Free Before the Larkspur Blooms by Caroline Fyffe Page A

chuckled. “Kinda hard not to.”
    Hannah swallowed. He’d known—all those years. Yes, they’d been young, but lots of couples met in school, got married, loved each other till their dying day.
He’d known and still didn’t return my feelings.
She felt compelled to continue even though the ground where she stood seemed to rock. “It wasn’t until three years after you left that we got news you’d been in prison the whole time. I never believed you were guilty, Thom. You’d never do something illegal like rustling cattle. Caleb, you know how much he loved you, well—he saw I was pining away for you, saw my anguish—he tried to make up for it. He invited me to supper almost every Sunday. Once I turned fifteen he asked me to every social that year. Gave me his coat when I was cold. I couldn’t help but respond to his kindness.”
    Thom’s stalwart expression made her wish she hadn’t launched into this at all. “Finally,” she continued, although her bravado was waning, “he started talking about marriage. After my father passed away, my mother was fearful of everything. Afraid I’d end up a spinster. Afraid we would lose everything without a way to support ourselves. Afraid to stay on the farm unprotected.”
    Thom reached out and smoothed a wisp of hair from her face, his eyes softening. “I appreciate what you’re doing, but all this has nothing to do with who we are now, Hannah. No one can turn back the hands of time. Not even you. Don’t you think I would if I could?”
    Why couldn’t he bend just a little? Meet her halfway. In exasperation, she stamped her foot and the old plank boards gave, causing a slight sway in the floor. A second later, a decorative plate slipped from a narrow display shelf above the door. It fell and shattered with a loud crash.

    Thom ached to pull Hannah into his arms, kiss the sweet lips that had just confessed her devotion. But he couldn’t. All the hurt and disappointment he’d already caused those who loved him…Hannah deserved so much better. Especially since she’d already suffered through Caleb’s death, and at such a young age. She needed someone who could care for her and her son for years to come. Someone she could lean on. He had no idea what his future held, not with a bullet ready to drop him. He was damaged goods.
    He had to keep a clear head, do what was best for her. While he tried to think of what he could say to make her understand, he stared at the remnants of the broken plate.
    A quick rap on the back door startled both of them.
    “Is everything all right in here, Hannah?” Dwight came in without invitation. He glanced at the plate and then back at Hannah. “I heard something shatter. Are you hurt?”
    The deputy’s posture all but snapped straight when he saw Thom. His wide-eyed concern vanished as his hand lowered to the handle of the Colt 45 strapped to his leg.
    Thom swore under his breath.
Exactly what I have been trying to avoid.
It wouldn’t take much to get himself shot or sent back toDeer Lodge. Not much at all, especially with Dwight’s predatory temperament watching his every move with wolflike precision. The warden had warned Thom. People were afraid of ex-convicts. He had to be twenty times more observant of the law than most.
    “What the devil is going on in here?” The white bone china crackled and popped underneath Dwight’s boots as he strode possessively toward Hannah.
    Thom gritted his teeth and looked down at the floor. Surely Dwight would notice her flushed face. The tears glistening in her eyes.
    “He try to hurt you, Hannah? In any way at all? Did he put his hands on you?” Dwight’s fingers curled around the handle of his gun. “You can tell me. Did he make improper advances?”
    “Of course not!” Hannah said firmly. Sparks fairly sprang from her eyes. “That is outrageous. Win sent him over to fix my water pump. He’s been a perfect gentleman in every way.”
    “I don’t know if I believe you, Hannah. Why