Chapter 14 #2
The only problem was, there was nowhere for her to go in this town other than the store. Rose had looked so puzzled when she’d shown up; she’d lied and said she needed a few things, snatching a basket from behind the counter and starting to load it up.
She glanced at the basket now, guilt making her want to put everything back.
The things she’d collected weren’t even needed.
They’d just been an excuse to avoid Clay and the conversation she knew needed to happen, and now it looked as if that conversation was going to happen right now, whether she was ready for it or not.
The curtain covering the back room was only a few steps away. The desire to run was strong, but the moment she looked back up at Clay, their eyes locking, she knew she couldn’t. Not only would he see her run, but she knew the conversation had to happen. If not now, then later.
His smile said he was glad to see her. A glance around the store made her grit her teeth. Everyone in there was staring at Clay as if he were the day's entertainment. One thing about small towns was that people loved to gossip, and she could only imagine what they’d say about this.
When Clay walked further into the building, his steps slow as he approached her, she forgot how to breathe. He looked exactly as she remembered, even better. Something about the look on his face held a confidence that hadn’t been there before, and it only made him more attractive.
Why did he have to be so blasted handsome? And why was her traitorous heart beating as if she hadn’t witnessed him in Veronica’s arms the night before?
The heartache she’d fought against all night returned, and she was able to look away from him. Rose was smiling at him when she looked her way, her sister saying, “Clay. It’s good to see you back.”
She glanced back at Clay in time to see him say, “It’s nice to be back, Rose.”
His attention was on her a moment later as he closed the distance between them, stopping a few steps away. “Daisy,” he said, by way of greeting. “I’ve missed you.”
Everyone in the store was still staring.
Naturally, the mercantile was packed. It usually was on Saturday’s and today was no exception.
Their stares made some of the anxiety she felt turn into anger.
Did they not have better things to do than be nosy?
She had to bite her tongue to keep from telling them all to mind their own business.
She saw Clay reach into his coat pocket out of the corner of her eye.
Returning her attention to him, she wasn’t prepared when he pulled out a small box, opening it to reveal the beautiful ring inside, before getting down on one knee right there in front of anyone looking.
Her heart nearly stopped as she watched him.
She glanced at Rose. Her sister was smiling, her eyes glassy as if she were about to cry.
Clay took her hand, giving it a light squeeze to get her attention.
Staring down at him, she swallowed the lump forming in her throat as he said, “Daisy, I’ve loved you since the moment I saw you and vowed that very day, that when I could provide for you, I would get down on one knee and ask for your hand. ”
He spoke the words slowly and enunciated them in such a way that she got his meaning without missing much.
He smiled and finished with, “I have a house…”
But she didn’t see what else he said as sudden movement behind him drew her attention. She glanced up to see Veronica at the door. When Clay grabbed her hand, she looked down in time to see him say, “Daisy, will you marry me?”
The expression on his face was her undoing.
He looked so—hopeful. So sincere. Tears filled her eyes to the point she wasn’t able to see him properly, and his words should have made her ecstatic, but this was all wrong.
Had she not seen him in Veronica’s arms the night before?
Yes, you did. So how could he sit there and ask her such a question?
Not to mention the house he spoke of. She knew where it was.
It was in Butte. Liam had told her he’d offered it to Clay, and if she said yes to his proposal, she’d have to leave her family.
Veronica threw her arms into the air and said something. Everyone, including Clay, looked back at her. She was talking so fast, Daisy didn’t catch what she said before the girl turned and ran out of the store.
Clay touched her hand again to get her attention.
Veronica’s outburst didn’t change the look on Clay’s face.
She’d seen it so many times. It was a look that made her think he really did love her, only today it didn’t give her butterflies or make her wish he’d do exactly what he was doing now.
Today, it made her heart hurt more than it had been.
It was all too much. His proposal after seeing him with Veronica.
Knowing he would take her away from her family.
Her heart broke because she’d wanted this, secretly dreamed about it, and now that it was happening, it was so overwhelming she did the only thing she could think of.
She turned to the curtain and ran, slamming open the back door, and didn’t stop running until she reached her house and the security of her bedroom.
She tossed her basket down, its contents spilling over the floor, and let the tears clouding her vision come. She saw her bedroom door open a few moments later out of the corner of her eye.
Violet peeked around the door. “Gramps said—” Her eyes widened when she saw her and stepped fully into the room. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
The moment she started crying again, Violet crossed the room and wrapped her arms around her.
Violet let her cry, not trying to stop her, and every painful memory she had flooded her senses.
She cried for the day she’d had to leave Butte and leave Clay there, her heart breaking because he wasn’t coming with her.
She cried for the pain of seeing him in Veronica’s arms and for the knowledge that he’d asked her to marry him with the intentions of taking her back to Butte.
When the last tear came long minutes later, she lifted her head and wiped her face.
