because society expected it. Religion was all about earning the respect of people in our community, not for any sort of relationship with a Savior. My father would never admit to needing anyone for any reason. Not even God. And yet he pretended to believe. I hated the hypocrisy. I had no desire to be a hypocrite too.” Tyson wondered what he should he say next. He’d never talked much about his faith.
“He stopped going to church after your mother died,” Diana said.
Tyson nodded, not surprised. “It was a young fellow in the cavalry who shared the Person of Jesus with me, not long before I was wounded. Once my memory returned and I could think clearly again, that soldier’s words took root in my heart. And once they did, I began to change.” He drew another deep breath. “I hope you can see that I’ve changed.”
Yes, he seemed different to Diana. And she wasn’t entirely pleased by the changes either. Not because they weren’t good ones, but because they demanded she see him in a different light—and that she didn’t want to do.
He’s a politician now. He’ll say whatever he needs to say to get votes. Any fool knows that .
She’d been a fool for too long. She mustn’t continue to be one. She mustn’t let his words confuse her. She mustn’t let his polite attentions win her forgiveness. Certainly she wouldn’t let him convince her that he’d found God while he was away.
Politician, indeed.
She turned the mare’s head with the reins and started back toward the house. Tyson caught up with her in a few seconds.
“Mrs. Cuddy made us some sandwiches,” he said. “We could find some shade and eat.”
“No, I think it’s better we go back.”
“I’d hoped we could spend the day together.” He sounded disappointed.
She almost relented.
Almost.
She kept the mare moving toward the house.
For some reason, she thought of Brook. Had Brook manipulated her emotions the way Tyson did? No. Never. But that was because he was completely different from Tyson. Solid and dependable. Steady in word and deed. She’d known what to expect from Brook Calhoun. Being with him hadn’t confused her in the least.
Did I love him? Even a little?
No. Not even a little. She was fond of Brook, but she hadn’t loved him. Hadn’t wanted to love him. At least, not that wild, abandoned love she’d felt for Tyson. She would never feel so again, and thank goodness for that. No, it had been enough that she’d respected Brook. They’d been comfortable together. She would have made him a good wife and she believed he would have been a good husband.
But that was over. Even if Tyson ended their marriage after the election—which he’d said he wouldn’t—Brook would not marry a divorcée. Would any man of the proper social standing? Unlikely. Then again, as long as Tyson took care of her expenses as he’d promised, perhaps she would be happier without a husband. Being married but living apart didn’t hold the social stigma of divorce. She knew that from personal experience.
A wave of loneliness washed over her, an all too familiar feeling.She’d been so friendless while living with her in-laws after Tyson left. And even once she came to Boise and met Brook, her only friends had been his friends. None of them would come calling while she was with Tyson.
“I’ve upset you, my dear.”
She glanced toward Tyson, surprised to find him still beside her.
“What did I say?”
“Nothing. It’s nothing.” She shook her head. “I’ve just ridden long enough for one day. That’s all.”
His expression said he didn’t believe her.
Well, she didn’t care if he believed her or not.
May 1893
Standing together in the shadowed parlor of the Fisher home, Tyson gazed down into Diana’s eyes. They revealed her devotion, her innocence, her goodness. He’d won her heart while in Montana on business, and she hadn’t the guile to try to hide that truth from him.
Of course he’d won the hearts of other young women
“He stopped going to church after your mother died,” Diana said.
Tyson nodded, not surprised. “It was a young fellow in the cavalry who shared the Person of Jesus with me, not long before I was wounded. Once my memory returned and I could think clearly again, that soldier’s words took root in my heart. And once they did, I began to change.” He drew another deep breath. “I hope you can see that I’ve changed.”
Yes, he seemed different to Diana. And she wasn’t entirely pleased by the changes either. Not because they weren’t good ones, but because they demanded she see him in a different light—and that she didn’t want to do.
He’s a politician now. He’ll say whatever he needs to say to get votes. Any fool knows that .
She’d been a fool for too long. She mustn’t continue to be one. She mustn’t let his words confuse her. She mustn’t let his polite attentions win her forgiveness. Certainly she wouldn’t let him convince her that he’d found God while he was away.
Politician, indeed.
She turned the mare’s head with the reins and started back toward the house. Tyson caught up with her in a few seconds.
“Mrs. Cuddy made us some sandwiches,” he said. “We could find some shade and eat.”
“No, I think it’s better we go back.”
“I’d hoped we could spend the day together.” He sounded disappointed.
She almost relented.
Almost.
She kept the mare moving toward the house.
For some reason, she thought of Brook. Had Brook manipulated her emotions the way Tyson did? No. Never. But that was because he was completely different from Tyson. Solid and dependable. Steady in word and deed. She’d known what to expect from Brook Calhoun. Being with him hadn’t confused her in the least.
Did I love him? Even a little?
No. Not even a little. She was fond of Brook, but she hadn’t loved him. Hadn’t wanted to love him. At least, not that wild, abandoned love she’d felt for Tyson. She would never feel so again, and thank goodness for that. No, it had been enough that she’d respected Brook. They’d been comfortable together. She would have made him a good wife and she believed he would have been a good husband.
But that was over. Even if Tyson ended their marriage after the election—which he’d said he wouldn’t—Brook would not marry a divorcée. Would any man of the proper social standing? Unlikely. Then again, as long as Tyson took care of her expenses as he’d promised, perhaps she would be happier without a husband. Being married but living apart didn’t hold the social stigma of divorce. She knew that from personal experience.
A wave of loneliness washed over her, an all too familiar feeling.She’d been so friendless while living with her in-laws after Tyson left. And even once she came to Boise and met Brook, her only friends had been his friends. None of them would come calling while she was with Tyson.
“I’ve upset you, my dear.”
She glanced toward Tyson, surprised to find him still beside her.
“What did I say?”
“Nothing. It’s nothing.” She shook her head. “I’ve just ridden long enough for one day. That’s all.”
His expression said he didn’t believe her.
Well, she didn’t care if he believed her or not.
May 1893
Standing together in the shadowed parlor of the Fisher home, Tyson gazed down into Diana’s eyes. They revealed her devotion, her innocence, her goodness. He’d won her heart while in Montana on business, and she hadn’t the guile to try to hide that truth from him.
Of course he’d won the hearts of other young women
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