1880
Matt worked up a sweat, chopping wood behind the diner. At the rate he was going, Laurie would be set for the next two months, which was sort of slitting his own throat. Nothing like making himself no longer needed. Wiping his brow with his sleeve, he looked up and smiled when she came out the back door with a cool glass of lemonade.
“Thanks,” he said, taking the glass and swallowing half.
“You’re working like a madman. What’s wrong?” she asked worriedly.
“Nothing. Just got a lot on my mind,” he replied, leaning back against the stump he used to split wood.
“Anything you’d like to share?”
“Not really, unless you’re ready for me to slip a ring on your finger,” he snapped out.
Laurie took a quick step back and looked at him with wide eyes.
“Oh, don’t fret Darlin’. I’m frustrated is all,” he explained, his tone softening.
Her sigh of relief was audible.
“Matthew, I’m not trying to hurt you,” she nearly whispered. “I just can’t help how I feel about that.”
“I know how you feel. You’ve told me often enough, Laurie. To tell you the truth, I’m mighty tempted to help you see the error of your ways.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she shot back, her spine stiffening.
“It means I’d like to grab you and kiss you senseless,” he informed her. “I’d like nothing more than to show you just how wrong you are in refusing me. There is passion in you, woman. I sense it, but you’re too damn scared to take a chance on me. You’re afraid, plain and simple, and no matter what I do, I can’t convince you. It’s a cryin’ shame is what it is.”
“Matt, please,” she pleaded, holding her hand out in supplication. “I don’t want to lose your friendship, but I don’t see how we can ever be more than that.”
“Well, I do, and you would too if you opened your damn eyes. Right in front of you is a man who loves you, one who will support you and provide a good home for you and the boys. All you can see is someone like your damn husband who didn’t have a kind bone in his body. When will you realize you’re comparing us for no good reason? I’m sick of it, woman. Wake up! You’re letting life pass you by, and mine is not much good right now either. Together, we could be happy.”
“It must be nice to know everything, as well as see into the future, Matthew Whittaker. Now, if you’re done scolding me, I guess I’ll get back to work,” she hissed angrily. Spinning on her heels, she stomped across the yard.
“I’m likely to do more than scold you,” he called after her, crossing his arms over his chest.
“What’s that supposed to imply?” she demanded, turning back to glare at him.
“It implies that at some point I’m fixin’ to take you across my knee and spank some sense into you, Laurie Dixon. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“See, you are like Floyd!” she sneered.
“Did he spank you?” Matt asked.
“He hit me!” she shouted.
“Yes, anywhere he wanted to, anywhere he could. But did he spank you?”
“No, he never did.”
“And yet, you compare us as though we were cut from the same cloth. I’ll tell you right now that if the time ever comes when I think you really deserve it, I will spank you, but I’ll never, ever strike you or the boys in any way that damages anything more than your damn pride, and that is something you have plenty of!”
“OH!”
He watched her face redden. Her hands were fisted on the sides of her skirt as she twirled and ran back into the diner, her blonde hair flying behind her. Damn, why couldn’t he keep his mouth shut?
What he really wanted to do was to march right in behind her, toss her over his shoulder, and cart her upstairs where he would spank her good. Then he would kiss the bejesus out of her. His patience was nearly at an end, and if she still refused to marry him, so be it. At least he would feel a little more like a man and a little less like a love-struck puppy trailing after her day in and day out.
Taking the axe, he slammed it into the stump and rolled down his sleeves.
