Iâll probably need something else, but for right now, Iâm doing fine.â
âIâm glad, Reagan. Just come right to the back door if you find you do need something, even if itâs in the middle of the night.â
Holly took her leave, and Reagan found herself alone once again. Not until that moment did she remember the money in her hand. She looked down at it, her brow furrowed in thought. Had the blacksmith asked where sheâd found a place to live only out of curiosity and kindness, or was there something more?
âHis wife is beautiful,â Reagan said quietly, âbut more than one man has wandered in spite of that.â
She hoped she had read the situation all wrong, but why would he return about a quarter of her money in exchange for nothing?
Reagan had a sudden need to check the already locked door. She went to each window and found them secured as well. Not liking the thought in her mind, Reagan nevertheless faced the fact that Russell Bennett might not be as respectable as she first thought.
âIs she settled, Holly?â Russell asked once the children were in bed. Heâd taken his bath and gone to the bedroom to find Holly changing into a nightie and starting on her hair.
âI think so. She looked tired to me, but she didnât want help with the bed.â A huge yawn escaped her. âIf sheâs like me tonight, sheâll sleep hard.â
âWhat did she say about the returned rent?â
âNot much, but Iâm not sure she liked it.â
Russell was quiet over this. He had debated what to do about the rent, and in the end was glad heâd given some back, but there was a chance he could have given the wrong impression, or even that they would find themselves taken advantage of. He wasnât all that keen about being a landlord in the first place, and he and Holly had both decided that if it didnât work out, they would not rent âthe shack,â as they called it, to strangers again.
âOf all the people I tried to imagine would be our first tenant, Holly, I donât think Reagan fit the bill.â
âWhat type of person did you expect?â
Russellâs smile was lopsided. âSome homeless man with a drinking problem, maybe. I donât know.â
Holly only watched him climb into bed.
âDid you get to know anything about her?â he asked as he lay down on his back.
âNot before I let her rent the place. I mean, she mentioned that she couldnât afford it, and just now she told me sheâs working at the hotel, but you had already mentioned that.â Holly chewed on her lip, a sure sign she was worrying. âDid I mess things up, Russell?â
âNo,â he said quietly. âBut when Iâm feeling tired, like I am tonight, having someone else in my life to take care of makes me weary.â
Holly was now ready for bed and joined her husband.
âWell, you might have emotions involved simply because sheâs the type of person who causes that, but something tells me that Reagan is used to taking care of herself.â
âYouâre probably right.â
Both husband and wife had run out of steam. Neither one moved to kiss the other goodnight. Russell simply reached for Hollyâs hand to squeeze it, and Holly mumbled a goodnight. Russell was thinking that he loved her and should say so, but sleep was rushing in fast.
âHave you got those biscuits in?â Sally asked a little before five the next morning.
âIn and almost done,â Reagan informed her, her arm still mixing the batter for two cakes.
âHow much longer?â
âOnly about five minutes. The bread is rising nicely.â
Sally stood back in approval, thinking Reagan was going to work out fine. Sally had all but taken the morning off, since the baking had to be done first, and for the first time in a month, she wasnât tense before she started to cook.
Even if Cousin
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