LITMIR.BIZ

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to hide her trembling fingers, she busied herself with brushing off her skirt.

      “I’d be happy to assist.” He peered around the side of her. “Unless, of course, you brought your stinger with you.”

      “You, sir, are outrageous.” And the more he talked with that smooth Southern drawl, the more her uncertainty increased. “Maybe you should be on your way now.”

      “Don’t you want to know why I searched you out?”

      “Not particularly.” But curiosity poked through her wish to be rid of him. “How did you know I was here?”

      “I stopped at Charity House first. Laney told me where to find you.”

      She couldn’t stop a small jolt of surprise from spreading into something more tangible, more pleasant. But reality set in just as quickly. Had the two ladies from her earlier encounter seen Trey enter the building? Would they think Katherine had set up a secret rendezvous?

      No, she was being oversensitive because of their rudeness. Surely they’d been long gone by the time Trey had arrived. “You came looking for me?” she asked at last, suspicion digging deep. “Why?”

      “I want to talk to you about Molly.” As he spoke, everything about him turned serious—his expression, his body language, even his tone.

      Surprised by the change in him, and her intrigued reaction in response, she focused on ending their discussion as quickly as possible. “There’s nothing more to discuss. In fact, it’s all very simple—”

      “Is it? I was under the impression it was—” he blew out a slow breath “—complicated.”

      She started to push around him, but he evened out his weight, barring the exit. He seemed to fill every available space.

      He looked too big, too casual, and for a brief moment, she feared he would attack. But instead of making her shake, or even tremble, the notion made her temper flare.

      Finally, an emotion she understood. “Get out of my way.”

      A troubled look pooled in his gaze, and he scrubbed a hand through his hair. He shifted to one side, leaving a small opening for her, but he didn’t move completely away. “Not until I’ve said my piece.”

      After his earlier consideration of her fears, she knew she owed him that much. “Go ahead then. Say what you came to say.”

      He nodded. “I was wrong to get between you and your sister yesterday.”

      “You admit it?” Katherine could hardly believe her ears.

      “Yes.”

      Blinking at this newest change in him, she didn’t know what to think. Trey Scott had just given her what she wanted.

      So why didn’t she feel any satisfaction?

      “It’s not personal, you know,” she said, the truth finally hitting her. “It’s simply that you can’t offer Molly the stability she needs, especially now.”

      “You’re correct. I can’t make promises.”

      She suddenly wished he would. Because she sensed, all the way down to the last hair on her head, that if Trey Scott made a promise, he would keep it.

      “I won’t come around the orphanage anymore,” he said.

      Her stomach bounced to her toes. Now that he’d given her exactly what she wanted, she realized she wasn’t sure she wanted it anymore.

      In truth, she couldn’t bear the thought of never seeing him again. “What about Marc?”

      “I can visit with him during school hours.”

      He looked so sad, troubled, and she found herself no longer concerned about her own fears.

      She reached to him and touched his sleeve.

      It was his turn to shrug her off.

      “Molly’s your sister. Your word stands. I won’t interfere anymore. However—” he commanded her gaze with a hard, unrelenting look “—you should know that I will not stop hunting Ike Hayes until I find him and bring him to justice.”

      Katherine sighed, realizing he’d missed the crucial point in all her arguments. Didn’t he understand that it wasn’t the hunt she feared, but rather Trey’s motivation? “Seeking vengeance won’t—”

      “That is not up for discussion.” His closed-off expression couldn’t hide his pain.

      Katherine shook her head, feeling as though she’d failed him and unsure why that thought hurt so much.

      She didn’t want him to walk away. Not like this. With nothing really settled between them.

      But before she could plead with him to hear her out, he said, “You were right all along.”

      “I…I was?”

      His eyes clouded over. “Men with badges die.”

      Chapter Six

      Unable to sort through his chaotic thoughts, Trey shoved his own turmoil aside and studied the myriad of emotions that swept across Katherine’s face at his declaration. Dread. Pain. Sorrow.

      He wanted to offer her words of reassurance, to promise her they’d figure everything out for Molly’s sake, as well their own.

      But he couldn’t lie to her now that they were starting to have an honest conversation.

      “That’s all I had to say.” He reached for his hat.

      “Stay.” She gripped his arm. “Please. This isn’t right. Can’t we find another way?”

      He shook his head at her. “You want me to forgive murderers, while I never can.”

      “Maybe not on your own.” She dropped her hand and sighed. “But with God’s help…”

      “Don’t you understand, Katherine? I don’t believe in turning the other cheek. I’m Old Testament. An eye for an eye.”

      “Seeking revenge only hurts you, Trey, not—”

      “Tell that to my wife, and all the others Ike Hayes has killed. Good, decent people.”

      Katherine lowered her gaze to her toes. “I’m…sorry. I didn’t mean to make light of your loss.”

      “I know.”

      Now was the time he should walk away, but the unmistakable sadness in Katherine’s eyes—sadness for him—touched the part of his soul he’d thought he’d buried with Laurette. Vengeance still burned in his gut, probably always would until he captured Ike, yet Trey didn’t want to walk away without attempting to assure Katherine his anger wasn’t directed at her.

      With unsteady fingers, he touched her cheek, dropped his hand at her flinch. Why couldn’t she trust him, even a little? “I know I argued the point yesterday, but like you, I don’t want to put Molly through another loss.”

      She blinked at him but didn’t respond.

      He took a step closer, determined to set aside his own bitterness for a moment so he could help her understand. Katherine was courageous and good. She deserved a future free of the fear that still gripped her, the same fear that still held her captive after two years of living in the safety of Charity House.

      With slow, careful movements he shifted the long black braid off her shoulder and sent it tumbling down her back. He couldn’t help but notice how her skin stood pale against the slash of her arched eyebrows. “I don’t want to hurt Molly any more than you do. In spite of what my actions might have said yesterday, I only want what’s best for her.”

      An emotion he couldn’t read wavered in her eyes before she covered it with a scowl. “Then we’re in agreement. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”

      “Not

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