The Hope by Patricia Davids

Author:Patricia Davids
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HQN Books
Published: 2019-09-06T17:55:55+00:00

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OWEN WALKED AWAY from the farmhouse with long strides. He didn’t care where he was going, he just wanted to get away. He heard what he had expected to hear. He just wasn’t expecting it to hurt so much. What a fool he was to cherish the secret hope that she could care for him. He might’ve been denying it to himself, but he faced the facts squarely now. He was already half in love with Ruth and he didn’t know how to undo those feelings. At least he hadn’t said anything to her. It was some consolation after hearing her insist that she would never consider him for a spouse. He couldn’t replace Nathan in her mind or in her heart.

At the moment he could cheerfully buy a ticket on the first bus leaving town and not even ask where it was going.

And that would leave Ruth in a bind and no one to take care of his uncle’s farm. He couldn’t run out on her. Not again.

He was stuck in Cedar Grove for another month. How was he going to endure working with her every day knowing how she felt about him? He kicked a pebble with the toe of his boot.

“Owen, I’m sorry you heard that.” She spoke from behind him.

He didn’t turn around. “You should never be sorry for telling the truth.”

“It wasn’t actually the truth.” She took a step closer.

He stared off into the distance. Did he dare believe her? “Which part wasn’t true? That you’re not looking for a husband or that you’d never consider me in that role?”

“It was an awful thing to say and I’m sorry. I wasn’t ready to talk about something so personal.”

He turned to look at her. “You could’ve told them that we’re just friends.”

“I wish I had said that. I don’t know why I blew up at everyone.”

He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I like you, Ruth. I’ve always liked you.”

“I’ve always liked you, too, although sometimes it is hard to remember that.”

That made him smile. “It seems we have spent a lot of time hurting each other to disguise that fact.”

“I’m willing to put it all behind me if you can.”

“Where would that leave us?” he asked.

“Maybe we could work on becoming the friends that Nathan wanted us to be. I know you’re not going to be around for long, but I want you to feel free to come back as often as you’d like.”

“You just don’t want to lose a free sheep shearer.”

Her lips lifted in a half grin. “There is that.”

He gestured toward the house with his chin. “What are we going to tell people?”

She gave a dismissive wave of her hand. “We will leave them guessing.”

“All right. We, you and I, are two people who will try to be friends.” He started walking back toward the house and she fell into step beside him. He glanced at her pensive face, but he couldn’t tell what she was thinking. How much of

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