Page 4 of The Formation of Us
Adam’s sister turned toward them with the watering can clutched in her hand, and every thought in Duke’s mind dissolved into silence. She was as exotic as the plants she tended.
Her arched dark eyebrows drew together as she spotted him and Adam. She set the watering can on a flat of green plants, then moved her slender, lithe body gently but hurriedly in their direction, pushing aside plant vines and leaves that congested the narrow row between the wooden flats. With every lift of her arm, the worn blue fabric of her shirtwaist tightened across her full breasts and tiny waist.
“What’s happened?” she asked, stopping before him with fear in her almond shaped eyes.
Duke could only stare in mute appreciation. From the age of eight, he’d made it a policy not to exaggerate or lie, not even to himself. And he could honestly say he’d never seen a more beautiful woman than the one standing in front of him. Her oval face was slightly squared at the jaw and softly rounded at the chin. Her parted lips were lush and made for kissing, her eyes a deep whiskey brown that made him thirst for a drink. She was tall, and he would only have to dip his chin to kiss her forehead or to bury his face in those thick waves of dark, chocolate brown hair.
“Sheriff? Has something happened?” she asked, tiny worry lines marring her forehead, drawing his attention to the bronze tint of her skin. Her voice was smoky, or perhaps slightly hoarse from a cold or singing, but it sounded sultry as hell to him.
“I had some trouble in town,” Adam blurted.
“What sort of trouble?”
Adam’s chin dropped to his chest. “I stole something from Brown & Shepherd’s store.” He peered up at her, his own almond-shaped eyes full of remorse. “I wanted to give you a birthday present to make you feel better.”
She brought slender fingers to her chest, drawing Duke’s gaze to her nicely rounded breasts. “Oh, Adam, I don’t need a present.”
“You deserve to have your own brush,” Adam said with a touch of defiance that surprised Duke. “You shouldn’t have to borrow from Aunt Tansy”
Color flooded the crests of her cheekbones, but she swept her brother into her arms. “Your character and reputation are far more important than me having my own hair brush.”
Adam’s face grew crimson, and he pulled away as if embarrassed to be hugged in front of Duke. Or maybe it was shame that made his face turn red, Duke couldn’t tell. He was struggling with his own embarrassment for gawking at Faith like a schoolboy.
“I wanted to return the brush,” Adam said, “but the sheriff said I had to bring it to you.”
Duke expected to see condemnation in Faith’s eyes, but he saw surprise and confusion. “I felt he would learn more from his family than any punishment I could give him,” he said. He handed the fancy brush to her. “This is yours.”
“I . . . I’ll pay for this,” she said, but Duke could tell she didn’t want the brush. She turned to Adam. “Go to the house and get our money jar.” As soon as Adam sprinted from the green-house, she faced Duke again. “I’d rather return this and save my money for more necessary items.”
It struck him then that Faith and her family were not only grieving but also having money troubles.
“Maybe we can work out a better solution.”
Wariness stole the warmth from her eyes. “I’ll pay for it.”
Adam hurried back into the greenhouse with an old quart jar that held a few paltry coins in the bottom. Faith upended the jar and spilled the coins into her palm. She held them out to Duke, her cool look saying she wasn’t open to other solutions.
“I hope this is enough,” she said.
It stung to have his integrity questioned, but she was new to town and didn’t know that he would eat dirt before doing anything dishonest or indecent. Hell, he’d pay for the brush himself, but it wouldn’t serve Adam for anyone else to pay for his bad decision. Adam needed to learn a lesson about taking responsibility, a lesson that would serve him well as he became a man.
And Faith needed to learn that Duke was worthy of her trust.
“Adam meant for the brush to be a gift,” he said. “Why not let him work off his debt in the store? I’m sure Mrs. Brown will welcome his help, and that way Adam can give you the gift with a clear conscience.”
“I’ll do it.” Adam lifted his skinny chest like a soldier bravely facing battle. “I’ll apologize to Mrs. Brown and work extra hard to make up for stealing from her.”
“Mrs. Brown isn’t likely to allow you in her store, Adam.” Faith shook her head. “You can make your apology when you take this money to her.”
Duke suspected those were her last coins, and he couldn’t let her use them for Adam’s mistake. “This is Adam’s debt. Let him pay it,” he insisted. The boy wanted and needed to make restitution.
Before Faith could answer, a small brown-haired girl whooped and darted between them. She threw her arms around Faith’s skirt and hugged her legs.
“Mama, Aunt Iris said she’s gonna plant me with the onions if I pester her any more!”
Duke’s heartbeat faltered. During his covert admiration of the woman, he hadn’t considered Faith’s personal life, that she might have a child, that she might be married, that his own growing anticipation of making a personal call on her was out of line.
“This is my daughter, Cora,” she said, brushing the girl’s curls out of her lively green eyes.
