Page 51 of Honoring Freedom
She was caught by one of the elderly members of Sagebrush Pine. She offered him an apologetic smile and stopped to speak.
He felt a jagged rock take up residence in the center of his chest.
He never intended to fall for her again. Reflecting, he realized proposing might have been a mistake, but the idea of someone else giving her a ring was intolerable. He was willing to confront anything to stop that from happening, making marriage seem like the lesser of two evils.
Now he found himself stuck between a rock and a Rose.
What had he expected?
That she’d reciprocate his feelings?
That they would get another chance?
“Everything alright, cowboy?” Lanah Weaver asked with a cheerful grin.
“Absolutely.”
“You're still thinking about her, aren’t you?”
He looked at her. “Yeah, I suppose I am.” Why hide it? He was done and dusted with keeping secrets.
“Those Roses certainly sink their claws in deep,” Lanah sighed. “It's a shame she doesn’t notice a good thing right in front of her.”
“What do you mean?” Keller asked.
Lanah twirled a strand of her hair around her finger. “Oh, I just mean I've noticed how close she and Jinx are. I saw them having an intense conversation by the barn earlier. It looked like a lover’s quarrel to me.”
Keller felt as if he'd taken a blow to the chest. Jinx was a trusted friend, and even though Keller didn't think there was anything romantic between Freedom and Jinx, it was evident that they appeared quite close. All the while Keller stayed hidden behind a wall of secrecy.
He suspected he was envious.
Envy could drive a man mad if he let it.
Yet, he’d protect his wife against anyone’s judgements.
“She and Jinx are good friends. Like we are—were,” he said matter of factly.
She looked up at him, smirking. “I remember. Now we’re not allowed to be friends.”
“That’s not true.”
“Oh?” She sighed “Freedom hasn’t said one kind word to me since that night…”
“Lanah, she had every right to be angry.” He scrubbed his fingers over his jaw.
“I guess you probably still hold that event against me too.” Creases bracketed her eyes.
“No. Trust is important in a relationship.” He still watched Freedom. The sundress she wore fapped against her long legs, giving him a view of her toned thigh.
She squinted, looking from Lanah back to him. Even though she kept her face calm, he could almost see Freedom boiling inside.
She walked up to him and as she got closer, she gave Lanah a saccharine smile. “Hello, Lanah. I see you won the chili contest for the…what does this make? The fifth year in a row?”
“Actually, it's the sixth time, but who’s keeping track?” Lanah's smile was tinged with insincere sweetness.
Keller didn’t want to be in the middle.
“Will you be participating in the scarecrow contest?” Freedom directed her question at Lanah.