Bella stood in shock. He’d just called her “honey.” Honey! She felt her face heating from the neck up. Bella looked down at Mark, who was grinning from ear to ear. She looked away.
Mark tugged at her dress. “Aunt Bella, can I call you ‘honey,’ too?”
She saw the teasing glint in his young eyes. Bella leaned down and whispered, “No, that’s Philip’s special name for me.”
Mark nodded. “I like it.”
Bella stood. Philip and the store owner spoke in soft tones. She decided to go look at the fabric. Mark and Caleb had wandered to the shelf that held toys.
Running her hands over the soft fabric, Bella dreamed of making shirts for the boys and dresses for herself. Calico colors filled the table. She loved the blues the best and thought Philip would look handsome in one shade in particular.
Why had he called her honey? He’d never used a term of endearment before. Her stomach fluttered. Heat filled her again at the thought. Bella walked to where he stood with the owner.
“Excuse me.”
Philip turned to face her. She swallowed hard. “I’ve decided to walk to the dress shop. Do you mind keeping an eye on the boys?”
“Are you sure? I’m almost done here and can drive you over.”
Bella backed away from him. “I’m sure.”
“Well, all right. We’ll come get you in a little while and we’ll get a bite to eat before heading home.” Philip ran his hand over the back of his neck.
She nodded, not trusting her voice. Bella turned and, with her head held high, walked outside. Once in the sunshine and out of the stuffy store, she inhaled deeply. There were so many thoughts and emotions running through her mind.
It was at that moment that Bella decided to face her romantic notions about Philip head-on. She told herself that he wasn’t for her. He didn’t want to fall in love.
At one time she’d thought she loved Marlow, but he’d betrayed that love and her distrust for men had been born. Philip had done nothing but treat her with kindness, but she still worried that one day he’d get tired and want to move on to something else. Something not as demanding as taking care of a wife and two children.
“I was expecting you in town sooner.”
Bella didn’t need to look at him to know that Marlow had joined her on the boardwalk. She continued walking. “Why should you?”
“Don’t play games, Bella. You are curious about what business I have with you. I’m surprised it’s taken you a number of days to come find out what I meant by that.” He fell into step beside her.
“Go away, Marlow. I am in town with my family and did not come to see you.” Bella tried to ignore him as she walked.
He sighed. “That’s too bad. I guess I could go home and tell everyone where they can find Sam Jackson’s murderer.”
Bella stopped walking. For the second time in the same day, she felt shock race through her body and mind. “Sam is dead?”
“Yes. Your old boss was found dead in the bakery the day after you left. Someone hit him pretty hard with your rolling pin.” He acted as if he was paying his respects for the dead.
His words began to sink through the sorrow she felt at the loss of a good friend. “Murderer? Are you implying that I murdered Sam?”
“No, the sheriff in Douglas City is.”
She walked over to one of the benches in front of the drugstore and sank down onto the hard wood. “Why me?”
He sat down beside her. “Because it was your rolling pin that did the old guy in.”
Bella scooted away from him. Her mind raced. Had she left her rolling pin at the bakery? It was possible. “I didn’t kill him. He was my friend as well as my boss.” She couldn’t believe that Sam was truly gone.
She realized that Marlow was enjoying telling her about Sam. Bella searched his face. “Why are you really here, Marlow?”
“I told you. I came because I realized I’d made a mistake and wanted you back.” He reached out and took a lock of her hair between his fingers. “I’ve missed you.”
Bella pulled away from him. “I can’t marry you, Marlow. I’m already married to Philip. You know that now, so why not just go home?”
He sighed. “You are wanted by the law, Bella. If I can find you, it won’t be long before they find you, too. How is that new husband going to feel when he finds out he’s married to a possible murderess? Do you think he’ll stand by you? Or will he take the boys away from you and let the law do as they will with you?”
