“I didn’t need schooling, and neither does he.” The man stepped toward her until he was uncomfortably close.
Marian fought the urge to step backward. Mr. Hardison could be as rude as he wanted, but that wouldn’t change her mind about Zachary needing to attend school. “Don’t you want better for your child?”
“He doesn’t needbetter,” the man sneered. “He needs hard work and discipline.”
“What does his mother think about this?”
“There’s just me. You and your friend keep yourselves out of our lives. You understand?”
Marian held his gaze as her heart thumped hard against her chest. “Mr. Hardison—”
“He won’t be back.” The man abruptly pulled away and moved toward the house. The door shut hard behind him, and Marian flinched.
“Miss Scott?”
Marian yanked her attention away from the Hardison home, expecting the voice to belong to one of the neighbors.
But there stood Mr. Robertson—Deputy Robertson—hands on his hips, his gaze flicking between her and the house. “Are you all right? I’ll speak with that . . .” He didn’t finish the thought as he began to stride toward the door.
“No!” Marian ran forward, grabbing hold of his arm. “Please don’t. I’m hoping he’ll relent and let his son continue to attend school, and that won’t happen if we anger him any more.”
Deputy Robertson stopped, his eyes going to where her hand wrapped around his arm. Marian dropped it quickly, ducking her head in the hopes he wouldn’t see the flush she could feel coloring her cheeks. She’d acted without thinking.
“Are you certain?” he asked.
“Yes.” When she looked up at him, she expected to see that familiar teasing smile. The one that somehow intrigued her, and yet irritated her to her very core at the same time. But he didn’t smile at all. Instead, his face was creased in concern.
“May I walk you home?” He held out his arm.
Marian swallowed, her eyes going to the arm he extended. Exhaustion hit suddenly, and she felt hardly able to stand on her own, much less find her way home.
And so, ignoring all the arguments and cautions that bubbled up in her mind, she wrapped her arm around his and nodded. “That would be very kind of you, Deputy.”
Chapter Six
Cole wasn’t certainif he was more surprised that Miss Scott agreed to his company, or more irritated at himself for being unable to stay away from her.
