Walker stepped closer to the older man. He towered over the investor.
Anna moved between them. “Mr. Oppenheim. I think it’s best if you leave. I’ll clear this up with Mr. Walker.”
“I have never been treated in such a manner!” Mr. Oppenheim sputtered.
“I’m sorry. I’ll do my best to find a way we can all work together amicably.” Anna held out a hand to their conveyance.
“Get off my land.” Walker stepped closer.
“Daddy, I think we better leave.” Rosemary scurried to the wagon.
After the three Oppenheims piled into the wagon and left, Anna turned to Walker. “Thank you. That was genius.” She patted his arm.
Well, she didn’t need to go touching the man.
Walker grinned. “I thought of it the other day but had to ask Mr. Gilbert if it would actually work. I don’t mind being the bad guy if it keeps them from annoying you.”
Anna hugged him.
It took everything in Joshua to keep from lunging forward and pulling them apart.
“Will you come see some of my new blooms? I think you’ll like them.” Walker’s expression had transformed back to congenial.
Joshua touched Anna’s arm, but she spoke before he could say anything. “Of course. I’ll take a break in a few minutes and come up. Is that all right?”
“Wonderful.” Walker took long strides back toward his house.
Once he was a good distance away, Joshua lowered his voice. “You need to be careful.”
“Whatever do you mean?” Hands on her hips, she pointed her narrowed eyes at him. So much for appreciating her fiancé’s concern.
“My gut is telling me that something isn’t right about how Julian acts around you. I think he’s a bit infatuated.”
“Honestly, Josh. Haven’t we been over this enough?”
No. They hadn’t. Because she wasn’t seeing things clearly. “You know that I feel something is off with him. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“You don’t have anything to worry about. Julian is harmless. He’s been nothing but kind to me. Everyone should be given grace, right?”
He shook his head. “I don’t think you should spend so much time with him. It will make him think you care about him.”
“I do.” She stalked to her table and straightened some papers. “Shouldn’t weallcare about him?”
“You know what I mean, Anna.”
The fire in her eyes told him he should tread carefully. “Yes, I do. And I think it’s silly. But I don’t want to argue with you right now. The men are watching.”
“Fine. But I’m not done discussing this.”
Why couldn’t he let it go? “You can discuss it all you want. Just not with me.” She turned on her heel and stomped away with her sketchpad.
———
On the way home, Joshua allowed his horse to plod along. It had been a long day. And Anna was still mad at him.
He deserved it. His jealousy had reared its ugly head once again. Then there was the conundrum with Rosemary. He didn’t even know how to approach that. Anna was adamant about how much she loved him but didn’t deserve him.
If Rosemary had wanted to drive a wedge between them, she was definitely accomplishing it.
