Page 20 of Heart of Mystic Valley
Little Joe, a gangly fifteen-year-old with a shock of red hair, fidgeted with a set of tools. “I can handle the hinges, if you want,” he offered.
Parker snorted. “The same as you handled the fence post last week?”
“That wasn’t my fault,” Little Joe protested. “The ground was frozen solid.”
Joshua held up a hand to forestall the argument. “Let him have a go at it, Parker. We can always redo it if needed.”
The camaraderie among the three was palpable. Even Little Joe, who wasn’t a Beckett by blood, had been taken in as one of their own. They fell into an easy rhythm, each knowing their role, their lighthearted banter filling the air as they worked. Little Joe concentrated his efforts on the hinges, finally stepping back to examine them. A broad grin appeared.
Joshua inspected the door, giving it a few test swings. “Not bad,” he said. “It’s starting to come together. Good work, Joe.”
They worked with renewed vigor, the prospect of a warm fire and hot meal spurring them on. The physical labor was intense, every muscle in their bodies protesting as they hurried to complete the task. Parker and Little Joe fell back into their usual pattern of teasing, their jabs at each other growing more creative and absurd with each passing minute.
As they laughed, Joshua’s thoughts drifted like snowflakes, landing softly on the image of Faith Goodell.
Joshua’s hands moved on autopilot as he considered the woman who’d occupied so many of his thoughts lately. Faith was nothing if not passionate, whether it was about the newspaper, her friends, or the town of Mystic itself. He admired her, even when he didn’t always agree with her.
“Josh,” Parker said, bringing him back to the present. “You gonna hold that or what?”
Joshua looked down to see he was holding a nail, completely forgetting to drive it in. “Sorry,” he muttered, taking the hammer from Parker and giving the nail a few solid whacks.
“You’re miles away,” Parker said, eyeing his older brother. “Something on your mind?”
“Thinking about the ranch,” Joshua lied. “About the future.”
His thoughts immediately returned to Faith. How she laughed, how she challenged him, how she looked at him with such intensity he felt both exposed and understood.
He remembered the night of Cody’s wedding, the two of them sitting on the porch of the homestead, watching the celebration wind down. She’d rested her head on his shoulder, and for a brief, terrifying moment, he’d wanted to kiss her. Instead, he’d made some awkward joke and stood up, leaving her confused and alone.
Years later, long after Cody’s wife and daughter had been murdered, Joshua considered if he could even pursue something with Faith. The idea gnawed at him. A relationship with her wouldn’t be simple or easy.
“You coming to the house, Josh?” Parker asked.
“You boys go on. I’ll be there soon,” he answered.
Joshua let the brisk air clear his mind. He took a seat on a bale of hay and rubbed his hands together, lost in thought. What did he really fear? Rejection, certainly. The sting of putting himself out there only to be turned down was something he wasn’t sure he could handle.
The deeper dread, though, was the fear of losing what he and Faith had. Their friendship was important to him, a rock, no matter what troubles they faced.
How did she even feel about him? He could sometimes convince himself the looks she gave him, the touches, the wayshe spoke his name—all were signs of something more. Just as often, he doubted his interpretations, and worried he was seeing what he wanted to see rather than what was real.
He remembered Annalee’s words from a few weeks ago. “She’s not going to wait around forever, you know.” His sister had always been more perceptive than he gave her credit for, and her warning had struck a chord. If Faith did have feelings for him, how long would she harbor them in silence, hoping he’d make a move?
He wasn’t blind to the attention she received from other men. Attorney Braxton Reed, the young banker from Bozeman, and a ranch hand from Tripp Lassiter’s ranch. They were all vying for her in one way or another. So far, she’d remained aloof, but Joshua knew it was only a matter of time before she let someone in.
The thought of her with someone else tightened his chest, and Joshua realized he couldn’t keep her waiting forever.
Chapter Eight
Naomi Beckett stood at the kitchen sink, her hands immersed in warm, soapy water as she rinsed the last of the breakfast dishes. The scene beyond the window was a picturesque landscape straight out of a painting. The vibrant sun rose over the majestic mountains and tranquil valley spreading out before her.
With a satisfied smile, Naomi dried her hands on a kitchen towel and turned toward her family gathered in the dining room.
“I believe we ought to take advantage of this fine weather,” she said. “Let’s ride to Millard’s Park for the day. The river should be high enough for some good fishing.”
Jolene, cradling her newborn son, Cody, in her arms, looked up from the table where she and Grayson were making a list of supplies for the upcoming week. “Sounds perfect. We could all use a little break.”
Joshua, seated next to Faith Goodell, who’d stopped by earlier with Evelyn Graham to drop off the latest edition of the Mystic Gazette and a large plate of cookies, nodded in agreement. “A day out could do us some good, Ma.”
