isn’t going to be enough.”
“That may be so, but are you certain this is the right choice? This is a life-long commitment you’re talking about. Marriage isn’t something to be taken lightly.”
“Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like I’m an irrational child.” Hurt flashed in her eyes. “I realize the seriousness of the situation. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be considering hitching myself to some random man. But after Granddad... Let’s just say I’m willing to do almost anything to keep my family intact.”
“I don’t want you to do something you’ll regret. This is big, Soph. Huge. One of the most important decisions you’ll ever make.” He didn’t want to cause her pain, but he had to make her see reason. “You don’t want to end up like your ma, do you?”
She jerked as if slapped. “I will never end up like her. You want to know why?” Slamming her palm flat on the table, she leaned forward, sapphire eyes smoldering. “I’m not afraid to stick up for myself. And for my loved ones. I would never, ever, allow any man to treat me like my pa did her.”
Sighing, he nodded. “I believe you.” But will you be happy?
Frowning, not entirely satisfied, she returned to her list and began to tick off the candidates. A restless, unsettled feeling lodged in his chest. Every man she named was a man he knew, and it was strange to imagine Sophie with any one of them. He felt as if he was perched on the back of a bucking bull, moments away from being tossed to the ground and trampled.
“What about Tom Leighton?”
“My guess is he’s not ready,” he muttered. “He proposed to Megan last month, and she turned him down, remember?”
She didn’t look up. “Right.”
“I have to go.” He finished off his coffee, unwilling to help her with this wild scheme. While he may have inadvertently pointed her to this conclusion, he couldn’t sit there and assist in a husband hunt.
That got her attention. “Now?”
Scooting his chair back, he smashed his hat onto his head. “I have to get out to the cornfields.”
“Will you come back this afternoon? I’d feel better if you were here to help me explain this to Cordelia.”
“Yeah. Sure.”
“I have a good feeling about this plan.” She smiled tentatively. “I know it isn’t exactly what you’d envisioned, but I’m confident it will work.”
Inexplicably cranky, he edged toward the door, eager for escape. “Right. I hope so.”
“I’ll be working on the list.” She waved a hand over the paper. “Hopefully, I’ll have it ready by the time you get back, and you can share your opinion on my choices.”
“Fine. Bye.”
Seizing the reins, he practically vaulted into the saddle, startling Chance. “Sorry about that, boy,” he murmured, patting the horse’s flank. “Let’s get out of here before I lose my mind.”
* * *
Looking refreshed and elegant in an ice-blue outfit, Cordelia sat stiffly in a rocking chair, hands curled around a matching reticule in her lap. She glanced from Sophie to Nathan, seated together on the sofa opposite. “You’re getting married?” she repeated. “I hadn’t realized the two of you were courting.”
Nathan stiffened. The grave expression he’d arrived with darkened into something forbidding.
“You misunderstand, Mrs. Jackson. Sophie and I are friends. We don’t see each other in a romantic light.”
Hearing him voice his feelings in such a final, offhanded manner was like a dagger plunging deep into Sophie’s heart. He didn’t want her. Would never consider putting his name on her list.
When Cordelia’s penetrating gaze rested on Sophie, she schooled her features. No one could know her secret.
“Who, then, are you planning to marry, young lady?”
Nathan answered for her. “There are many single, eligible men in this town. Sophie is considering her options.”
Turning her head, Sophie studied his granitelike profile. Was that a hint of censure in his voice? His
“That may be so, but are you certain this is the right choice? This is a life-long commitment you’re talking about. Marriage isn’t something to be taken lightly.”
“Don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like I’m an irrational child.” Hurt flashed in her eyes. “I realize the seriousness of the situation. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be considering hitching myself to some random man. But after Granddad... Let’s just say I’m willing to do almost anything to keep my family intact.”
“I don’t want you to do something you’ll regret. This is big, Soph. Huge. One of the most important decisions you’ll ever make.” He didn’t want to cause her pain, but he had to make her see reason. “You don’t want to end up like your ma, do you?”
She jerked as if slapped. “I will never end up like her. You want to know why?” Slamming her palm flat on the table, she leaned forward, sapphire eyes smoldering. “I’m not afraid to stick up for myself. And for my loved ones. I would never, ever, allow any man to treat me like my pa did her.”
Sighing, he nodded. “I believe you.” But will you be happy?
Frowning, not entirely satisfied, she returned to her list and began to tick off the candidates. A restless, unsettled feeling lodged in his chest. Every man she named was a man he knew, and it was strange to imagine Sophie with any one of them. He felt as if he was perched on the back of a bucking bull, moments away from being tossed to the ground and trampled.
“What about Tom Leighton?”
“My guess is he’s not ready,” he muttered. “He proposed to Megan last month, and she turned him down, remember?”
She didn’t look up. “Right.”
“I have to go.” He finished off his coffee, unwilling to help her with this wild scheme. While he may have inadvertently pointed her to this conclusion, he couldn’t sit there and assist in a husband hunt.
That got her attention. “Now?”
Scooting his chair back, he smashed his hat onto his head. “I have to get out to the cornfields.”
“Will you come back this afternoon? I’d feel better if you were here to help me explain this to Cordelia.”
“Yeah. Sure.”
“I have a good feeling about this plan.” She smiled tentatively. “I know it isn’t exactly what you’d envisioned, but I’m confident it will work.”
Inexplicably cranky, he edged toward the door, eager for escape. “Right. I hope so.”
“I’ll be working on the list.” She waved a hand over the paper. “Hopefully, I’ll have it ready by the time you get back, and you can share your opinion on my choices.”
“Fine. Bye.”
Seizing the reins, he practically vaulted into the saddle, startling Chance. “Sorry about that, boy,” he murmured, patting the horse’s flank. “Let’s get out of here before I lose my mind.”
* * *
Looking refreshed and elegant in an ice-blue outfit, Cordelia sat stiffly in a rocking chair, hands curled around a matching reticule in her lap. She glanced from Sophie to Nathan, seated together on the sofa opposite. “You’re getting married?” she repeated. “I hadn’t realized the two of you were courting.”
Nathan stiffened. The grave expression he’d arrived with darkened into something forbidding.
“You misunderstand, Mrs. Jackson. Sophie and I are friends. We don’t see each other in a romantic light.”
Hearing him voice his feelings in such a final, offhanded manner was like a dagger plunging deep into Sophie’s heart. He didn’t want her. Would never consider putting his name on her list.
When Cordelia’s penetrating gaze rested on Sophie, she schooled her features. No one could know her secret.
“Who, then, are you planning to marry, young lady?”
Nathan answered for her. “There are many single, eligible men in this town. Sophie is considering her options.”
Turning her head, Sophie studied his granitelike profile. Was that a hint of censure in his voice? His
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