It was all exactly as Marian had hoped. She had the position she’d always dreamed of. She could assist Papa after having felt so badly about wishing away the farm. She was helping children learn, which would enrich their lives.
All of that meant she shouldn’t pay any mind to the man who sat across the table from her. And yet, he was all she could think about throughout the meal.
He watched her now as Jessilyn told a story about a friend. Marian met his gaze before looking down at her plate and picking up her fork. Why her? There were so many other women in town—ones who were more interesting and prettier than she was. Women whowantedto find a husband. Who—
Marian’s fork stilled over her plate. Whyever was she thinking about marriage in relation to Cole? Why was she thinking about marriageat all? Her only goal in life was to become a teacher. And married ladies didn’t teach.
It’s only because he’s paying you attention, she told herself as she idly stabbed at a piece of potato. Marian had never had a single suitor. No wonder every one of her senses took notice of Cole. But that didn’t mean she wished to marry him . . . did it?
She shoved the potato into her mouth and chewed in an attempt to push away the thought. But when she looked up, he was watching her again, and all she could think about was how sweet he’d been toward Hannah and Dot. He seemed to understand that Hannah wished to be useful, and he didn’t complain at all when Dot hung on him in adoration. Mama had always said that a man who was kind to children and animals was a man worth having.
Cole gave her a slight smile just then, almost as if he knew what she was thinking. Marian nearly knocked over her glass of water in the effort to grab it and drink some as soon as possible.
“Please do be careful, Marian,” Mama admonished. “Now, Deputy Robertson, I hope you’ve saved some room for cake.”
Marian set her glass down and raised her eyebrows at Jessilyn. They never had cake, not when it was so difficult to come by eggs and flour on a tight budget in an area affected by the drought. It was almost as if Mama had expected Cole to come in for supper.
Her sister shrugged, and all Marian could figure was that Mama finally purchased more than the barest necessities with Marian’s teaching pay. And that it just so happened to coincide with Cole’s visit.
Unless Jessilyn had been planning this all along.
The cake proved to be delicious. The delicacy was something Marian hadn’t realized how much she’d missed until she had it again.
When the last of the cake crumbs disappeared from the plates, Jessilyn leaped up and announced that she would clear the table. “So that Marian can see Deputy Robertson out.”
Marian wasn’t sure whether she was more embarrassed or happy that her sister had made it easy for her to take a few minutes alone with Cole. After he said a hearty goodbye and thank you to her parents, she found herself pulling the front door shut behind them.
The chill night air bit her cheeks, and she drew her arms across her chest. The stars twinkled above, and the moonlight illuminated the gold strands in Cole’s hair. She hadn’t seen him often without his hat, which he held now in his hands. She liked it, she’d decided during supper, and now she wondered what it would feel like to run her fingers through it.
The thought made her cheeks go warm again, but least the darkness would hide her blush. “I’m . . . I’m glad you came,” she finally said. It was a good choice of words. Polite and warm, and yet not indicating she wanted anything more than friendly company.
Never mind that in her head she was flinging her arms around his neck and gazing up into his eyes. Marian tightened her arms around herself, pressing her lips together until that thought disappeared.
He gave her that easy smile as he glanced down at her arms. It immediately made her think of earlier, when they’d first arrived, and—out of gratefulness or confusion or longing—she’d rested her hand on his arm. Was he hoping she would do that again?
“I’m glad your sister invited me,” he said, jolting her from her runaway thoughts.
Marian pulled a face, even though she’d been happy with the outcome of her sister’s meddling. “Jessilyn wanted very much to meet you.”
“Oh?” Cole raised an eyebrow. “Have you been speaking of me to her?”
Marian fought against the embarrassment that curled up within. “Perhaps.” She paused. “You have come to my aid a number of times, after all. And you’re rather persistent about asking me to dinner.”
“I finally succeeded.”
“I hardly think you meant for that invitation to include my parents and my sister. Therefore, I haven’t yet agreed to your request.” She lifted her chin and gave him a triumphant smile as a slight gust of wind blew tendrils of hair across her face. She raised a hand to brush it back into place.
Cole searched her face for a moment, the smile playing at the corners of his mouth slowly dipping into a more serious expression. He raised his hand, paused a moment as if he were uncertain, and then gently brushed a single remaining lock of hair from her forehead. His hand lingered as his gaze held hers, and Marian felt as if the seconds had stretched themselves to an eternity. Her breath caught in her throat, and she didn’t know what she wanted to happen next.
But she knew one thing for certain. If he leaned in to kiss her, she wouldn’t stop him.
That traitorous knowledge made her heart pound furiously. Finally, Cole pulled his hand away. He clutched his hat, turning it around and around as he glanced down and then looked back up at her. After a brief moment, he opened his mouth as if he were about to say something, but then closed it abruptly when a light flickered at the window behind him.
Marian wanted to cringe. Someone—probably Jessilyn—had been watching at the window. Marian ought to have known her sister couldn’t have resisted.
Cole placed his hat on his head and gave her a quick nod. “I’ll see you again soon, Marian. Good evening.”
And with that, he turned and began to walk back toward town.
