Page 47 of The Sound of Sleighbells
Ruth stood. “In that case, you can have your chair back. I’ll be fine.”
“You don’t look fine. You look dead on your feet. Go ahead and sit down.”
A smile tugged at Ruth’s lips. “You really know how to flatter a lady, don’t you? Take the chair. See—there’s a metal folding chair by the window. That will do me fine.”
“Like blazes it will. Come here, you stubborn woman.” Clasping her hand, he sat down in the chair and reeled her toward him. Ruth could have pulled away, but something compelled her to follow his lead. She was tired of fighting him—and fighting herself.
Pulling her down, he eased her onto his lap and cradled her in his arms. Unbidden, she laid her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes. As she listened to the steady beating of his heart, her breathing fell into rhythm with his. When was the last time she’d been held like this? It must’ve been a long time ago.
“Rest,” he murmured. “Sleep if you can. You never seem to let go, Ruth. Always pressured, always worried, as if the fate of the world was resting on your shoulders. Even when I try to lighten your load, you fight me over it.”
“I know what you think. But there’ve been so many years when I had no one to depend on but myself. Even with Ed—”
“Hush, I know.” His lips grazed her hairline. “You had to be the strong one, the one who was always there for your children. You thought they needed a father—but you were their rock. It was your love and support that helped them become the great kids they are.”
She drew back and looked up at him. “Did Skip tell you that?”
He paused, as if hesitant to say too much. “Abner told me a little. I pretty much guessed the rest. Am I wrong?”
“That’s an unfair question. I didn’t have time to think about how to raise my children. It was all we could do to survive from one day to the next.”
His arms tightened around her. “I’m sorry, Ruth. Sorry my bad choice made everything so hard. I would have taken care of you. We could’ve been a family.”
“Don’t,” she whispered. “We can’t go back and change the past. If things had been different, I wouldn’t have my girls. They’ve been worth it all.”
“I know we can’t change the past. But we can change the future.” He lowered his head and found her lips.
For an instant, she went rigid, resisting. Then need took over. She melted against him and caught fire. She had never loved another man the way she’d loved Judd. Not even Tom, for all his goodness, had stirred the heat that had slumbered inside her. It was as if, when Judd was arrested, she’d locked herself in a prison of her own making. Only Judd possessed the touch that could set her free.
For a moment, she let herself spiral back in time. She was seventeen again, and he was two years older, their young bodies warm in the long summer grass, with no desire in their hearts except to give themselves to each other.
What fools they’d been.
Wrenching herself back to the present, she pushed away from him and stood. “This isn’t going to work, Judd. We’re not the same people we used to be.”
His mouth tightened as he rose to face her. “I love you, Ruth. We were good together once. We could be again.”
“Think about it. I’m responsible for three children. You’ve been alone so long, you’ve no idea what living with a family can be like—the noise, the mess, the responsibility that never lets up. I know you want to claim your son. But what about the girls? They may be Ed McCoy’s daughters, but I love them as much as I love Skip. We’re a package, Judd. And I can’t imagine you’re ready for that.”
“You could at least let me try.”
“We’re not talking free trial here. I won’t have my daughters’ hearts broken if things don’t work out.”
The exchange might have become heated, but just then Abner stirred and opened his eyes. He looked up at them and smiled. “Now isn’t that a pretty picture.” He sounded drowsy. “Just what I wanted to see, the two of you together. Does this mean you’ve got plans?”
“Whoa, there.” Ruth leaned over him and brushed her hand down his cheek. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, friend. Nothing’s going on.”
“How are you feeling?” Judd asked.
“Like crap. But at least I’m alive. How soon can you get me out of this place and home?”
“That’ll be up to the doctors. I’d say at least a couple more days, until you’re able to get around on your own. Until then, you’re better off here.”
“Can we get you anything?” Ruth asked. “Water, or maybe something to eat?”
“I’ll take a sip of water and one of those good pain pills. But I guess you’ll have to call the nurse for that.”
“I’ll go out to the nurse’s station and ask,” Ruth said.
