Beneath the Apple Leaves(44)
He turned bashful. “Felt terrible that day when I saw you open that crate to find it broken. Know a guy in town who can get anything. Shipped it to me the next day.”
Her mouth fell open and she couldn’t speak. “I can’t accept this.” She handed it back, but he stepped away.
“No refunds, I’m afraid. You got to take it. Hurt my heart something bad if you don’t.” His face mollified to that of a puppy, looked at her with complete seriousness. “A woman needs pretty things, Eveline. Especially, a lady as pretty as you.”
Her heart fluttered. “I simply don’t know what to say.” But then she cradled the pitcher against her chest. “Thank you, Frank.”
He sat down, picked up the lemonade, sipped slowly. “Can I be honest with you?”
She couldn’t remember talking to a man like this, ever. “What is it?”
“I’m not going to lie. This gift is a bit of a bribe.”
She laughed. “A bribe? For what?”
“For your trust.” He turned his gaze to his hands. “You’re going to hear things about me. Things that aren’t true.” He gave a half-smile, his smooth cheeks strong and firm. “All I ask is you make your own opinion instead of following gossip.”
“My word, what kinds of things do you think I’ll hear?”
“It’s given the business that I am in. I loan out money to the people who can’t get credit from the banks. Sure, I got to charge a bit more in interest, but I’m also putting my neck out. But sometimes these people don’t pay back and they lose their property. Doesn’t happen often, but it happens. Had one man took out a loan for a new harvester and spent it all on drink. Had to come in and take the harvester right from under him. Nearly got myself shot in the process.
“But you see, I got these girls to care for. I don’t want to see a man losing his property. Breaks my heart. But hell, I got to make a living, too. It’s a contract, you see? You make an agreement. I keep my end of the bargain. Just ask they do the same.”
“Sounds reasonable. Like any other business.”
“Exactly. But people don’t see it like that. They make up stories like I’m a monster. Make me sound like I evict babies onto the street. Nearly everybody pays back, but sometimes you got the ones that can’t. Breaks my heart. It does. But what am I supposed to do? Sit back while they take my money and then spend it on drink?”
Eveline sighed. “Well, I haven’t heard any rumors. But thanks for setting the story straight just in case.”
“Oh, you’ll hear. Mark my words.” He turned silent, swirled the lemonade in the glass, the sugar crystals at the bottom capering. “I’m not a bad guy.” He met her eyes square and her breath caught. “I just didn’t want you to think I was.”
He smiled and looked down again. “I like you, Eveline. You’ve got eyes that make a man feel warm. Makes a man feel like he doesn’t have to be different than what he is. Saw that the first day I came over here.” He drank his drink in one gulp and wiped his mouth with his sleeve. “About the prettiest eyes I ever laid eyes on.”
The conversation was inappropriate and she knew this, felt the panic and the rush of the words. And she loved it at the same time, to feel the blood in her veins in a way that she hadn’t felt in a very, very long time. She stood and felt faint, felt a young woman without children or raw hands from washing.
“I should be heading back,” he said. “Glad we could chat a bit.”
She nodded too quickly and too long. “Yes.”
“You and the family need anything—anything at all—let me know. All right?”
“Thank you.”
He gave a short wave and ambled back through the gate, her eyes drawn to the curve of his back pockets and the wide shoulders.
“You want me to hang these back up, Mrs. Kiser?”
Eveline nearly jumped out of her skin, instantly ashamed. Hoped Lily hadn’t seen her staring at her brother-in-law . . . her sister’s husband.
“Frank bring you that?” Lily reproached, pointing to the pitcher in her hands.
“Yes.” Eveline wanted to dip her head in the well bucket to cool off, clear her mind. “Was very kind of him.” She calmed and smiled at Lily. “He’s a very sweet man.”
A hard glint shone in the girl’s eye. “He’s not sweet, Mrs. Kiser.”
She was taken aback. Lily seemed ungrateful, even selfish. “Well, seems he’s given a roof over your head. Takes good care of you and your sister,” she huffed.
Lily sighed and turned away. “I better get these hung before the clouds set in.”
CHAPTER 25
“Will, you have the line and hooks?” asked Andrew. The child nodded, held up a tangled mess of threads, hooks and sticks.
“I got the sandwiches,” Edgar declared helpfully as he raised the picnic basket with unbending arms.
“Good. Let’s go.”
“Mind if I join you?” Lily stood next to the barn, her thin sweater cradling a small pile of apples. “Unless you think I might scare away the fish,” she added.
“Sure, Lily!” Edgar welcomed. “Here, you can put the apples in my basket.” The little boy hoisted the wicker handle and brought it to her side.