Rose stood as well. “No, Miss Farmer, it is definitely I who am thankful. Your words and your kindness have indeed made an impression on me.”
They walked toward the foyer.
“Then I will see you tomorrow in class?”
“Yes, you will.” And this time, Rose meant it.
***
“That infernal bastard is dodging me,” Reed said, storming into his bedroom where he knew Charlotte was reading by the window, her favorite place for quiet time when their children were in bed.
“What kind of talk is that with children in the house?” Charlotte admonished him. “You sound like a sore sheriff hunting down a slippery thief.”
Reed shrugged. “A hotheaded attorney, perhaps.”
“Yes precisely, or an exasperated farmer at reaping time with not a field hand in sight.”
He blinked at her.Exasperated farmer?
“I can’t stand it. Rose is slipping back into that morose state that makes me fear for her future and her sanity, and my mother is considering not marrying Mr. Nickerson so she can stay home and tend to Rose as if she is an invalid. What my sister needs is a swift kick.”
“Gracious. Youarein a state. First of all, your sister is perfectly within reason to mourn her engagement and the life she had planned with Mr. Woodsom. He was ideal for her, and it is doubtful his like will come along again.”
Reed felt a twinge of compassion for Rose. His wife was correct. One could not simply replace the ideal person. He could not imagine life without Charlotte, and at that moment, no doubt, his sister was unable to imagine her life going forward without William. Yet go forward she must. Except Bennet was the blockage.
“I have no doubt you will get the signature from Phineas Bennet eventually, even if you have to wait him out on his doorstep. After all, you showed great determination in coming out to Colorado and making sure I took in Lily and Thomas when I was too dense to see the right path.”
He sat down beside her, a small smile already on his face.
“How do you do it, Mrs. Malloy?”
“Do what?” Charlotte asked, putting a marker in her copy ofThe Scarlet Letter.
“Disarm me, distract me, make me realize I overstate my problems?”
“Did I do all that?” She blinked and gave him her sweetest smile.
“Indeed,” he said, eyeing her book. “I’m sorry I interrupted your reading.”
Grimacing slightly, Charlotte lay it down on the table. “It is all heavy-handed sin and guilt. Bah, I’m not sure I can finish it anyway. Honestly, I much prefer Mr. Twain’sHuckleberry Finn, no matter how the critics tout Mr. Hawthorne.”
“Finn!” Reed repeated. “You’ve brought me right back to where I started.”
“Shoot,” Charlotte said. “Then I’d better try some more distracting.” She stood up and embraced her husband, placing a searing kiss on his lips.
Putting his arms around her, he pulled her closer.Mm, he felt like purring when he held Charlotte.Slanting his head, he deepened the kiss and finished by nibbling on her lower lip.
“I love your lips,” he told her when they broke apart. “That was some quite good distracting,” Reed added. “However, I still feel as though I need a bit more disarming.”
She grinned.
“Of course, Mr. Malloy.” Charlotte wrapped her arms around his neck and drew his head down for another kiss.
***
“I need your help,” Reed said, a long time later when they were lying wrapped in each other’s arms, Charlotte’s back resting against his front.
“What? More disarming?” she asked, stifling a yawn. “Aren’t you tired?”
