Always Dakota - Debbie Macomber [75]
“Did you ask him about it?”
“Not right away, but he swore all he’d done was tell her to leave him the hell alone.”
“You believe him?”
Call her a fool, but she did. Once more Margaret nodded.
“Whatever’s wrong will eventually come out,” Maddy said. “If you trust him, and you say you do—”
“Yes, but…” Margaret stopped and bit her lower lip.
“But what? Are you afraid this is all tied to some lacking on your part?” Maddy asked gently.
“Yes!” Margaret was astonished that Maddy knew her so well. “I’m afraid I’m not woman enough to keep him happy.”
“Nonsense!”
“But—”
“Don’t allow your own insecurities to blind you to what’s really happening. I’m pretty sure this has nothing to do with you. Men aren’t very good at sharing their troubles—unlike women. Most of them prefer to handle things alone, at least in my experience. In his own male way, Matt is asking for space and time. Men seem to need that. Step back and give it to him.”
“But—” Stepping back was the last thing Margaret intended to do. She wanted to hog-tie her husband and not release him until he told her what was wrong. She wanted Maddy to advise her to confront him—until she suddenly realized the wisdom of what her friend was telling her.
“You love him, you trust him,” Maddy said simply. “Now prove it.”
Margaret exhaled a deep sigh. Already she felt better.
“I was talking to Hassie about Matt the other day,” Maddy continued. “Hassie mentioned the positive changes she’s seen in him since the two of you got married.”
“What kind of changes?”
“First, Matt used to spend a lot of time away from his ranch. If he wasn’t at Buffalo Bob’s, then he was drinking in Devils Lake. That’s not to say he wasn’t a hardworking rancher, but he didn’t let his responsibilities stand in the way of a good time.”
Margaret couldn’t say anything in his defense because it was true.
“He used to be a real loner, although he certainly had acquaintances—mostly in bars. He’s a lot friendlier now, much more part of the community.”
Margaret had noted that herself.
“Those are only a few. But it’s the changes I’ve seen in you that I mentioned to Hassie,” Maddy surprised her by adding.
Margaret pressed her hand over her heart and attempted a smile. “Me?”
“There’s a softness in you I’ve never seen before,” Maddy said. “A…sweetness.”
“Sweet? Me?” Margaret was ready to laugh out loud and would have, if not for the challenging look from her friend.
“It’s true! Oh, Margaret, you mean to say you don’t see it? I do. So does Hassie. Marriage is what’s made the difference. When you announced that you were marrying Matt, I have to tell you I had my doubts. I prayed you were making the right decision. Without even thinking, I could come up with a dozen men who would, in my opinion, have made you a better husband.”
“But I love Matt!”
“I realized that. Which is why I knew it wouldn’t do any good to try to change your mind.”
Margaret couldn’t argue. She wanted Matt and no other husband.
“Actually I’d planned to phone you later in the week,” Maddy said. “Jeb and I wanted to invite you and Matt over for dinner next weekend.”
Margaret felt her heart lighten. “Yes…I mean I’ll ask Matt to make sure he doesn’t have a conflict, but it should be fine.” This was exactly what Margaret had hoped would happen. She yearned to be like other couples, to make close friends in the community, to belong.
Not long after she finished her tea, Margaret returned to the house, looking forward to telling Matt about the McKennas’ invitation. When he saw her, Matt immediately came out from the barn to meet her.
“Where’d you go?” he asked, although Margaret suspected he already knew.
“I went to Maddy’s for tea,” she said, as if it was a very womanly thing to do and she regularly took part in such activities.
“You might have mentioned it.”
“I might have,” she agreed as she led Midnight into the barn and unsaddled him. “In fact, I asked Sadie to let you know.”
Hands in his hip pockets, Matt followed her as she went about her tasks of rubbing down