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Prudence relished his fatherly concern. "I'm fine, really. And I'm not alone. Bertha and I will be busy sewing her wedding dress, and there's the Ladies Social Club meeting . . ."
Her father shook his head as her words trailed off, and he reached for his handkerchief in his back pocket. He wiped at the tears that fell slowly from her eyes onto her cheek. "Come and sit down a minute."
"I don't know what's wrong with me," she said, sitting in the rocker on the porch.
James sat in the other rocker beside her, pressing his handkerchief into her hands. "You're in love."
Prudence agreed with a nod. She reached her hand out to her father and he took it in a gentle squeeze. "Why can't I express my love for him? Why do I find the words so difficult to say to him?"
James felt the guilt weigh heavy on his shoulders. This was his fault. In protecting his child, he had shielded her from fears and hurts and never allowed her to learn to deal with the normal pains of life. "You fear the hurt of losing that love and don't wish to open yourself to that pain again."
Her tears flowed more freely down her cheeks and she didn't stop them. "Why didn't you tell me the truth about Mother?"
James had been waiting for this moment, had expected it. He squeezed her hand once again, asking for forgiveness or acceptance, he wasn't certain. "I couldn't bear to see you hurt, to see the pain I knew her leaving would have brought you. I wanted to protect you."
"As Mother wanted to protect us?"
James shook his head sadly. "Sometimes we make decisions we think are right." He stopped a moment and shook his head even more strenuously. "But later we regret them and realize how very wrong we were. And then it's too late and they can no longer be mended."
It was Prudence's turn to squeeze her father's hand in comfort. "I'm glad I found Mother for us."
James smiled in pleasure. "You always were tenacious and stubborn."
"Determined," Lenore corrected from the doorway.
"Yes. I like that description of me much better," Prudence agreed. "I do have a determined nature."
"I have some sweet buns left from breakfast," Lenore offered. "Shall we all steal a late morning snack?"
James sprang out of his seat, realizing Lenore was offering more than buns. She was offering, by the simple shared act, that they become a family once again. "Don't have to ask me twice."
Prudence patted at her damp eyes before she stood. "I'm with you, Papa."
James took Prudence's hand and reached out to Lenore. She extended her hand to him without hesitation.
"How lucky can a man get to have the two most beautiful women in the world by his side."
Lenore laughed.
Prudence stared wide-eyed at him. Her father had never called her beautiful the whole time she was growing up. The sincere words touched her heart. She entered the house with her parents, filled with a sense of peace and appreciation.
The late afternoon sun shone through the dining room windows, filling the room with warmth and brightness. Prudence noted, with pride, the way the sun spotlighted the highly polished table.
She sighed with satisfaction and draped the ivory lace cloth over the middle, then added a tan pitcher filled with wild yellow and white daisies.
"All ready" Prudence said, and was surprised when a voice answered her, since she had assumed she was still alone, her mother and father having gone off on a walk.
"For what, may I ask?" Granger inquired.
"The Stewart Ladies Social Club meeting on Thursday," she answered, having grown more relaxed around Granger since he had ceased his attempts to convince her to marry him.
"I wouldn't have thought there would be enough women in these parts to form such a group."
"There are more people around than you think. It's just that the ranches are spread out, and neighbors don't always get to see each other as often as they like. That was why I formed the club."
"And organized the building of the church?"
"Someone's been talking to you," Prudence said, motioning for him to follow her to the kitchen.
Granger sat at the plain wooden table, though he was obviously uneasy in such common surroundings.
"Everyone I meet sings your praises. They tell me how much you have done for this town and how they are certain Stewart will prosper because of your help."
Prudence poured them each a glass of cooled mint tea. "They just needed someone to organize things."
"You always were good at that," Granger offered in way of a compliment.
Prudence accepted it with a gracious smile, since it was the only one he had ever paid her. "Zac won't be back to see your parents off?"
"No, he had business to tend to at the far west end of the ranch."
"That's a shame. I did want to thank him for his hospitality," Granger said, sipping at his tea.
