"Come again,Miss Morgan." Molly said as the lady left the store.
"Ya busy?" she heard a voice say. Startled she turned around to see James standing there.
"Sorry, didn't mean to scare ya." he said.
"That's fine. Where have you been lately?" she asked.
"Been visiting some friends. Catching up on some news." James said looking at her. "Anything happen while I was gone?"
" No, not really." she said looking down.
"That's not what I hear." he said smiling.
"What?" she asked. "What have you heard?"
"That you and Mr. Sully have become good friends."
"Where did you hear that? she asked becoming worried.
"Don't worry." he said trying to calm her fears. "Mrs.Johnson told me. She sorta fancies herself a matchmaker."
"Oh," she said looking down.
"Want to tell me about it?" he asked putting his fingers under her chin so she would look at him.
"Don't have anything to tell really. We've become close...Friends." she said blushing.
"Ya didn't blush like that when ya became friends with anyone else in town." he said with a teasing smile.
"Sully's different. He makes me feel different." she said quietly.
"Well if he makes ya happy I'm all for it." he said pulling her in for a hug.
"Thank you James. You don't know what that means to me." she said hugging him even tighter.
"Well I better let you get back to work." he said letting go of her and stepping towards the door.
"Yes, I have so many customers to keep me busy." she said sarcastically, looking around the empty store.
"See ya later." he said laughing as he left the store.
"Mr.Sully?" James asked as he pounded on his door at the boarding house.
"James?" Sully asked when he opened the door. Looking into the hall he asked,"Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, I just came to talk to ya." James said as he stepped into the room."I just talked to Molly."
"Is she okay?" Sully asked suddenly worried.
"She's fine. She told me she cares for you." he said looking at the mountain man.
"She does." Sully said his face beaming.He had hoped she cared for him but to have James confirm it made Sully so happy he thought he would burst.
"Sully ,you got to understand. I've never had a family. Spent to much time travelling. But that girl is the closest thing I've got to a daughter. I don't...I won't let anyone hurt her." he said glaring at Sully, hoping he was making his point clear.
"I don't want to hurt her, James. I just want to love her." he said quietly.
"That's good to know." James said holding his hand out to Sully. "Just so you know where I stand."
Shaking James hand, "Thanks for taking care of her for all of these months. I appreciate it."
"Anyone would have done what I did." James said downplaying his heroic efforts.
"Not just anyone." Sully said shaking his head.
"I best be on my way." James said stepping to the door. Pausing he said smiling," You will want to get ready. Molly...I mean Michaela will be getting off of work soon."
"I'll do that." Sully said smiling back. After hearing the door click Sully sat on the bed contemplating what James said. Molly...Michaela he corrected had told James she cared for him.
He had told James he would never hurt her. It was then that it hit Sully no matter what he did she was going to be hurt. If he told her who she was she would have to go through the pain of thinking she might not ever get her memory back .
If he didn't tell her she would go through the rest of her life wondering who she really was. Thinking the first option was the lesser of the two evils he said aloud, "At least this way she'd have the peace of mind of knowing who she is."
Holding his head in his hands he said aloud," I'll tell her tonight." Getting up he began getting dressed for dinner.