He worked to tamp down his frustration. “I think you need to be careful.”
“Careful? Around Julian? That man wouldn’t hurt a fly. He growsflowers. I mean, really.”
“It’s clear that he is enamored with you. Just now, it reminded me too much of the way he looked at Mary. And look what happened to her.” The words slipped out and he wished he could yank them back.
She put a hand over her mouth.
The look on her face pierced him. “Wait. That’s not—”
“You think Julian”—her hand fell back to her side—“had something to do with Mary going missing?”
Why couldn’t she see it? “He was the last one to see her.” His words were digging him in deeper, but at this point, he was too far in to backpedal.
She clucked her tongue at him. “You think he did something to Caleb too, don’t you? Because his father was a mean man and a horrible father and Julian is a bit odd”—she flung a hand in his direction—“go ahead and blame him for everything bad that happens around here.”
He did. But the look she sent him made him clamp his mouth shut.
“I should have known.” She stomped away.
Not so fast! He couldn’t allow her to leave in anger. Not again. “Known what?” He stomped after her.
“You’re jealous.” The words were thrown over her shoulder.
There was that. He couldn’t deny it. He followed her fifty yards out from the site.
When she turned on him, the tears streaking her red cheeks deflated all the ire from his chest. What had he done?
He held up his hands. “Anna ... look. I’m sorry.” He took off his hat and ran a hand through his sweaty hair. “Between the heat, and all the stress at home, I guess I lost my mind for a bit.”
She sniffed and narrowed her eyes. Then crossed her arms over her chest.
He met her anger. “I saw Julian give you those flowers and you’re right. I got jealous.”
“That doesn’t give you a right to think so poorly of Julian. Can’t you see how much he’s helped us? Shouldn’t we give him a chance? Isn’t that the Christian thing to do?”
He bit his tongue before what he wanted to say came out. He gave a slow nod. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” He still didn’t like the situation, but he’d have to deal with his issues later.
Her stiff posture relaxed, and she closed the distancebetween them. “Look. I know you’re hurting. Losing Mary affected all of us. With little Caleb gone, I’m sure that has simply pulled the scab off that wound and made it bleed all over again. Then your mother got hurt last night. You didn’t get to go back to school as planned. I know things have been difficult. But I believe Julian needs the benefit of the doubt right now. Deep down, there’s a beautiful heart there. Nobody has ever taken the time to see it before except for—”
“Mary.” He wiped a hand down his face. Another reason to be protective of Anna. Whether she could see it or not. “I’m sorry for losing my temper.”
“Me too.”
They stared at each other and then at the ground.
He broke the silence. “Truce?”
She stared at him for several seconds. “Fine. Truce.” She shook her head. “You do bring out the worst in me, Joshua Ziegler.”
It was hard to keep from glancing at Joshua. They’d worked in silence for the past half hour, and the longer it stretched, the more Anna wanted to spill everything out of her heart. But something held her back. Was it her own stubborn pride?
In all the years that she’d known him, she’d never encountered discomfort like this with him. What was wrong with her?
“I think I’m going to head home now.” Joshua leaned on his shovel.
Anna lifted her gaze once more to him. She pasted on a cordial grin because that’s what normal people did even though she felt nothing of the sort. “It’s been a long day. I appreciate you helping.”
“Please tell your father I’m sorry I can’t stay. I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.” The smile he sent her was weak.
