Debra Ullrick (18 page)

“Sure. What’s that?”

“Well, next month is Graham and Josiah’s birthday. I’d like to do something special for them. I’ve never planned a party before, so I was wondering if you would be willing to help me. I hate to ask because I know you’re busy, but I don’t know anyone else that I would trust to help me with this.”

She smiled and the whole sun-saturated area paled in comparison. “I’d love to help you. Did you have anything specific in mind?”

He shook his head. “No. Like I said, I’ve never done this before. The nannies always took care of these things.”

“Well, let’s see.” She tugged her upper lip under her teeth, concentrating long and hard. Nothing came to mind, but she wouldn’t give up. She’d think of something. She always did. “Let me think about it, and I’ll get back to you, okay? Oh, and while we’re on the subject of parties, the Fourth of July is coming up. I’m planning on having a small get-together here at my place around noon.”

“Where do you find time to plan and to do all of this?”

“I make the time, and my mind is always coming up with some scheme or another. Gets me into trouble sometimes.”

“Only sometimes?” he teased.

“Hey.” She whacked him on the arm. “Yes. Only sometimes. Sometimes I come up with some pretty good ideas even if I say so myself. This place was one of them. Anyway, back to my plans for the Fourth. Closer to evening, I’m going to head to the town square. From what I’ve been told, they have a lot of festivities going on then. In fact, you might want to take Josiah and Graham. I’ve been told they have games and prizes and lots of things for the children to do. Then when the sky gets dark enough, they’re supposed to have a fireworks display. Should be a lot of fun.”

“It sounds like it. Would you mind if the boys and I tag along with you?”

“No. No. Not at all. I’d love to spend time with the boys and be able to watch them having fun.”
What about me?
Harrison wanted to ask, but he knew he didn’t have that right or that privilege.

The more time he spent with Abby, the harder it was becoming to keep his personal feelings in check. What a mess he’d gotten himself into...falling in love with a woman with whom he could never marry.

Chapter Fourteen

D
espite the fact the sun bore down on them without mercy, Harrison was enjoying himself. Watching his boys dig for coins in the sawdust pile roped off at the town square and seeing their faces light up when they found them made his heart feel lighter than it had in years.

“They’re sure having fun, aren’t they?” Abby said from beside him. Having her next to his side felt right. More right than it had a right to.

The other day, when he and Abby had talked about the kiss they’d shared and how it should have never happened, he had thought he would easily be able to forget it and go on. But he hadn’t been able to get the kiss out of his mind. After much contemplation, he decided that the kiss hadn’t been a mistake, and he had lain awake most of the next few evenings trying to figure out a way to make things work between them. No solution came to him, so he finally decided to simply enjoy every minute with her and to make the best of the time he had left with her. He’d deal with his heartbreak later.

“They sure are. I love watching them. They give me so much joy and pleasure and happiness. And love. Everybody should have children of their own. Don’t you think?”

When Abby didn’t answer, Harrison gazed down at her. Gone was the smile that had been there just mere seconds ago. “Abby? What’s wrong?”

She glanced up at him, and if he wasn’t mistaken, he thought her eyes had a sheen to them. He wasn’t quite sure, though, because the look of sadness had been so brief.

“Daddy, Daddy! Looky what we got.” Graham and Josiah ran up to him, holding their palms upward.

Four shiny copper pennies rested in each hand. He was glad that he’d made a large contribution to the children’s games. Fletcher had been in charge of the donations, and when he’d asked Harrison, he’d been only too glad to help out. Thinking of Fletcher, the man strode their way with Julie in tow.

“Miss Abby, look at what I got.” Julie held her dainty hand open and three copper pennies glistened in the sunlight.

Abby peered down at the girl. “That’s wonderful, Julie,” was all she said. No sparkle, no usual joyful response, nothing.

Something was wrong, and he wanted to know what it was.

“We got pennies, too, Miss Abby.” Josiah’s not-to-be-left-out voice came through.

For one so young, his son was already a very competitive child. He wanted to win at everything he did. Harrison dreaded the day Josiah lost at something. But losing was part of life. Harrison should know. He’d lost plenty. And he would lose even more when he left. Then again, how can a person lose something they never had? Abby didn’t belong to him. She didn’t belong to anyone.

Not yet, anyway.

He cut a glance toward Fletcher. While the man had made no advances toward her, Harrison could see the admiration in Fletcher’s eyes when he looked her way. And he had a feeling that Fletcher wished Abby belonged to him and Julie, too. The thought of Fletcher and Abby together drove a dagger of pain deep into Harrison’s heart.

“You sure did.”

“Miss Abby? Are you sad?” Graham, always the perceptive and caring one, asked.

She blinked, then as if it dawned on her, she gazed down at his son tenderly. “Who could be sad with you around? And you.” She looked at Josiah. “And you.” She glanced at Julie, who smiled shyly at Abby.

