Frontier Matchmaker Bride by Regina Scott

Author:Regina Scott [Scott, Regina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Love Inspired Historicals
Published: 2018-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

The matter bothered Hart over the next few days. Fear was an old foe, one he’d thought he’d defeated. At times he’d feared for his life at the orphanage. Before he’d joined the gang, he’d feared he was destined to be alone. After he joined the gang, he’d feared he’d become hardened like Jake Cathcart, caring for no one but himself. In all circumstances, he’d fought the fear and found his way to the other side.

But he could see only two ways past his fear of loving Beth—drawing closer or pulling away, and neither was tenable.

He could only hope his concerns weren’t written on his face when Mrs. Wyckoff caught him outside the office on Friday.

“And how are you and Miss Wallin getting along?” she asked, pausing on the boardwalk beside Arno, her yellow skirts settling about her ankles.

“Fine,” Hart said, turning to check the cinch on Arno’s saddle. He’d tightened it himself not an hour ago, but she wouldn’t know that. So long as he kept himself busy, he might not give himself away.

“Mrs. Denny tells me you are to speak at the next women’s suffrage meeting,” she said. “I didn’t realize you were interested in community affairs.”

He checked the saddlebags as well. “Everyone ought to be interested in community affairs, ma’am. A bird knows to feather its own nest.”

“Indeed it does. But I feel as if you’ve changed, and I can’t help thinking it may have something to do with your association with Miss Wallin.”

“Wouldn’t surprise me,” Hart allowed.

“She is a wonder,” Mrs. Wyckoff mused. He heard a tapping sound. Her boot against the boardwalk?

“She’s already volunteered to help Mrs. Maynard stock the shelves of her reading room, gather donations for those affected by the windstorm, and start a program to help the mill workers learn to read and write. Louisa Denny hopes to convince her to join an amateur theatrical troupe, and Mrs. Dunbar intends to ask her to join the Ladies Sewing Circle. You’ve known her longer than I have, Deputy. Can she do all that?”

Hart smiled as he closed the flap on the saddlebag. “Very likely. She always was a bundle of energy.”

“But will she still have time to fulfill her obligation to you?”

Hart turned to face her. She was leaning forward, as if she’d been trying to catch a glimpse of his face, and her eyes were eager and bright.

“Beth Wallin is spending more time than she should on me,” he told her. “She thinks that highly of you and the other ladies in the Literary Society. If you aim to blame someone that I’m not hitched yet, blame me.”

Mrs. Wyckoff’s mouth twitched as she straightened. “No need for blame, Mr. McCormick. We knew this would be a difficult assignment. It seems Miss Wallin is making headway. I’ll ask her assessment of the situation.”

She sailed off down the street. He ought to feel relieved. Instead, once more, he felt as if danger was closing in.

“Best we find Beth before she does,” he murmured to Arno as he swung up into the saddle.

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