Page 250 of Conveniently Wed
Bruce waited a moment then accepted the boy didn’t want to join him. A good thing, seeing as Bruce meant to climb to the roof. But had the children been warned to stay away from him? He didn’t much care for that idea.
He carried the ladder to the far side of the barn and put it in place. He’d seen a bundle of shakes in the tack room and went to get what he needed. His pockets full of nails, a hammer hanging from one side of his jeans, and shingles in his arms, he climbed to the roof.
Work had always been a solace for him. A place where he could feel good about himself. Feel he was equal to other men.
He paused, his hammer halfway to a nail. Aunt Mary was far too close to the truth when she said he sought acceptance. He pounded the nail in with far more energy than was required.
If acceptance was what he needed and wanted, he had surely picked the wrong woman to give him that.
Or maybe not. Perhaps in time…
The task finished, he crawled to the peak to check the other side of the roof. No shingles missing there.
Blossom raced from the house and joined her brother, talking animatedly. What had the child so excited?
Stella stepped out the door and paused to look around. Her gaze went to the river and lingered there.
He looked the same direction but saw nothing to give him worry or even hold his interest, and he returned his gaze to Stella. She continued to look toward the river then shrugged and glanced around the yard.
Did she sense danger? Had she seen something yesterday? Or was she looking for him? To deliver another warning? What would it be about this time?
He could have descended and gone to see what she wanted, but he remained on the roof, watching and wondering.
She glanced toward the children then lifted her skirt and crossed toward the barn. She opened the door and looked in. Went inside. Came out again and went to the corrals.
Not wanting to alarm her, he decided to get off the roof. But when he turned, her head appeared over the edge of the roof. She’d climbed the ladder. His heart punched his ribs, and he began to ease toward her. “What are you doing there? Don’t you know you could fall?”
“I’m on the ladder, not swinging from the eaves.”
He slipped and skidded four feet before he could stop.
“Bruce, be careful.” She reached out to him.
He knew her leaning like that could tip the ladder. He planted his heels to steady himself. “Don’t move. Don’t lean out like that.”Slow down. Take deep breaths. Don’t make any sudden moves. He talked himself to a degree of calmness. “Make your way down the ladder. Slowly.”
She eyed him. “You almost fell.”
“I’ll be fine. But I can’t get down until you do.”I can’t breathe until you’re down.He tried not to picture her feet catching on her skirt and tripping her. Tried not to think of her body twistedon the ground when she fell. “Please, just get down.” The words croaked from his throat.
“You’re sure you’re all right?”
“I’m sure.”
She gave him a long look then began her descent. He edged closer, watching her progress, feeling completely powerless. If she slipped, he wouldn’t be able to do anything.
His lungs slowly released as first one foot and then the other reached solid ground. She stepped back and looked up at him, shading her eyes with her hands.
“Are you coming?”
“Be right there.” He made a show of retrieving the hammer and checking for nails while waiting for his heart rate to settle down. When he no longer felt as if his legs were pudding, he swung to the ladder and made his way to the ground. He held to the bars for a moment before he turned to face her.
Every word that had crowded his mind as he watched her peering over the roof then descending on the ladder, fled. She was safe. That was all that mattered.
“Did you want something?” he asked, hoping his voice was steady.
She opened her mouth, closed it again. Shook her head. “I just…I only…” She fluttered one hand. “When I didn’t see you…”
He closed his eyes against the frustration mounting in him. Took a deep breath, prayed for God’s patience and wisdom, opened his eyes, and looked at her. “Stella, will you please stop assuming I am only waiting for a chance to leave? Why would you even think I would? And don’t tell me it’s because of your pa. Besides, he always took you, didn’t he? So, he really didn’t leave you.”
