Page 86 of Fairest of Heart

“Leave it,” he grumbled as her hand clasped the handle. “There ain’t gonna be any bristles left on that thing the way you been going after it lately. No reason to pretend, anyhow. You ain’t foolin’ anyone. We might be old, but most of us can recall pining over a gal or two in our younger days.”

“Even you?” she teased as he limped around to the steps and hobbled up to the porch.

One bushy gray brow arched while the other slashed down across one eye. “What? You don’t think me the courtin’ kind?”

The tiniest twitch at the edge of his mouth let her know he was more amused than offended. “I’ll have you know,” he asserted, “I was considered quite the catch in my younger years. Ain’t my fault none of the girls used the right bait to reel me in.” A faraway look softened his expression for just a moment. “One got right close,” he murmured, “had me hooked and on the line till her daddy made her switch bait and fish in another pond. After that, I headed for open water.”

He cleared his throat, his expression hardening back into its normal, surly lines. “You ain’t gotta worry ’bout Titus.” Jeb patted her shoulder, then shuffled past to seat himself in one of the rockers. A satisfied groan exhaled from his chest as he took the weight off his legs. “That boy’s so hooked, he couldn’t wriggle off the line iffen he wanted to.”

A little thrill coursed through her at Jeb’s words. She wanted so badly to believe they were true. She loved Titus. Utterly and completely. She knew he cared for her. He wouldn’t have kissed her otherwise. And, oh, how she dreamed about that kiss! So tender and exquisitely sweet. She clung to its memory and built fantasies upon it of courtship and wedding vows and little baby Rangers.

Yet Titus had never spoken of his feelings or the future. There hadn’t been time before he left. And after so many days of silence since then, she worried they might never get the chance.

Penelope swiveled and leaned her back against the post, releasing a quiet sigh. “What if he doesn’t make it back?”

“Bite your tongue, girl,” Jeb reprimanded. “Titus knows his business. He wouldn’t be up for a promotion if he didn’t, now would he?”

“I guess—”

“He wouldn’t.” Jeb shook a finger at her. “If you’re gonna tie yourself to a lawman, you can’t go around worryin’ every time he comes home a little later than expected. You’ll wear yourself down to a miserable little nubbin. It ain’t healthy. Trust your man and trust the Lord. If bad comes, it comes. You can deal with it then. No sense borrowin’ trouble when each day’s got enough of its own. Besides,” he said as he propped his bad leg up on the railing, “I’m the resident pessimist around here. Can’t have you stealin’ my job.”

Penelope chuckled as her head wagged. “I love you, Jeb.”

“Love you, too, girl.” He lowered his hat over his eyes, leaving only his scowl uncovered. “Now go take a walk or somethin’. Let this old cowpoke get some shut-eye.”

Who would have thought that the grumpiest of her new grandfathers would be the one to lighten her mood?

“Come on, Lucky.” She thumped the side of her leg to grab the dog’s attention. “You heard the man. Let’s take a walk.”

Tongue lolling, Lucky bounded down the stairs, turned a circle, then looked back at Penelope, a mix of anticipation and impatience in his stance.

A laugh bubbled from her throat. “I’m coming.”

Feeling more cheerful than she had in days, she traipsed down the stairs and danced around Lucky, making him jump and bark as the two of them played together. A song filled her soul, emerging in a quiet hum that grew in strength as she headed down the drive. By the time she reached the road, she was singing in full voice while Lucky bounded forward and back, no doubt searching for a rabbit or squirrel to offer a bit of sport.

Tipping her head back, Penelope admired the blue sky, soaking in the beauty she’d been too distracted to notice earlier. Pillowy white clouds. Glorious sunshine. Birds floating on the breeze. Hope shone all around her.

Spotting a cluster of small sunflowers at the side of the road, Penelope wandered over to investigate. Their bright yellow hue made her smile. Perhaps she’d pick a few to take home. Add a little sunshine to the kitchen. Bending down, she reached for a stem, but Lucky suddenly lifted his head and perked his ears.

Penelope straightened. “What is it, boy?”

Lucky answered with a sharp bark, then took off running down the road. Almost as if he were hieing off to meet an old friend.

Penelope’s belly squeezed. Titus?

Forgetting the flowers, she hurried down the road in Lucky’s wake. She held herself to an energetic walk at first, not wanting to make a fool of herself if whoever approached wasn’t Titus. But the more steps she took, the less she cared about looking foolish. She had to know if it was him. She began to jog, her breathing growing ragged.

A form took shape in the distance, cresting the rise in the road. A man in a dark hat. Atop a trotting black horse. A coonhound jumping around at the horse’s feet, drawing the rider’s attention. Titus! It had to be!

She began to lengthen her stride until she caught sight of a white stripe crossing his chest. She slowed. A sling? He’d been injured!

Her heart thumping in concern, Penelope picked up her skirt and ran, calling his name. “Titus!”

His head came up. His eyes fastened on her. He was off his horse in an instant and running to meet her, the sling awkward but not inhibiting him at all. Titus was alive. Healthy. Strong. And here, thank the Lord. God had brought him home.

As they came together, she slowed her step, not wanting to cause him any further injury, but he wrapped his good arm around her and dragged her against his chest.

“Your arm . . .”