Fear wrapped its ugly fingers around Bella’s heart. Would Philip believe her when she told him she hadn’t killed Sam? Or would he do as Marlow suggested and abandon her to her own fate? And the boys? Would Philip take them from her?
Marlow leaned back on the bench and stretched his arm across the back. He played with the end of her braid at her back. “See? You don’t know, do you?”
Bella wanted to say that Philip was her husband, that he loved her and would stand by her through good and bad. But she knew it wasn’t true. He didn’t love her and had no reason to stand by her side. “Going back with you won’t save me from the hangman’s noose,” she stated wearily.
Marlow had some sort of plan, Bella knew it. But why? Why did he suddenly profess to care for her? What did he have to gain by offering her marriage?
“I’ll see to it that you don’t hang for murder.” He twisted the braid until her head came back and she was forced to look up into his face. “As a high-powered lawyer, you know I can do it. Or I can send a bounty hunter after you and make sure that you are convicted and hung for murdering Sam. The choice is yours.” He released her hair.
The callousness in his words and face scared her almost as much as the threat he’d just thrown down. “But why?”
He gently pulled her braid around and let it fall to her shoulder. “Because I love you. If you choose to go with me, we’ll get married as soon as possible.”
Bella shuddered. He didn’t love her. Marlow had a reason for what he was doing, but she couldn’t figure out what. She needed more time.
As if he read her mind, Marlow stood. “I’ll give you until the end of the month to decide what you want to do.” He stretched like a cat in the sun.
The month ended in a week. Bella stood and grabbed his arm. “Marlow, wait. I need more time than that. Like you said, I can’t just outright tell Philip that I’m wanted for a murder I didn’t do. He will take my nephews. I need to break it off with him, but not suddenly or he’ll know something is wrong.”
His smile scared her. Marlow thought he’d won. But what had he won?
“One month. We can’t wait any longer than that. The sheriff and his men will eventually find you, too.” His green eyes reminded her of a cat that had a mouse cornered.
Bella nodded. “One month.”
Marlow patted her cheek. “I’ll be watching you. Don’t try to take off with the boys.” He turned and walked away.
She lowered herself back down to the bench. How many people had seen them together? Bella had to tell Philip about Marlow, but how much did she have to tell him? Not everything. The boys were too important to her.
Bella lowered her head into her hands and wept. A few days ago her life had seemed almost perfect. She had a nice home, the boys were happy, she had friends and a family who had welcomed her as one of their own.
In just a few short moments Marlow had taken that away from her. The thought of leaving Philip forever tore a new rip in her heart. She’d grown to love him despite what her head told her. Now she was going to lose him forever and all because of a lie.
What was Marlow hiding from her? She knew he didn’t love her, but he was determined to marry her. Why? Bella hoped to find out, before the one-month deadline was over.
* * *
The wagon bounced along as Philip drove to the livery. The boys sat beside him on the bench, finishing up their candy. All in all this trip into town had been a success. Mr. Jones bought both the table and chair and asked him to come back in a week to see if they’d sold. The store owner thought the pieces were of fine quality and would sell quickly. Philip hoped it was true.
Mark elbowed Caleb. “Look, that’s Mr. Brooks.”
Philip turned his head to look in the same direction as the boys. A tall man in a nice suit turned the corner by the bank. “Who is Mr. Brooks?”
Both boys pursed their lips together.
“The visitor?” Philip asked.
Both boys looked away.
“You told him about Aunt Bella’s visitor?” Mark whispered to Caleb.
“No.”
“Oh.”
Philip knew he’d have to wait for Bella to tell him about this Mr. Brooks. He continued to drive to the livery. Had Bella agreed to come to town so that she could see him? Who was he? And why hadn’t she already mentioned him?
Mr. Morris, the livery owner, came out to greet them when they pulled up to the barn. “Hello, boys. Mark, did you come to ride Snowball?”
“I did!” Mark jumped from the wagon and ran to the big man.
He nodded. “I thought so.” His attention turned to Philip. “How are you today, Philip?”
