“I’m sorry you left on such poor terms with him.” Roman reached across the table and rested a hand on one of hers.
The warmth of his touch gave her strength. Papa would come around if they married and she wrote to him of her happiness. He would never be satisfied that she was so far away, but she felt certain he’d be supportive of her once everything here was settled. And her younger sisters and brothers would be a comfort to him.
“For what it’s worth, I am very happy you took the risk of coming here. For me.” Roman’s thumb brushed across the top of her hand, and the touch sent Clara’s mind spinning.
Just at that moment, Miss Taylor arrived with their dinner. Roman pulled his hand away, and Clara tried to direct her thoughts to the food before them. As she chewed the tender potatoes and perfectly salted ham, she kept catching Roman’s eyes from across the table.
And Clara decided that she, too, was very happy she took a risk on Roman.
Chapter Eleven
IT WAS NEARING MIDNIGHTwhen Roman returned Clara to the boardinghouse. She giggled at the scandal of it should Mr. or Miss Darby awaken to find her arriving back so late on Roman’s arm, and Roman laughed too, thankful she found it amusing rather than appalling. Considering that they’d been strolling about the town after dinner, and checking in on Jeremiah occasionally at the livery, there was hardly anything scandalous about their time together, other than the late hour.
He’d taken her hand as they walked, and she’d blessed him with that smile. He forced himself to take a step back from her as they stood in front of the boardinghouse, lest he give in to the strong urge he had to rest his hands upon her face and kiss her.
“Might I escort you to church services in the morning?” he asked.
“I would love that,” she said.
“At least the building is finished now. You ought to have seen it when it was partially built and Reverend Marsh insisted on holding services. More than one person had an unpleasant gift from a bird flying overhead. And then sometimes it would start to rain.”
Clara giggled, pressing a hand over her mouth.
“Until the morning?”
She nodded, her smile lighting up the darkness. “Yes. Until morning. Good night, Roman.”
He carried the thought of her sweet voice and bright face with him as he moved through the street back toward the livery. The Starlight was operating at capacity, evident through the framing that would eventually be its front wall. He’d opted to walk on the opposite side of the tracks from the saloon while he was escorting Clara earlier, but now he kept to the west, passing directly in front of the place.
Inside, Mitchell Turley was easy to spot, even amongst the crowd, as he shouted incomprehensible words to a song Roman didn’t recognize. The man that had paid him to distract Jeremiah likely sat in this very saloon, just a couple of nights ago.
With a shake of his head, Roman stepped forward, away from the Starlight. It had been a one-time event, a misfortune. It was certainly something likely to happen again as the town grew, but Roman hoped he would have the resources to hire on more men before that became a problem. His customers had been happy with the services he provided. Not once had a man attempted to skip out of paying for board or to run off with a rented horse or wagon. Those who found themselves unable to pay had gladly agreed to work off their debts, and Roman had been thankful to have the short-term help.
No, it was nothing to worry too much about yet. His business was doing well, he was well on his way toward expanding, and he was finally doing something his family wouldn’t look down on, provided he could make it successful. And he had Clara.
The thought of her alone made his steps lighter. She was all that he imagined she might be, and more. He couldn’t have hoped to meet a better woman the traditional way—even if there were enough women in Crest Stone to accomplish such a feat. Once he married her, perhaps he’d finally measure up to his brothers in the eyes of their parents.
