She jerked back. “Have you thought about the fact that everything has changed? Did you consider how both of you running off to get married could impact me? It’s not enough that I have to grieve my mother and my grandfather, but a man tried to ruin my reputation! He hurt me. Worse than I want to admit. You two have your husbands to run and cry to ... I don’t have anyone. So mind your own business and stay out of mine. I think I have a right to not act like myself.”
The shocked looks on her sisters’ faces made the silence deafening.
Oh, curse her temper! She slumped. “I’m sorry. My head still hurts.”
Maddy sniffed.
Havyn set the bottle down on the bed. “We were concerned, that’s it. I better go fix breakfast.” She turned on her heel.
Maddy followed. Without a word.
Whitney collapsed onto the bed. Why couldn’t she get past the pain and grief like her sisters had? Why was God allowing this to happen to her?
Tears sprang to her eyes. She tried to keep them at bay, but it was no use. Now the headache would rage again, but she didn’t care. Nothing was right or normal.
She’d never talked that way to her sisters. Never!
What had she done?
The red of Whitney’s curly locks caught Judas’s attention out the window.
Of course, she was back in front of that doctor’s office. What now? She’d just returned, or so he’d heard.
This was not going according to Judas’s plan. Well, he was about to change that. Right now.
He went to the hat stand and grabbed his coat and then headed out his office door. Within moments, he was a few strides away. Pasting a smile on his face, he slowed his pace and stepped close to her.
“Good morning, Mr. Reynolds.” There was a wariness in her eyes.
“Please, call me Judas.”
Her lips tipped up. Barely. “All right. Judas.” This time, she held eye contact.
“Have you had a chance to think about my request?” He kept his voice low. His tone sweet.
She dipped her head a bit. “Yes, I have.”
“And?”
“If I agree to court you, I need to be clear that I am not promising to marry you.”
“I would never expect that you were, my dear.” If he were a betting man, he’d say the odds were in his favor, though.
“I appreciate that you are a God-fearing man of good character. Those are important things that I would like in a husband. But things are difficult right now. You must understand that.” She gazed off in the direction of her farm. “You were there for me when Mr. Sinclair lied. In fact, youcame to my rescue and salvaged my reputation. I will be forever grateful for that. But I don’t want you to think that my decision is made lightly or out of any response to that.”
“It is apparent you’ve put a great deal of thought into this.” She was coming around. Excellent.
“I have.” She turned back to face him. “The truth is, I’m not sure I’m good wife material. There are many things I need to figure out for myself before I enter into a relationship like marriage.”
The lady was thinking about marriage. It couldn’t be going better if he’d orchestrated the whole thing himself. “You have my deepest respect for your honesty, Miss Powell.”
“Please. We’ve known each other long enough. Call me Whitney.”
“Whitney it is.” Judas lifted his shoulders a bit. Time to pour on the charm. “You are the most level-headed and practical woman I’ve ever met. That’s exactly what I’ve been searching for in a wife. That’s why you haven’t seen me about town courting anyone else. No one has met my standards. But you ... well, you don’t have your head in the clouds with unrealistic dreams about marriage like most young women. You’re not a gold digger either. I need someone who is sensible, honest, loyal ... and frankly, I see all of those plus so much more in you, Whitney.”
Her cheeks tinged pink. “Your words are very kind—”
He put a hand over his heart. “They are from my heart. God’s honest truth.”
