Moonlight on the Millpond (27 page)

Eden went that way, and Woody wasted no time in speaking to Jace.

“Is it me, or was she just here?”

“Two weeks ago.”

Woody nodded, his face thoughtful. “I teased you before about her moving to Tucker Mills, Jace, but right now I would say you have a real problem on your hands. Eden's getting ready to move here, and she will if you don't stop her.”

Eden returned to the parlor before Jace could speak, but he agreed with his uncle about Eden's plans. He couldn't actually stop his sister from doing something she wanted to do, but before she left to go home, he would make his own wishes very clear.

“Jace, I have something I need to tell you,” Eden said, catching him just outside the kitchen door before he could follow Woody to the fields.

“Okay,” Jace agreed, his voice calmer than he felt as he steeled himself to have Eden announce she was selling the boardinghouse and making a move.

“When I got into town, I realized I needed a few things, so I went to the store.”

Surprised, Jace wondered where this was going, but Eden didn't finish.

“Well,” he questioned a little impatiently, “did they have what you needed?”

“I never went in,” Eden said, her voice full of regret. “I saw Maddie with a man, and I didn't know what to do, so I just turned around and came directly here.”

“What are you talking about?”

“They were doing a lot of hugging, Jace, and they kissed. They were outside, on the side of the building, for the most part hidden by his wagon.”

Jace stared at his sister. She had managed to take him completely by surprise.

“It wasn't Maddie,” Jace said after a moment, even as suspicion filled him.

Eden looked helpless, playing it for all she was worth.

“It looked just like her, Jace, but you know the women in town better than I do. Maybe it wasn't her.”

Jace stared at her, not really seeing her, imagining Maddie with someone else. Unfortunately for Maddie, he was able to picture it quite clearly. The man was a little vague, but Maddie's lovely eyes and smile as she looked up at another man were very clear in Jace's mind.

“I have to get to work,” he said finally and turned to leave.

“Okay,” Eden said, regret still filling every word. She watched Jace leave, careful not to look as triumphant as she felt. Clara was still in the house, and she knew that woman talked with Woody and Jace all the time.

Eden slipped back inside and quietly offered to help with the dinner dishes. Clara agreed in her indomitable fashion, and the women had a stilted conversation while they worked. But as soon as the kitchen was in order, Eden made herself scarce.

It was tempting to find Jace and ask what he was going to do about Maddie, but that might show her hand. Eden knew how hard it was going to be, but if she was going to interfere with this relationship, it would have to seem as though she were on Jace and Maddie's side and regretful about the whole episode. Even if she had to leave on Monday without knowing just what effect her words might have, she would do that in order to disguise the way she felt.

Jace had never been more torn. He walked along the rows of corn, checking heads along the way, Maddie constantly on his mind. He knew deep in his heart that Eden had seen Maddie; there could be no one else. All this time she feared that he would hurt her, and she was the one with someone else.

The name
David
raced through his mind. He knew if Maddie were here right now, he would be furious with her and demand to know who this David person was. As he worked, he realized that seeing her was the worst thing he could do. Working along, methodically hoeing between the rows, Jace made up his mind to go to town, but he'd steer clear of the Shephards. He needed a drink, probably several, and some companionship with people he knew he could trust: men.

Eden listened to Jace on the stairs, certain he had had too much to drink. When he'd announced he was going to town, she'd been discouraged but had not given up. Now listening to him mutter to himself and bang into things in the hallway, she knew her scheme had worked.

There were still Saturday and Sunday to get through, and even though her train left on Monday, somehow Eden knew that her trip to Tucker Mills had been a success.

First one week passed, and then two. Doyle and Cathy did a lot of talking behind closed doors, going to bed early to do just that, but neither one said a word to Maddie. It wasn't unusual for Jace to miss a Sunday dinner, but a full weekend was unheard of.

And in that time the light went out of Maddie's eyes. She went about the business of running the store and doing all she could at the house, but her face was pale and her eyes were sober. She joined in all conversations that were directed her way but initiated none.

Doyle had begun to feel significantly better. He thought his heart was just about right again, but suddenly it seemed as if the weight of the world had landed on his chest. He did all he could to hide that fact, but Jace's absence was beginning to weigh on all of them.

What Cathy and Doyle didn't know was that Maddie couldn't take it anymore. She had made a decision, and even if it landed her in trouble, she was going to follow through. She only hoped that both her aunt and uncle would want to turn in early, much as they'd been doing in the last two weeks.

“Are you expecting someone?” Jace asked of Woody from the upstairs hall; both men had just headed upstairs to go to bed.

“No, but I heard the knock too.”

“I'll get it,” Jace said, using the candle and heading back down. He opened the door to find Maddie on the step. The anger that had plagued him and been smoldering just below the surface for days now filled him.

“Jace,” she wasted no time, “can I talk to you?”

Jace opened the door and let her in, and Maddie was struck by how bold she was being. Not until she stepped into this house did she realize this was all wrong. She had no business coming alone to this man's house after dark.

“Jace?” Woody called down the stairs.

“It's for me,” Jace called back as he set the candle above the fireplace. He then turned to Maddie. “What are you doing here?”

“I missed you,” she said quietly, deciding that she'd come too far not to have her say. “I haven't seen you in two weeks.”

Jace turned back to the fireplace, staring down at the dark interior. His back was to Maddie in a way that made the room much colder than the actual temperature.

“I've been busy,” Jace said shortly.

Maddie didn't know when she'd been so confused. “Jace, what have I done?” she finally asked, desperate to know what this change meant. “Did I say or do something?”

“My sister saw you,” Jace said quietly.

“Your sister was here? I didn't see her.”

“No, but she certainly saw you.”

“Saw me? When?”

“With a man. I assume it was David.”

“How do you know about David?” Maddie asked innocently.

With his back to Maddie, Jace closed his eyes in pain. Part of him still wanted Maddie to tell him she loved him and that there would never be anyone else.

“I want you to go,” Jace finally said.

“Do you mean that?” Maddie asked, her voice telling of her hurt and shock.

This time Jace turned to face her. “Yes. It's time you leave.”

Maddie could feel herself shaking, but there was nothing she could do about it. She started away but felt the bracelet fall down her wrist.

“Oh.” She stopped and looked down at it. “You'll be wanting this back.”

Jace felt as if his heart was being ripped from his chest. Even in the dim candlelight, he could see the way she shook, the way her hand kept losing the clasp before she could unhook it.

“I'll just put it on the desk here,” she whispered, not able to look at him.

Jace was completely still as he heard the chain land on the desk and then watched as Maddie ducked her head and rushed for the door. Even after he heard the latch click, he couldn't move.

How did you know about David?
Jace knew he would never forget those words.

Jace walked to the desk and took the bracelet in his hand. He closed his fist around it and went up the stairs.

“Jace?” Woody called from his room.

“I'm going to bed” was all Jace would say, but he was thinking,
I loved you, Maddie. I wanted you to be my wife.

Jace blew the candle out and stood in the dark for a few minutes, fresh pain assailing him. He knew he couldn't let that happen or he'd never get past this. He felt his way to the small dresser and dropped the bracelet back inside. This time it would stay there, and he wouldn't think about it or her any longer.