He froze and looked down at me. “What the hell are you doing, Abi?”
I shrugged. “Holding my boyfriend’s hand, what does it look like?”
His Adam’s apple slid up and down his neck. “Angel,” he choked out, “don’t do this.”
People had stopped to stare, not even trying to hide it. I smiled and waved, greeting people as I usually did. Most mumbled a reply. I held my breath, waiting to see what Eli would do. If he’d pull away and deny us to protect me, or if he’d face these people with me and show them we didn’t care what they thought…
He gripped my hand tighter, and I glanced up at him. He held my gaze, his eyes searching, conflicted. For a split second I thought he might pull away, but then he took a step forward—and we started to stroll down the street together, moving deeper into the crowd.
We’d only gone a little ways when Jack Elders, the man who’d bought two horses off us, walked up.
He shook our hands. “Elijah, Abigail, nice to see you both.” There was a softness in his eyes when he looked at me, and I had to blink back tears of gratitude. “Thought I’d let you know how well those horses have settled in. You have a magic touch, Elijah Hays. My daughter’s taken a shine to the mare. Not sure how much ranch work she’ll be doing now that Emily’s claimed her.”
Eli offered one of his subtle grins. “That doesn’t surprise me. She’s got a gentle soul. I’m sure she’s just as taken with Emily.”
Jack’s smile widened. “Think you might be right there.”
After Jack moved on, things changed, just a little, but they definitely changed. People weren’t just staring, they were assessing. There was no way to miss the way Elijah guided me through the crowd, his protectiveness. The way he looked at me, the affection in his eyes. I pulled him to a stop in front of one of the vegetable stalls, making a show of picking out some tomatoes. If people were going to get used to us, they needed to see us together. Eli was uncomfortable, but his shoulders had relaxed a fraction. The Deep River knitting club had a table set up next to the vegetables, and several eyes were now aimed our way.
A chair scraped and Mrs. Chambers, a member of the club, stood and rounded the table, coming right over to us. She was old as dirt and highly respected in the town. She knew everyone, was sweet, quiet, and extremely kindhearted. So when she looked up at Eli and shook her head, I had no idea what to expect, what she might say.
A tight knot coiled in my belly.
“You always were a big boy,” she said, grinning when Elijah’s eyes widened. “I knew your mama, son, since she was just a girl. She loved you with all her heart.”
Elijah stilled beside me. I squeezed his hand.
“She was a good woman, ended up with the wrong man is all.” She shook her head and laid her hand on his forearm. “There are a lot of flapping jaws at the moment, but I don’t want you to listen to them.”
Eli was frozen beside me, and I edged in closer, trying to offer him support. Several people were openly listening now, and with the respect this woman had around here, what she said next could help or hinder my cause.
“You’ve got none of him in you,” she said gently. “None. You’ve got your mama’s eyes and her heart. I’ve known that since you were a boy. You probably don’t remember this, but I used to watch you sometimes. Always so sweet and gentle, kind to others. Glad to see you finally happy, Elijah Hays.” Then she walked away, returning to her knitting group.
We both stood there stunned for several seconds. The quiet that had grown around us was slowly being submerged in chatter again. Some people moved on; others continued to stare and whisper.
Still holding Elijah’s hand, I led him away from the thickest part of the crowd. When we had some space, I turned to him.
He was still stunned; Mrs. Chambers’s words had hit home. Had been exactly what he’d needed to hear.
“See,” I whispered. “It’s going to be okay.” Not everyone in this town would accept him—accept us together. It would take time, more people like Jack and Mrs. Chambers. But that didn’t matter, not to me. I’d find out who my true friends were, and the rest…I was better off without them.
“Why did you come to town, angel?” he asked.
“To show these people how much I love you, that we’re a package deal…and to prove to you that your place is here, with me.” I lifted his hand and kissed his scarred knuckles. “That not everyone is against us.”
“And if your plan didn’t work?” His voice was so deep now, I felt it as much as heard it.