“No.” It was all Ruthann could think to say. “He would never do such a thing.”
“The word is that Sissy’s father is now insisting they marry,” Norah said quietly.
It felt as if Ruthann had swallowed an apple whole. She looked at Norah, horrified. “Surely Sissy isn’t interested . . .” But she didn’t finish the question. This was all far too convenient given Sissy’s campaign for a husband over the past year. But why Nate?
Norah’s hand wrapped around Ruthann’s. “You still care for him.”
Ruthann couldn’t deny it. Norah knew her far too well. It didn’t matter how many years had passed, or how manywouldpass, Nate Harper would have her heart. She nodded slowly.
“He doesn’t have to agree to the arrangement,” Norah said.
“Hedoes. Can you imagine what Mr. Flagler will do to his business—to Nate’s reputation—if he doesn’t agree?” A sharp sadness rent itself though Ruthann. It wasn’t fair to Nate at all. He’d come back here to his home to start his life anew.
And now he faced an unwilling marriage to the most odious woman imaginable.
“Why Nate?” she said aloud as the words ran through her mind again.
Norah shook her head. “Perhaps because he’s only recently returned to town? That was Mrs. Bonner’s thought. He hasn’t been here long enough to know to avoid Sissy. Besides, he’s young, and she’s likely heard that he’s a good man.”
What would he do? Ruthann had no doubt that Mr. Flagler would see to it that Nate was run out of town if he refused Sissy’s hand. And when she thought of that sadness that lurked behind Nate’s eyes, it nearly tore her heart in two to imagine how Sissy’s actions would hurt him even more.
“It isn’t fair,” she whispered.
“It isn’t,” Norah said. “But you’re right. I don’t know how he can fight it and manage to keep his reputation intact.”
“Stuart,” Ruthann said, pushing aside the desperation over Nate’s situation in favor of hope. “He might know what to do. I must talk to him.”
Norah nodded and quickly embraced Ruthann. “I hope he’ll have a solution.”
Ruthann could hardly keep herself from running the short distance to her family’s home. She arrived, out of breath and clasping her hat to keep it from dipping sideways on her head, and flew through the rear door.
Voices echoed from down the hallway, the words incomprehensible but the men themselves unmistakable. Ruthann glanced at her mother, who was in the kitchen, rolling out dough for bread.
“Leave them be,” Mama said, but Ruthann was already halfway down the hall, following the sound of Stuart’s and Nate’s voices.
She paused just outside the parlor door, ripping the hat from her head and pressing her hand against the wall as she listened and caught her breath.
Nate spoke, his voice laced with resignation. “I don’t see another solution. I either marry this woman or leave town.”
Ruthann sunk against the wall, closing her eyes.
It was over. Not that she had any claim on Nate, but if he was determined to marry Sissy, she would need to shutter that part of her heart that yearned for him. Forever. Somehow.
“There is one possibility,” Stuart said.
Ruthann’s eyes flew open. SheknewStuart would have an idea.
“But you won’t like it.”
