“What about the marshal?”
“He seems like a genuinely nice man. He loves his daughter.”
“And you like him. You think he’s handsome.” Lucy raised an eyebrow as she lifted the coffee cup to her lips.
She didn’t answer, though the image of Devlin Goodrich standing in the doorway to the kitchen, shirtless, barefoot, popped into her brain. She hadn’t seen a man half naked in a very long time, nor one so muscular, his broad shoulders and wide chest tapering down to a slim waist. Though she’d pretended to ignore that earlier, it was proving harder and harder to do.
“What is that look?”
“Nothing,” Tresia said and helped herself to anotherApfelku¨chleso she wouldn’t have to respond.
“Hmm, if it’s nothing, then why is your face turning red?”
“What do you know about him?” she asked. If anyone knew anything, it would be Lucy. Not only was she the leader of the Ladies Society and a matchmaker, shewasthe town busybody. Not much happened in Serenity that she didn’t know about. She wasn’t a gossip though. Whatever anyone said to her, stayed with her. Secrets remained secrets, which was good because so many shared their confidences with her.
“He was an excellent marshal in Albuquerque, or so I’ve been told. He has a sterling reputation. Above reproach, really. Follows the law to the letter.” She quieted for a moment, as if searching her memory. After a moment, she said, “And he’s awidower, but you already know that. That’s all I really know. You’ll have to find out anything else for yourself.”
Surprised, Tresia just stared at her. Lucy usually kneweverything! Her gaze roamed over Lucy’s face, looking for a clue that she might know more than she’d shared, but there wasn’t anything there. She didn’t wink. She didn’t smile. She didn’t turn away. She simply returned Tresia’s stare with one of her own.
It was Tresia who had to turn away. Why did she want to know about the marshal anyway? When she’d told Lucy she wasn’t interested in being matched, she’d meant it. She had a plan and it didn’t involve getting married again, at least, not until she accomplished her goal. She was being paid to take care of Avery and, by extension, her father. That was all.
She glanced out the window to check on her charge. The girls were no longer on the swings. Instead, they were crouched on the ground, intently inspecting something, but she was too far away to see what it was. Whatever had drawn their attention, it was enough for Avery to release her death grip on her doll.
They talked about the library fundraiser for a while, then about the new dresses Leslie Carmichael, the dressmaker, had in the window at her shop, until Tresia said, “We should go. Dinner is not going to make itself and I still have to stop by the butcher.”
Lucy was giving her a straightforward stare, except this time, there was a happy little glow in her friend’s eyes.
“Stop thinking what you’re thinking, Lucy Hart.”
“I’m not thinking anything.” She held up her hand as if ready to take a pledge. “I swear. Believe me, I learned my lesson with Tia Evie. I will never place an advertisement for a husband in the newspaper again, though that turned out rather well, but I’m not above a little gentle persuasion. Still, I know that’s not what you want and I respect that.”
Tresia watched her carefully, especially Lucy’s eyes and the corners of her mouth. If she was lying, that’s where she’d see it,but there was nothing. No tell-tale give-away. Not even a hint of something not true.
She rose from her seat, took a last sip of her coffee, then headed toward the back door. Lucy did the same, following her out to the porch, closing the kitchen door behind her. For a moment, they just stood there, watching Avery and Savannah, both now laying on their stomachs and studying whatever was crawling on the ground.
“It’s time to go, Avery.”
Avery popped up from her position and ran toward her. There was dirt on her cheeks and hands. Indeed, her little calico dress was coated, but there was a huge smile on her face.
“We found a caterpillar.” Savannah volunteered, her own clothes, hands, and face just as dirty as she joined them on the porch.
“Is that what you were watching so intently?”
Savannah nodded toward Avery. “I don’t think she’s ever seen one.”
“I’m sure you’ll see more, but for now, we have to go.” She brushed some of the dirt from Avery’s dress then gave up…she was only making it worse. “Go get Cecily.”
Avery ran back to grab her doll, which was no longer as clean as she had been, her little dress splattered with dirt as well as the remains of dried leaves. There were even leaves in her hair and some of the curls were loosening. It was obvious to anyone with eyes, Cecily was well loved and after only a day.
“Savannah, it was so nice to see you.” Tresia tugged once again on one of Savannah’s pigtails and laughed. “Stop growing up so fast.”
Savannah giggled. “That’s what Mama says.”
She gave Lucy a hug. “I’ll see you at the next meeting.”
Lucy squeezed tight. “You will.” There was something in her eyes when she let go, something Tresia couldn’t miss. Despitethe fact that she’d said she didn’t want to be matched, Lucy would do as she pleased. She always did. And maybe, just maybe, this one time, it wouldn’t be bad if things didn’t go as Lucy planned.
CHAPTER 6
