“My dear, if you cannot find a husband, I’m afraid I’ll have no choice but to contact the railroad and request they send us a man to take over the telegraph and the mail.”
Faith’s face paled. Beau forced himself to remain where he was, despite every urge he had to stride forward and tell that preacher exactly what he thought of the man’s plan to take Faith’s livelihood out from beneath her.
“Pastor, my work—Aaron’swork—means everything to me,” Faith said softly, a proud ship with her sails deflated.
“And you need a man to run it properly.”
Beau swallowed a chuckle. He doubted there was a man alive more competent than Faith in running that office. Apparently Faith agreed, as she drew herself up taller and balled her fists at her sides as the color returned to her face. A wagon clattered behind Beau, drawing her attention momentarily away from the minister.
Her eyes alighted on Beau. He gave her an encouraging smile, ready to see her tell that man exactly how well she’d done her job. But instead of turning back to the preacher, she held a hand out to Beau.
“Well, you’ll be pleased, Pastor Collins,” she said. “Because Mr. Landry has just recently arrived in town. We’ve been corresponding for some time.”
Beau hesitated for only a fraction of a second before moving forward to take her gloved hand into his own. He inclined his head toward the pastor. “Beauregard Landry,” he said. “From New Orleans. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
It took every ounce of self-restraint he had not to laugh at Pastor Collins’ pinched face. It was as if the man truly would have taken joy from removing Faith from her post and sending her away on the next stage, back to Mississippi. As if all she’d done for this town meant nothing at all.
“Barnaby Collins, pastor,” the man said almost primly.
“Well, isn’t that a fine coincidence,cher?” Beau said to Faith.
She furrowed her brow as her fingers tensed under his. He had the distinct feeling she wanted to slap him. “What do you mean?”
“To run into the pastor like this when we were just speaking of—”
“Marriage! Yes, yes. I’d be pleased to marry you today, of course.” Pastor Collins looked at them expectantly.
It was precisely what Beau was hoping the man would say, but Faith stared at the minister with her mouth slightly agape before turning to stare daggers at Beau.
“That would be perfect. Shall we say five o’clock?” Beau asked, tightening his hand around Faith’s in a gesture he hoped was reassuring.
Pastor Collins agreed to the time, offered them both his congratulations, and scurried off to annoy who knew what other lady in town.
The moment the man was out of sight, Faith wrenched her hand from Beau’s. “How dare you! I have no interest whatsoever in marrying you. You might go to the church at five o’clock, but I assure you, Mr. Landry, I willnotbe there.”
