Page 63 of The Formation of Us

Duke shook his head. Radford would give him money, a warm place to stay, even his own body to protect his back, but Duke didn’t need any of those things. He needed to fit in here, and to be connected with his brothers. “I just wanted to thank you for helping me frame up Faith’s house.”

“You’d do it for me.”

Duke would do anything for his brothers. That’s how it was with them; they shared the load. Always had. Always would.

“I’m courting her, you know.”

Radford grinned. “Is that what all that drooling was about last week?”

As brothers, they had smart-mouthed each other all their lives, but Duke couldn’t join in today. The situation with Adam bothered him too much.

“If I marry her, Adam Dearborn will become part of our family.”

“Whoa!” The humor fled Radford’s eyes. “You’ve known this woman a month maybe? You’re falling a little fast, aren’t you?”

He was. He knew that. But he also knew Faith was the woman he wanted to marry, and that he’d lose the chance if he didn’t move fast. Faith and her aunts were the talk of the town, and any eligible man would jump at the chance to make Faith his wife. Her financial situation wouldn’t allow her a lengthy courtship. She needed a husband and provider now, and would be forced to marry soon. She wouldn’t have to wait or look elsewhere because Duke was eager to marry her. He wanted her companionship, her passion, her love. He wanted what his brothers had with their wives.

“Marriage will bring you more than a full-time bed-partner, Duke. You’ll be responsible for her aunts and her children. That’s a hell of a load to take on your shoulders, although I suspect Adam could benefit from a little guidance. That boy has a worldly, troubled look in his eyes that concerns me. And it should concern you too, if you’re really planning on marrying his sister.”

Duke’s sheriff’s pay, added to a generous income from the mill, would allow him to support all of them. Radford, who got an equal cut of the mill profits, would know that; he was just jumping to unfair conclusions about Adam and couching his bias in concern for Duke’s financial welfare. “Faith is his guardian. The boy’s mother died two months ago.”

Radford’s shoulders lowered and compassion replaced the wariness in his eyes. “That’s a shame. I feel for the boy.”

“Then let him be friends with Rebecca. He just moved to town, and she’s the only person who has been friendly to him.”

“He’s being too friendly. He’s giving Rebecca gifts.”

“Adam said he didn’t give her the parasol.”

“Rebecca thinks he did.”

“Did she see him leave it? Or did he tell her he left it?”

“No.”

“Then it’s unfair to assume he’s guilty. The parasol was stolen from Archer’s Apothecary.”

Radford blew out a breath. “Which makes this situation even worse.”

“Which means it could have been left by anyone. Or perhaps Rebecca got it for herself.”

Radford’s eyes sparked with insult and outrage. “If you’re insinuating that my daughter would—”

“Of course not. I’m just pointing out that other possibilities exist.”

“Well, I don’t like any of them. And I’m sorry for Adam, but I don’t want him around Rebecca. He needs to find a boy his age who can be his friend.”

“What’s so threatening about him befriending Rebecca?”

“He’s leading her astray. She never was in trouble at school until she met Adam. And now she has a stolen parasol in her possession.”

The irritation in Radford’s voice brought Kyle and Boyd over. Kyle brushed sawdust off his clothes. “What’s going on over here?”

“I invited Faith and the children to the mill this evening,” Duke said, but kept his eyes on Radford. “If you can’t be cordial, stay the hell away from them.”

“I never said I disliked the boy. I dislike his pursuit of Rebecca. I’m only guilty of being a father.”

“Wrong, Radford. You’re being narrow-minded and overprotective as always.”