Page 51 of Heart of Mystic Valley
Ignoring the sheriff, she stood her ground, the rolling pin raised defensively. “I don’t take kindly to threats against my townspeople.”
The stranger’s eyes darted between Aggie, Brodie, and Joshua, clearly reassessing his situation. “This isn’t over,” he growled, backing away slowly.
Brodie advanced, his gun trained on the man. “I believe it is. You’ve got about ten seconds to get out of town before I arrest you.”
As the stranger retreated, disappearing down an alley, Joshua rushed to Aggie’s side. “Are you all right?”
She nodded, her breathing slightly uneven. “I’m fine. How’s Tom?”
Joshua’s gaze shifted to Brodie, who stood next to the stunned rancher. “The sheriff’s helping him.”
“Tom, you okay?” Joshua heard Brodie ask.
He rubbed a swelling jaw. “Thanks to Miss Aggie here.”
She smiled modestly. “I’ve found a rolling pin has many uses beyond baking.”
Despite the gravity of the situation, Joshua couldn’t help chuckling. “Remind me never to get on your bad side, Aggie.” His expression sobered as he turned back to Faith, who stood a few feet behind him. “We should talk. I’ll walk you back to your office.”
Chapter Twenty
The wooden floorboards creaked beneath Joshua’s boots as they entered the Mystic Gazette office, the lingering excitement of the brawl still humming in their veins. The comfort of familiar surroundings wrapped around them, a stark contrast to the chaos they’d left behind on the streets of Mystic. Faith moved behind her sturdy oak desk while Joshua lowered himself into the chair across from her, his gaze never leaving her face.
The ticking of the wall clock seemed to grow louder in the silence. Faith let her gaze drift to the typewriter holding a half-written story. Joshua watched, his shoulders tensing beneath his cotton shirt. The air crackled with unspoken words and barely contained emotions.
He cleared his throat, breaking the stillness. His voice, soft yet firm, carried the weight of his next words. “Faith, I was wondering if you’ve given any thought to what I said last night. About my feelings for you.”
She opened her mouth to respond, but the words caught in her throat. The tension in the room thickened, almost palpable in the fading evening light streaming through the office windows.
He leaned forward. “I know it might’ve come as a surprise, but I meant every word. I’ve cared for you for a long time now, and I believe it’s high time I said something about it.”
Her hands trembled as she smoothed her skirt, buying time as she gathered her thoughts. “Joshua, I…” she began, her voice barely above a whisper.
He held up a hand, a gentle smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “You don’t have to say anything if you’re not ready. I just needed you to know how I feel.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to respond. There’s just so much to consider.”
“What’s troubling you? You know you can talk to me about anything.”
“We’ve been friends for so long, Joshua. What if…” She drew in a breath. “What if this changes everything?”
A soft chuckle escaped his lips, warm and reassuring. “Change isn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes, it’s exactly what we need.”
Her lips curved into a small smile, some of the tension easing from her shoulders. “You always know what to say, don’t you?”
“Not always. When it comes to you, I’ve had plenty of time to think about what I want to say.”
The clock on the wall chimed, startling them both. Faith glanced at it, realizing how much time had passed. “I should start working on tomorrow’s edition,” she said, reluctance clear in her voice.
Giving a slow nod, he rose from his chair. “Of course. I won’t keep you from your work.” He paused, his hand resting on the back of the chair. “You should know, I meant what I said. I care for you deeply. And I’m willin’ to wait as long as you need to sort out your feelings.”
“Thank you, Joshua. Your honesty means more to me than you know.”
As he turned to leave, Faith called out, “Joshua?”
He paused at the door, looking back at her with hope shining in his eyes.
“I have been thinking about what you said. And I promise, I’ll have an answer for you soon.”
