the words out.
“Said he needed a fresh start. He wouldn’t even tell me exactly where he was headed. Like Seth.” Daniel heaved a regret–filled sigh. “Both of them, darn stubborn brothers.”
He gently touched her arm and she looked up at him through tears. “Are you going to be all right?”
“I’m leaving, too.” With that said, she walked toward the mercantile.
Chapter Seven
Adam got as far as Denver and hadn’t been able to get himself to go further west. He’d been there well over a week and hated it. He’d played poker and drank enough liquor that he couldn’t stand the thought of either of them. And he’d gotten in two brawls, even spent a night in jail after one of them. What the hell was he doing here? Why couldn’t he move on?
He stood at the window of his hotel room overlooking the busy main street. Arms braced on each side of the window he felt like butting his head over and over against the pane. He needed something to get him out of this depression, this moment of indecision. He should pack up his gear and head for California!
But he just couldn’t do it. He couldn’t go another mile away from…from Faith. Dammit, he missed that sassy redhead. He’d known leaving her behind would be hard, but he hadn’t imagined it would be crippling.
What would she be doing now? It was mid–morning on a Monday. She probably had a fair number of customers after the mercantile being closed the day before. The store’s business had more than doubled with the influx of women to Dryfork. By now there might even be a number of single men showing up in response to the mail–order groom ad Daniel had sent.
He cursed under his breath and paced his small room. Daniel was such a damn interfering man, well–meaning or not. He’d made Caleb’s life hell, making him hide from the horde of women chasing after him. When they’d started turning their attention to Adam, he too had started making himself scarce. Except for that morning when he’d flirted with Marinda Tamberline. Why the hell had he done that? Of course he knew the answer. He’d been alarmed about kissing Faith a couple of days before. Alarmed because he finally realized how much he wanted her, physically… and more than that. So he’d acted the idiot.
Disgusted with himself, he glanced around the sparsely furnished room. His gaze landed on the saddlebags tossed in one corner containing all he’d thrown together before riding out of town. He’d made a snap decision and left his life, his brothers, and Faith behind. He’d been sure if he got far enough away that he’d start letting go of his past. All he’d come to realize was that he’d been using what had happened with Meredith as an excuse. He’d not wanted to hurt again.
He put a hand to his chest. He’d been hurting more than ever, more than when he’d learned he’d lost the woman he hadn’t loved and the baby he’d not had a chance to love. He missed Faith…everything about her, especially her smile. Although she’d smiled less frequently around him over the last couple of months, because she’d finally started giving up on him. Why then? Why had she given up after chasing him for so long?
Because she got tired of hurting, too. Yes, he knew he’d hurt her by his constant refusals to court her. He could only imagine how much she hurt–how much she hated him–after he’d kissed her and then looked to be courting Marinda. What a stupid idiot he’d been!
So what was he going to do now?
He strode over to pick up the saddlebags. It was time to go face up to the biggest mistake he’d ever made. He’d get down on his knees if necessary and beg Faith’s forgiveness. And then he would ask her to marry him.
* * *
The mercantile was closed for business until Annabelle made her way back to Dryfork and reopened it. Faith stood on shaky legs in the back room and glanced around through tear–filled eyes. She’d changed so much since her decision
“Said he needed a fresh start. He wouldn’t even tell me exactly where he was headed. Like Seth.” Daniel heaved a regret–filled sigh. “Both of them, darn stubborn brothers.”
He gently touched her arm and she looked up at him through tears. “Are you going to be all right?”
“I’m leaving, too.” With that said, she walked toward the mercantile.
Chapter Seven
Adam got as far as Denver and hadn’t been able to get himself to go further west. He’d been there well over a week and hated it. He’d played poker and drank enough liquor that he couldn’t stand the thought of either of them. And he’d gotten in two brawls, even spent a night in jail after one of them. What the hell was he doing here? Why couldn’t he move on?
He stood at the window of his hotel room overlooking the busy main street. Arms braced on each side of the window he felt like butting his head over and over against the pane. He needed something to get him out of this depression, this moment of indecision. He should pack up his gear and head for California!
But he just couldn’t do it. He couldn’t go another mile away from…from Faith. Dammit, he missed that sassy redhead. He’d known leaving her behind would be hard, but he hadn’t imagined it would be crippling.
What would she be doing now? It was mid–morning on a Monday. She probably had a fair number of customers after the mercantile being closed the day before. The store’s business had more than doubled with the influx of women to Dryfork. By now there might even be a number of single men showing up in response to the mail–order groom ad Daniel had sent.
He cursed under his breath and paced his small room. Daniel was such a damn interfering man, well–meaning or not. He’d made Caleb’s life hell, making him hide from the horde of women chasing after him. When they’d started turning their attention to Adam, he too had started making himself scarce. Except for that morning when he’d flirted with Marinda Tamberline. Why the hell had he done that? Of course he knew the answer. He’d been alarmed about kissing Faith a couple of days before. Alarmed because he finally realized how much he wanted her, physically… and more than that. So he’d acted the idiot.
Disgusted with himself, he glanced around the sparsely furnished room. His gaze landed on the saddlebags tossed in one corner containing all he’d thrown together before riding out of town. He’d made a snap decision and left his life, his brothers, and Faith behind. He’d been sure if he got far enough away that he’d start letting go of his past. All he’d come to realize was that he’d been using what had happened with Meredith as an excuse. He’d not wanted to hurt again.
He put a hand to his chest. He’d been hurting more than ever, more than when he’d learned he’d lost the woman he hadn’t loved and the baby he’d not had a chance to love. He missed Faith…everything about her, especially her smile. Although she’d smiled less frequently around him over the last couple of months, because she’d finally started giving up on him. Why then? Why had she given up after chasing him for so long?
Because she got tired of hurting, too. Yes, he knew he’d hurt her by his constant refusals to court her. He could only imagine how much she hurt–how much she hated him–after he’d kissed her and then looked to be courting Marinda. What a stupid idiot he’d been!
So what was he going to do now?
He strode over to pick up the saddlebags. It was time to go face up to the biggest mistake he’d ever made. He’d get down on his knees if necessary and beg Faith’s forgiveness. And then he would ask her to marry him.
* * *
The mercantile was closed for business until Annabelle made her way back to Dryfork and reopened it. Faith stood on shaky legs in the back room and glanced around through tear–filled eyes. She’d changed so much since her decision
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