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Kent let the acid burn in his stomach and tried to tell himself the discomfort was the job, not the fact that Alice had been allowed to roam on her own and make her own mistakes because he hadn’t been here to be the husband he’d promised he would be. He remembered her words about his upset stomach and for once looked at Blake full in the face. “I think Alice is perfect just the way she is.”
* * *
The table was inordinatelyquiet as Alice pushed her food around her plate. She’d arrived just as Ma had directed everyone to the table, but since she couldn’t wear her riding habit for supper, they’d had to wait while she changed. Ma’s silence carried the weight of disappointment.
“What held you attention for so long that you forgot to be home in time to change?” Josie asked, mischief lighting her dark eyes.
She swallowed the bite of braised carrots that suddenly tasted dry when a moment before they’d been delectable. “I . . . found myself on a ride and lost track of time.” Was her face heating half as much as she felt? She set down her fork and smiled at her sister-in-law. “And how did you pass your day?”
Perhaps making conversation would take all eyes off her? And the feeling of heaviness around the table like everyone present was angry with her beyond her minor infraction.
Josie’s mouth crept up in a smile. “The little ones take much of my time.”
Gideon laid a hand over hers. “And you give them so much.”
She nodded, her glance wandering to the end of the table where the children sat, each quiet and wide-eyed, probably knowing they were the topic of conversation. “The children are a blessing. They keep me busier than the cattle or the sheep did.”
Alice flinched inside but kept her smile sure. Josie had always worked with cattle before she’d married Gideon. Now, she helped with the sheep when she could sneak off and leave Ma to dote over them for a few hours.
Someone knocked on the front door and Mrs. Eliza bustled from the kitchen to go answer it, allowing Ma to stay at the table. “I’ll show them in if it’s someone worth seeing,” she said over her shoulder as she rushed down the hall.
No one came calling during the supper hour who wasn’t invited. Alice picked up her fork and pushed her meal around her plate, both curious and glad for the distraction. While Kent had been more interested in her that day than he had been in years, he hadn’t asked to walk about with her, nor had he asked for her to see him in any manner that had nothing to do with cattle or sheep.
Perhaps he never intended to.
Her hand flew to her lips, still feeling the press of his against hers when Blake Longfellow walked into the room, his broad hat in his hand.
“I apologize for interrupting.”
Ma stood immediately and moved her plate over. “Mrs. Eliza, bring him a plate and chair. He can sit right here.”
He held up his hand as his cheeks deepened. “Truly, I can’t stay. Hannah will be holding supper for me, and I rarely ask her to do that. This was too important to wait, though.”
His gaze swung to her, and Alice’s stomach plummeted. He was there for her?
“What is it, Blake?” Ma slowly lowered herself back into her seat.
Alice bit her lip and glanced all around the table. Whatever Blake had to say, she wouldn’t come out of this meeting unscathed if she didn’t take matters into her own hands.
“I can see you in the parlor, Blake.” She stood, shoving her chair back.
“Sit down, girl. Why would he be here to see you?” Pa growled.
His gravelly voice reminded her of Kent when he got surly. “I’m sorry. Are you here to see me?” She knew the answer, but apparently her family hadn’t made that connection yet.
“Yes. I think the parlor is the perfect place to talk, so we don’t interrupt supper further.” He gave a curt nod.
Ma’s eyes bore into hers as Alice pushed in her chair and made her way around the huge table. She could feel all the other eyes as well, but Ma’s weighed the heaviest. Ma wouldn’t let this by. She’d have to give an account of what had brought Blake to their door. Probably right after supper.
She led Blake to the piano room instead of the parlor. It was brighter, cheerier, and different in case one of her parents decided to look for her when she didn’t return immediately. Blake sat at the small table in the corner Ma used for her tea and indicated Alice should join him.
“I was just over at the Douglas place talking to Kent. Any idea why I might want to talk to both of you?” He leaned back and regarded her with an unreadable expression.
She fidgeted, tugging on her sleeve. If she admitted what she assumed to be the issue, and was wrong, then she was admitting she had been somewhere she shouldn’t have been. If she didn’t, he would assume she had something to hide. Both were true, and neither she wanted to be known. “I’m afraid I don’t.”
He shook his head and flashed a smile before hiding it once again. “Kent said the same thing. You two are peas in a pod.”
She could only hope to be so close to him. Warmth spread over her. “I beg your pardon?”
