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"You could take her in, Megan. You have that big house all to yourself."
Justin's words shocked her. Take in Bonnie? Herself?
She got a hold of the nightgowns and drew them down. Still staring at the full shelves, she turned the idea over in her mind. Colleen's threats presented the first obstacle. She wasn't worried exactly, but her sister could be a problem. There was also the question of work. Bonnie would have to stay in the store all day since the town didn't have a school. Megan wasn't sure a little girl would enjoy that much. Of course, the general store had to be better for her than Mrs. Jarvis's house. Megan stepped off the stool and moved to the counter.
"Never mind." Justin's voice was low and angry.
Startled, she looked at him. "What do you mean?"
He grimaced. "I should have remembered that nothing is more important to you than your reputation. Colleen's threats really bothered you, didn't they? Don't worry, Bonnie and I don't need you."
"Justin, no. You're not being fair." She saw the two women across the store glance toward her. She spoke more softly. "I was thinking about all that's involved with taking in a child."
"You didn't have to think about taking in the kitten."
"They're hardly the same thing."
He placed his forearms on the counter and leaned toward her. "You know what I mean. No one cares about a damn cat, so that's safe. But when it gets a little dangerous, you back off. You're so frightened of not doing exactly what everyone expects. Fine, then. If that's all that matters to you, keep your reputation."
She set down the nightgowns and glared at him. "Don't be ridiculous. Are you planning to take her back to the hotel with you? She's just a little girl. She needs more than that."
"She's a damn sight better off with me than she was yesterday."
"I agree with that. But you can't keep her. You're a single man."
"You're not married, either."
"At least I'm a woman."
"I care about Bonnie, and you don't/'
"Of course I care. You're being completely unreasonable, Justin. I'll take her home with me."
He stretched forward until their noses were less than six inches apart. "No."
She did her best to hang on to her temper, but he was trying her patience. If truth be told, there was a small amount of guilt fueling her argument. She had thought about what Colleen would think. She hated that. She didn't want to be tied down by others' opinions, but she couldn't seem to help herself. If only she didn't know the dangers of flouting convention.
"You didn't even give me a chance to think about it," she told him. "So if I don't instantly say yes, without considering the consequences that just might have more to do with Bonnie than with me, you assume the worst. I don't get a second chance."
"You haven't changed, Megan," he said, straightening.
That hurt more than almost anything he could have said. She glanced down at the counter so he wouldn't see the flash of pain in her eyes. "You're wrong."
"Am I? It doesn't matter. Bonnie will stay with me. She has her own room. She seems happy enough."
An excited squeal made her look up. Bonnie came running toward them from the back of the store. She clutched something in her hand.
"Look," she said, her mouth quivering with excitement. "Look what that man gave me. Look." She held out a small corn-husk doll. The facial features had been drawn with charcoal, the clothes made from scraps. But from the expression on Bonnie's face, the child had been given a gift more precious than gold.
"Isn't she beautiful?" she asked reverently, then smiled shyly. "He said she's for me."
Cameron strolled up behind the child. He cleared his throat, then shrugged uncomfortably. "Please put it on my account, Miss Bartlett," he said.
Justin was still staring at Bonnie.
"What's wrong?" Megan asked him.
He shook his head. "I've never seen her smile before." He glanced at the other man. * "Thanks."
"Every little girl needs a doll." Cameron shuffled his feet. "I'm going to take two more hoes," he said to Megan. "They'll need to go on the bill, as well."
'Til take care of it," she said.
