Heidi Vanlandingham - Lucie: Bride of Tennessee (American Mail-Order Bride 16) by Heidi Vanlandingham

“Thank you for your concern, but there are tables I need to be tending to.”
    Before he could respond, she turned and walked over to a table filled with some of the railroad workers, most he recognized. Holding her head high, she gave each man a small smile. He watched in amazement as their faces transformed. To them, and maybe himself, she was a breath of fresh air, giving every man a sense of self-worth and a crumb of happiness in their otherwise hard lives.
    “She’s a keeper, son,” John mumbled next to him.
    Startled, he hadn’t even realized the man had finished his meal much less walked right up to him. He turned and gave his friend a hard stare. “Excuse me?”
    John motioned with a quick tilt of his head toward Lucie. “That there is one special little lady. If you ask me, you’d be stupid to let her slip through your fingers.”
    Irritation welled up from somewhere deep inside him. He wished everyone would stop telling him what he should do regarding his daughter. He couldn’t take the risk of another marriage. He didn’t know if he could go through that pain a second time. “Well, I didn’t ask you. Besides, you’re the last person I’d take advice from regarding women. How long have you been pining after my mother?”
    The sheriff’s expression hardened as he took a step toward Sebastian, his thick finger poking him in the middle of his chest. “Now, you leave your mother out of this. What goes on between her and me is none of your business. Besides, I would think you’d have a bit more compassion for that little lady since she’s in the same boat you are, Sebastian. Lucie’s raisin’ a child by herself. And no one has given her anything to help pay the way. You have this hotel, but she’s been struggling without any help at all.”
    John started to walk away then stopped, looking at him over his shoulder. “I always admired your gumption, taking on this place after your father almost destroyed it. But over the last year, I’ve watched you build a wall around yourself. You need to stop and ask what you’re running from, Sebastian. Life’s too short to waste time on things you can’t change.”
    Bothered by his friend’s unusual outburst, he turned and headed upstairs. Stopping at his mother’s door, he hesitated, his knuckles resting against the dark wood. He hadn’t been with a woman since his wife had left town. But was that his problem now? What if John was right…what if he was running from something?
    He didn’t socialize with people. All of his free time was spent with his daughter. To make their lives easier since his wife left them, he and Stella had even started eating most of their meals here at the hotel.
    His own father had rarely spent time with him, so he wasn’t really sure how to be a good father. But the sheriff had always been there when he needed him. John had taught him how to be a man, fair and understanding, yet firm and strong. He taught him to believe in himself. Without John’s help, he’d never have been able to save the hotel after his father gambled away the profits.
    He took a deep breath and softly knocked then waited for his mother to answer. The door silently swung open, and her face brightened into a wide smile. “Sebastian!” She moved over, opening the door wider and motioned with a sweep of her hand for him to enter. “I was just sitting down to tea—would you like some?”
    He nodded, his thoughts rioting around in his mind until his head hurt. He took the white porcelain cup and drank, the liquid scalding its way down his throat. He didn’t care though; the pain helped to clear his mind. He set the empty cup down and met his mother’s questioning gaze.
    “You never come to see me in the middle of the day, so what is the problem?” she asked, staring at him over her teacup.
    He stared at the gold band she still wore on her finger. All these years, he’d never stopped to wonder why she didn’t take it off. “Why do you still wear