“But Rebecca, I thought you were a Christian.” Hannah reached across to pat her hand.
Anger boiled to the surface. “I am a Christian, Hannah. But I don’t see what that has to do with this.”
Eliza jumped to her friend’s rescue. “You are a single woman, he’s a single man. It wouldn’t be decent.”
Rebecca sat back in her chair. “It’s not like that,” she said in a soft voice.
“We know that, but the tongues will begin wagging as soon as the gossips hear this.” She pressed on before Rebecca could react. “You haven’t been here long. This is a small town with very little for the local gossips to do.”
Rebecca took a deep breath and said a silent prayer. Had she made the right decision? Was this something God approved of? She searched her heart and had peace about the decision. The concerned look on both her new friends’ faces had Rebecca reasoning with them. “Eliza, did those same women speak out against you when you bought this house and changed it into a hat shop?”
“Well, yes, but that was different.”
Before she could add more, Rebecca jumped in with a question for Hannah. “Have they ever spread rumors or said mean things about you, Hannah?”
The young schoolteacher looked down at her hands and nodded. “Yes.”
Rebecca nodded. “So they are going to talk, no matter what I do. Right?”
Eliza answered. “Yes, but living with a man without marriage, that’s not right, Rebecca. Surely even you can see that.” Again she gulped her tea.
It was Rebecca’s turn to become speechless. Who said she would be living with the marshal? Her cheeks began to heat up as she realized what her new friends thought of her. She gritted her teeth and prayed for patience and wisdom before speaking.
“Please don’t be angry,” Eliza said. “We don’t want you to go against…”
Rebecca held up her hand to stop Eliza’s tirade of words that was sure to follow. “First off, I’m not moving in with the marshal. I will be going to work and returning to the Millers’ place each evening, at least until I can afford my own place.”
Eliza opened her mouth to interrupt. But this time Hannah stopped her. “Wait, Eliza. Let her speak.”
Rebecca nodded to thank Hannah and then continued, “Second, I’m willing to forgive you both since you really don’t know me, and third, I need to go, I have shopping to do.” She stood to leave.
Hannah’s firm voice stopped her. “Please sit back down, Rebecca.”
So that was the way to handle students—firm voice and constant eye contact. Rebecca eased back onto her seat.
“Thank you. Eliza and I didn’t mean to upset you or hurt your feelings. You’re right, we don’t know you very well, but I know we both want to know and help you. Please forgive us for jumping to the wrong conclusion.”
It was the most words she’d ever heard Hannah speak. Were these ladies to become lifelong friends who would love her no matter what? Rebecca feared to believe it, and yet, deep down prayed it would be so.
“Yes, please forgive us. I’m not sure why we jumped to the wrong conclusion.” Eliza’s cheeks held pink coloring and her neck had turned red.
Humbled by their sincerity, Rebecca blushed. “Thank you both. Maybe I should have told you I will be going to his house in the mornings, fixing his breakfast, and while he is away during the day, I will be cleaning his house, doing his laundry and then cooking his dinner. Once he arrives back home in the evening, I will be returning to the Millers’. Yes, that’s how I should have told you.”
Silence filled the room.
Then Eliza came alive again. “Do you have to stay at the Millers’? Or can you live wherever you want? Because, I’d love it if you would move in with me. Where is his house? Is it close to here?”
Hannah shook her head and then picked up her tea. Did Hannah wonder how Eliza could rush from one thought to the next, like she did?
“Well?”
Rebecca laughed. “No, I don’t have to live with the Millers. Yes, I can live wherever I desire. And, yes, the marshal’s house is one street over and back from here.”
“Then you can live here with me! I have two bedrooms. Yours would be small, but you would have your own space. Come on, I’ll show you.” Eliza was out of her chair and through the door before either Rebecca or Hannah realized that she planned on leaving.
Hannah stood first. “You might as well humor her.” She followed Eliza from the room.
Rebecca took a deep breath before standing. Lord, will everyone judge my decision to work with the marshal like Hannah and Eliza just did? And, Lord, You better step in quick if I’m not meant to move in here with Eliza.
Chapter Five
Seth strolled out of the Millers’ store with a frown on his face. Mrs. Miller had been happy to inform him that Rebecca had moved from their residence and into Mrs. Kelly’s. She’d also given him the bill for the supplies Rebecca had had delivered to his house two hours earlier. He shook his head. Miss Ramsey had been busy, but what had he expected?
His boots kicked up dust as he walked toward his new home. That she’d be looking for the remainder of the stolen money and diamonds? He pushed the thought of stolen money and diamonds from his mind.
Would she be waiting for him when he got there? Seth’s emotions warred with his reasoning. He wanted her to be there waiting with a hot meal, and then again he didn’t want her to be there. The thought of her cooking at his stove, setting his table and smiling across it at him tugged at his heart. He reminded himself that he couldn’t get romantically involved with her. Besides, he’d killed Jesse and when she learned that she’d never forgive him.
In a quiet, firm voice, Seth spoke to himself. “I am a U.S. Marshal. I have no business thinking about her that way.” Maybe speaking the words out loud would convince his heart it was true.
He slowly climbed the steps to his house. Seth took a deep breath and opened the door. The smell of green chili stew filled his nostrils and his stomach growled its appreciation of the welcoming aroma. Expecting to find Rebecca at the stove, he squared his shoulders and entered the kitchen. Only, she wasn’t there.
Disappointment and relief washed through him. He released the air in his lungs and turned to look in the bedrooms for her. After a quick inspection, Seth realized he was alone in the small house. He followed his nose back to the kitchen.
His gaze moved around the room. She’d moved things around. A white cabinet with two drawers now sat beside the stove. A washtub sat on top of it. She’d hung a small shelf above the cabinet and several bottles containing spices set on top of that. The large cupboard now stood against the wall and held all his new dishes. The kitchen table and four chairs sat in the center of the room and in front of the cupboard. The potato bin stood beside the window on the other side of the room. Sheer curtains covered the window and the table had a crisp, clean cloth draped over the dark wood that matched the curtains. How had she done it? In just a few short hours she’d turned his kitchen into a cozy place to eat.
He picked up a bowl and walked to the stove, where a pot of stew, a skillet with a stack of homemade tortillas and a coffeepot were warming. Instinctively Seth reached to the closest drawer in the white cabinet and pulled it open. His gaze landed on a large ladle. He grabbed its handle and dipped the cupped end into the stew. The aroma of meat and green chili teased his nose.
Seth located more utensils in the cabinet and then carried his meal