His head snapped around. “Are there?”
“Frankly Brother, this conversation has gone far enough. I am a grown woman. I don’t need, nor do I want, your meddling.”
They reached the small park in the center of town. Three stone benches were placed under large oak trees. Michael took her by the elbow and directed her to one of the benches. Against her better judgment she sat when what she really wanted to do was march back to the boardinghouse and stomp up the stairs. Except with Will arriving home shortly, there would be no peace or quiet for her to curl up and lick her wounds.
“How long are you going to punish Rusty?”
“You see this as a punishment? Michael, you were there. You heard what he accused me of. You received a punch to the face due to his misplaced anger. The man believed I was in that hotel room for nasty purposes.”
“Do you have any idea why he would leap to that conclusion?”
She fiddled with the end of her braid, sliding it back and forth over her lips. “Maybe. He told me once he had a fiancée that he caught in bed with another cowboy in the bunkhouse.”
A slight breeze lifted the hair that had fallen on Michael’s forehead. He brushe
d it back impatiently. “I can see why that might make him susceptible to jumping to the wrong conclusion.”
“I’m not like that.”
“Of course you’re not. But you’re dealing with a man who was just waiting to see if you were like that woman. I’m not saying he was right, but I think you might find it in your heart to understand. And forgive.”
She snorted. “Do you think I want to spend the rest of my life wondering if my husband is imagining all sorts of bad things about me? Is perhaps following me around to prove him right?”
Michael reached out and touched her hand. “Just talk to him. Hear his side of the story. Give him a chance to make it up to you.” He stood and offered Rachel his hand. “I know you very well. You are in love with that man. Sometimes love has to take a leap of faith.”
“He has no faith in me!”
“Maybe his faith was a bit shaken. But you have to have faith that your love for each other can handle whatever problems come up. I’ve told you many times before. Will needs a father. I think Rusty would be a great one.”
They started back to the boardinghouse. “And if I don’t forgive him, will you come after me with a shotgun?” Her smile didn’t quite make it.
“I guess you’ll just have to wait and see.”
***
Two days later Rusty snapped at another of his men, then stormed off. Hell, if he didn’t get Rachel out of his mind he would be left with no employees at all. He was pretty damn sure his men had taken about as much as they would. Even Mac threatened yesterday to drag him behind the barn and beat the living tar out of him.
If only that would solve his problem. What he needed was for someone to take hold of that stubborn woman and shake some sense into her. Tomorrow was Saturday, and he had plans for Mrs. Stevens. He’d arranged for Mac to fix him a picnic basket, and even if he had to tie her up, she would go with him for an afternoon out and listen to what he had to say.
Things had gotten so desperate that even Amelia warned him she would ride into town and tell Rachel how difficult Rusty had become to live with. The only good thing to come of Rachel’s desertion was how he and Amelia were getting on. Having her in the house with him, without Rachel to buffer them, had done a lot for their relationship. They’d had several long talks, and he was almost confident that things would work out between them.
He strode into the ranch house and made his way to his bedroom where he gathered clean clothes and headed for the outdoor shower. Washing all the dirt and dust from the ranch off with soap and cool water did a bit to quell his temper as well. He tossed his clothes into the laundry basket by the back door and sat at the long kitchen table with a cup of coffee and the sandwich Amelia had left for him. He opened his ledger book and flipped to the last page, his finger tracing the numbers.
Once in a while he glanced up and watched dust motes dance in the sunlight coming through the back window. His chest swelled with pride as he surveyed the ranch through the large window. In a matter of several years, with a lot of hard work and economy, this would be his. He was well on his way to realizing his dream.
The sun was just beginning its descent behind the trees when he was jarred from his work by a panicked feminine shout. “Rusty!”
Rachel.
He hopped off the bench and strode to the front door. She was already pacing in the entrance hall, wringing her hands. She looked up at his arrival, tears streaking down her cheeks.
Walking up to her, he took her ice cold hands in his. “Rachel, what is it?”
“Is Will here?”
“Will? No. Why?”
“Oh, God.” She collapsed against his chest, gripping his shirt, trying desperately to get some air into her lungs. “He’s gone.”