LITMIR.BIZ

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began to grow impatient. Isn’t that what this whole conversation is about? “Yes, an annulment.”

      The man removed his spectacles to wipe away his tears of laughter. “No. I don’t think I can.”

      Nathan shot to his feet, then wished he hadn’t when a searing pain ran across his back. Had he just broken the cut open? “What do you mean you can’t? Why can’t you?”

      “Sit down, sit down. No use getting all excited about it.”

      Eyes narrowed, he carefully sat in the chair, ignoring the pain.

      “I told you it’s been a while since we’ve had to give one.”

      “Yes.”

      “Well, I’ve plumb forgot how it’s done.”

      Nathan looked at him incredulously. “You’ve what?”

      The man shrugged carelessly. “I can’t remember for the life of me.”

      “But you’re a judge. You can’t forget things like that,” Nathan protested.

      “I’m no judge. I’m just his assistant.” The man leaned forward conspiratorially. “I mostly hand out forms and tell folks to come back later.”

      “His assistant?”

      “I declare, there’s an echo in here.”

      “If you’re his assistant then where’s the judge?”

      “He’s seeing to a case north of here, then he’ll visit his family near Abilene. He has a pretty little daughter who had twins, can you imagine? Then his older son settled about ten miles from there—”

      Nathan held up his hand to still the flow of words. “So how do I get my annulment?”

      “Well, I don’t rightly know. You see, even if I could trouble myself to remember how to do it, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to make it legal. I suppose the only thing you can do is wait for Judge Hendricks.”

      “How long will that be?”

      “Not sure.”

      “Any guesses?”

      “I’d say about a month. He may decide to go an extra thirty miles and see his cousin. Then you’re looking at two months, easy.”

      Nathan’s jaw slackened. “Two months?”

      “Maybe more. You see, there is always a chance someone else will call for a judge. There aren’t many in these parts so he does a lot of traveling.”

      Nathan sighed. “So no one really knows when the man will be back.”

      “Oh, I know he’ll come back. I just don’t know when.”

      “That’s what I just s—never mind. I don’t suppose there a chance another judge might travel this way?”

      The man paused thoughtfully, then shook his head adamantly. “Probably not, seeing as this town has a judge.”

      Nathan frowned as he stood. “I guess you’re right. I have no choice but to wait.”

      “It was a pleasure doing business with you.” The man shook his hand.

      Nathan walked out the door, barely hearing the small man call out, “Who’s next?”

      What was he going to do? Two months. Two long months!

      After Kate’s refusal he’d been able to put aside … well, to put aside Kate. After all, this was just one part in a long string of things that had gone terribly wrong. He’d dusted himself off from the latest fall in the dirt, literally; he fingered the sore spot on his head, and he’d told himself he’d just have to find something else.

      For two whole months he would be reminded of everything that he’d thought he’d have. Every time he looked into Kate’s eyes he’d have to remind himself that there must be something better or brighter waiting for him. There must be some reason that yet another dream, another hope had been deferred and had become only that—a dream.

      “Rutledge, wait!”

      Nathan paused and turned to find the sheriff hurrying toward him as fast as he could amble. “Sheriff Hawkins,” he acknowledged in greeting.

      “Rutledge, I have an idea,” the man said eagerly. “Come with me.”

      The sheriff turned and headed toward the jail. Not again, Nathan thought as he followed the sheriff into the stone building. Upon entering it, his gaze was immediately drawn to the jail cells in the back of the room. He swallowed, then quickly glanced away. His eyes landed on the little thief from a few days ago, prompting a wry smile. It was almost as though the child had never moved because he sat in the same off-to-the-side chair. He still wore the same sullen look of disinterest that unsuccessfully hid his obvious curiosity about what was going on around him.

      The sheriff sank into the wooden chair behind the desk and motioned Nathan to sit down. “I’ve been bringing the boy here during the day and home with me at night but it unnerves the missus some. I was thinking on what I could do for the boy and it hit me.”

      Nathan waited as the sheriff let the tension build.

      “You and Kate should take the boy.”

      “What?” Nathan exclaimed.

      “You and Kate should take the boy. He could work in the fields and sleep in the barn with you. You two would only have to feed him and steer him in the right direction.”

      Nathan stared at the sheriff in disbelief. “We can’t do that.”

      “Why not?”

      Nathan glanced at the boy, who tried not to appear to be listening to the conversation. “It just isn’t right. The boy should have a home if he doesn’t already. Surely someone will want to take him in.”

      “Yes, but not everyone would be a good influence on the boy. He’s been a thief and a drifter. All I’m asking is that you let him work as payment for the things he tried to steal. It will be a good lesson for him.”

      Nathan leaned across the desk to speak in a low tone. “If he’s a thief, wouldn’t he be a bad influence on Sean and Ellie?”

      “No, those kids are strong. Their ma raised them right. Look at it this way, the O’Briens will be three good influences. Wouldn’t three good influences cancel out one bad one?”

      Nathan sat back in his chair, wincing just a tad when his back made contact with the wood. If the boy and I harvested half of the field, Kate wouldn’t have to pay fifteen percent off that. That would be a fair amount of money saved. The boy needs someone to turn his life around. Who knows why he’s on his own?

      Nathan glanced at the boy, who’d dropped all pretenses and was eagerly listening to the conversation about his future. He couldn’t be more than a year or two older than Sean. But by God’s grace, life could have dealt him such a blow.

      Nathan looked at the sheriff, who waited tensely for an answer. Two months, Nathan reminded himself. All I can offer is two months, and no more. Nathan’s voice was low, hopefully too low for the boy to hear, as he said, “If Kate and I take him in, it can’t be forever, understand?”

      “Of course,” the sheriff complied. “I’m just asking you to show him how to do good, honest work. Give him some sort of skill so he’ll have something to fall back on other than stealing.”

      “And you’ll look for a real family for the boy?”

      “Yes.”

      Nathan blew air past his lips then shook his head before he stood. “I’ll try to convince Kate but if she says no …” He shook his head again.

      “I understand,” Sheriff Hawkins said, rising quickly to shake his hand. “Thank

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