark, aching sadness.
She would ask Mrs. Peavy to help her with the children’s program and would use the time this was taking away from Mr. Cooper’s business as the reason. And in few weeks or so, when Zella returned, he would step down from the Sunday choir music, as well. There would be no need for her to have any further interaction with him.
Which should have made her feel a whole lot happier than it did.
When she arrived at the Barr residence, Verity bypassed the front entrance and went around to the back. Buck, the Barrs’ big, fierce-looking dog, raced up to greet her. But his wagging tail let her know it was friendly curiosity rather than aggression.
She gave the animal a pat on the head and then climbed the back porch steps. The kitchen door was open, leaving only a screen door as a barrier against insects and other unwanted intruders. She could see Mrs. Peavy inside, already busy at the stove.
Verity tapped on the door frame and called out a hello.
Mrs. Peavy glanced up and smiled when she recognized Verity. “The door’s unlatched, come on in.” She wiped her hands on her apron as Verity complied. “Can I get you a cup of coffee?”
Verity shook her head. “No, thank you, I’m fine.”
“If you’re looking for Reggie, she’s out taking a walk with Patricia. But she’ll be back shortly, if you want to sit and visit for a spell.”
Verity shook her head. “Actually, it was you I came to see.” She looked at the pots simmering on the stove and the pie ready to go into the oven. “But if you’re busy, I don’t want to interrupt your work.”
Mrs. Peavy smiled. “Actually, I’m ready to take a little break.” She waved toward the table. “Have a seat and I’ll join you in just a minute.”
Verity pulled a chair out at the table as Mrs. Peavy slipped the pie into the oven. The older woman then moved to the counter, where she retrieved a small jar before taking a seat across fr
om Verity.
“Well, now,” she said as she opened the jar, “I hope you won’t mind if I apply this liniment while we chat. I was just waiting until I got the pie in the oven.”
“Not at all.” Verity caught the familiar scent and it brought her up short. “Are you having problems with your hands?”
Mrs. Peavy nodded. “These old hands are beginning to show their age, I’m afraid. Some days are worse than others, but this liniment helps.” She sighed as she worked the medication into her hands. “I was so glad to learn Mr. Cooper could play the piano and was willing to take over while Zella was away. I’m afraid my days of being her substitute have just about come to an end.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that.” For a number of reasons. Was this why Mr. Cooper had been asked to sit in for Zella rather than Mrs. Peavy?
“There now.” Mrs. Peavy screwed the lid back on the jar and leaned back. “Much better,” she said with a smile. “Now, what did you want to talk to me about?”
What could she say? Asking her to take Mr. Cooper’s place was out of the question now. But there was something else she could ask. “Who will take your place as Zella’s substitute now?”
Mrs. Peavy frowned slightly. “I haven’t really given that much thought yet. But there are a couple of ladies here in Turnabout who could serve very capably.”
“Like who?”
“Well, Maude Wick for one. And Viella Higgs. And of course, now we have Mr. Cooper.” She gave Verity a probing look. “Why are you asking?”
Verity chose her words very carefully. “I was thinking I might ask someone to take over playing the piano for the children’s program. Mr. Cooper’s business is so new, it doesn’t seem fair to ask him to close up two afternoons a week to help us out.”
“I see.” Mrs. Peavy tilted her head slightly, giving Verity a probing look. “Has he asked you to find him a substitute?”
“Oh, no. This was my idea.” Though after yesterday she had no doubt Mr. Cooper would be relieved not to have to work with her any more than necessary. “It seems wrong to impose on him so heavily when he’s barely settled into town.”
“Well, you’re a good friend.”
Verity mentally winced at that far-from-accurate statement. But she was trapped, unable to reveal the true state of affairs without giving away the whole story. And she wasn’t ready to expose him that way.
But Mrs. Peavy spoke up again, rescuing Verity from having to examine her motives for that last thought too closely.
“I’m afraid you’re not going to have much luck with Maude and Viella, though. Maude’s new baby is due in just a few weeks. And Viella’s just moved her ailing grandmother in with her. That’s why it was such a godsend to learn that Mr. Cooper was talented and available.”
“I see.” What did she do now?
“If you really think it would be best to let Mr. Cooper off the hook, perhaps I could—”
Verity quickly reached across the table and gently clasped the woman’s knurled hands. “That’s very generous of you, but please don’t give it another thought. As I said, Mr. Cooper hasn’t uttered one word of complaint. I’m likely making mountains out of molehills again.”
She stood. “Now, I’ve taken up enough of your time. Please give Mr. Peavy and the Barrs my regards.”
As Verity shut the screen door behind her, her mind was scrambling to figure out what to do now. The next practice with the children’s choir was tomorrow, and she wanted to get this matter settled before then. She wasn’t certain she could work so closely with him again, at least not without giving away her feelings to those around them.
Perhaps the solution was to not worry about getting another piano player. Perhaps they could do the entire program a cappella. She would need some help, but she could ask one or two members of the church choir to assist her. Of course that would mean going into explanations of why she wanted to make the change. She supposed she could always use the same excuse she’d given Mrs. Peavy.
