Page 7 of A Forgotten Heart
They were the first feature Nick had noticed about her five years ago. Back when he’d been delegated as one of the welcome party to greet new students.
The sun had been bright, still hot even though autumn was upon them, and the students at the normal school were milling on the lawn before the start of classes the next day. So many students that he couldn’t remember the names of everyone he’d met. Young men and women. He’d felt so mature. Already a year into the two-year program. Halfway to achieving his certificate.
A cool breeze had brushed his face. He’d looked over, and Elsie—he hadn’t known her name yet—had appeared on the other side of the lawn, trailing a group of new students. The sun had glinted on her blonde hair, bringing out its red undertones until she almost glowed. She’d looked nervous, fiddling with one of the two textbooks she held against her midsection. She’d been listening to one of the girls speaking in her group, her beautiful eyes taking everything in.
Their gazes locked as the group approached, and the words Nick had said to a hundred other students became sandpaper in his mouth. He hadn’t found out until later that he’d somehow recited his welcome speech—she’d discombobulated him that much.
As his partner told the new students about their upcoming schedule, Nick must’ve been staring, because she ducked her eyes. A simple motion that whisked his breath away.
The group had moved past him, but the rhythm of his heart hadn’t returned to normal.
He’d felt an echo of that same breathlessness today before memories of the way things had ended had given him a bitter reminder.
Elsie had never really loved him.
For the first time, the isolation of the winter cabin was appealing. No risk of seeing her in passing there. It wouldn’t matter if he missed Christmas. Tillie’s birthday. At least he wouldn’t be at risk of seeing Elsie.
He didn’t stop his march until he reached the land office. A gust pelted snow against his back as he stared at the Closed sign. He was too late. Daniel Freeman, the office commissioner, had already gone. Maybe Nick shouldn’t be surprised.
Everyone seemed to have deserted the streets. The saloon was the only store front with any activity, the noisy piano music twanging in the wind. The horses that had been tied to the hitching post out front were gone. Hopefully stabled for the night, somewhere safe. Light spilled from the window. Obviously, there were still patrons inside. Nick was the lone soul braving the storm.
Now what?
Nick glanced at the low clouds. If not for the risk of getting lost in a whiteout, he’d go back to the ranch. Best head to Ed and Rebekah’s. He’d promised Drew that he would file the paperwork to complete the land purchase. He couldn’t do that until the land office opened back up.
Next to him, Patch stiffened to attention, staring at the saloon across the street.
Nick squinted, trying to see through the snow blowing sideways. The wall of white thickened, shrouding anything past ten feet.
Except for one voice piercing the air. “Nick!”
He’d know that voice anywhere. He tightened his grip on the strap of his satchel as he looked over his shoulder.
Elsie appeared out of the swirling white snow. She staggered but stayed upright. One hand pressed her hat to her head.
The knots in his stomach twisted even tighter.
“Nick, we need to talk.”
Talk? She’d ventured into a snowstorm to talk? What a foolish thing to do.
Angry that she’d put herself in danger, he bit off, “There’s nothing left to say. Why’d you come out here? You could get lost in the snow.”
He saw the tiny flinch she couldn’t hide. But her chin came up stubbornly. “I’m not leaving Calvin. I like it here. The children. Being close to Merritt.”
So…what? As far as he was concerned, the town wasn’t big enough for the both of them. Was she going to ask him to leave? That seemed far more gutsy than the Elsie he remembered.
Her shoulders lifted with a sigh he saw but couldn’t hear over the howling wind. “I think we should be friends again.”
Nick recoiled. He’d never expected to hear those words from her. “Friends? Why?”
“Yes, friends.”
The vulnerability in her voice hit him hard, like a punch he wasn’t expecting. The pain made him want to lash out at her. “Friends. Like eating meals together and talking about our day?” he asked angrily. “Like sharing secrets and dreams?” Each word he spoke grew harsher. “Or fair-weather friends? ’Cause I’ve no need for a friend who won’t stand by my side when things get hard.”
His words weren’t fair. He knew it as they left his mouth.
And when she blinked back the tears that pooled in her eyes and averted her face, he felt even worse than before. He should’ve just walked off.
