going to tell him. 'What did she do? ' 'She snatched up a ruler from
the counter and backed the woman against the wall. She didn't hit her,
but she blistered her all the same with her lecture, and by the time
she was done, the woman was crying. It was ridiculous really. Grace
was half the other woman's size. Later, we laughed about it.'
'But it still hurt, didn't it? ' She didn't answer him. 'Grace is the
first real friend I've ever had, ' she whispered. 'I would do anything
for her.'
'And she would do anything for you, wouldn't she? ' 'Yes, she would, '
she agreed. 'Do you have any close friends? ' 'My family, ' he
answered. 'I'm close to my brothers. They drive me crazy sometimes,
but I'd kill anyone who tried to hurt them.' She couldn't imagine
having siblings and pleaded with him to tell her what his life had been
like growing up in such a large family. She was clearly astounded to
find out that his brothers and sister and mother weren't blood
relatives.
He spent over an hour talking about his growing up years, sharing both
humorous and poignant stories with her. The warmth in his eyes and his
voice indicated the love he felt for his family, and by the time he
finished, she ached with her own loneliness. She yearned to belong .
.
. and to be loved.
'We joined together to become a family, ' Cole said. 'And never once
did I think any of them would run out on me. That's what you think
always happens, though, don't you? ' 'Experience has taught me not to
trust anyone else.'
'What about your friend Grace? ' 'Oh, I trust her implicitly.'
'And Rebecca? ' 'I don't know her well, but I could probably trust
her, I suppose.
She's been very kind to Caleb and me.'
'The three of you have been loyal to one another.'
'Neither one of them jumped to the conclusion that Caleb was
illegitimate, ' she pointed out. She sat up and stretched her arms
over her head to work out the tension.
'I've decided that when Grace and I get to Denver, if anyone asks, I'm
going to tell them I'm widowed.'
'One lie will only lead to another and another, ' he told her. 'Look
