Free Heartland by Sherryl Woods Page A

sprawling closer all the time, this is still country. Times like this, neighbors rally around. We’d have been here for you when your mama died, too, but you made it pretty plain you wanted to be left on your own.”
    Lara shook her head ruefully, recalling how her pride had kept her from accepting even a kind word back then. She could remember practically slamming the door in the faces of some of the people who had come to call. Torn apart by grief and fear of the responsibilities ahead, she had irrationally blamed everyone for her mother’s death, blamed them for not helping her to shoulder the impossible burden of running a farm. If they’d helped, she’d been so sure her mother would have lived.
    â€œI was so angry back then,” she admitted.
    â€œYou had a right to be. First losing your daddy and then your mama. We all knew how much you gave up when you came home from school to take care of your brothers. That’s a heavy load for a young girl. We all admired how you pitched right in and took over here. You kept this place going as well as your daddy could have. Better, some say.”
    â€œBut I was rude and selfish in refusing your offers of help.”
    â€œThat’s in the past.”
    â€œMaybe so, but I’ve been thinking about the past a lot lately. I made my share of mistakes, too. I was just so afraid of relying on anyone back then. It wasn’t just my parents dying, but...” Her voice trailed off when she realized what she’d been about to confess.
    â€œSteven?” Terry prompted. At Lara’s look of astonishment, the older woman smiled. “We all knew you’d fallen for him like a ton of bricks. A blind man could’ve seen that. Those blue eyes of yours sure did shine the minute they set on him. As for Steven, he looked like he wasn’t quite sure what hit him. A man like that, a man who’s been on his own, traveling around, he’s not the type to give up his freedom easily, but everybody in town was taking bets on when you’d get him to the altar.”
    â€œIt didn’t work out.”
    â€œWe all wondered about it when he left so suddenly. You poked that chin of yours up in the air and looked so proud, we were all sure you’d given him the boot, but that wasn’t the way it was, was it?”
    Lara sighed and shook her head. “He left me.”
    â€œAnd now? From the way that man looks at you, my guess is he’s still in love with you. Has been ever since he came back to town, assuming he ever stopped.”
    â€œSo he says.”
    â€œBut you still don’t trust him?”
    â€œHow can I?” Lara’s voice was wistful.
    â€œGive it time, girl. Trust isn’t something you have to give or withhold overnight. It’s earned.” Lara glanced toward the well where Steven’s yellow hard hat was visible in the midst of the throng of men. “Seems to me he’s trying mighty hard to prove something to you. Listen with your head, but don’t ignore your heart.”
    Lara instinctively reached across the table and clasped the other woman’s hand. She somehow felt closer to Terry Simmons than she had to any woman since her mother died. It was as though in the midst of this tragedy, she had found a friend. “Thank you. I hope we won’t go back to being strangers when this is over.”
    â€œChild, I’m always around. That husband of mine thinks a trip to the grocery is enough traveling. You just call whenever you need me.”
    Just then Lara heard her name shouted by a familiar voice.
    Leaping to her feet, she looked around until she saw Tommy and Megan coming toward her. Afraid to anticipate their reaction to her, she took a hesitant step forward then waited. Then Tommy opened his arms, and she ran into them. Only the desperate tightness of his embrace indicated the depth of his distress.
    â€œHow is she, Sis?”
    â€œSteven says she’s doing okay.