Page 7 of Unforgiven

Tabitha inhaled. For a split second, he was pretty sure she’d been tempted to smile.

“Some might say that I’m a bit too quiet,” she murmured.

“I reckon they would. I’m partial to it, however.” When she stared at him, seeming to silently wait for him to tell her more, Seth added, “It was real noisy in prison. During the day, during the night, it didn’t matter. Doors clanged, men yelled. Cried. It was difficult to get used to.”

He stood still, waiting for her to ask him to leave now that he’d reminded her of where he’d been. Of what he’d done.

She didn’t look taken aback by the reminder. Instead, she studied him more closely. Seth fought against fidgeting and let her look her fill. Then, to his surprise, she added, “Would you like something to drink?”

“Jah.” He wasn’t particularly thirsty, but no way was he gonna ever pass up anything she offered.

Tabitha froze for a second but then got her bearings. Lifting her chin, she said, “I have cold cider and water. Oh! I’ve got cider on the stove with some spices too. Do you like hot apple cider?”

He doubted he did but wasn’t going to tell her that. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t?”

He shook his head, doing his best to keep the smile teasing his lips from seeing the light of day. “I don’t believe anyone’s ever served me hot spiced cider.” His younger self would have run from such a thing.

“It’s probably time someone did, then.” Tabitha turned and went inside. When he didn’t follow, she cleared her throat as she held the door open. “Are you coming?”

“You sure you don’t mind me inside your haus?”

“I’m sure.” She looked so determined. So brave.

Reminding himself to let her call the shots, he climbed the steps and crossed the porch. Alone in the living room, he closed the door and looked around. The floorboards were uneven, the walls scuffed, and even the stones around the fireplace were in disrepair. It was obvious that her ex-husband had never invested much time working on the house and that it was far too much for her to handle. The house didn’t just need a helping hand. Nothing less than an army of workers and a pile of money would make it shine.

But amid the dents and scratches was the scent of warm bread and a woman’s presence. And, he supposed, the aroma of spiced apple cider.

“I’m in here,” she said.

He walked through the living room to a small seating area and finally into a surprisingly spacious kitchen. Like the rest of the house, it looked worse for wear. The laminate on the counters was peeling up in places, the stove was old, and the refrigerator made a low humming noise.

However, it was also spotlessly clean. And surprisingly pretty. She’d put some wildflowers in a jar on the counter. Two quilts rested on the living room sofa. There was even a bright yellow tablecloth covering the table.

When their eyes met, she grimaced. She’d been watching him take it all in. “I know it’s not much.”

She was right. It wasn’t. But once upon a time the house had been special and it could be again. Just like Tabitha. “It suits you.”

She flinched. “Maybe it does.”

Seth swallowed, embarrassed that his words had come out the wrong way. But who was to say what was the right way? It wasn’t like he had a lot of practice saying anything of worth to women. “I didn’t mean any disrespect, Tabitha.”

“No?”

“No.” Sure, he could say more to try to defend himself, but what was the point? What remained true was the simple fact that she had been through hell at the hands of the one man on earth who’d vowed to care for her until his last breath. Instead, he’d betrayed that trust in the worst way possible.

To make matters worse, what little trust and faith she’d possessed had been trampled on by many of the people in their community’s tight circle. Too many folks had sided with a book of rules and their long-held traditions instead of what their eyes and ears told them was true.

In the stiff silence between them, Tabitha looked around, seeming to study the space with fresh eyes. “I suppose this old house does suit me. It’s broken but still standing.”

“I meant that it looks comfortable and pretty,” he said quickly.

Her eyes flared before she tamped that down. “I’m neither, Seth.”

“You are to me. I find you relaxing to be around.”

Her lips parted. Her tongue darted out, moistened her bottom lip.

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