Free Heart of Stone by Jill Marie Landis Page A

lamely.
    As they stood together, shoulder to shoulder, she felt herself shrinking inside. She was no longer afraid of what would happen to her if any of these good people ever discovered the truth—she was afraid for the man beside her, afraid of hurting him. If her past somehow came to light, no matter how innocent their friendship, she would drag him down with her.
    The fact that she cared about what might happen to Brand scared her more than anything.
    Charity dismissed the children’s choir with a bow and a smile.The program halted while they marched down the aisle to join their parents. Sam and Janie bounced down the steps and when they reached Brand, Sam quickly climbed over his father and then Laura. He plopped down in the empty space beside her.
    “That’s not fair!” Janie frantically whispered to Brand. “I get to sit beside Mrs. Foster. You said
I
would get to sit by her.”
    Janie’s every word went up an octave. Laura instructed Sam to scoot to the next seat. She slid into his, opening a space between her and Brand and patted the now-empty seat beside her.
    Janie sat and glared at Sam across Laura. Sam stuck out his tongue. Janie made a fist. Laura took hold of Janie’s hand and Sam’s and held them together in her lap.
    “Watch your aunt,” she whispered loud enough so that each could hear. “She’s worked very hard and you really shouldn’t ruin this night for her by misbehaving.”
    When Sam started to protest, Laura tightened her hand around his. He peered around her at his father, screwed his mouth into a pout, but didn’t protest. Laura smiled and relaxed her hold.
    “Now,” she said, looking at each of them in turn, “isn’t this nicer?”
    The adult choir needed work, but what they lacked in talent, they made up for in enthusiasm. Their new, bright-crimson robes were neatly pressed and their spirit rose with every song until finally the performance came to a close and the crowd applauded.
    Brand walked her to the refreshment table. The children ran off to be with friends. As the rest of the crowd milled around, Laura looked for Amelia and Hank.
    “Can I get you something?” Brand asked.
    “I was looking for Amelia,” she said.
    “She and Hank said to tell you they’ve already headed home.” Brand gave her a knowing smile. “They’re still newlyweds, remember?”
    She wondered about the wink he gave her until she realized that Brand thought of her as a widowed comrade who shared equallyprecious memories of her own honeymoon. Laura tried to smile, to give an appearance of understanding. Being with Brand, who was not just a gentleman but a minister, underscored not only all she had missed in her life, but all she would never have.
    She tried to focus on the room, at the men, women, and children around them. People were talking, smiling, and congratulating Charity and the choir members.
    I don’t belong here.
It wasn’t a new revelation, but it hurt more than ever to realize a woman like her didn’t belong anywhere—except in a brothel.
    “Would you excuse me for a moment?” he asked.
    The undisguised admiration and warmth in Brand’s gaze threatened to be her undoing. “Of course.”
    She watched him walk toward a gathering of ranchers. He greeted them warmly, shook hands all around.
    Alone in the middle of a crowd, she fidgeted with her gloves, adjusted the silk cords on her reticule, and promised herself never again.
    “Mrs. Foster?”
    She turned to find Charity there with Mary Margaret Cutter. Along with her husband, Timothy, Mary Margaret owned the First Bank of Glory, the town’s only bank.
    “You did a wonderful job with the choirs,” Laura complemented Charity to keep the conversation on anything but herself. “Especially the children. You must have infinite patience.”
    Charity shrugged. “Not really. I just can’t bring myself to correct them. I usually end up trying to hide a smile when they misbehave. I’ll admit I had to use a touch of Amelia’s nerve