money they have in the bank.”
Lucy shook her head. “How can you say that? You have one of the nicest houses in the whole damn town. Wasn’t there a lesser house you could have purchased?”
“Not that it’s any of your business but this was one of the few houses available. The life of the sheriff can be short or long. You just never know. I just wanted someplace of my own to hang my hat.”
Lucy glanced at the door before she glanced back at him giving him a smile. “I love you, Shane O’Connor, and I know deep down you love me and always have.” She walked toward the door and stopped. “Cecily, I didn’t see you there. You really shouldn’t eavesdrop on conversations. It’s impolite.”
****
Cecily didn’t know what to think but it pained her heart to hear Lucy’s words of their love. It really wasn’t any of her business; she just worked for Shane. Lucy was a very attractive woman and she couldn’t blame Shane for loving her. Disappointment floated through her. She couldn’t help her feelings even if she had no right to them. She stepped back out of Lucy’s way and watched her walk out the front door. Taking a deep breath she walked into Shane’s room trying to keep a smile on her face. “Is there anything you need?”
His eyes gentled as he gazed at her and after a fashion, the ends of his mouth turned up. “How’s Poor Boy getting along? I want him to feel at home here. But I have an inkling you’ve done that.”
Her face heated at his praise and she smiled back. “He’s a good kid, smart too. Do you think it would be okay if I tried teaching him to read? I don’t want to overstep my bounds here. The whole situation is new for all of us and I suppose we’ll each have to find our way. Right now, I’m just hoping we can all get along.”
Shane’s smile grew deeper until his dimples showed. “That’s what I like about you. You’re always thinking of others first. I’ve traveled the country, and I have to tell you it’s a rare quality. I’m not sure what we’re going to do about the sleeping arrangements. I’ll give up my room so Lucy doesn’t pitch a fit if she doesn’t have her own bedroom. I was thinking we could turn the two front rooms into bedrooms. I see no other use for them anyway. But for now I can make a pallet in front of the stove.”
She put her hands on her hips “You’re right no one wants to see her pitch a fit. Poor Boy and I are grateful to have a roof over our heads and food to fill our stomachs. It doesn’t much matter where we sleep. We’d be happy to sleep out here. You are not well enough to give up your room. Don’t worry about Lucy, I’ve already begun to ignore her less than pleasant statements. She’s very beautiful, and from what I understand you were childhood sweethearts. Starting tomorrow, I’ll look around for another place to stay. I don’t want you getting upset. It’s the right thing to do.”
Shane patted the side of his bed, offering her a place to sit. Cecily hesitated then sat next to him. She arched her eyebrow in surprise as he took her hand in his. “You’re not leaving and neither is Poor Boy. We’re going to have that farm we’ve been talking about. It’s getting late, but in the morning have Poor Boy come in and talk to me. I want to know what skills he might possess. Who knows? He might be able to make a chicken coop, but we’ll see. If not, then we can hire someone. Are you sure you want to be tied down to a farm? There are no days off. The animals have to be fed and cared for.”
A wave of anticipation washed over her. Having animals and planting a garden would make her feel more grounded, as though she belonged. But she’d have to keep herself from getting too attached. Whether he knew it or not, Lucy had big plans for him.
“I’m sure, and I’ll stay as long as you’ll have me. I
Lucy shook her head. “How can you say that? You have one of the nicest houses in the whole damn town. Wasn’t there a lesser house you could have purchased?”
“Not that it’s any of your business but this was one of the few houses available. The life of the sheriff can be short or long. You just never know. I just wanted someplace of my own to hang my hat.”
Lucy glanced at the door before she glanced back at him giving him a smile. “I love you, Shane O’Connor, and I know deep down you love me and always have.” She walked toward the door and stopped. “Cecily, I didn’t see you there. You really shouldn’t eavesdrop on conversations. It’s impolite.”
****
Cecily didn’t know what to think but it pained her heart to hear Lucy’s words of their love. It really wasn’t any of her business; she just worked for Shane. Lucy was a very attractive woman and she couldn’t blame Shane for loving her. Disappointment floated through her. She couldn’t help her feelings even if she had no right to them. She stepped back out of Lucy’s way and watched her walk out the front door. Taking a deep breath she walked into Shane’s room trying to keep a smile on her face. “Is there anything you need?”
His eyes gentled as he gazed at her and after a fashion, the ends of his mouth turned up. “How’s Poor Boy getting along? I want him to feel at home here. But I have an inkling you’ve done that.”
Her face heated at his praise and she smiled back. “He’s a good kid, smart too. Do you think it would be okay if I tried teaching him to read? I don’t want to overstep my bounds here. The whole situation is new for all of us and I suppose we’ll each have to find our way. Right now, I’m just hoping we can all get along.”
Shane’s smile grew deeper until his dimples showed. “That’s what I like about you. You’re always thinking of others first. I’ve traveled the country, and I have to tell you it’s a rare quality. I’m not sure what we’re going to do about the sleeping arrangements. I’ll give up my room so Lucy doesn’t pitch a fit if she doesn’t have her own bedroom. I was thinking we could turn the two front rooms into bedrooms. I see no other use for them anyway. But for now I can make a pallet in front of the stove.”
She put her hands on her hips “You’re right no one wants to see her pitch a fit. Poor Boy and I are grateful to have a roof over our heads and food to fill our stomachs. It doesn’t much matter where we sleep. We’d be happy to sleep out here. You are not well enough to give up your room. Don’t worry about Lucy, I’ve already begun to ignore her less than pleasant statements. She’s very beautiful, and from what I understand you were childhood sweethearts. Starting tomorrow, I’ll look around for another place to stay. I don’t want you getting upset. It’s the right thing to do.”
Shane patted the side of his bed, offering her a place to sit. Cecily hesitated then sat next to him. She arched her eyebrow in surprise as he took her hand in his. “You’re not leaving and neither is Poor Boy. We’re going to have that farm we’ve been talking about. It’s getting late, but in the morning have Poor Boy come in and talk to me. I want to know what skills he might possess. Who knows? He might be able to make a chicken coop, but we’ll see. If not, then we can hire someone. Are you sure you want to be tied down to a farm? There are no days off. The animals have to be fed and cared for.”
A wave of anticipation washed over her. Having animals and planting a garden would make her feel more grounded, as though she belonged. But she’d have to keep herself from getting too attached. Whether he knew it or not, Lucy had big plans for him.
“I’m sure, and I’ll stay as long as you’ll have me. I
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