Page 27 of A Convenient Heart
But he felt the stillness that had come over her.
“Are you gonna have kids after you get married?” the young girl asked.
Jack coughed up the bit of biscuit he’d just swallowed.
Merritt didn’t seem to be paying attention to him as she answered calmly, “I’ve always wanted a big family.” She cut a glance to him. “Of course, you already know that.”
John did, wherever the man was. But Jack simply stowed the knowledge away.
Not for you, Jack’s mind whispered.
Here was another obstacle that meant they were never supposed to be a pair in the first place. He’d always known he’d have a solitary future—moving from one town to the next, setting wrongs to right.
Merritt was obviously a fixture in this town. She’d grown up here. Had roots. And she wanted a big family.
He had no idea what it meant to be a good father. He’d had no example of one growing up.
It was good that he was leaving. The sooner, the better.
A shadow passed through the open doorway, and he looked up to see a young woman and a twenty-something man enter. He recognized the young man, Albert Hyer. Jack had met him at the general store, working behind the counter earlier this morning when Jack had knocked on the still-locked doors just after sunup.
A little girl got up off one of the farthest blankets and ran to embrace the young woman. Hyer’s wife?
“We brought some supplies,” Hyer announced. “They’re just outside.”
There was a stampede as most of the children abandoned their blankets and food to go see.
Merritt stood up and moved to talk to the young woman. A loving glance passed between Hyer and his sweetheart before he moved in Jack’s direction.
Jack stood up and moved away from the blanket—and ears that might be listening.
The young man stuck out his hand for Jack to shake, and Jack took it. “We had everything you wanted except for the blue paint.”
Jack shot a look over the kids’ shoulders, trying to make sure they weren’t in earshot. “It’s fine. I told you?—”
“Oh, yeah.” Hyer looked sheepish.
“Miss Harding! It’s supplies for the pageant backdrops!”
Children were filing in. Some of them were dragging a bolt of white canvas, some carrying paintbrushes or jars of paint.
The boys and girls were beaming, each face lit up like it was Christmas morning. Or at least, what Jack imagined a Christmas morning would be like.
He found himself idly ruffling the back of his hair before he dropped his arm.
“They sure are happy about it. How come you want it to be a secret that you bought all that stuff?” Hyer asked. Jack had spent the two bucks he’d won at the poker table last night but felt lighter.
Jack turned a serious look on the kid. “Because that’s the way I want it.”
Merritt was squatting down, nodding along with a girl who was speaking animatedly. Her face had lost some of the worry lines bracketing her mouth.
That was all the thanks he needed.
“You know Ernie Duff?” he asked the kid.
“Uh…he works for the land office.” Hyer shrugged and moved off to join his young wife. Jack hoped the kid hadn’t told her.
“You looking to buy a parcel of land?”
