He was already standing, walking toward where the crashing sound had come from. Marian scrambled up and pressed a hand to her racing heart.
“What is it?” she asked, her voice shaking.
“A rock.” Cole bent down and then stood again, holding up a small rock before tossing it back to the floor. “Wait here.”
With a hand on one of the guns he wore at his hips, he crossed to the door in two steps. He opened it slowly, looked outside, and then pulled it open all the way.
Marian clasped her arms around herself. What had just happened?
And what had she almost justdone?
“I don’t see anyone out there,” Cole said as he stepped back inside and closed the door. He rubbed his chin and surveyed the broken window. “Something like that doesn’t happen on accident.”
“Perhaps it was a child upset about coming to school,” Marian said. But none of her pupils were disinterested to the point she thought they might do something so destructive.
“Perhaps,” Cole said in a way that made shivers run up and down Marian’s arms.
She hugged herself tighter as he turned around. There was something so very attractive about him when he was doing his work—and Marian couldn’t believe she was even thinking such a thing at a moment like this.
Donotthink about kissing him!But the words didn’t work, because that was precisely the image that crossed her mind as he stood there, likely considering who would have thrown a rock through her window.
“Let me help you clean this up. I’ll take you home and then I’ll find a man or two who can board up this window. Where do you keep your broom?”
Marian pointed mutely at the closet in the rear of the room. When Cole began sweeping the broken glass, she forced herself into action.
“Please, let me do that.” She reached for the broom, which he gave her—almost reluctantly, she thought. Silently, she swept while he held the dustpan. While he emptied the dustpan and returned the broom to the closet, she packed up the dishes and silverware from Dawson’s Diner.
“Are you ready?” Cole took the basket from her as she buttoned her coat.
As they walked down the road, Marian felt herself relaxing. Being outside—and away from the broken window—lifted her mood. The sun had just lowered itself under the horizon, casting the town in dying hues of orange and purple.
And try as she might, she kept glancing toward Cole, who held her arm like a perfect gentleman.
“Marian?” he said quietly after they’d walked in silence for a time. “I know this may not be the ideal time, given what just happened. But I must know—have you given thought to what I told you?”
A shiver of delight and fear ran through Marian at his words. Whatdidshe think? She most definitely felt something toward Cole—that much was evident in how often he invaded her thoughts and how much she wished he’d kissed her. But her teaching position meant so much to her . . . and, ultimately, she knew she couldn’t have both.
Cole gave a quiet, awkward laugh. “I’m not asking you to marry me, Marian. Only to spend time with me now and then.”
“All right,” she said as a vague sense of disappointment settled in her soul.
He smiled at her, and before she knew it, they were at her door.
“Thank you for taking care of the window,” she said, even though the schoolhouse was the last thing on her mind at that moment.
“Of course.” Cole took her hand, squeezed it, and added, “Good night, Marian.”
“Good night,” she replied as he dropped her hand and turned to go back into town.
Her feelings sat like a knot in her stomach as she closed the door. It had been such a nice evening, up until the rock had sailed through the window. Just remembering the feel of Cole’s hand on her chin and his sweet words made her want to shout in joy. It should be making her happy . . . but instead she was left confused.
Jessilyn was sitting at the small desk in the bedroom they shared when Marian entered. She stood immediately and rushed to her sister. “How was it? What did he bring? Was it good? I hope it wasn’t that horrible old cheese they’re selling at the general store. It smells terrible. Did you—”
“Please, Jessilyn. One question at a time.” Her sister’s enthusiasm brought a smile to her lips, chasing away the clouds that had formed in Marian’s head.
“All right.” Jessilyn flopped onto the edge of her bed. “Was it romantic?”
“Yes, very.” Marian bit her lip as she opened the wardrobe doors to set her hat on the shelf inside.
