John was simply worried about a toenail he’d lost after a calf stepped on it last week. He said that Havyn made him promise to talk to Peter about it, but he hadn’t wanted to be a bother.
While Peter gave John instructions on what to do, he overheard Judas remind Whitney that he was there for her. That he’d helped restore her reputation and wanted her to know that he would forever be her champion. The man was laying it on pretty thick. Especially when he shared that Whitney had always held his attention and admiration.
Peter wanted to interrupt, but that would be rude. John was talking now about his nervousness about the coming baby. After giving the father-to-be some encouragement and words of affirmation, he snuck a glance back at Judas. The man was looking down on Whitney, his expression far too intimate.
The man was attempting to woo Whitney. Good grief.
Well, the rest of the town, and the entire Bundrant clan, may think the man hung the moon, but he knew better. Judas was never there for anyone but himself. He wanted to be in charge. To own and run the town.
How the man had besotted so many people was beyond Peter, but at leasthewas wise to the truth. Years ago, when he was young and just out of medical school, he’d met a man just like Judas. Sadly, Peter had been hoodwinked by the fraud, like the rest of the town. But lesson learned. From the moment he’d met Judas Reynolds, he knew. What he was going to do about it at this point was yet to be seen. Best to observe and watch and pray for the right words when the time came to say something.
As he watched Judas walk Whitney back to the Roadhouse, a sinking feeling filled his gut. How could he protect Whitney—and Nome for that matter—from a powerful man like Reynolds?
Everything passed in a blur. Like it had all been some sort of play and she wasn’t actually living it. It wasn’t until Judas came out to chat with her that Whitney saw through the fog.
Not that him speaking with her was so jolting. It was the way he’d looked at her. Different than ever before. And it was the first time she’d really studied the man’s eyes. Judas Reynolds had been a part of their lives since they’d come to Nome. He had been a dear friend of the family, someone they knew they could rely on, no matter what. He’d helped them time and again, and Granddad had trusted him.
But today ...
His gaze had penetrated her grief, and she’d noticed theicy blue of his eyes. She’d always thought him to be a handsome man. Even had remarked with her sisters about how striking his eyes were. But she’d never felt so ... connected to him.
She rubbed at her eyes as the sleigh reached their home. She was being ridiculous. Grief did weird things to people.
Climbing down, she told her family that she needed some time alone and was going to Granddad’s room. She hated abandoning her sisters, but if she didn’t get a few moments of silence, her head might explode.
They hadn’t expected half the town to come out to the burial. It was amazing that Amka’s brothers had been able to dig the grave to the depth they had. But it was all over now.
Thank God.
Granddad was buried. A cross had been placed.
Now they just had to find a way to go on without him. And without Mama.
She took off her snow-covered boots in the coatroom Granddad had built into the entry, shed her hat, coat, and gloves, and then went down the hallway toward his room.
The doorknob squeaked as she turned it. She held her breath and pushed the door open slowly. Was she ready to see the room empty of her grandfather’s presence?
The winter sunshine spilled through the window and pooled on the floor almost exactly where she’d found him. As she closed her eyes, she could still see him there. Crumpled and lifeless.
She forced herself to look again, but he wasn’t there.
Closing the door behind her, she took a deep breath. Wished she could cry her heart out like that first day. But the tears wouldn’t come. All her life she’d had to be strong, and she’d convinced herself that tears didn’t fit that. Now,when she needed the release more than anything, she was numb. Empty.
She’d promised her mother she would always look out for Havyn and Madysen. Was she feeling this way because her sisters were both married now? Daniel and John did a fabulous job of taking care of their wives. No one had shunned or ignored Whitney. And it wasn’t like she didn’t feel like part of the family, but ...
What was her place now? Her sisters didn’t need her to mother-hen them. She couldn’t take Mama’s place in their lives. Couldn’t fill the enormous shoes their grandfather left.
The plain and simple truth was ...
Shehadno place.
There was no one to care for her needs except herself.
Or was there?
Judas’s warm expression this afternoon came to mind.
Foolish thought. Now was not the time to be dreaming of romantic notions.
