He cleared his throat. “We couldn’t stand to be apart any longer.” Being untruthful to the Joliets wasn’t easy, and yet, he’d thought of Ruthann every day of those years he’d been away. His words held more truth than he’d ever admit.
“Yes,” Ruthann said warmly, her blue eyes on him, holding him in place and making it difficult for him to breathe.
How was he ever going to survive days, weeks, or even months of that look without taking her hands and pulling her to him? He swallowed hard and glanced down at his feet until the feeling passed.
“Well,” Mrs. Joliet said, her voice trembling just a little. “I suppose congratulations are in order. Aren’t they, Terrence? We’ve waited for this day for quite some time.” She looked to her husband.
Mr. Joliet said nothing for a moment, fixing a stern gaze onto Nate. It would be easy to crumple under the man’s stare, but Nate had survived worse in his years in the Army. Not to mention the looks Stuart had already given him today. Even a glare straight from Lucifer himself couldn’t match the one that Stuart seemed to have permanently fixed on his face. Nate straightened his back and held Mr. Joliet’s gaze. Finally, the man nodded and his angry, protective expression eased into something bordering on resigned acceptance.
He might not have been happy about how the union had happened, but at least he seemed less enraged.
Nate spent an awkward hour with Stuart and the Joliets while Norah helped Ruthann gather up her necessities. He quickly promised to hire a wagon to retrieve anything else tomorrow, and he invited the Joliets to sit for their photograph for no charge. While Mrs. Joliet was delighted with all of it, the dour expression never left her husband’s face.
“I believe he despises me now,” Nate said to Stuart when Mrs. Joliet went upstairs to see how the girls were getting along and Mr. Joliet excused himself to a prior engagement Nate doubted truly existed.
“He’ll come around,” Stuart said. “It’s the haste—and the fact that you didn’t speak to him first—that bothers him. My mother will persuade him.”
Nate hoped Mrs. Joliet might smooth things over. The last thing he wanted was to lose the affection of a man who’d always been like an uncle to him, particularly when he didn’t have any family of his own to count on.
Although, he mused, the Jolietswerehis family now. The thought settled like a warm blanket around his mind.
It’s temporary, he reminded himself. Best not to become too comfortable with the idea. Especially when—
Nate cringed at the thought that had run through his mind. “They’ll want nothing at all to do with me when this is over.”
Stuart pressed his lips together and then frowned. “I don’t know how they’ll take it.” It was an optimistic statement, meant to make him feel better.
But instead, he felt as if he’d swallowed dust.
“Come, let’s fetch a carriage. Ruthann is certain to bring half her belongings,” Stuart said.
Nate nodded, glad for the distraction from his thoughts.
When they returned, the ladies were descending the stairs. The two younger women each carried a heavy-looking carpetbag, which Nate and Stuart collected from them.
“What are you bringing for one night, the entire contents of the silver drawer?” Stuart grumbled as he hefted the carpetbag onto his shoulder.
Ruthann gave him a withering look before turning to Nate, who received a bright smile instead. “I believe we’re ready to go.” She laid a hand gently on Nate’s arm, and Mrs. Joliet beamed.
It was only for show. Nate gritted his teeth as he reminded himself of that. All too soon, the soft pressure from Ruthann’s hand was gone, and they were outside. He assisted her into the carriage, intentionally avoiding looking into her eyes as she took his hand.
Stuart loaded the two bags, Norah and Mrs. Joliet offered Ruthann hugs and kisses on the cheek, and then they were off.
Headed toward home. Together. Because somehow, Ruthann Joliet was now Ruthann Harper.
His wife.
It was as if God had reached into the recesses of his mind, plucked out the one wish Nate knew he could never have, and given it to him.
And as he glanced at Ruthann, who met his gaze with the sweetest, most wonderful smile he’d ever seen, Nate knew he faced the impossible.
How could he avoid falling in love with someone he’d never stopped loving?