* * *
The bell jangled as his shop door opened and Nate looked up hopefully. But it was Belva who had entered, not Verity.
He wasn’t sure why he kept expecting to see her walk in. She’d made her feelings about him quite clear when he dropped her off yesterday.
Why in the world had he kissed her? If he hadn’t given in to his own longings, they might still be friends at least.
Not that he could find it in him to truly regret that kiss. Everything in him had responded to her—he’d wanted to cherish her and protect her and claim her as his own. For those few moments she’d made him feel as if he could scale mountains and explore oceans and slay dragons.
And now, not only did he no longer have the right to hold her, but he’d lost her friendship, as well.
“Well, now, don’t you look like someone just mowed down your prized flower patch. What’s ailing you?”
He summoned up a smile. “I’ve just got a lot on my mind today. What can I do for you? You’re not planning to change the design on your saddle again, are you?”
She laughed good-naturedly. “No, I think we’re all done with that. I just came by to ask you something.”
“And what’s that?”
“I turn twenty in two weeks, and that’s when I get the inheritance Aunt Imogene left for me.”
He already knew all of that from their earlier discussions. Hard as it was to believe, this young lady was about to become a wealthy heiress.
He figured she’d get to her question in her own time, so he followed her conversational lead. “So, are you planning all the things you’re going to do with the money?”
She nodded, her face split in a wide grin. “Well, getting my horse is the first thing. And then I figure I’ll do some traveling. But before I can do any of that, I need to get my house in order, literally.”
“What do you mean?”
“Part of my inheritance is Aunt Imogene’s home over in Tyler. I haven’t seen it yet, but I understand it’s big and it’s in need of some work. There’s a caretaker, but the solicitor is telling me he’s elderly and ready to retire.” She traced a circle on his worktable with a finger. “Since I don’t know very many people whom I would trust with that responsibility, I was wondering if you’d be interested in the position.”
Nate leaned back and stared at her for a long minute. Was this the answer he was looking for? A chance to start over somewhere else.
But that felt an awful lot like running away. Was he ready to give up already? “Belva, I’m flattered that you’d ask me, but—”
“That was quick.” She leaned back on her heels, disappointment coloring her all-too-readable face. “Is it because I’m a woman? Or because I’m younger than you? Or both?”
“Neither.” He leaned forward and tried to explain things in a way she’d accept at face value. “I just moved here, just opened my shop. I want to see if I have what it takes to make a go of things. I’m sure you’ll find someone else—”
“Please don’t say no just yet, at least not until you’ve heard everything.”
There was more? Ah, well, what could it hurt to hear her out? He folded his arms across his chest and leaned back again. “All right, I’m listening.”
“Okay.” She took a deep breath, then launched into her pitch. “The solicitor tells me it’s a fair-sized place with a large house and a stable in the back. There’s staff to handle the day-to-day things. It’s the caretaker’s job to manage them and to keep an eye on the overall well-being of the entire place. You’d have lots of say in how the place is run, a small cabin of your own on the property to live in, and I’m sure we could even find a place to set you up a workroom if you wanted to continue with your saddle making.”
She paused for a breath and he took the opportunity to ask a question. “Why me?”
Her
brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”
“Why ask me to take the job? You barely know me, after all. And I have no experience with the sort of work you’re describing.”
“You’re my friend. And it would be good to have a friend with me when I start my new life.”
Nate saw her vulnerability then, the lonely girl who was heading into a new adventure she wasn’t sure she was quite ready to face alone. His resolve wavered. A young woman in need was definitely his Achilles’ heel.
Belva apparently felt his indecisiveness. “You don’t have to give me an answer today,” she said quickly. “Why don’t you take a few days to think it over?”
“All right. But Belva—” he leaned forward, shooting her a very pointed gaze “—I would be thinking of a backup plan if I were you.”
She nodded, but from her optimistic expression he wasn’t certain if she really took his words to heart.
After she had gone, Nate bent over his work again. Belva’s visit had been a welcome, if temporary, distraction.
But it had also driven home one very disquieting fact.
That he seemed to be destined to always disappoint the women in his life.
* * *
Verity had returned from her visit with Mrs. Peavy to find their resident patient asleep, her uncle resting, and Aunt Betty teaching Joy how to prepare the dough for a dewberry cobbler. Needing something to occupy herself, she’d gone to her workroom. A half-finished hat sat perched on a wire form, waiting for her to complete it. But she decided she was in the mood to start from scratch. She grabbed netting and lengths of ribbon and silk flowers and went to work with almost manic focus.
But it was no use. She didn’t find the sense of satisfaction and accomplishment she normally found when she worked on a hat. Instead, her thoughts turned to her own reprehensible lack of control. Ever since Mr. Cooper had appeared on the scene she hadn’t been herself. She’d been acting impulsively and emotionally and without proper regard for consequences.
And look what it had gotten her.
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