Page 91 of Montana Lawman Rescuer
Emily shrugged. “He didn’t need to. He’s a man who makes no compromises.”
“There is no need for him to do so. You were in an unfortunate situation, but you did nothing wrong.”
Emily’s tension eased at Annie’s kind words. “Not everyone will agree with you.”
“I don’t care if they don’t.”
Emily chuckled, but her amusement ended abruptly. “I can’t stay here any longer.”
“But where will you go?”
“I don’t know.” She went to the window.
“Do you want to go home?”
The question made her realize what she wanted. “I’d like to return to Alliance and seek permission to adopt Mikey.” But how did she do it without any funds?
“Go see Grandfather. He’ll gladly help you.”
She faced Annie. “I couldn’t do that.” To reveal her disgrace to yet another person was more than she could contemplate.
“You don’t have to tell him the details if you don’t want to. I promise your story will never be repeated by my lips. But even if you did tell him, he would not judge you. And he’d love to help you adopt Mikey. It’s just the sort of thing he enjoys doing. He’s a matchmaker, you know.”
Emily had heard many stories about his matchmaking.
“Helping a child and a woman who loves him become a family would be a joy for him. You’d actually be doing him a favor.”
Emily began to nod. Grandfather Marshall might be the one person who could help her. “You’re right. Thank you for suggesting it.” The short-lived storm had passed over, and the sun shone. “I’ll go out there this afternoon and speak to him. Can I leave Mikey here?”
“By all means. I will pray things work out for you. I hope you consider staying in the community. I’ve grown quite fond of you.” She hugged Emily again, and this time, Emily hugged her back.
She went to the livery barn, rented a buggy. and drove out to the ranch. Grandfather Marshall was thrilled to be able to help her, and she returned sometime later feeling—for the first time since her memory returned—that she could make a new life for herself.
With keys in hand, she went to the empty house at the edge of town and walked through it. This was to be her home. She would pay the rent as soon as she had income. One room would serve as her sewing room. Hopefully, she would soon have customers.
Grandfather had assured her there was no need to go back to Alliance to seek permanent custody of Mikey.
“You write a letter. I’ll write one, as well. My lawyer will take care of the rest.”
A wagon rumbled to the front of the house, and two cowboys from the ranch jumped down and began to carry in the furniture Grandfather Marshall had said would be part of their rental agreement. She didn’t need much—a worktable for her sewing room, a couch for the sitting room, a kitchen table and chairs. Besides that, two beds for the rooms upstairs.
Excitement fluttered in her stomach. She was really going to do this. It felt right in every way but one.
How would she live in the same town as Jesse, see him often, and endure the way her heart cracked every time she thought of him?
But changing her location would not make her heart hurt any less, so she might as well stay here where she felt she belonged.
Jesse watchedthe wagon pull up to the house and unload furniture. Someone was moving in. He couldn’t deny a sense of disappointment at the death of his dream.
Emily had not given him a chance to explain that her past didn’t matter to him. It seemed to matter to her, though.
He talked to Gram about it. “I don’t care what people say about her. She did nothing wrong.”
“I agree, but she’s right. Not everyone will see it that way.” Gram studied him for a moment without speaking. “She doesn’t want to hurt you.”
“Not letting me tell her how I feel hurts.”
“She knows how you feel about your mother. Perhaps she fears you will view her in the same jaded way.”
