Chapter 34
34
Hardy had imagined a lot of things about Stephanie’s aunt and uncle. It had been hard not to. When he’d first learned that Stephanie’s parents had died and Jo and Mark Miller had taken her in, he imagined they’d be a nice couple with a deep propensity for giving.
Later, after hearing more about her life in their house—the way she’d been told to cook, clean, and care for their children—Hardy had adjusted his thoughts. He’d grown concerned. He’d hated to think of her being treated like a servant in her own home.
Almost on the heels of that had been his reminders that just because someone helped run a household didn’t mean that they were being taken advantage of.
But after spending so much time with both Bev and Stephanie while they were at Carter’s ranch, Hardy had learned a lot more information. Little of it had been good. Eventually, Hardy believed he had a pretty good impression of what they might be like. He’d even gone so far as to guess how they might greet Stephanie’s return and how they might treat him.
He wasn’t too worried about himself. He’d spent too many years in the military not to have the ability to speak reasonably with just about anyone from any background.
After sitting in their living room for an hour, however, Hardy realized he’d been na?ve. Jo and Mark Miller were like nothing he’d imagined.
They were dour and rigid and, strangely, didn’t seem to react to all they’d been told. They didn’t seem to realize their niece had narrowly escaped death.
And Stephanie? It was as if the walls of the house were pulling all the life out of her. With each passing minute she became more and more withdrawn and quiet.
He hated it.
He also hated the fact that her aunt and uncle were now actively attempting to get him to leave. Even though he knew he should respect their wishes, Hardy didn’t know if he was going to be able to do that.
Especially because Stephanie continued to glance his way. Whether she was doing it on purpose or unconsciously, Hardy didn’t care. All that mattered to him was that she was needing him.
Which meant that he wasn’t going anywhere until she didn’t need him anymore.
After he drank a second cup of coffee, Mark stood up. “Mr. Anderson, we are grateful you brought Stephanie back to us. It was a long drive, yes?”
“It was.”
“Will you be driving back today?”
“I will.”
Mark’s eyes warmed. “Then I’m sure you realize that we are anxious for Stephanie to get settled. She has things she must attend to.”
Hardy stood up as well. “I’m sure she does.”
“Then you understand that it’s time for you to be on your way.”
Stephanie bent her head. Said nothing.
She looked cowed. Like she’d given up all hope. Hardy could hardly stand that. Where was the brave girl who’d faced a bunch of gang members? “Stephanie, you haven’t showed me your room,” he said mildly. “How about we go do that?”
Her eyebrows rose, but she stood up. “All right.”
Jo’s pinched expression turned even more sour. “Hardy, you forget that we are not living as Englishers. It is unseemly for you to see her room.”
“I haven’t forgotten. However, I’ve been looking after her for two weeks, around the clock. Her comfort and happiness mean something to me.”
Stephanie’s cheeks flushed, but she didn’t argue. If anything, it looked a little like she was attempting to not start laughing.
“Come show me your room, Steph.”
“You two cannot go by yourselves.”
“You do remember that we’ve been together all day?”
While Mark looked like he was actively holding his tongue, Stephanie said, “It’s this way, Hardy.”
He followed her down a narrow hall and then down a steep flight of stairs to the basement. Because he’d spent so much time near Marion and the Amish community there, Hardy had been in a few Amish homes. Once, he’d helped an elderly Amish couple build some new shelves along a living room wall.
So he knew that many lived in their basements in the summer. It was far cooler down there.
But this was not a part-time living area. It was essentially an unfinished space with concrete floors, walls, and exposed pipes. Looking around, he spied a large laundry area. There was a washing machine, a makeshift table, and a web of lines hanging on which to pin laundry.
There was a large compilation of boxes and baskets and who knew what else. The family’s storage area.
None of that was surprising.
What was surprising was the small room off to the side. It was essentially a curtained area, maybe eight feet by seven. That was where they went.
“Here it is,” she said.
It was a struggle to keep his expression blank. In the space was a twin bed, a small, braided rug, and a three-shelf bookcase. The table beside the bed was a wooden crate on its side. On top of it lay a flashlight. On the floor on the other side of the small bed was a basket with some clothes and what looked to be a library book on top.