Josiah lunged toward Abby, threw his arms around her and hugged her. “I love you, Miss Abby.”

“I do, too.” Graham imitated his brother’s actions.

Hearing his sons declare their love for Abby, Harrison knew he had to figure out a way to make things work between them. He had to. Not only for his sons’ sake, but for his own, as well. Not once had he started out to do something that he didn’t accomplish. Now was no different.

* * *

Abby’s chest constricted with not only love, but with heartbreak. These sweet boys loved her. And she loved them, too. Oh, if only she could have children. Then perhaps she could win Harrison’s heart and not only would these precious boys be hers, but Harrison would be, as well.

But it was all just wishful thinking. She sighed.

No man wanted a woman who couldn’t bear children. David was right. Harrison’s earlier words were proof of that fact. Just moments ago, he’d mentioned how everyone should have children of their own and how much joy and love and happiness they brought.

At one time she actually thought adoption might be the answer, but even that was out. She was not mother material. The boys’ disappearance because of what she’d said had proven that.

Despite all of those things, she made up her mind she would enjoy Josiah and Graham while she could.

“Well, we need to go.” Fletcher’s attention slid between Harrison and his sons, then ended on Abby. “Hope you didn’t mind, but Julie wanted to show you the coins she got.”

“Of course I don’t mind. I’m thrilled that she did. What are you going to spend your coins on, Julie?”

“A new dolly.”

“Have you already picked one out?”

“Yes, ma’am.” She nodded. “Over there at that booth.” She pointed to a stand yards away from them that had three shelves of porcelain, cloth and crocheted dolls, each wearing bright clothes and hats. “Papa’s taking me there now. Aren’t you, Papa?”

“I sure am, precious.” Fletcher looked at Abby. His gaze lingered for a moment, and Abby thought it strange. “Now, if you all will excuse us, we have a doll to purchase.” Fletcher reached for his daughter’s hand and they walked away.

Abby turned her attention onto Josiah and Graham. “What are you boys going to buy with your pennies?”

“Toys!” Graham blurted.

“Candy!” Josiah blurted louder.

“Would you like to get them now?” Harrison asked, standing across from Abby.

“Uh-huh. Then we wanna race.” Josiah bobbed his head.

Abby smiled as the boys led her and Harrison over to the candy and toy booths. Harrison was on one end, she on the other, and the boys were in between them. Like a real family. For today only, just this one last time, she would pretend they were.

After the boys bought a bag of jelly beans, which Harrison insisted they give to him to dole out, they each purchased a wooden sword. Abby cringed, wondering if they would hurt themselves with the toys that looked a bit too real for her peace of mind.

“Time for the sack races, folks.” Mayor Prinker’s voice rose above the crowd. With that loud, boisterous voice of his, he didn’t need the speaking trumpet he held. “If you will make your way to the roped-off area, we can get started.”

“Miss Abby, you wanna watch me and Siah race in one of those sacks?” Graham pointed to the pile of gunny sacks near the area where the races would take place.

“I would love to. Lead the way, boys.”

Harrison fell into step alongside them. Near the starting line, Zoé came up to them and asked if she could take the boys and sign them up.

Harrison agreed, and off they went. He leaned close to Abby’s ear and whispered, “How about you and I run this race together?” Abby ignored the tickling sensation his breath caused in her ear, and she had a feeling his words had a double meaning.

Her mind took a turn back to the past and to another sack race. One in which her sister, Leah, and Jake had run together and the two of them had ended up married.

Nothing like that would happen to her and Harrison. A gal could always dream, though, couldn’t she? Wait, wasn’t it her dreams that had gotten her heart into trouble in the first place? Even now the thing was yanking her back and forth. Only a short time ago she’d decided to stop the dead-end dreams. Was she that fickle minded that she was so willing to pick them up again?

She sighed. Yes, she was, at least where Harrison was concerned. For now, she was going to have some fun. She’d deal with the consequences of her choice later. “I can’t think of anything else I’d rather do.” She flashed him her brightest smile, and in return he offered her one, too, only his was escorted by a wink. A wink! One that turned her legs into the texture of warm molasses.

“Miss Abigail. Mr. Kingsley.” Mayor Prinker disrupted Abby and Harrison’s sweet moment. He and Harrison shook hands.

Abby wanted him to go away, to ignore him, but she wouldn’t be rude no matter how much she disliked the man. She plastered on a smile. “Mayor Prinker.” She refused to lie by saying how nice it was to see him again, so instead she went with the only other comment that entered her mind. “How are you enjoying this fine, sunshiny day?”

“Quite well. And you?”

“Very well. Thank you.”

“Good, good. How is the Royal Grand Theater coming along?”

