Page 46 of The Formation of Us
She snatched the towel off the ledge and dragged it beneath the water. “It’s just me and my lantern, so you can leave.”
He gave her a consoling look. “Nobody with a heart could witness those wracking sobs and walk away.”
She turned her back and lowered her chin. “I’m fine,” she said, but her voice came out in a shaky whisper.
“You’re not fine.”
She swiped her fingers beneath her eyes, telling him she was struggling to hide more tears. The lantern cast a golden glow across her wet skin and the rippling water that blessedly hid her body from him. After glimpsing her breasts, he was relieved he couldn’t see through the murky bath. She needed comfort now, not a sexual proposition. And that’s what he’d want to give her if she unveiled the rest of her beautiful body. He wasn’t a cad, just a man who was fiercely attracted to her.
“Wrap that towel around you so I can come over there.” Her tears wrung his heart, but he wasn’t going near that tub until she was covered, because he’d had her on his mind all the livelong, boring, tedious week he’d been away, and to stumble upon this feast for his eyes was torture. Just knowing she was unclothed, her skin slick with water, drove him crazy.
“Go away.”
“And leave you alone in the dark, crying your heart out? I can’t, Faith. I’m coming over there, so you’d better cover yourself.”
He took one step, but she lifted the sopping towel and threw it at him. It hit him in the chest with a wet splat and landed on his boots. “That badge on your chest doesn’t give you the right to trespass on my privacy, Sheriff. Now get out.”
Her accusation stunned him. “Do you think I’d use my badge to take advantage of you?” he asked, feeling the warm water soak through his shirt.
“Men who have a badge or political title can get away with that. The law doesn’t apply to them.”
“Do you honestly believe that?”
“I don’t believe it, Sheriff. I know it.”
He stared at her, insulted to the core. But she wasn’t being vicious; she was sincere. She really believed all lawmen were cut of the same cloth, that they used their power to manipulate people. Some did, he knew, and that sickened him. But he would turn his revolver on himself before abusing his position.
She crouched in the tub with her arms crossed over her chest and her shoulders and hands peeping above the water. Her hair floated around her in long black strands. But her puffy eyes were dark pools of despair as she returned his stare. Suddenly he realized how vulnerable and scared she must feel, and that somebody from the law had put that fear in her eyes.
“For whatever happened to make you believe I’d manipulate or harm you, I’m sorry. And I’m sorry I disturbed you, but I’m truly relieved to know you’re safe.” He backed out of the room and pulled the door closed to keep her safe from any unsuspecting passerby who might jump to his same stupid conclusion that the building was on fire.
The only thing burning was Faith’s conviction that she couldn’t trust him.
Chapter 14
Faith spotted the sheriff at the back of the church, standing with his brothers and nephews. She was sitting with his mother and sisters-in-law, but he seemed oblivious to her presence.
Her accusation this morning had been unfair. She hadn’t meant to hurt him, but she had. And she felt awful about it, because she knew in her heart Duke Grayson was a man of fierce integrity. The opposite of Judge Stone.
She practiced her apology during the long service, but afterward, when she stepped outside and saw him standing in the Common talking to Wayne Archer and a stocky, bald man, her hopes fell.
She pulled Aster aside. “Will you take Cora and Adam home? I need to talk to the sheriff, and I have no idea how long I’ll have to wait.” But she would wait as long as it took, because she couldn’t let him walk away.
“Take all the time you need.” Aster chucked Cora under the chin. “Did I ever tell you how my hair got white?”
Cora shook her head, rapt.
“I’ll tell you all about it on the way home.”
Faith saw Adam cast a nervous look at the sheriff; then he followed Aster into the crowd.
Tansy, Iris, and Dahlia had joined a group of men and women near the park fountain. Two of the women were customers at the greenhouse. Iris, with her shiny black hair and ivory skin, stood out like an orchid in a field of dandelions, but she was smart and had a playful sense of humor that made people like and accept her. The way men were looking at her, Faith didn’t believe for one minute the woman had never received a marriage proposal. Iris just didn’t want marriage.
Faith didn’t blame her. Marriage was a scary business. One bad investment could ruin your whole life. Anna Levens was proof of that.
Not wanting to interrupt Duke, Faith waited on the fringe of his gathering and tried to catch his eye. His chin was down while he was listening to the bald man talk, but then he nodded and looked up—right into her eyes.
Her heart jolted, but he acted nonchalant as he clapped the short man on the shoulder. “I’ll take care of it,” he said, then stepped away from the men.
