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“And he’s recovering?” Regan asked hopefully.
Colt nodded. “The dog, too.”
Regan was glad to hear that.
His sister said, “I stopped over at Odell’s on my way here to let him know. He said the traps are out, but that cat is smarter than a lot of people. So far he’s avoided them.”
Anna asked, “Will One Eye eat Livy’s pony?”
Her father shook his head. “Her granpa has too many dogs. I don’t think One Eye wants to tangle with them.”
This was the first Regan had heard about the animal. That Colt hadn’t mentioned it before led her to believe she wasn’t in imminent danger driving back and forth, but she’d keep her eyes open.
After the meal, Regan brought the pie she’d made for dessert to the table. They dug in, and Spring groaned, “My goodness this is good, Regan.”
“Thanks.”
Anna piped up, “As soon as the new stove comes, she’s going to make me a cake.”
“Be sure to invite me over when she does,” Spring said.
“I will.”
With dessert finished, Spring pushed back from the table. “I need to stretch my legs after all that glorious food. Think I’m going to take a walk. Anna, would you like to come along?”
“Yes!” she replied excitedly.
“We’ll be back in a little while,” Spring said to Regan and Colt.
Their exit left Regan and Colt eyeing each other across the table. Regan sensed her sister-in-law had intentionally left them alone.
“Can I help you clean up?” he asked.
She shrugged. “Sure.”
In the kitchen, she poured hot water from the pot on the stove into the tub to wash the dishes. “I’ll wash. You dry.”
He nodded.
They worked silently. His movements with the plates were awkward and clumsy. She’d wondered if he’d ever done this before and she supposed she had her answer.
“I owe you a very big apology, Regan.”
She paused. His features were as serious as his tone. “I asked for the truth and when you gave it to me...”
“You didn’t want it?”
“No.”
“I will never lie to you, Colt. Being truthful means a lot to me.”
“I understand. Now, my truth.” He paused then added quietly, “The idea of you being with another man ate at me. I was wrong to turn those feelings on you. I’m sorry.”
Regan sifted through her responses. She wasn’t one to hold a grudge, but on the other hand, she hadn’t deserved his ire. “Thank you for the apology.”
“I shattered our pact.”
“Yes, you did.”
