Julia Cranston stood gazing up at him, her silky dark tresses and striking smile punctuating the room with icy elegance.
A stab of protectiveness shot through Katie’s heart. Was Miss Cranston saying thoughtless things yet again? Katie couldn’t imagine that the woman set out to be hurtful, but some people just had a knack for saying the wrong things.
Watching the interaction, she wanted to shove her way between the young beauty and Joseph, but she restrained herself. Clutching the pew in front of her, she felt almost giddy when the woman gave up with a shrug after just a few moments.
Inordinately relieved, Katie exited the church with Ellie.
“Did you see how Ethan Hofmann looked at you, Katie?” Ellie inquired, her cheeks flushed pink, matching the tiny rosebuds dotting her simple white cotton dress.
Katie stopped at the bottom of the steps, waiting for Ellie to catch her breath. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about. Who’s Ethan…Hofmann?”
Ellie’s hands went to her stomach and gently held the swell. “Ethan Hofmann. The blacksmith’s son. He was sitting to your right, several rows up, and he spent the entire service staring back at you.” Her crystal blue eyes grew wide. “His neck will be giving him fits tomorrow—and it serves him right!”
An icy quiver traveled down Katie’s spine. Over the past year, she’d received bone-chilling stares in her church back home. It was almost as though Frank Fowler, a well-respected deacon, innately knew when no one was looking, when his leering gaze and snapping black eyes wouldn’t set gossipy lips flapping.
She pushed aside the unwelcome memories and gave a weak laugh. “I don’t even know the man, Ellie.”
“That young man didn’t even have the decency to hide his infatuation. He was way too bold, if you ask me,” Ellie insisted as she steadily beelined for a towering pine tree, its tall, weighted branches stretching wide. Cautiously sidestepping exposed roots, she turned and leaned heavily against the trunk, her cheeks flushed as though she’d just walked miles.
“Miss Ellickson, is my wife fussing over you like an old mother hen?” Aaron teased from behind her.
She turned to see an amused, boyish grin plastered across Aaron’s face. Bowing her head, she took in the invigorating scent of fresh pine needles beneath her feet. “She’s just keeping a watchful eye on things.”
“I’m not the only one keeping an eye on things.” Ellie hooked an arm through her husband’s, snuggling up next to him. “Darling, you’re going to have to speak with Ethan Hofmann. He’s acting like a foolish schoolboy. He could hardly take his eyes off Katie during church.” When she hooked Katie’s arm also, Katie couldn’t help but smile.
Aaron winked at her as he patted his wife’s hand. “I’m sure Katie can take care of herself.”
Katie swallowed hard and schooled her expression. Had Aaron known how brutally untrue those words really were he never would’ve said them. She’d tried to fight Frank Fowler off, but her meager five feet four inches was no match to Frank’s size and his evil determination.
“But if you ever do need help or have any concerns, Katie, just let Ben, Zach or me know. Joseph, too. He may not be able to see right now, but he’s always had a way of bringing order to things without bruising a single knuckle. People around these parts think twice about crossing him.”
Ellie sighed, slumping her shoulders. “Well, I still think you should talk with Ethan about this. After all, Katie’s a young, beautiful unmarried woman. The single men around here seem to lose all common sense when it comes to someone like her.”
Giving Ellie’s hand a warm squeeze, Katie pulled away. “It’s fine. I didn’t notice the man.”
That was true. She hadn’t noticed him because she couldn’t seem to take her eyes off Joseph.
Glancing momentarily back at the church, she spotted him standing alone, and her heartbeat quickened inside her chest.
“Ellie-girl, I think you’ve about worn yourself out for one day,” Aaron cautioned in a most gentle and loving way. “I’m gonna get you back home where you can rest. And don’t you go arguing with me either.” Katie turned to see Aaron wrap an arm around his wife’s slight shoulders, then gently settled her back against the tree. “Stay here while I check on Joseph, then we’ll be on our way.”
“I’d be glad to do that,” Katie offered, noticing, too, how Ellie appeared nearly spent. Her face was flushed and her brow beaded with perspiration. “Really. It’s no trouble at all.”
“Are you sure? I just want to make sure he’s all right.” Aaron glanced around the churchyard. “I thought Ben would be out here by now.”
Katie gave Ellie a quick hug, then turned to Aaron. “Just get Ellie home. I’ll check in with Joseph.”
“Good enough.” Aaron nodded.
“We’ll have you out for supper some night this week,” Ellie offered as her husband swept her up in his arms. She hooked her arms around her Aaron’s neck, her laughter resounding like a bird’s joyous spring song as he carried her toward their wagon.
Smiling, Katie waved. “I’ll look forward to that.”
Walking toward Joseph, she stared through a shimmer of tears, wishing that she, too, could know that kind of love.
But who would ever want her the way she was…used?
That horrifying reality never seemed to lose its sharp sting. Her heart clenched with overwhelming sadness, but she couldn’t give in to it.
Ignoring the old familiar dirge, she glanced up to see Joseph sitting on the steps, his hands clasped in a tight ball between his knees. He was probably trying not to be noticed, but there was nothing inconspicuous about him. Like honey to a bee, he drew every bit of her attention with his commanding, masculine build encased in a stark white shirt and dark bronze britches, and his chestnut hair hanging loosely about his head. She barely took notice of the air of discontent tainting his features.
“Good morning, Joseph.” She slowed to a stop in front of him. “It’s a splendid morning, isn’t it?”
“Miss Ellickson?” He stood and clung to the railing.
“Thought you could get rid of me for the weekend, did you?”
His face relaxed ever so slightly as he slid his hands off the rail and tucked them in his pockets. “Well, not exactly. I just didn’t know you were here this morning, that’s all.”
“I was sitting in the back with Ellie, Aaron and my aunt and uncle.”
“Oh.” Was that a tinge of disappointment she heard in his voice? “I—I was sitting with Ben.”
“Yes. I noticed. Are you still waiting for him?” She briefly scanned the yard for Ben.
“Actually I was hoping to find Aaron. Ben’s inside meeting with Mrs. Duncan about the upcoming celebration. He said it might be a while, so I told him I’d get Aaron to walk me home. Or Zach if I can round him up.”
Katie hugged her arms to her chest. “Ellie
