Page 32 of Montana Lawman Rescuer
But then, what did she know? She didn’t even know her own name. Perhaps her trust was misplaced just like it had been when?—
She caught her breath and held on to the thought. Had she trusted someone who had proven false? But who and what? She shook her head.
Jesse spoke. “What is it?”
“I don’t know. But I feel like I almost remembered something, and it wasn’t a happy memory.” She explained what she felt.
“I’m sorry someone was like that.” He watched her a moment. “I understand how hurtful it can be. My mother was my first experience in discovering you can’t always count on people. Then, there was a girl I let myself grow fond of. Agnes Breckenridge.” He shrugged as if it didn’t matter, but she sensed a deep hurt. She listened carefully for him to say what he’d learned. Whatever he said would be something she should pay attention to.
“Let’s just say she taught me a valuable lesson, and it’s that you can’t count on people. I learned to trust people only if they can prove to be one hundred percent reliable. Accept no excuses or half-truths.”
She managed to hide her shiver. He’d left no doubt about how he’d look at her if she learned she had a disturbing past. She must keep her distance from him, keep her heart from turning toward him, and she pulled her arm from his and put six inches between them.
He quirked an eyebrow, but she wouldn’t try and explain.
The hoofbeats of an approaching horse jerked her gaze to the street. A man was riding toward them. Who was he? Did he know her? Did he pose a danger?
She forgot all her reasons for the distance between her and Jesse and grabbed his arm. She looked about for Mikey. Saw he squatted away from the road, watching something.
Jesse tucked her close to his side. “Howdy, Terence.” He called to the man.
“How do, Sheriff.” The man and horse sauntered by.
“It’s okay,” Jesse said. “He’s from around here.”
She kept her attention on Mikey, who followed a worm along the edge of the road. She despised her weakness. Ahead of them, the street widened to a square with trees and flowers. Benches stood at all four corners, inviting residents to sit and visit or simply enjoy watching people go about their business. She drew back when she saw the number of wagons and horses lining the street and the people clustered about.
Jesse stayed at her side, quietly offering encouragement. “It’s Saturday, so it's a busy day in town.”
“I don’t think I want to confront so many people yet.”
He studied her face and must have seen how unsettled she felt. “Maybe it is too soon. I’ll take you to visit Annie. Would you like that?”
“I honestly don’t know what I’d like. I feel rudderless.”
He caught her hand. “Come on. I know something you might enjoy.”
His idea of enjoyment might not be the same as hers. But her pulse quickened at his eagerness, and she allowed him to tug her along, Mikey holding her other hand. He turned down the alley.
“The church.” He pointed. “The manse where Annie and Hugh live, and Hugh’s son, Evan.”
“Hugh’s son?”
“Yes, Annie started by looking after Evan and she and Hugh ended up married.” He stopped them past the churchyard. “You can see my office and the jail through here.” He held her shoulders and turned her the right way. “If you ever need me for anything, you’ll find me there. Except...”
“Except where you’re out hunting bad guys or rescuing helpless maidens.”
He grinned at her. “I doubt very much that you’re helpless.” He looked at Mikey, who ran back and forth, trying to catch a butterfly. “Any woman who has traveled the country from...” He shrugged. “From somewhere with an energetic little boy with her is far from helpless.”
She held his gaze for several heartbeats. Was it true? Was she normally strong and self-sufficient? It was nice to think so. “Thank you for saying that.”
“Come on, let’s keep going before Annie sees us.” He pulled her to his side, and they hurried onward.
“What would Annie do?”
“Let me tell you about Annie. Her mother died when she was fourteen, maybe fifteen, I don’t rightly remember. She took over running the household which, at that time, consisted of three older brothers, her father, her grandfather?—”
“That’s the Grandfather Marshall that you told me about?”
