“I only want you to be happy, little sister,” he said. “I want you to live your dreams.”
They both fell silent and a few minutes later, Mark pulled the wagon to a stop in front of one of the largest, plushest hotels in town. Her mind was consumed with a thousand other thoughts and she was not even thinking about Silas until he appeared in the doorway of the hotel.
The moment she saw him, her stomach churned and she had the sudden urge to crawl into a hole and hide. Over the last couple of conversations they’d had, Isabelle had gotten the feeling that Silas had certain feelings for her. Or at least entertained a certain interest in her. She felt bad but they were feelings and interest she did not reciprocate.
She liked Silas well enough and thought they could be good friends, given their overlapping interests and hobbies. But her feelings did not extend beyond friendship. She knew she should not feel bad. After all, she did not owe somebody her attention or affection simply because they felt something for her. But she could not help it. She had no desire to hurt Silas but she knew that not returning his affection would do just that.
When Silas’s eyes fell upon her, the smile that crossed his face was wide and warm. He walked across the porch in front of the doors and bounded down the steps, striding up to their wagon as Mark was helping her down from the seat.
“Well, look who it is,” Silas beamed.
Mark stepped forward and extended his hand. “It’s good to see you, Silas.”
“You as well,” Silas replied. “What brings you two into town today?”
“I have a delivery for your father, actually.”
“Oh really? Already?” he asked. “My father was not expecting your delivery for a couple of weeks yet.”
“I was able to get my operation back on its feet again sooner than I expected,” Mark said. “If it’s too early and he’s not ready, I can hold −”
“Oh no, no,” Silas waved him off. “He’ll be glad to have it. Truth be told, he prefers your product to Mr. Alford’s.”
“That’s good to know.”
Isabelle subtly slid behind Mark, doing her best to make herself as unobtrusive as possible as they talked business. If she could have, she would have turned herself invisible.
“I’ll have our men come out and unload the crates,” Silas said.
“I appreciate that,” Mark replied. “And while they’re doin’ that, I have to see Mr. White.”
“Great, great,” Silas said. “We’ll take care of that and I’ll have a man keep an eye on your wagon. We don’t want any more unfortunate accidents.”
“I’m obliged, Silas.”
“It’s my pleasure,” he replied. “And while you’re seeing to your business, I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind letting me take your sister out for an early supper? There’s a French restaurant I told her about that I would love to take her to.”
Isabelle’s blood ran cold at the request. But at the same time, she felt a flash of irritation at the fact that he was speaking of her like she was not even there and had no say in the matter. Like she was a woman with no agency at all. Clenching her jaw, she stepped around her brother and gave Silas a small smile.
“I appreciate the generous offer,” she said through gritted teeth. “But I have to accompany my brother to his meeting. I am trying to learn the business so I may better assist him with it.”
She cut a glance at her brother and saw him trying to suppress the small smirk that was threatening to cross his lips. But at one look from her, the smirk fell away as he seemed to understand that she was not interested in Silas and had no desire to have supper with him. She did not want to encourage his pursuit of her − and she hoped she conveyed that sentiment to Mark with her eyes.
Silas looked at her and she saw a coldness slide down over his face. His jaw was clenched and his eyes narrowed slightly. More than the frustration she saw in his face though, she saw the hurt and disappointment that tore at her heart. He looked like a boy who had just had his heart broken.
As badly as she felt for hurting him though, she stood firm. She clung even harder to her belief that she did not owe Silas her affection simply because he felt something for her.
“Perhaps another time,” Mark said, backing her up. “I really do need her help with this. I want her to learn the business.”
Silas sniffed and stood up straighter. “I understand,” he said. “Perhaps another time.”
Isabelle nodded and gave him a gentle smile. “Yes, perhaps another time.”
“Very well,” Silas said stiffly. “I should probably see to my affairs inside. Your wagon will be safe here until you return.”
“Appreciate that, Silas.”
Without another word, Silas turned and walked back up the steps and into the hotel. Isabelle looked down at the ground and sighed. Mark turned to her and gave Isabelle a weak smile.
“He’ll get over it,” he said. “Don’t feel too bad about that.”
“I know. I just feel bad for him,” she replied. “He really is a decent man. It’s just that…”
Isabelle’s voice trailed off and Mark chuckled. He took her hand and gave it a gentle, encouraging squeeze.
“It’s just that your heart is already full,” he said.
Isabelle nodded. “It is.”
“Well, I like Silas a whole lot,” he said. “But if I had my way, I’d rather see you with Harv.”
“Thank you, Mark.”
They walked off together down the street, leaving the wagon in front of the hotel. As they went, the hair on the back of Isabelle’s neck prickled and a strange sensation washed over her.
