His Secondhand Wife. Cheryl St.John

“Are you a heathen, then? You don’t believe in God?”

      “I believe in God. He’s not the problem.”

      “What is the problem?”

      “People.”

      “Oh.” She’d heard how Estelle spoke of and to Noah, but surely not everyone shared her low opinion.

      “You go,” he said. “Ride with Marjorie and Tipper.”

      “Sunday’s still three days away,” she replied. “I have time to think about it. Everyone stares at me….” She shook her head to dismiss the thought.

      Noah laid down his fork. “You have nothing to be ashamed of.”

      Tears smarted behind her eyes. She blinked to keep them from falling, but the attempt was useless. She’d been foolish to fall for Levi and everyone would know it soon enough if they didn’t already.

      Noah felt more awkward than ever at Katherine’s distress. She had loved his brother. He understood because he had loved him, too, but Levi’s callous behavior stuck in his craw. It took only the smallest thing to please Katherine. She was delighted with flowers and stars. Sunsets and good weather fairly made her delirious. So far he hadn’t heard her speak of anything that she couldn’t paint in cheerful colors.

      It would have been so easy for Levi to make this woman happy. Why the thought angered him more than any other, he didn’t know. Maybe because without the least effort Levi could have had everything Noah could never hope for. And he’d thrown it all away. Got himself killed and left a wife and babe behind.

      Katherine’s silent tears were far more eloquent than Estelle’s histrionics. Noah was completely at a loss as to how to react to a crying woman. Though they shared the loss, they were strangers. He could think of nothing to say that would change anything or bring her comfort.

      So, as usual, he said nothing.