“She has not driven me away. On the contrary, I have not been the best of husbands by neglecting her of late. I only hope that she is willing to continue to be patient as I bring these bandits to justice and find Daisy.”
Was that remorse she heard in his voice? Her heart fluttered in her chest. Perhaps his father’s words had given him pause to think. To consider Emma Jane as his partner in all of this.
“Of course I can be patient,” Emma Jane said softly. She smiled at him, then turned her gaze on his parents. “In fact, as I mentioned yesterday, I am greatly enjoying my work with Pastor Lassiter’s ministry. It will occupy my time while Jasper assists Sheriff Calhoune.”
Jasper’s slow nod gave her the courage to look over at his parents. Mrs. Jackson still wore a pinched expression of someone who’d taken a bite of something most distasteful. But Mr. Jackson murmured approvingly.
“It seems you are both similarly matched in your pursuit of the greater good.”
“Associating with people not of our kind.” Mrs. Jackson glowered at Emma Jane.
“Who is not of our kind,” Jasper asked, taking a step toward his parents. “The pastor? His family? Emma Jane is the model of Christian service.”
“You know exactly of whom I am speaking.”
Though Mrs. Jackson’s glare intensified, Emma Jane found that she did not shrink under it as she normally did. Though her aim in helping Pastor Lassiter was not to receive praise, she could not help basking in the compliment Jasper had given.
“Constance, enough!” Mr. Jackson gave Emma Jane a kind smile. “Constance has always doted on Jasper. This has been a lot of change for her all at once. I hope you’ll give her some grace as she learns to adjust to the situation.”
Adjust to the situation? Emma Jane took a deep breath. More people asking of her, but not...well, it didn’t matter. People didn’t do things for the benefit of Emma Jane, anyway. It was always Emma Jane doing for others. But it would be nice sometimes if someone thought to do for her.
“There is nothing to adjust to.” Jasper slammed his hand down on the table. “Emma Jane is smarter than any of the ninnies you’ve paraded through our parlor. If I had to choose between Emma Jane and any one of the girls you thought I should marry, I’d pick Emma Jane. Now if you’ll excuse us, I believe my wife and I are going to visit the church so I can see for myself the good works she is engaged in.”
After his discussion with his father earlier, Emma Jane wouldn’t have expected his fierce defense. Especially the part about him preferring her to the other girls. He was most likely just being kind, but at least he knew what Emma Jane was up against. Perhaps he was more sympathetic to her plight than she’d first thought.
Emma Jane carefully dabbed her lips with her napkin, then looked up at Jasper.
“I’m sorry,” he said, resting his hand on the back of her chair. “I didn’t even ask if you were finished. Or if you had other plans for today.”
“It’s all right. I’m finished.” Her cheeks warmed when his hand brushed her back as he pulled out her chair for her.
He was being polite, she knew, but it still felt good to have him give even that small consideration to her feelings. And while she’d always known Jasper to be a handsome man, it seemed the more he showed his kindness, the handsomer he became.
If he kept up such actions, Emma Jane might very well find herself one of the giggling girls fawning over their fans at him. Perhaps it was just as well Jasper was chasing after bandits rather than spending time getting to know her. It wouldn’t do to find herself attracted to a man who couldn’t possibly fall in love with her.
Chapter Five
“You don’t have to stay if you don’t want to,” Emma Jane said softly as they entered the barn that was serving as a makeshift shelter for the women displaced by the brothel fire.
Her permission for him to leave made it impossible for him to do so, even if he’d wanted to. The contrast between his father’s chastisement for not doing more for his wife, and his mother’s attacks on Emma Jane, as well as Pastor Lassiter’s admonitions for him to get to know her better, made it apparent that this was exactly the place he needed to be right now.
Plus, he still needed to figure out his next move in pursuit of the bandits. It would be foolish to do anything without thinking it through. Yesterday’s dead end had proven that.
“I want to.” Jasper smiled and pulled her hand more firmly into the crook of his arm. “The voices of reason around us are right. I haven’t spent the time I should have on getting to know you. Besides, didn’t you tell me just yesterday that you thought your work here could help my case?”
Emma Jane’s face lit up. Once again, he was struck by how pretty she was when she smiled. Why hadn’t he taken more notice of her before?
“You should meet my friend Nancy. I’m sure she’ll give us lots of useful information.”
It pained him to see the eager expression on her face. Mostly because he absolutely could not get her mixed up in this case. But also because as quickly as he’d set the intention of spending time with Emma Jane, if he was to question the women, even if one was Emma Jane’s friend, he would have to do it without her.
“Once you make the introductions, you’ll have to occupy yourself elsewhere,” he said quietly. “I can’t have you involved with this.”
Emma Jane’s face darkened, like clouds covering the sun in an unexpected storm. He should have seen it coming, had, in fact, known it was coming. What he hadn’t expected was how it twisted his gut and made him feel...
No.
