’s hatred had gone to Leah’s heart.
“She killed my husband,” the woman said loudly, and the next moment she was advancing on Leah with hands made into claws.
“Murderer!” the woman screamed. “Murderer!”
Leah didn’t move but waited for the woman, almost as if she deserved what she got.
Wesley put himself between Leah and the enraged woman. “Don’t,” he said kindly.
“She killed him!” the woman screeched. “He was all I had in the world. We were gonna build a farm together. Now everythin’s gone because of her.” Still screaming, she began to kick Wesley, hitting him with her fists.
“Get in the wagon, Leah,” Wesley said calmly. “Go! Now!” he commanded when she didn’t move.
Leah tried to keep her chin high, but it wasn’t easy because she could feel the eyes of everyone in town on her. Stiffly she climbed into the wagon, her eyes straight ahead.
After a few moments Wesley sat beside her and without a word to her clucked to the horses to go.
Leah didn’t blame him for not speaking to her. And imagine, she’d just started to think that Sweetbriar might be safe. What little safety there had been was now gone—as were her chances for gaining her husband’s love. No Stanford could love a woman accused of murder.
Chapter 27
With his shoulders hunched and his hands in his pockets, Wesley stood in the Macalister store, listlessly ordering supplies. It was raining hard outside.
“Think it’ll flood?” Doll asked.
“I don’t know,” Wes replied glumly.
“Sure ain’t no sunshine in here,” Doll complained. “What happened to that wife of yours?” Doll looked at Mac. “I ain’t seen her in weeks.”
Mac’s head rose above the counter. “She’s cookin’ for them two bears,” he said with anger. “That is when my daughter ain’t cookin’ for ’em. Wes, I ought to wring your neck for bringin’ them two here. Miranda cried all night last night sayin’ she wanted both of ’em and damned if her mother didn’t act like she thought it was a goddamn fine idea.”
He went to the back of the store for a moment and returned with more goods. “Anythin’ else?”
“You know anything about women?” Wesley blurted.
Doll gave a derisive snort.
After a glare in Doll’s direction, Mac said, “Before I met Lynna I knew lots about women but ever’ year now I know less. You got problems?”
“He’s married, ain’t he?” Doll said. “Then he’s got problems.”
Wesley leaned against the counter, looking at his boot toe. “I used to think I understood women too, but I don’t. I thought that if you had a wife and you were kind to her, didn’t beat her, gave her a good home and pretty dresses, she’d be happy.”
“But yours isn’t happy,” Mac said. “They want love too.”
Wesley stiffened. “She couldn’t have any complaints there. I keep her pretty busy.”
Doll gave a chuckle.
“No,” Mac said, “that ain’t enough for a woman. She wants you to love her. I don’t know how to explain it. You just know when you love her.”
“Oh that.” Wes waved his hand. “I fell in love with Leah a long time ago. She’s got more courage than anybody I ever met.”
“So what’s your problem?” Mac asked.
“You remember a month ago when that woman accused Leah of murdering her husband?”
Mac grimaced. “That’s the day Miranda met those two boys of yours. I ain’t likely to forget it. But I thought you got all that straightened out.”