Page 454 of Conveniently Wed
“And all you’ve done is act like a jealous oaf.” Colby took up the challenge, moving closer.
“Stop.” Jeb held up his hands and stepped between them. “This will solve nothing.”
Josiah stared Colby down, wishing his friend would take a swing. Wishing he could start and finish the fight he’d been itching to have for weeks. Months.
But Colby shook his head and backed up. “I’m not fighting you, Josiah. As much as I believe you’re crazy for giving up on Katherine and would love to knock you into next week for the hurt you’ve caused her, I’m done with this conversation.” He scanned the land around them, ignoring Josiah’s gaze. “I’llprotect the ranch and work hard, but Katie and I are staying clear of each other.”
“I’ll talk to her,” Jeb offered.
Relief seeped into Josiah’s bones and he released a long breath. Someone had to get through to Katherine. He didn’t even care if it had to be Colby. Her well-being mattered too much.
“Thanks. I’m worried about her. I messed up bad.”
“Yes, you did.” Colby’s jaw hardened.
“Enough.” Jeb pointed his finger at Colby. “You messed up, too.”
The hardness on Colby’s face eased, and he dropped his gaze, kicking the dust at his feet.
Josiah could not look his father-in-law in the face. Guilt pressed in. He deserved a talking to more than Colby did. If Jeb knew the extent of his blunder, the man wouldn’t even want to talk to him.
27
Aknock sounded at Katie’s bedroom door.
“Go away,” she called out. “I don’t need anything.” That response always sent Ruby, Delilah, and even Josiah packing.
“Katie girl, it’s Pa. I plan to stand outside this door banging until you unlock it.”
Not Pa. The shame of facing him after the way he’d found Colby and her in the barn burned hot. She buried her head under the covers.
“If I have to, I’ll get Josiah, and we’ll bust it down.” Then his voice softened. “Please, let me in. I need to talk to you.”
The pleading in his voice melted a corner of her heart. She’d never been able to say no to her pa, even when the farce of her marriage should never have taken place.
She rose with weariness and smoothed a hand over her matted hair. A glance in the mirror showed a sallow-cheeked, disheveled girl staring back at her. The glass didn’t lie—dark rings around her eyes and pasty white skin hanging on bone. She pulled her wrapper tight and padded to the door.
When she opened it a sliver, Pa pushed in. He took one look and sadness clouded his eyes. He gathered her close. “My sweet girl.”
The warmth of his body seeped into hers, and the constant chill and shivers she’d been battling ceased. A new wave of tears burned her eyes and soaked the front of his cotton shirt. She had planned to send him on his way, but the familiar safety of his arms was more than she could withstand.
The facade of the past year melted away. She could no longer pretend. Josiah was divorcing her, and soon the world would know. She couldn’t shield her parents from the truth. This marriage had been a terrible mistake, and it was time to stop living the lie. If only she felt like living at all.
Pa smoothed back the hair that had fallen across her face and led her to the bed. “Sit, my dear. We need to talk.” He pulled up the chair she’d placed by the window and settled across from her.
“It’s time for honesty.” His warm eyes held the same love they always had.
“Pa, I never meant to start anything with Colby?—”
“Katie girl, I didn’t mean you… I meant me.” He shifted. “This is difficult to tell, but I know the good Lord has been asking me to be honest, yet I’ve been a coward.”
She scoffed. “ThegoodLord?I’ve tried to believe in a good Lord, but I rather doubt He exists. And if He does, then He’s anything but good.” She motioned around the room. “Just look at the mess I’m in. All I tried to do was help my family.”
“Something we should never have asked you to do.” Pa’s voice was so much steadier than hers. A calming force. “I made a promise to your mother that I would always take care of her. And then I couldn’t.” A heavy sigh escaped his lips. “You became our way out of my abject failure.”
“You never failed us.”
“I did. In more ways than you can imagine. This goes way back, and I need to tell you all of it.” Creases furrowed his brow, yet he still looked calm and determined.
