Page 34 of Beneath the Harvest Moon

She broke the silence. “We agreed that we should not resume our friendship.”

“You suggested it.” Straw rustled behind her, and his voice drew near. “I disagree. Why can we not be friends?”

“You know why not!” Why did the man have to be so kind and forgiving? He does not even know the half of it.

“I thought I had clarified that we should put the past behind us.”

She could not do this to him. She had hurt him before, and being her friend would hurt him again. She did not deserve his friendship, no matter how much she longed for the closeness they once shared, and for the ability to tell another person anything without judgement. To know that they would listen no matter what she had to say, and keep every secret. Your secrets will only cause him pain. She had to end this now.

Blythe sat up. “We must acknowledge that it will never be what it once was.” She looked over her shoulder.

Gabriel sat on a pile of straw. “Perhaps you could be more specific.”

“I mean you sneaking in here every night to talk while I milk the cows and popping around to each other’s houses to eat dinner like we are members of the family. I mean us sneaking off with a jug of cider and a quarter of cheese to sit under the great oak to watch the sunset.”

“Did you not enjoy doing those things?”

“Of course I did, or I would not have partaken in them. But we were young and reckless, and we are not anymore.” She stood and faced him. “I have my children to consider, and you have your patients. What would they think if they found out you had been with me in the cowshed alone?”

“What can they say? We are but two old friends whiling away the hours in idle chatter.”

She braced her hands on her hips. “We are more than old friends, Gabriel, and the women of the village will have my hide if they think I have set my cap at you again.”

His dark brow rose.

Was he deliberately obtuse? “I have seen the way they all look at you. Nothing changes in Midthorpe.”

His lips twisted, and an impudent gleam sparkled in his eyes. “And how do they look at me?”

“Like they would allow you to examine them at the click of a finger.”

His lips rolled inwards.

She could not help it. A loud chuckle burst forth, and Gabriel’s followed, his shoulders shaking with laughter.

Oh, the release was divine after a full day of stewing in her own foolish thoughts. Holding her aching sides, she inhaled repeatedly and met Gabriel’s mirth-filled gaze. He still made her heart skip a beat every time he looked her way. And she had been nothing but cruel to him.

She sobered. “Please forgive me for my blunt words yesterday.”

“I appreciate your blunt words.”

“It appears to be a trait I have gained from my mother.” Her insides withered. “It is sensible for us to remain acquaintances rather than old friends.”

“I wish to be more than acquaintances.”

She blew out a long breath. “Gabriel, we cannot.”

“Why not?”

“Because of what I did to you, and because of what I did to your mother. Because everyone knows and everyone will think I am some grasping woman trying to sink my claws into you again only to abandon you once more.”

Daisy swished her tail, hitting Blythe in the face, so she flicked it away.

“Are you trying to sink your claws into me again only to abandon me once more?”

Her jaw dropped. “Of course not!”

“Then I do not foresee any difficulty.”