Did he really want to know or was he just making conversation? “Extremely well, sir. You must come and see it someday soon.” Now why had she gone and invited him to do that? She wanted to snatch the words back and then slap herself silly for even voicing such an invitation.

“I already planned on it.” He rubbed his meaty fingers over his bulbous red nose and chin. “In fact, the committee and I planned on paying you a visit Tuesday next. We will be there promptly at nine o’clock.”

Abby’s teeth ached from bearing down so hard on them. What nerve the man had. He hadn’t even asked if they could come barging in on her; instead, he told her they were. Sure, she had invited him, but they had planned on coming before she even offered the invitation.

Harrison’s hand nudged lightly against her skirt, and she gazed up at him. That same look of understanding passed between them. It meant hold your tongue and let me handle it. “We would love for you to come.”

That’s how he handled it? Speak for yourself, Abby thought.

“And now if you will excuse us, Mayor Prinker, Miss Abby and I are going to enter the sack race.”

The mayor’s bushy eyebrows pulled together. “You and Miss Abby are going to race? Together? As in the same sack?”

Was the man deaf?

“Highly improper, Mr. Kingsley. You need to reconsider that. How would it look to the people of this town?”

Oh. Oh. Just let me at him,
she pleaded silently with Harrison. She didn’t care what the people of this town thought. Who were they to tell her who she could and couldn’t run in a sack race with? Harrison’s approval or not, she refused to remain quiet. “Excuse me, Mayor Prinker, but I see nothing wrong with it. Back home it is done all the time and no one thinks anything of it.”

“That may be deemed acceptable back where you are from, but it isn’t here. I must say, if you think that is acceptable, then I have to wonder if your theater will be as acceptable as you have tried to assure me it will be.”

The veins in Abby’s neck expanded. Her anger rose to the surface and she was about to spew out a piece of her mind in the mayor’s direction, when again, Harrison’s hand nudged her skirt. He just better be glad she respected him enough to refrain from letting the mayor have it because right now she didn’t care what the pompous windbag thought of her. But she didn’t want him to think ill of Harrison, so she mentally pulled all the willpower she could muster to collect herself together.

“Mr. Prinker, if you feel this is not acceptable, then we will respect that and forgo running the sack race.”

What! Abby yanked her gaze toward Harrison. Whose side was he on, anyway?

Harrison again sent her that silent, knowing look to let him handle things. She was growing to resent that look. It meant she would once again refrain from lashing out, and she really wanted to let the pudgy little crook have it.

“Miss Abby and I are certain that once you see the Royal Grand Theater your mind will be at ease. We know how important it is to you and the committee to maintain this fine town’s reputation and image, and we respect that.”

We do? What was Harrison doing? By now she was starting to doubt his ability to settle this matter at all. His handling of it was scratching down her last nerve.

“When you arrive next Tuesday, if there is anything you see that you do not agree with, we will be more than happy to deal with it.”

What! What was Harrison saying? Had he gone daft or something? She wasn’t going to change anything for those stuffy, old grouches.

Mr. Prinker’s brows settled back into place. He grabbed the lapels of his dark gray suit jacket and puffed out his already inflated chest. “Very well, Mr. Kingsley.” He smiled.

The man had actually smiled. Abby couldn’t believe it, couldn’t believe this whole nightmarish scene, actually.

“We will see you on Tuesday next, then.” Mr. Prinker shook Harrison’s hand and tipped his hat at her.

She wanted to yank his
chapeau
from his meaty hand and whack him with it. Harrison might be calm about this whole thing, but she wasn’t. Her insides were stewing. And not just at the mayor but at Harrison, too.

When Mayor Prinker was out of hearing distance, Abby faced Harrison and shot him her worst and fiercest glare. “What were you thinking?” she ground out, trying hard to keep her voice down, but not her anger and frustration. “How dare you! I’m not changing anything for that man.”

Harrison glanced over her head to where the boys were standing in line with Zoé. He grabbed her hand and led her several yards away from the crowd. “Calm down, Abby. I’ve dealt with his kind before. You have to flatter them or they can make your life miserable. Don’t you see the man can shut you down? Then all the money and hard work you have put into the place will be for nothing. I don’t want that to happen. I want to see your business succeed, and I’m going to do everything in my power to see that it does, even if it means doing something as humbling as sweet-talking the mayor.”

Talk about humbling. The man was doing this for her. And as usual, he was being rational while she was operating out of her emotions. Right then, her anger went from blazing logs to a pile of smoldering ashes. She drew in a long breath and was about to partake of a huge slice of humble pie. “You’re right. Thank you, Harrison. And thank you for caring about my business. However—” she held up a finger “—I’m still not changing anything for that man.”

“You won’t have to. We’ll just let him think we’re willing to. That’s all the man wants. He wants to be in control. And if he thinks he is, he’ll act as if it was his idea to approve things.”