Chapter 25
Of course he had.
Kestrel Flat could spread scandal faster than fire through June grass.
He found me milking Clover.
"You all right?"
"Yes."
"Oscar?"
"Angry."
"Dunore?"
"Alive."
Adrien let out a breath.
"I considered correcting that."
I looked at him.
He was serious enough that I laughed.
He crouched beside the stall.
"What happened?"
I told him.
Not every detail.
Enough.
When I finished, Adrien was silent.
Then he said, "Do you want him gone?"
"Who?"
"Dunore."
"How exactly would you arrange that?"
His jaw tightened.
"Men leave towns for many reasons."
I set down the milk pail.
"Adrien."
"I didn't say I'd threaten him."
"You were thinking it loudly."
He looked away.
I almost smiled.
Then I shook my head.
"No. I don't want you handling Curtis."
"Why?"
"Because that would only prove him right."
Adrien looked back.
"About what?"
"That another man is deciding my life."
Something in Adrien's face shifted.
"Fair."
"He is Oscar's father."
"Yes."
"He may become a decent one."
"Maybe."
"He may not."
Adrien nodded.
"But I decide what I permit around me."
"Yes."
"And Oscar will eventually decide what he permits around himself."
"Yes."
Adrien stood.
"Then what do you want from me?"
The question caught me.
Ask.
That was what I had told Curtis.
Adrien asked.
I looked at him.
"I want you not to make me grateful for being respected."
His brow furrowed.
"Explain."
"I have spent so long around men who think respect is a favor that when you simply ask me what I want, I feel indebted."
Adrien's expression softened.
"You aren't."
"I know."
"Good."
He walked to Clover.
She sniffed his sleeve.
He scratched behind her left ear.
"Anything else?"
I watched his hand move gently through her hair.
"Yes."
He looked at me.
"Stay for breakfast."
His smile was slow.
"I can do that."
Oscar came into the barn while we were eating biscuits at the kitchen table.
He stopped when he saw Adrien.
"Morning," Adrien said.
Oscar climbed onto his chair.
"Morning."
He looked tired.
Adrien buttered a biscuit.
"Your mother told me Clover had an adventure."
Oscar frowned.
"Papa tried to sell her."
Adrien nodded.
"I heard."
"You wouldn't."
"No."
Oscar studied him.
"Why?"
Adrien looked at me.
Then back at Oscar.
"Because she isn't mine."
Oscar seemed to think this over.
"What if you married Mama?"
I choked on coffee.
Adrien froze with the biscuit halfway to his mouth.