Page 38 of Heart of Mystic Valley
More than ready, he thought. “Yes, I am.”
They stepped outside, the cool evening air a stark contrast to the warm interior of the Golden Griddle. Nash was already some distance down the boardwalk, his silhouette tall and unyielding.
The walk to Faith’s house was short. They didn’t speak, the silence hanging heavy between them. He glanced at her several times, memorizing every detail.
When they arrived at her doorstep, Faith turned to Joshua. “Thank you for walking me. I could’ve managed, but it’s nice to have the company.”
Joshua stuffed his hands into the pockets of his coat. “It’s no trouble. I enjoy our time together.”
Faith hesitated, her hand on the doorknob. “Josh, if something is bothering you, you can tell me. We’re friends, aren’t we?”
Friends. The word struck him like a hammer blow.
“We are,” he said, his voice softer than he intended. “I’ve got a lot on my mind. The ranch, the future.”
She tilted her head, her long braid cascading to one side. “The future, huh? Sounds ominous.”
“Faith,” he started, then stopped. How could he phrase this so it didn’t sound like a plea or a desperate grasp? “Do you ever think about leaving Mystic?”
She laughed. “Every day. But that’s all it is. Thinking. Mystic is my home.”
“Sure. But if you had the opportunity?”
“Why are you asking me this?”
Because I need to know where you see yourself. Because I want you to be a part of my future. Because I love you.
“The town is changing,” he said instead. “Growing. Sometimes, it feels like we’re being pulled along, whether we want it or not.”
“Change is inevitable, Joshua. We can’t stop it. Whether we want to or not, we’ll have to adapt.”
“I know. There are days I wonder if we’re prepared for what’s coming.”
She released the doorknob and crossed her arms. “You’re stalling. What is this really about?”
He looked away, down the street where Nash had disappeared. Maybe the deputy wasn’t the real threat. Maybe it was the change Faith so readily embraced.
“It’s about us,” he said, bringing his gaze back to her.
She uncrossed her arms, her posture becoming less defensive, more open. “What about us?”
This was it. His heart thudded in his chest, each beat a ticking clock counting down to an uncertain future.
“Faith,” he said. “I don’t want to lose you.”
Her eyes widened, and for a split second, he thought she might step into his arms. “Lose me? Josh, you’re not going to—”
He took a deep breath, the cold air searing his lungs, and reached for her hand.
Chapter Fifteen
The explosion rocked Faith’s front porch, splintering wood and rattling glass. She took a step back at the same time Joshua dropped his hand.
“Get inside!” he barked, his voice cutting through the stunned silence following the blast. She hesitated, eyes wide, then ducked through the front door as Joshua pulled his revolver from its holster. The weight of the iron was a familiar comfort in his hand.
He scanned the small town of Mystic, his gaze sharp as an eagle’s. Townsfolk emerged from shops and homes, their faces masks of confusion and fear. A plume of smoke curled from the direction of the explosion.
Joshua’s heart thudded in his chest. He thought of the people he’d come to care for, sending up a prayer no one had been hurt.
