tangled hair, then plopped the hat back in place. “Is there anyone in all of Henry County who hasn’t? You’ve made quite a stir.”
She pulled back her shoulders and sniffed. “I figured folks would find my public notice a bit out of the ordinary—desperate, even—but I hardly expected anyone to find it humorous, Mr. Connors. In fact, I would expect you to cheer me on, seeing as you are the one who saved these boys from perishing in the fire.”
Well, she did have a way of wiping the grin right off his face. He collected himself and glanced down at the boys, both of whom stared up at him with looks of confusion. He doubted they were aware of her plan. “Do you have any serious contenders?”
She lifted her chin. “Perhaps. Actually, yes.” With her curt reply, she turned the boys around, took their hands in hers, and proceeded up the street without so much as a “Good day.”
“Wait!” He clicked at Tucker, who lifted his head and ambled toward them. “Who are they—your prospective…you know?”
She whirled. “It is none of your concern. Now, if you’ll excuse me, the boys and I have errands to run.” Again, she turned and set off.
He snagged her by the arm, not hard, but enough to bring a halt to her steps. Tucker snorted, as if to say, “Make up your mind. Are we coming or going?” “Darn tootin’ it’s my concern. You just said yourself I ought to be cheerin’ you on.” He spread his arms. “Well, here I am, cheerin’ you on. Now, tell me who you’ve picked.”
“I haven’t picked anyone—yet. But with all the callers I’ve had, I wouldn’t expect it to take much longer.”
He rocked back on his boot heels and ignored the annoying stirring in his chest. What was it? Mere curiosity? Or, worse, jealousy? “You’ve had a lot of interest, then?”
“Let’s just say I’ll need to repaint my porch steps for all the traffic they’ve had.”
Although he knew she’d meant the remark in jest, she didn’t break a grin—more like a smirk. Oh, she was an imp, and it irked him that she attracted him. Somehow, he knew that given the chance to dig, he’d find a sense of humor buried beneath that thick shield she wore so snugly around her. This was a strong woman who’d known pain but had learned the art of mastering it.
“So, you have how much time left to make this…this decision?”
“A couple of weeks. But I’ll be making it sooner than that, as there’s the wed—the ceremony to plan.”
“Performed by a preacher, I presume. And what if he doesn’t approve of this little plot you’ve cooked up?”
She bristled. “I’ll have you know I haven’t ‘cooked up’ anything. I’m being forced into it. And for your information, I’ve spoken to Reverend Younker, and he understands my predicament. As long as I marry a fine Christian man”—was it his imagination, or did she throw him a scornful glance?—“he’s agreed to perform the nuptials and bless the union.”
Joseph’s head jerked up. “You’re gettin’ married?”
Mercy snarled, and with a scowl to scare away a skunk, she looked Sam square in the eyes. “Now look what you’ve made me do.” She turned on her heel. “Come on, boys.” And with that, she set off again, this time at a much faster pace, so that the boys had to run to keep up.
“Huh? I didn’t make you do anything, lady!” He tagged along behind, Tucker clip-clopping after. “It was your tongue that slipped, not mine. And, just so you know, they were bound to find out anyway. Why the big secret?”
Without turning, she let go of Joseph’s hand and gave a backward wave. “Good-bye, Mr. Connors!” Then, taking Joseph’s hand again, she whisked the boys across the street, her long skirts blowing in the wind. The last thing Sam heard was little John Roy’s pleading voice. “Ouch! My side hurts. Why’re we runnin’? Who’s gettin’ married?”
He watched until the threesome had vanished from view, and then he climbed back in
She pulled back her shoulders and sniffed. “I figured folks would find my public notice a bit out of the ordinary—desperate, even—but I hardly expected anyone to find it humorous, Mr. Connors. In fact, I would expect you to cheer me on, seeing as you are the one who saved these boys from perishing in the fire.”
Well, she did have a way of wiping the grin right off his face. He collected himself and glanced down at the boys, both of whom stared up at him with looks of confusion. He doubted they were aware of her plan. “Do you have any serious contenders?”
She lifted her chin. “Perhaps. Actually, yes.” With her curt reply, she turned the boys around, took their hands in hers, and proceeded up the street without so much as a “Good day.”
“Wait!” He clicked at Tucker, who lifted his head and ambled toward them. “Who are they—your prospective…you know?”
She whirled. “It is none of your concern. Now, if you’ll excuse me, the boys and I have errands to run.” Again, she turned and set off.
He snagged her by the arm, not hard, but enough to bring a halt to her steps. Tucker snorted, as if to say, “Make up your mind. Are we coming or going?” “Darn tootin’ it’s my concern. You just said yourself I ought to be cheerin’ you on.” He spread his arms. “Well, here I am, cheerin’ you on. Now, tell me who you’ve picked.”
“I haven’t picked anyone—yet. But with all the callers I’ve had, I wouldn’t expect it to take much longer.”
He rocked back on his boot heels and ignored the annoying stirring in his chest. What was it? Mere curiosity? Or, worse, jealousy? “You’ve had a lot of interest, then?”
“Let’s just say I’ll need to repaint my porch steps for all the traffic they’ve had.”
Although he knew she’d meant the remark in jest, she didn’t break a grin—more like a smirk. Oh, she was an imp, and it irked him that she attracted him. Somehow, he knew that given the chance to dig, he’d find a sense of humor buried beneath that thick shield she wore so snugly around her. This was a strong woman who’d known pain but had learned the art of mastering it.
“So, you have how much time left to make this…this decision?”
“A couple of weeks. But I’ll be making it sooner than that, as there’s the wed—the ceremony to plan.”
“Performed by a preacher, I presume. And what if he doesn’t approve of this little plot you’ve cooked up?”
She bristled. “I’ll have you know I haven’t ‘cooked up’ anything. I’m being forced into it. And for your information, I’ve spoken to Reverend Younker, and he understands my predicament. As long as I marry a fine Christian man”—was it his imagination, or did she throw him a scornful glance?—“he’s agreed to perform the nuptials and bless the union.”
Joseph’s head jerked up. “You’re gettin’ married?”
Mercy snarled, and with a scowl to scare away a skunk, she looked Sam square in the eyes. “Now look what you’ve made me do.” She turned on her heel. “Come on, boys.” And with that, she set off again, this time at a much faster pace, so that the boys had to run to keep up.
“Huh? I didn’t make you do anything, lady!” He tagged along behind, Tucker clip-clopping after. “It was your tongue that slipped, not mine. And, just so you know, they were bound to find out anyway. Why the big secret?”
Without turning, she let go of Joseph’s hand and gave a backward wave. “Good-bye, Mr. Connors!” Then, taking Joseph’s hand again, she whisked the boys across the street, her long skirts blowing in the wind. The last thing Sam heard was little John Roy’s pleading voice. “Ouch! My side hurts. Why’re we runnin’? Who’s gettin’ married?”
He watched until the threesome had vanished from view, and then he climbed back in
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