She was practically certain that if she turned around, she would see Silas watching her from one of the hotel windows. It wasn’t until they turned a corner and the hotel disappeared from view that the feeling eased.
“So who do you have to meet with?” she asked.
“First I have to see Mr. White to firm up an order,” he told her. “Then I need to go see Mr. Walsh and try to win over his business.”
“That sounds scintillating, big brother.”
“Hey, you’re the one who said you wanted to help me,” he grinned. “You could have been eating a fine French meal instead.”
“You are not funny,” she said, but laughed.
“You don’t have to come with me,” he said. “I can handle this on my own. Why don’t you go look at dresses or maybe scout some possible spots to put your gallery.”
Isabelle smiled. “I’ll do that,” she said and gave him a serious look. “Thank you, Mark.”
“Anytime, little sister. Anytime at all.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Isabelle walked down the street, watching all of the activity in Stephill with rapt fascination. She passed several shops and perused the dresses in the window. In her mind’s eye, she pictured a shop filled with some of her paintings, imagining what the inside might look like with her work on the walls as well. It was a daydream that made her smile.
“Oh, excuse me.”
The voice startled Isabelle and pulled her out of her daydream and stopped in her tracks, realizing she had almost run into somebody. She snapped her head around and found herself standing face to face with Ruby Alford.
The diminutive dark haired beauty stared back at her with those bottomless caramel colored eyes. Her cheeks were flushed scarlet in stark contrast to her milky white skin, and a wavering smile crossed her face.
Isabelle could tell the girl was painfully shy − except around people she was comfortable with. Indeed, she seemed quite demonstrative with her brother whenever Isabelle saw them together.
The comfort and chemistry between them was more than clear to see to anybody who was looking and she felt that lance of pain piercing her very soul knowing Ruby’s father stood between them and their happiness.
“Pardon me, Ruby,” Isabelle said. “I was caught up in my own thoughts.”
She smiled shyly. “It’s no trouble at all.”
&n
bsp; Isabelle could not help but wonder how often it was she bumped into somebody because her mind was caught up in thoughts of her brother. Probably often.
It was then Isabelle realized that Ruby was not alone. A large, hulking man wearing dark trousers, a dark shirt, a dark jacket, and a black hat to top it all off was standing a few feet away. To Isabelle, he looked like the living personification of the grim reaper.
She suppressed a shudder as she looked at the large, silent man looming behind Ruby. Just his presence made her uncomfortable in ways she could not express and she wondered how Ruby tolerated having him shadow her where ever she went.
“What are you doing in town today?” Isabelle asked.
“My father had to meet with somebody so I was just doing some window shopping,” she smiled. “I can’t think of anything more boring than sitting in while they talk business.”
“I could not agree more,” Isabelle grinned. “Mark is doing some business so I decided to walk around town myself.”
Isabelle thought she saw a spark of light in Ruby’s eyes when she mentioned her brother. She watched the girl’s eyes shift around, as if she was searching the area, looking for Mark in the crowd. But when she did not see him, Isabelle saw a brief flash of disappointment in her face.
Isabelle wanted to get to know Ruby better. She was determined to find some way to get her brother together with the woman he loved − the woman who loved him back. To Isabelle, it was not right and not fair that they were being kept apart and she silently vowed to do something about that.
“May I walk with you?” Isabelle asked.
Ruby balked, uncertainty on her face. She cut a glance back at her hulking bodyguard, looking almost afraid, as if she did not know whether or not she could risk being seen with her. But Isabelle did not give her a chance to think. She linked her arm through Ruby’s and turned her the other way and began walking.
Ruby hesitated and the moment grew awkward as Isabelle had to practically pull her along, forcing the woman to hurry to catch up. Within moments, they were walking along arm in arm and Isabelle gave her a smile. She could not see him but she felt Ruby’s bodyguard walking behind them. His presence fell over them like a cold shadow.
“Do you ever get used to that?” she whispered to Ruby.
“Used to what?”
“Having that man following you.”
She gave Isabelle a small smile. “You learn to pretend he’s not there,” she said. “But I don’t know if that’s the same as getting used to it.”
Isabelle shrugged. “Why does your father think you need a chaperone anyway?”
“To keep me out of trouble, of course.”
“And by trouble, you mean to keep you away from my brother?”
It was Ruby’s turn to shrug. “Away from any man probably,” she said. “But yes, specifically your brother. My father unfortunately, knows that Mark has my heart.”
They strolled along the wooden walkway that lined either side of the road, peering into the windows of the shops they passed. They made small talk to pass the time and Isabelle kept cutting glances behind her, trying to gauge how far back the man in black was and how much he could hear of their conversation. Ruby looked at her oddly. Perhaps she realized what Isabelle was doing.
