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Megan drew her knees up to her chest and hugged her legs close. She'd let him. Because she hadn't wanted to fight with her father or stand up to him. She'd known she didn't have the courage to face him. For two years, she and Justin had crept around, seeing each other when they could and never telling anyone the truth. She'd been so sure she loved him, but when the moment came to prove her feelings, she'd thrown his affections in his face and turned away.
He was right about the past; was he right about the present? Did she profess to love him now because it was easy?
She thought about her sister and her threats. She thought about Gene and Mrs. Greeley and the other people in town who would never understand and never accept. She could survive without their approval. She thought about her store. It tied her to Landing. When his contract was up, Justin wouldn't want to stay here. Why should he? Could she leave everything behind and go with him? Could she love and trust him that much?
She squeezed her eyes tightly closed. She liked the store. She liked keeping the books and inventory in order, and dealing with the customers, and being responsible for her own well-being. But she loved Justin more. If forced to choose, she would go with him, because without him, she had nothing.
But would he even give her the chance to choose or would he simply leave her behind, turning away, as she had turned away in the past?
She reached up and touched the slender gold chain that encircled her throat. Whatever happened, she wasn't going to lose him again. If he tried to leave without her, she would follow him. If he rejected her again, she would keep com-ng back. She loved him. She believed that as surely as she relieved the sun would rise in the morning. But her faith wasn't at question. How was she going to convince Justin? *he could follow him for a lifetime and he might never trust ier. What then? How exactly was she supposed to convince ler husband that this time it was real?
Chapter Eighteen
At the loud crash, almost everyone in the store turned. Megan calmly finished counting the pattern books before drawing in a deep breath and looking oehind her toward the most recent disaster.
A large glass jar of buttons had tipped over. The jar was intact, but several pounds of buttons had scattered over the counter and onto the floor. Bonnie stood in the center of the mess, biting her lower lip. However, the real culprit was halfway across the room, sitting on the jewelry display case and frantically licking her fur as if to reassure herself everything was fine.
Bonnie looked at her. "Alice got caught."
"I can see that." It was amazing what sort of damage a six-pound kitten could do in a general store, Megan thought.
"That cat is a menace," Mrs. Dobson said, coming up behind her and staring at the mess.
"I know. However, Bonnie has really missed Justin since he's been gone. Alice makes her feel better. I can't tell her she mustn't bring the cat with us. Can you?" She stared down at the widow.
Mrs. Dobson sighed. "The child does dote on Justin. We'll survive this, I suppose. But please keep that cat out of my stamps." She shuddered. "I can just see her getting them stuck all over her fur."
Megan laughed.
"It's not funny."
Megan stifled her humor. "I suppose not." She walked over to Alice and picked her up. Wide green eyes gazed back innocently. "Stop getting into everything."
Alice snuggled into Megan's arms and started to purr. Megan shook her head. To be honest, she liked having the mischievous cat underfoot. It helped pass the long hours. Like Bonnie, she, too, missed Justin. He'd only been gone four days, but it felt like a month. Probably because they hadn't spoken before he'd left that morning.
"I'm sorry, Megan." Bonnie puffed out her lower lip. "I'll clean it all up myself."
"That's a big job. It's probably going to take all afternoon."
Bonnie nodded, dejected. "Am I gonna get a whip-pin'?"
Megan's chest tightened. The girl always asked the same question when she got into trouble. Megan wished she could go out to Mrs. Jarvis's farm and give the woman a good whipping of her own. How dare she treat this little girl so badly? And Bonnie's mother, Laurie, should have known i what was happening to her own child.
Megan set Alice on the counter by the spilled buttons, then touched Bonnie's face. It wasn't fair to judge Laurie. Megan didn't know much about the young woman, but from all Bonnie had said, Laurie had loved her daughter. Perhaps she'd done the best she could.
