Free NoRegretsColeNC by Christina Cole

isn’t a sign you’re smitten with Willie Morse. He’s not worth it, you
know. You deserve better. Much better.” She folded her
arms across her chest and let out an awful harrumph. At once she grimaced. “Heaven help me, I sound just like my father. I hate
it when he makes that noise.”
    Wishing
she were more adept at holding her emotions in, Hattie let out a sigh. “Willie’s
not as awful as you’ve made him out to be. At least, not now.” She knew Emily had never liked Willie Morse or his pompous father. “I think
maybe the accident changed him.”
    “There
you go again.” Emily rolled her pretty blue eyes. “You’re always seeing the
world through rose-colored glasses, and now, gracious sakes, you’ve got me
talking in adages, too, the way you do ..”
    “What’s
wrong with seeing the best in people?”
    “Not
everyone deserves respect, that’s what. Especially Willie
Morse.” Emily shuddered.
    “That’s
an awful thing to say. He deserves respect, and even more, he deserves a chance
to put his life together again. He’s trying. He’s really trying.” She said it
again, her fervor obvious.
    Emily
remained silent for a moment and then gave her head a shake. “No, he’s not.
That accident didn’t change him, Hattie, and you’re a fool if you think
otherwise. He’s gone right back to his old ways. Ben said he’s hanging out at
the saloon, getting drunk—”
    Hattie
gasped. “He’s not!”
    “—then
sleeping it off at the livery.”
    Already
Hattie had grabbed her shawl and thrown it on. She huffed out a breath. “I’m
going over there right now. I’ll have a talk with him.” She plopped a straw
bonnet on her head.
    “You’ll
do no such thing.” Emily caught her by the shoulder. “Willie’s a grown man.
He’s got to figure things out for himself. You don’t need to get involved with
him.”
    Hattie
tightened her shawl around her shoulders. “Everybody else in this town has
given up on Willie. I won’t.” She gathered her skirts and whirled around. She
knew Emily stood staring at her, mouth agape, but no matter. She’d heard
enough.

 
     
     
    Chapter Five
     
     
    Hattie’s
feet fairly flew over the boardwalk. The thought of Willie falling back into
his old habits, of him throwing his life away without a care made her mad
enough to spit nails. As she sped toward the livery, people stepped out of her
way. Good thing. As angry as she was, she couldn’t see straight and wouldn’t have
had time for apologies if she’d run somebody down.
    One
hand holding her hat to her head, she raced onward. By the time she’d reached
Josiah Beardsley’s establishment, Hattie Mae was plumb out of breath. She
leaned against the open doorway, watching as the owner—a middle-aged man
dressed in dingy bib overalls—shuffled through the musty straw.
    “Can I
help you, miss?”
    “Yes,
you certainly can.” She pressed a hand to her heart, getting the words out
between gasps for air.
    He
studied her with obvious concern. “Are you all right? Are you going to faint,
miss? Should I call someone— ”
    “I’m
fine.” She waved the words away and drew herself up. “Is it true, Mr.
Beardsley? Are you letting Willie Morse stay in the back of your barn?”
    “Am I
doing what?” He cupped a hand to his ear and bent forward.
    “Are
you allowing Willie Morse to live here?”
    Josiah
shook his head. “This is a livery, miss, not a boarding house.” His dark eyes
examined her once more. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
    “Yes.
I’m perfectly fine.” She wished the man would stop worrying so much about her and listen to what she was saying.
“I’m concerned about Mr. Morse, however, and I was told he’s been sleeping
here. Do you mind if I see for myself?”
    Josiah’s
hair—a curious mix of gray and gold—hung down nearly to his thin shoulders. He
ran a bony hand through it and frowned.
    “I’m
not sure what it is you’re all heated up about.”
    “Oh,
never mind. Just