“He is my father’s man but he has never betrayed anything I’ve ever said,” Ruby told her. “It’s one reason I’m able to tolerate him shadowing me − he keeps his mouth shut about everything.”
“Well that is comforting,” Isabelle said.
“Don’t feel too at ease. He would not hesitate to tell my father if I snuck away with somebody like Mark,” Ruby laughed. “It would be his hide if he did not. But as far as what I say, it’s as if he never heard it.”
Isabelle grinned. “It would still be disconcerting to never be alone.”
“Believe me, it is.”
“I’m sorry you have to live like a prisoner, Ruby.”
She shrugged. “There is unfortunately not much I can do about it,” she said, a note of sadness in her voice. “It is my lot in life. At least for now.”
“At least for now?”
Her smile was gentle. “I have faith that one day, something will change.”
Isabelle ducked into a dress shop, pulling Ruby in along with her. The big man took up a post just outside the door, allowing them to move around inside the shop without him looming over them. Isabelle looked around at the dresses, awed by the beautiful designs. She saw at least a dozen she wanted to take home with her.
As she touched the lace around the collar of a black dress patterned with white flowers, she wondered what Harvey would think of seeing her in a dress like that.
“Afternoon, Ruby.”
Isabelle turned to see a tall, thin woman with green eyes and graying hair pulled back into a severe bun approaching them. Though older, Isabelle thought she was quite handsome. She favored Ruby with an affectionate smile.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Withershaw,” Ruby greeted her warmly, returning the older woman’s affection. “This is Isabelle Logan.”
“Ahh yes, Mark’s sister,” the older woman replied. “It is lovely to meet you. Your brother is a good man.”
“He is,” Isabelle said. “And it is very nice to meet you, Mrs. Withershaw. Your dresses are beautiful.”
“That’s very sweet, thank you,” she smiled warmly before turning to Ruby. “Was there something special you wanted to see?”
Ruby shook her head. “No, we’re just looking today,” Ruby replied. “And taking a break from my babysitter.”
Mrs. Withershaw’s laugh was rich and throaty. Isabelle thought she seemed so cultured and so refined. At the same time, she seemed kind and down to earth. Isabelle liked her enormously from the start.
The older woman gave Ruby a knowing smile. “Well, I’ll leave you be,” she said. “If you need anything, please let me know.”
“Thank you, Mrs Withershaw,” Isabelle and Ruby echoed in unison.
Isabelle picked up the black and white dress and held it up against her. Looking at her reflection in the standing mirror.
“It’s a beautiful dress. It would look amazing on you,” Ruby said. “I am certain Harvey Willerson would agree.”
Isabelle spun around and gawked at Ruby with wide eyes and her mouth hanging open.
“W - what are you talking about?” she stammered.
Ruby laughed softly. “I am not blind. I have seen the way you two look at each other in church,” she said. “And the way you seem to speak around one another.”
Isabelle laughed. “That is not true. We do not speak around each other.”
“You do,” Ruby joined her laughter. “I have seen it myself.”
Isabelle felt her cheeks flush and warm as she looked away. Mark knowing about her affection for Harvey was one thing. Having a complete stranger know was something else entirely. She liked Ruby quite a lot and thought they could be good friends. But in the here and now, they were virtual strangers to each other.
“Harvey is a good man, Isabelle,” she said. “And after the tough cards life has dealt him, he deserves some happiness.”
“He does,” she replied. “I just do not know how he feels about me.”
Ruby grinned at her wolfishly. “You really don’t know?”
Isabelle shook her head. “I truly do not.”
“Then you are blind, Isabelle,” she said. “That man cares for you. And he cares a lot.”
“Do you believe so?”
“I would bet my very last nickel on it.”
Isabelle smiled. The confirmation from somebody beside her brother made her feel good − although uncertainty continued to abound and would likely continue to do so until she heard it from Harvey’s lips.
“Well, I hope that is the case,” she said softly. “I care for him a lot.”
“Well make sure you grab hold of that man and don’t let go,” Ruby said. “He is easily the most eligible bachelor in all of Stephill. There is no shor
tage of women who are lining up to get his attention.”
Isabelle looked down at the dress again and decided she was going to buy it. Ruby was right, it would look good on her and she thought that Harvey would like it.
“What about you?” Isabelle asked. “What are we going to do about you and my brother?”
Ruby sighed and her shoulders slumped. The sadness and longing she felt were etched clearly upon her face and Isabelle couldn’t help but think she looked utterly defeated.
A Healing Love For The Broken Cowboy (Historical Western Romance) Page 23