“What happened?” Violet said.
“Clay…” The words got stuck in her throat.
“Clay, what?” Violet prompted when she looked up at her.
“He asked me to marry him.”
Violet smiled and raised her hand to wipe a stray tear off her cheek. “I know. He came by earlier, and Gramps made him ask for your hand. Hearing a man say those words can be emotional, but this many tears is a little excessive.”
Daisy pieced together what Violet said and pulled away, walking to the dresser.
She dunked a clean washcloth into the water she’d poured into the washbowl that morning.
The cool cloth felt good on her swollen eyes, and she stood there with her face covered while taking deep breaths.
Violet, touching her arm long minutes later, had her lifting her head.
“What’s wrong, Daisy?”
“He’ll expect me to move to Butte.”
“Butte?”
She nodded. “Liam offered him a partnership in his livery stable and a house that had belonged to his old partner. He told me not ten minutes ago that he had a house, so I know the one in Butte is the one he’s talking about.”
“Well, surely that isn’t what caused all these tears.”
The images from the night before, and the day she’d left for the train, when she’d spotted Veronica and Clay beside the mercantile, filled her head.
That kiss had made her heart ache, but seeing them together—it felt as if she was going to die, the pain was so intense.
It had morphed over the long hours she’d lain in bed crying.
That heartache turned to anger, and she’d been livid by the time her eyes drooped, sleep trying to claim her.
She’d never wanted to snatch someone bald before, but last night she had.
Her fingers had itched to claw Veronica’s eyes out of their sockets and drag her down the street by her hair.
Jealousy was an ugly thing, and she wished to had never experienced it.
Violet tilted her chin up so she’d look at her. “Talk to me, Daisy.”
She blew out a breath, knowing Violet wouldn’t let this go, nor would she leave her room until she told her what was wrong. Licking her lips, she said, “I saw Clay last night. With Veronica.”
Violet’s head tilted a fraction. “Saw them…what?”
“Hugging.”
“Where?”
“In the livery stable. I ran over there when I saw Clay ride into town and walked in on them hugging.”
Violet said nothing at first, just looked at her before finally saying, “Who was hugging, exactly?”
“They were.”
“You saw Clay with his arms around Veronica?”
She opened her mouth to say yes, but paused before speaking. Had he been hugging her? Veronica’s arms had been around his neck, but she couldn’t say for a fact that Clay was hugging the girl back. “I don’t know what I saw anymore.”
Violet leaned against the wall beside the window and peeked out the curtain before dropping it and turning back to look at her. “You know, ever since that girl got to town, she’s been chasing after Clay, and in all that time, I’ve never seen him be anything but polite to her.”
She squinted, trying to figure out everything she said. Violet repeated it slower this time, and Daisy shook her head. “I saw them kissing.”
Violet’s eyes widened. “Last night?”
She shook her head again. “No. It was the day we left for Butte. I saw them beside the dress shop.”
Violet’s mouth opened and shut a few times before snapping closed. “Are you sure?”
“I know what it looks like when people kiss, Violet. Of course I’m sure.”
“Did you ask him about it?”
“No. Why would I? I barely knew him then.”
She glanced out the window and gasped when she saw Clay. He was headed to her house.
Violet turned to see what she was looking at. She tapped her on the arm to get her attention and said, “You can’t avoid him, Daisy.”
“I know.”
“He was here earlier, and the ring he showed us told me he’d come home for one thing. He came to marry you.”
“And move me back to Butte.”
Violet tilted her head a fraction. “Would that be so terrible?”
“Yes,” she answered with no hesitation. She’d missed her family in the few short weeks they’d been in Butte. She couldn’t imagine going back and never seeing them again.
Violet gave her a sad smile before glancing across the room. When she looked back, she said, “I can hear him knocking on the door downstairs. I need to go let him in.”
Her eyes stung with tears as Violet turned on her heel and left the room.
Daisy took a few steps, then stopped. She was so torn about what to do.
A small part of her wanted to confront him and ask what was going on between him and Veronica.
The other wanted to throw all her belongings into her hope chest and tell him she’d love nothing more than to be his wife.
She missed him. Missed his kisses and the smiles he gave her and the feel of his hands on her skin.
Missed their conversations and the laughter he always pulled from her.
She missed him more than she ever thought she would, and being away from him felt like a small death.
Glancing at her bedroom door, she knew it was only a matter of time before Violet dragged him up the stairs to her room or made her go downstairs to him, so she hurried to her mirror and looked at her reflection. Her eyes were red and bloodshot. Anyone looking at her would know she’d been crying.
She dipped her washcloth into the water again and held it over her face a few moments before slapping some color into her cheeks. She didn’t look much better when she glanced into the mirror, but there was little she could do about it.
Like it or not, she had to talk to Clay and make a decision that would impact her entire future.