Page 76 of Taming Lady Temperance

Merciful heaven. How was she supposed to resist such a man?

Martha touched her other arm, drawing Noreen’s attention away from James. “I’ll let Jane know what happened. We can make inquiries as well.” She raised her chin and peered at James. “Women might be more willing to speak to another woman than a lawman.”

He nodded without hesitation. “Good thinking. Just be sure to keep me updated on what you learn. Easier to put a puzzle together when you’ve got all the pieces.”

“I will.” Martha turned her attention back to Noreen. “Would you like me to walk you back to the boardinghouse?”

“I’ll see her home,” James said. “I doubt Taggert will try anything, but I’ll feel better walking her to her door just in case.” He stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. “If that’s all right with you.”

A strong, independent woman would see herself home. That’s what she’d believed for years. That it was weak to lean on a man. To lean on anyone, really. If a woman wished to be considered a man’s equal, she must prove herself capable, cunning, and courageous. Yet the society had taught her that she was stronger when she wasn’t alone. And in the dimness of predawn, when shadows outnumbered stars, alone was the last thing she wanted to be.

Noreen dipped her chin. “Yes, thank you.”

James smiled, pleasure lighting his eyes and banishing all the dreary seriousness of the last half hour. Her heart expanded at the visual reminder that joy persisted, even in the midst of trials.

A loud clanking sound had all three of them turning in time to spy Connor Reed dropping a collection of water buckets on the pile of those that had been left behind.

The young man waved to them. “These are the pails left from the rear water line. I figured it’d be easier to add them to main pile.”

Martha walked over to join him. “Very thoughtful of you, Mr. Reed. Thank you.” She picked out the two items she’d brought with her, then glanced back to Noreen. “You know what Jane would say.”

Noreen grinned, hearing her friend’s soft-spoken voice in her mind. “The Lord has a plan.”

“And with God all things are possible.” Martha came alongside her and squeezed her arm. “We’ll get through this, Noreen. Together.”

“Together.” She was really coming to appreciate the beauty of that word.

Martha moved off in the direction of her home near the schoolhouse while Noreen and James collected their respective buckets and headed down Main. Neither of them spoke much as they walked, weariness slowing their steps. She couldn’t even find the energy to fret over her predicament. Perhaps having her hand tucked into the crook of James’s arm helped her release the worry. Or maybe she was finally learning to let go of her need to control everything and trust the Lord to provide. Heaven knew she couldn’t control this situation, even if she wanted to. Every aspect of it was out of her hands.

As they neared the boardinghouse, a movement on the front porch had James releasing his hold on her in order to move his hand to his gun.

“You get that fire put out, Deputy?” Mrs. Barker rose out of her rocking chair, and James moved his hand away from his holster.

“Yes, ma’am. It’s safe to go on back to bed.”

“Good. I’ll expect Miss O’Sullivan to follow me inside directly.”

Noreen chuckled softly. No one could accuse her landlady of subtlety.

James winked, his own amusement dancing in his blue eyes. “Yes, ma’am.”

Noreen moved to the porch steps, placed her hand on the railing, then stopped. “James?”

He closed the distance between them with one long stride. “Yes?”

“Thank you for believing in me tonight.”

He cupped her face and ran his thumb along her cheek. Her breath caught at the tenderness of his touch, and her eyes fluttered closed. “Always,” he said, the low rumble of his voice rolling through her until it reached her heart and made itself at home.

“No matter what happens with the investigation,” she murmured, her eyes opening to peer into his, “know that I believe in you, too.”

And love you with all my heart.

The words begged for release, but she held them back, not wanting to burden him with the weight of them. He put enough pressure on himself already. When her name was cleared, she’d speak them. And if her name wasn’t cleared? Well, some truths were less painful when left unspoken.

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