He couldn’t find much else.
“This is your bedroom.” He didn’t bother to phrase it as a question. It was obvious. More importantly, it was a struggle for him to rein in his temper.
“Yes.” Looking around, Stephanie reached out and smoothed the edge of the curtain that was open. “It doesn’t look like much, does it?”
He couldn’t lie. Not even for her. “No.” Turning to face her, he said, “Have you lived here the whole time?”
“Pretty much. The first week or two I shared a room with Hope, but she was very young. We both needed our own space.”
“So they moved you here.”
Looking away from him again, she said, “I don’t know what you want me to say, Hardy. It’s a far cry from the rooms we had in Carter’s house or the sweet little cabin I stayed in when I first arrived.”
“I don’t expect you to say anything.” No, that was a lie. He wanted Stephanie to ask him to take her away. To find her someplace better. To take her to the courthouse and beg a judge to marry them quickly so he could make her his wife so no one would ever again treat her like a glorified servant.
“Are you sure?”
He could hear walking over their heads. They’d been downstairs ten minutes, but her aunt and uncle were probably not okay with the two of them being alone for even that long. “I was honest with you in that diner. I told you that I love you and I told you that I want you to be mine. If you want me to be honest again, I could say that I hate this room.”
“Hardy.”
“Sorry, but it’s the truth. It’s cold down here. I can’t imagine that it’s much better in the summer. You only have a quilt. I’m already thinking about you shivering in the middle of the night.”
“It’s not that bad.”
“Stephanie, it’s close to that, though. This surpasses my worst imaginings of your living situation. Everything inside of me is violently against leaving you here. But I will. If you want to stay, then I will go.”
“Hardy, it’s not that easy.”
“I’m sure making that choice isn’t easy at all.”
“I owe them a lot.”
“They owe you too. You lost your parents, girl. They’re your kin. They should’ve done more than stick you in this spot when you aren’t helping to cook, clean, and care for your cousins.”
Hurt shone in her eyes. “You don’t understand.”
“You’re right. And I know I’m being brutally honest. But we’re out of time.”
“Stephanie!” Jo called out. “It is time you came upstairs!”
“I will!” Looking at him intently, she said, “You meant it, didn’t you?”
“What? Taking you with me? Marrying you?”
“Yes. And that you love me?”
“I meant every word. I love you so much that I’d leave you here, if that is what you wanted. Is that what you want? Do you want me to leave?”
“Stephanie, now,” Mark said. His first footsteps started on the wooden stairs, echoing in the vacant, bare space.
Panic filled Stephanie’s eyes. She stared at her bed. At the walls. Finally at him.
“No.”
Mark called out to them again. “Hardy, you are overstepping our kindness and patience. It’s time you came with me. Stephanie, you may stay down there until we tell you to come up.”
Hardy ignored every word. There was only one word he cared about, and that was the one she’d just whispered. “You’re gonna have to give me more than that, Steph.”
“No, I don’t want you to leave me here. I love you too. I’ll leave with you now.” She took a deep breath, then added, “And yes, Hardy. If you were truly asking, then my answer is yes. I will marry you.”
“Stephanie, no!” Mark said.
Hardy ignored him again. Pulling her into his arms, he held her close and kissed her cheek. “I’ll make this up to you,” he whispered in her ear. “One day soon, I’ll propose on one knee and give you flowers. I’ll give you a ring, because that’s my way. I’ll give you sweet words. I’ll make this right. I promise you this. I’ll make it a memory worth having.”
She shook her head slowly. “There’s no need. This one is a pretty good memory right here. I’ll keep it.”
And then, of course, it was impossible to do anything but kiss her. Right there in the middle of a makeshift bedroom in a cold, concrete basement. With her glowering uncle looking on.
And as she melted into him, showing him that nothing mattered but the two of them, Hardy realized that once again, Stephanie was right.
Nothing could top this moment.
Nothing.
It was perfect as it was.
Lifting his head, he pressed his lips to her brow. “Get whatever you want, sweetheart, and hand it to me. It’s time we moved on.”