“Good as rain,” Philip answered. He pushed thoughts of Bella and Mr. Brooks from his mind. “You?”
“Doing pretty good.” His gaze moved to Caleb, who leaned against Philip’s shoulder. “What do you say, Caleb? Want to ride Snowball, too?”
The little boy nodded even though his face wasn’t as animated with excitement as Mark’s. He looked at Philip. “Are you going to stay, too?”
Philip sensed the boy’s unease. He set the brake on the wagon. “I’d planned on it.”
Caleb climbed down from the wagon. He stood by the wagon and waited for Philip to join him on the ground. His big blue eyes watched as Mark and the older gentleman walked into the livery.
Philip dropped a hand down onto Caleb’s shoulder. “You know, Snowball is about sixteen years old. Mr. Morris let me ride her when I was a boy.”
“I’ve never been on a horse before,” Caleb said.
“Your pa didn’t let you ride his?”
They began walking toward the barn. “No, he said we were too little.”
“Do you think you are too little?” Philip asked. If the boy said yes, there was no way Philip was going to ask him to try it.
“Maybe.”
Philip grinned down at him. “You don’t have to ride Snowball today. She might be tired after Mark’s ride.”
Relief filled the little boy’s face. His pace picked up and he said, “Mark loves horses. He’ll probably ride her the whole time we are here.”
An hour later, they left the livery. Caleb had watched Mark on the horse and had cheered him on. When Mr. Morris suggested Mark give Caleb a turn, Caleb had told him he wasn’t ready to ride her today and to let Mark keep riding.
“I can’t believe you didn’t want a ride, Caleb. It was fun,” Mark said as they entered the dress shop.
Bella sat in a chair by the door. She had a small bag in her hands and looked as if she’d been waiting for them. “What was fun?” she asked Mark.
“I got to ride Snowball. She’s a big white horse. But Caleb didn’t want to. I think he’s scared of horses.” Mark hugged her around the waist.
Caleb frowned. “I’m not scared of horses,” he protested.
“Are, too.”
Philip spoke. “Boys, let’s not argue.” He looked to Bella. “Ready to go find something to eat?”
“I’m famished,” she answered with a big smile.
For a moment Philip wondered if the smile was forced. Her eyes didn’t have their normal sparkle. “The diner is just up the street. We can leave the wagon here and walk.” He opened the door and the boys ran outside.
Bella followed at a slower pace. “I don’t mind walking.” She followed the boys down the boardwalk.
Philip closed the door and quickly caught up to her. “Did you have a good time shopping? You didn’t buy much.”
She glanced at him. “I really didn’t need anything. It’s fun looking.” Bella held up her bag. “I did find a hair comb—it didn’t cost much.”
He grinned at her. “Was there a dress you would have liked to have? The winter dance will be in a couple of days. If you need a new dress, I’m sure we have the money for it.”
“That’s very generous of you. It would be fun to have a new dress to wear.” She looked down at the package in her hands. “I got the comb to wear to the dance, even though I wasn’t sure if we’d be going.”
Philip felt like a heel. Why hadn’t he mentioned the dance sooner? He’d been so wrapped up in making furniture and teaching Caleb how to work with the wood that he’d forgotten about the dance until just now. “I’m sorry. I should have mentioned it earlier.”
Her eyes looked a little brighter. “It’s all right. You’ve been busy.” Bella grinned. “Josephine said that she and Thomas will be going. She’s already got a pretty red dress picked out.”
The boys stopped in front of the diner and waited for them. Philip opened the door. “Then when we go back, you can get the one you want. I can’t have my brother’s wife looking better than mine at the dance.”
A strange expression filled her eyes. Bella followed the boys inside. She remained quiet during their meal of meat loaf, mashed potatoes and fried okra. Philip couldn’t help but wonder if he’d said the wrong thing when he’d teased that his wife should look better than his brother’s. Or did Mr. Brooks have something to do with her silence?