He clenched and unclenched his fists. There had to be a way to get more information about Ben from her. Maybe he shouldn’t be so reliant on information from an attractive woman. How could he trust in Mary after being burned by Daisy?
Something was different about Mary, a small voice told him. But he brushed it aside. He had to remain unattached. Let the whole story come out, and then decide.
Jasper stepped in next to him. “You sure you’re not interested in Miss Mary Stone? She’s a looker, that’s for sure.”
Will shook his head. “Maybe if you looked past outward appearances, you might find a woman worth pursuing. I’ve already learned my lesson in that regard.”
He wanted to add that there was so much more to Mary than her looks. But that would only serve to fuel the fire. She’d joined the others and was laughing and eating as though she didn’t have a care in the world. He didn’t miss the fact that she’d joined Emma Jane and had brought out more smiles from the seemingly troubled girl.
Will had never known such kindness in Daisy.
Jasper clapped him on the shoulder. “I’ve given up on that line of thinking. The women around here are only interested in my money, and if that weren’t inducement enough, they twitter about my fine looks. I suppose at some point, my father is going to insist I marry one of those silly misses, and I’ll abide by his decision.”
His old friend’s words were tinged with enough bitterness that Will wondered what had happened to him. But it wasn’t his place to ask. At least not if he wanted to leave the Daisy stone unturned. The only trouble was, another Stone was rearing its head in Will’s life, and he wasn’t sure he’d escape that one so easily.
If only she weren’t completely entwined with a case that had Will’s entire life held hostage.
Jasper cleared his throat. “I think I’m going to check out our accommodations for the night. Want to join me?”
Will looked in the direction of the women, who’d clearly finished eating. Now that they were reasonably dried out and their bellies full, they’d returned to casting longing glares at Jasper. Since the roof was still pinging with raindrops, outside was the only place Jasper would find some peace.
Foolish as it was, Will couldn’t help but glance in the direction of Mary. She and Emma Jane were engaged in a seemingly intense discussion. Whatever Mary was trying to say, Emma Jane was having nothing to do with it. Emma Jane turned and stomped off to a set of hay bales lying to the side. He returned his gaze to Mary.
Though he shouldn’t care so much about her, the disappointment streaking her face drew him.
Surely someone as compassionate as Mary, who cared about the feelings of a prickly girl she barely knew, could hardly have willingly gone in league with Ben Perry.
Mad Mel’s words returned to Will. She’d claimed there was no way Daisy had willingly come under the influence of Ben. Though Will had never seen any evidence of coercion, could he have been pulling her strings behind the scenes?
Again, he thought of Mary, and her desperate words about Ben. She’d claimed to want nothing to do with the man, but when Ben had announced their engagement at the church supper, she’d worn a smile.
A tight and unenthusiastic smile. Unlike the genuine expressions he’d seen from her today.
Something was not right with the situation.
But what did Ben have on her?
And could Will overcome whatever it was enough to give him the information he needed?
Chapter Nine
Most of the girls were bedding down for the night when Mary realized she hadn’t seen Emma Jane for a while. Polly patted a pile of hay near her.
“I saved you a spot. Surely you’re not going to abandon Rachel and me for Emma Jane? I mean, it’s wonderful that you’re being so nice to her and all, but your real friends still want the details on your many beaus.”
Mary groaned. There was no way she was going to escape the questions. But maybe something in her story would help Emma Jane understand that chasing after Jasper Jackson wouldn’t solve any of her problems.
And, maybe if she shared some of the details, avoiding the ones implicating her in Ben’s crimes, the other girls would finally understand that she was absolutely not interested in either Ben or Will.
Mary looked around one more time for Emma Jane. “Perhaps if we all share our stories of love gone wrong, it’ll be an encouragement not to chase after the wrong sort of man.”
“Not that again,” Polly huffed. “I’ve already done told you that all men are all alike. You just have to find the one that’s most tolerable and learn to look the other way when they get into their scrapes. It’s what my ma did, and what yours did, as well.”
If Mary weren’t still looking for Emma Jane, she would have glared at her friend. Just because it was what her ma did didn’t make it right. And it certainly wasn’t how Mary was going to live her life. If she couldn’t have an honorable man, then she wanted no man at all.
“Have you seen Emma Jane?” Mary finally stood on one of the hay bales to see if she could catch a glimpse of the other girl.
“She’s probably out using the necessary. I saw her go out a while ago.”
Mary had seen her leave as well, but she’d assumed the other girl had returned. “That was hours ago. She hasn’t come back in?”
Polly patted the straw next to her. “How would I know? I’m here to take a break from always watching everyone else and making sure they’re out of trouble. You should be, too. Come tomorrow, we’ll be back at the Lassiters’ making sure all the little ones stay out of trouble. Knowing Maddie’s frustration with Daniel’s escapades, I’m certain
