25a9bee3d546fe128a249f955e01eed7 by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-08-09T22:30:43.634944+00:00

Chapter Twelve

A bby watched the unfolding scene through the open door of the company store, and it made her chest ache for both Joshua and Daniel. She heard Daniel’s suspicion of his father and watched the mistrust in her son’s tone register on Joshua’s face. She loved him as much as she ever had. Maybe more since now it was a woman’s love and not a foolish girl’s. She had to admit it to herself, but even a threat from the hounds of hel couldn’t make her to admit it to him or anyone else.

It was seeing how much Daniel was hurting Josh that forced her to admit what she’d known deep in her heart for weeks. It was love that had his pain costing her more anguish than simple empathy would. And what made the anguish worse was that she couldn’t let love matter. Even if he were free, Wheatonburg was Josh’s destiny.

And Daniel’s and hers couldn’t be there.

“You won’t owe me anything for it,” she heard Josh tel Daniel. “I just wanted you to have it. It’s a gift.”

“Why?” her boy asked with narrowed eyes.

“You were using a jackknife when I was at your house. This one is safer. I asked your Uncle Thomas what kind to get you before he left for Germany.”

Daniel’s eyes held a keen desire that belied his words. “Uncle Thomas gave me my knife and it’s just fine. I don’t want or need nothing from you,” Daniel said, then turned without seeing Abby in the doorway and ran off toward home.

She waited until Daniel was out of earshot. She’d have words for him later. “Joshua, you just stood there begging that boy to take a gift from you,” she said, hands planted on her hips.

“He didn’t want it. I was trying to get him to take it.”

“Didn’t want it. Think again. He’s asked for that knife once a week for six months. You can’t buy his love.”

Anger surged into Josh’s eyes. “I wasn’t trying to buy his love. I worried that the jack wasn’t safe. Before Harlan moved Mother and me here, I had a friend who nearly cut his finger off with a jackknife when it closed by accident. Getting a new knife into Daniel’s hands is al I was thinking about. Maybe he’d take it from you.”

Abby took a deep breath and tried to ignore the familiar scent that besieged her senses as Josh neared. She stepped back, gaining herself a bit of breathing space. “It goes against everything I believe about raising children to reward poor behavior but to let you know he’s safer I’l take it and see that he uses it.”

Josh gave a quick nod. “I appreciate it.”

“But that’s not to say that I don’t intend to have a stern talk with him about the way he’s treating you. As for you, take a little advice—stop letting him treat you the way he just did. Its effect isn’t attractive on either of you.”

Josh nodded. “I’l try.” He pursed his lips.

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