Chapter 7
Jake McCall had a difficult time going to sleep. He was certainly tired enough, but he just couldn't get Leah out of his mind. And Tom had behaved so oddly...what was that about?
Normally Tom Barkley had an open mind about folks. Why would he say the things he did about a woman who he'd just met? If you could even call it a proper introduction. Goodness sakes, the lady fainted dead away as Tom and Victoria entered the room. Leah had whispered something before she fainted. He only felt her hand grab his arm as she fell to the floor. Ahhh...Tom is probably right, there must be a husband! No sense getting all fired up about a married woman who lives in Strawberry, even if she had stolen a piece of his heart.
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"Thomas Barkley, where are you?" Victoria questioned her husband.
"What, oh, I'm sorry, My Dear. How long have you been standing there?" Tom apologized as he walked over to embrace his wife. He needed to feel her closeness, her abiding love.
"You seemed so deep in thought. Is there a problem with the ranch?" Victoria queried, still in his embrace.
"Everything is fine, just fine. It's just that I was trying to place our guest...Leah that is. I met her in Strawberry several years ago. She worked in the dining hall at the hotel," Tom hedged, trying to make sure he at least had shared some truth with his wife. The rest could be his word against hers...if Leah had any intentions of telling Victoria of their affair.
"Really? Now isn't that a coincidence that she would end up here at our home. It is a small world isn't it?" Victoria commented as she searched her husband's face. He seemed troubled.
"I guess I should go up and see her, try to find out where she was headed," Tom said softly. His wife obviously had not been told anything by Leah or Rachel.
"That's been many years ago. Who knows if she'll remember meeting you," Victoria shared innocently.
Tom's guilt grew, his heart pounded harder. What a dreadful mistake he had made. He had to chuckle to himself that now, only now was it a mistake, now that he might be caught in betrayal. But was it betrayal? It was only a few nights in a warm bed. No promises on his part! He knew that Leah had all kinds of dreams floating in her pretty little head when they were together, but that's how a woman thinks, he understood that now. He tried to calm himself, who knows where the threesome had been headed, Stockton maybe or maybe not. Why assume after all these years that she was there to cause a problem.
"Tom, Sweetheart, it seems that I can't hold your attention this evening. You've spoiled me. I'm so use to you hanging on my every word," Victoria teased as she brushed his cheek with the back of her hand.
Tom smiled, dear God he loved her so. He took her in his arms and hugged her tight.
"I'm a lucky man, Mrs. Barkley, so lucky to have you as my wife, my partner."
"I'm the lucky one," Victoria answered softly. "We have so much; we are so blessed."
Again guilt held his heart prisoner. How could he have ever risked his marriage, this family?
Chapter 8
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