leading up to Basil’s apartment? Such foolishness, he told himself. She was absolutely right. He was her employer, he wanted to retain their friendship, and she had a beau who was set to follow her to Oregon. And now a dead father, which would weigh heavily on her mind. He should put all thoughts of her as a desirable woman from his mind, and focus solely on furthering their casual relationship. Starting this evening, with the funeral.
• • •
Tears continued to prick Temperance’s eyes as she turned the horse back down the road leading away from town. She brushed the wetness away from her cheeks in an angry motion. She was mortified that she’d cried in front of Basil, but she had nowhere else to turn. He and Ginger were her only friends in this town.
Her mother was devastated by the loss of her partner. She confided to Temperance that she was expecting a final child in the spring, to Temperance’s total surprise. She didn’t think her father had ever gotten strong enough to make love to his wife, but obviously she was mistaken. But how could they, her parents, who she respected, put the family in further jeopardy? Her mother and she talked about what the family was to do during the long night while listening to her father take his last breaths. The baby would be born next April or May, just as the wagons were heading out of St. Louis.
How many more tribulations could possibly be heaped on her shoulders? She had better focus on sending touching love letters to Jeremiah so he wouldn’t forget about her and have his head turned by Rebecca Stoughton, her arch rival for his affections back in Pennsylvania. It was not a betrayal of her affection for Jeremiah to lean so heavily on Basil Fitzpatrick during this troublesome time. Jeremiah chose not to come with her family on the trek from Pennsylvania. He wanted to wait until his crops were harvested before he left the farm, and she had no one else. She so desperately needed someone to just talk to, since her burdens were threatening to bury her. That’s the only reason she cried in front of Basil. He realized the strain she was under, and was doing his best to remove some of it. And he was the only person she was willing to share that burden with.
She reached the restaurant and tied up her horse, stopping to sniff the air. Fried chicken tonight, unless she missed her guess. It was one of her favorites. As she let herself in the back door, she remembered Basil said he was planning to come to the restaurant this evening to discuss their business relationship. He had been as appalled by their encounter as she was, and wanted to propose an alternative arrangement.
She was grateful for his apology, even though he was not solely to blame for what happened. After all, she was the one out of line, by crawling into his bed. He was devastatingly handsome, and charming, true. But he wouldn’t get her family to Oregon. Only Jeremiah would do that, and she’d best not forget it. Still, she couldn’t control the warmth that flooded over her body as she thought of Basil dropping his plans for the evening to be in attendance at her father’s funeral. Jeremiah could have been here, and chose not to. And Basil was.
She stopped outside the kitchen door to the restaurant and put her hand on her forehead. What was she thinking? They had just had the discussion that theirs was a business relationship only, and here she was, counting the minutes until she could see him again.
Remember Jeremiah instead
, she admonished herself. She vowed to write to him that very evening, and to tell him of her father’s passing and how much the family needed him to arrive. Oh, yes, and she’d be sure to mention how much she loved him.
With a flash of resolve, she pushed open the door to tell the owner she would not be working this evening. As she left the restaurant minutes later, she began composing the letter to Jeremiah in her head. She did fine until she got to the part where she was to write
• • •
Tears continued to prick Temperance’s eyes as she turned the horse back down the road leading away from town. She brushed the wetness away from her cheeks in an angry motion. She was mortified that she’d cried in front of Basil, but she had nowhere else to turn. He and Ginger were her only friends in this town.
Her mother was devastated by the loss of her partner. She confided to Temperance that she was expecting a final child in the spring, to Temperance’s total surprise. She didn’t think her father had ever gotten strong enough to make love to his wife, but obviously she was mistaken. But how could they, her parents, who she respected, put the family in further jeopardy? Her mother and she talked about what the family was to do during the long night while listening to her father take his last breaths. The baby would be born next April or May, just as the wagons were heading out of St. Louis.
How many more tribulations could possibly be heaped on her shoulders? She had better focus on sending touching love letters to Jeremiah so he wouldn’t forget about her and have his head turned by Rebecca Stoughton, her arch rival for his affections back in Pennsylvania. It was not a betrayal of her affection for Jeremiah to lean so heavily on Basil Fitzpatrick during this troublesome time. Jeremiah chose not to come with her family on the trek from Pennsylvania. He wanted to wait until his crops were harvested before he left the farm, and she had no one else. She so desperately needed someone to just talk to, since her burdens were threatening to bury her. That’s the only reason she cried in front of Basil. He realized the strain she was under, and was doing his best to remove some of it. And he was the only person she was willing to share that burden with.
She reached the restaurant and tied up her horse, stopping to sniff the air. Fried chicken tonight, unless she missed her guess. It was one of her favorites. As she let herself in the back door, she remembered Basil said he was planning to come to the restaurant this evening to discuss their business relationship. He had been as appalled by their encounter as she was, and wanted to propose an alternative arrangement.
She was grateful for his apology, even though he was not solely to blame for what happened. After all, she was the one out of line, by crawling into his bed. He was devastatingly handsome, and charming, true. But he wouldn’t get her family to Oregon. Only Jeremiah would do that, and she’d best not forget it. Still, she couldn’t control the warmth that flooded over her body as she thought of Basil dropping his plans for the evening to be in attendance at her father’s funeral. Jeremiah could have been here, and chose not to. And Basil was.
She stopped outside the kitchen door to the restaurant and put her hand on her forehead. What was she thinking? They had just had the discussion that theirs was a business relationship only, and here she was, counting the minutes until she could see him again.
Remember Jeremiah instead
, she admonished herself. She vowed to write to him that very evening, and to tell him of her father’s passing and how much the family needed him to arrive. Oh, yes, and she’d be sure to mention how much she loved him.
With a flash of resolve, she pushed open the door to tell the owner she would not be working this evening. As she left the restaurant minutes later, she began composing the letter to Jeremiah in her head. She did fine until she got to the part where she was to write
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