Page 54 of In Honor’s Defense

Her dress belled out as she spun in retreat, and the door closing behind her put an exclamation mark on her words.

Luke watched her go, downright impressed. Not only had she stood up to her nephew instead of bending over backward to please him like she usually did, but she somehow managed to be completely honest while cleverly redirecting his attention.

Nate’s jaw hung loose.

“Close your mouth before you let flies in.” Luke chuckled, slapping the boy’s shoulder as he moved past him toward the barn.

Nate shook off his stupor and gave chase. He circled around in front of Luke and blocked his path. “Is she sayin’ what I think she’s sayin’? Are you and Aunt Maris . . .”

Luke’s humor vanished. He wouldn’t let anyone, even her nephew, imply anything improper about Damaris. “I think she said it was none of your concern.” He crossed his arms. “Your aunt is one of the finest women I’ve ever met, and I intend to respect her wishes on this matter. I expect you to do the same.”

Nate quailed a bit under the force of Luke’s glare, but he held his own, just like he had the first day they’d met. “All right. I won’t ask her. I’ll ask you. What are your intentions toward her?”

Luke intended to make sure that what happened to her brother didn’t happen to her. Or to Nate. But he couldn’t say that without stirring up more hornets than he’d be putting to rest. That left him with only one viable source of honesty. The one that most men, him included, preferred to pretend didn’t exist.

“I’m fond of your aunt,” Luke finally managed to admit aloud. “Real fond. But all this”—he waved his hand through the air as if his emotions were suspended around him like a fog—“is too new for me to have formed any official intentions. I can promise you, however, that I’ll never do anything to hurt or dishonor her. You have my word.”

Nate held his gaze for a long moment, then slowly extended his hand. Luke fit his palm to Nate’s and gave it a firm, solemn shake. Nate nodded in approval, then strode away to tend to his chores.

That approval buried itself deep in Luke’s chest and magnified his determination not to let either Baxter down.

Ignoring the lingering aches and stiffness from his ride to town, he marched to his barn room and sought out pen and paper. He had letters to write.

CHAPTER

TWENTY-FIVE

The following day, Damaris drove to town and parked her wagon in the empty lot across from the courthouse. She didn’t climb down right away. She couldn’t. Not with the mini cyclones spinning her insides into tangled knots.

Pressing her hand to her midsection, she closed her eyes and willed her nerves to steady. Initiating business calls always had this effect on her. Paying calls with an appointment was hard enough, but showing up uninvited, without an invitation? She felt a bit like Esther going in to see King Xerxes.

Don’t be ridiculous. It’s just a conversation. One Mr. Mullins will probably welcome. You might very well be bringing him business, after all.

The logic failed to settle her stomach, but it did give her the gumption she needed to disembark the wagon and stride across the street. Only when she stood outside the lawyer’s door did she falter. Her hand trembled as she reached for the door handle. Yanking her hand back, she balled it into a fist.

You can do this, Damaris. For Nathaniel.

Luke wouldn’t let a door stand in his way. He’d march in and take charge of the room in an instant. Strong. Brave. Certain of his purpose. She could do the same. She would do the same.

Unfurling her fingers, she straightened her spine and lifted her chin. Imagining herself to be a powerful Horseman intimidated by nothing, she clasped the handle and let herself into the office. She strode across the small reception area and rapped on the glass pane of the inner office door directly below the etched insignia that read, Ronald Mullins, Esq.

At the knock, Mr. Mullins glanced up from the four open tomes spread across his desktop. Recognition lit his eyes. He smiled, jumped to his feet, and hurried around his desk to the door, pulling it all the way open.

“Miss Baxter! How lovely to see you. Please come in.”

Her knotted nerves loosened just a tad at his gracious reception. He showed her to a chair, then stacked his books to the side so he could face her over a clean section of desk.

“What can I do for you today?”

Perched on the edge of the upholstered chair, Damaris fiddled with the metal clasp on her handbag. Forcing her fingers to still, she balanced the purse on her knees and met the lawyer’s gaze. “It’s about the offer on my nephew’s property.”

“Wonderful! I knew you’d reconsider after you had time to think things through.” His eyes glittered with satisfaction. “A generous offer like that doesn’t come along very often. It would be foolish to turn it down when such a sum would allow you to provide for young Nathaniel in fine fashion. I will be happy to draw up a bill of sale for you.” He opened a drawer and reached inside for a pre-printed document page that only lacked pertinent property details, signatures, and dates.

He was moving so fast that her head began to swim. “Wait.”

Pen in hand, he paused before inking the nib, his brows arching.

Damaris tightened her grip on her bag. “I’m not ready to accept the offer yet. I have a few questions first.”