Free Linda Ford by Once Upon a Thanksgiving Page A

they reached her house. He pulled the wagon to a stop and hurried around to help her descend.
    They stood facing each other, a hundred wishes swirling through her mind and likely revealing themselves on her face. She didn’t care. She wanted a chance to love this man.
    He squeezed her shoulder for but a touch, then climbed to the wagon. She grabbed the side to keep him from driving away. “Promise me you’ll think about what I said.”
    His smile brimmed with hope. “I’ll think about it.”
    She stared after him until he turned a corner out of sight. Then she made her way up the sidewalk to face her parents, who she guessed would have watched the proceedings out the window.

Chapter Six
    B uck didn’t realize how much Rosie had read into the situation, though his expression likely gave away a lot. She waited until they’d had their evening meal and the children had gone to bed.
    “Okay, brother, what happened between you and Kathleen?”
    He examined the nail bed of his thumb. How could he begin to explain how he felt? How much he loved Kathleen and wished things could be different? “I kissed her.”
    Rosie shoved her cup out of the way to lean across the table. “Have you lost your mind? Do you know who she is?”
    He gave her only stubborn denial. “Of course I do. She’s Kathleen Sanderson. A very sweet woman.”
    “She’s also the daughter of the richest, most powerful man in these parts.” Rosie let out a noisy gust. “He would never let his sweet daughter look twice at a nobody like you. Worse than a nobody—the son ofa murderer. And—” She pressed forward again. “He would stop at nothing to discredit you in her eyes. And in the eyes of all the people around here. You know how easy that will be. Why have you let it go so far? Just when I thought I might be able to forget the past.”
    “No one will ever let us forget the past. But perhaps it’s time to stop trying to outrun it.”
    Rosie bolted to her feet. “You really think you can change things? Stop and think. How many times have we tried before? Having a murderer for a father marks us. It always will.” She glanced about the house. “This is one of the best places I’ve had. I don’t want to leave.” She stopped at Buck’s side and grabbed his face to turn it toward her. “You are going to wreck my life for nothing.”
    “Not for nothing. For a chance for Joey and me to belong.”
    She turned away from him. “Belong somewhere else.”
    He didn’t say somewhere else would not be the same. Kathleen wouldn’t be anywhere but here. Yet she didn’t need him to say the words to know what he thought, and she gave a snort of disgust. “Buck, what do I have to do to get you to leave?”
    He struggled between wanting to protect Rosie and longing for the love he’d ached for for so many years, he’d grown almost comfortable with the feeling.
    Now, for the first time, he’d found the answer to his loneliness. Perhaps, like Kathleen said, he needed to stay and prove he deserved it.
     
    Kathleen smiled as she stepped into the house. Buck had kissed her. She had kissed him. If the way he kissed meant anything, it wouldn’t take much to convince him to stay.
    She sighed as she hung her coat. She wished she knew exactly what it would take. But it seemed to be something more than she could offer. The thought clogged her heart. Why couldn’t she be enough?
    She turned and came face-to-face with her father.
    “I came home from work early because I was worried about your mother. I found her sitting alone in the dark. Is it too much to expect you to be here when your mother needs you?”
    “I’m sorry.” She hurried past him to her mother’s side. “Are you ill?”
    “I’m very, very weary.”
    Kathleen rubbed her mother’s hands. “What can I do?”
    “Stop going to visit that woman.” Her father spoke harshly.
    Kathleen bowed her head. Oh, God. Please don’t let him forbid me to go.
    He went to his chair and plopped down. “I