Page 44 of Montana Lawman Rescuer
Especially on her behalf.
She didn’t deserve it. He’d rescued her once, but she had no desire to see him shot to protect her...a woman with no past and no future.
She went through all the right motions of helping serve supper, cleaning up and then preparing Mikey for the night.
When she told the boy it was time for bed, he went to the outer door, leaned his head on it, and cried. Muffin whined at his feet, but he ignored the dog.
“Honey, what’s the matter?” Emily knelt beside him and tried to pull him into her arms.
He pushed her away and patted the door.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what you mean.”
Gram watched. “He wants to know where Jesse is. So do I. Did something happen?”
Emily studied the floor for a moment, but she must own up to her actions. “We had a little spat.”
“You and Jesse? About what, if you don’t mind me asking.”
She explained about the three ruffians on the trail and how he’d persuaded them to ride on. “I don’t want him to risk his life for me.”
“Exactly what did you say?”
“I accused him of trying to prove he was a good man.” She hung her head. “I know it was wrong. He is a good man and doesn’t need to prove it to anyone.”
“Come sit.” Gram patted the couch beside her and waited until Emily settled. She took one of Emily’s hands. “You may be more right than you know. You struck close to a wound.”
“I didn’t mean to. I’m very sorry for my hasty words.”
“You’ll have to tell him that.”
“I will.” She rolled Gram’s words around in her head. “He told me about his mother and the house of ill repute. Is that what you mean?”
“That’s part of it. He was badly hurt when people learned of her circumstances. They judged him for the way she’d lived her life. It’s made him almost rigid in the way he lives and what he expects of others. To him, life is simply black and white.”
“‘A man is only as good as his word.’ That’s what he said to me.”
“Yes. He does not forgive easily.”
She shivered. “That doesn’t sound promising for my intended apology.”
“You do what you need to do and let him work out his way of dealing with it.”
“You’re saying he might not forgive me? That will make it awkward for me to stay here.” She forced a smile to her wooden lips. “Though I hope by tomorrow, I will know who I am and canget on with my life.” Surely. the doctor could help her recall who she was.
“For your sake, I hope you regain your memory. As to Jesse forgiving you, all I can say is he’s dealt with hurtful things in the past and moved on to become the man he is. A strong, noble man with high ideals.”
Emily wanted to know what hurtful things, but it didn’t feel right to learn his secrets from a source other than him.
She sighed. When had life gotten so complicated?
Long before this.She jolted at the words that came to her. What did her past hold that was complicated?
She smiled. She had Mikey. But he wasn’t hers. What was to become of the poor boy while he waited for his adoptive parents?
The little guy stood with his forehead pressed to the door, his eyes closed.
“He’s going to fall asleep right there,” she whispered.
