* * *
"So, you met each other," Clint said after Mary had finished his sponge bath.
Mary smiled. "She's a pretty amazing girl. She spent all day tending to everything around here, including you. She's already got my stamp of approval."
"Hold your horses, Mary," he said groggily. "This one's not for me."
Mary snickered, infuriating him. He eyed her suspiciously.
"Settle down. I'm not matchmaking, mind you. You're too smart for those kinds of shenanigans. I can tell she's a keeper type, if ya know what I mean."
"Don't need a keeper type, Walt."
"Stop growling. You sound like an animal. If you keep fighting it, you'll find yourself alone and lonely." She tugged Clint's sheet farther up on his chest. "So, why isn't she your type?"
He didn't like this conversation, remembering how she, Walt, and Roy maneuvered him into corners about this same subject all too often. Heat seared the tops of his ears, but he didn't feel as tired anymore. "You know exactly why. She's not . . . well, she's not—Oh, blasted, Mary. You know what type I like, so why're you asking me that?"
"Because I want you to face it. What type do you like?"
Her usual hook sunk in and took a good hold. Fine. He'd give her a list. One she wouldn't soon forget. But as his muddled brain tried to think through an accurate list, he couldn't come up with anything worth debating. Thoughts of the type of woman Jessie was kept sliding into the mix.
"I'll tell you what type," Mary finally said. "You want a female version of you."
He fell silent as he chewed on that statement.
Mary went on. "But lately, that's not even the type you've been choosing. They've been attractive and shaped right, but they're nothing like you. They've been self-centered more than usual." She wrinkled her nose. "Shallow. So beneath you, Clint, really."
So what if that's the type he'd been leaning toward. It was nobody's business but his. It kept him out of trouble and satisfied. Or, mostly satisfied.
"Well, isn't that true?"
He felt more than his ears heating up. "Maybe. Enough said."
She ignored his warning. His angry voice didn't intimidate her one bit. Another norm for Mary. He loved this woman, but he hated these conversations.
"And what exactly has that gotten you, Clint? Tell me seriously, what is missing here?"
"That's how I like them, and Jessie isn't that." Even as he said it he discerned another tug on his wooden heart. She looked like a sweet little ranch wife cooking for her man. The internal reminder made him want to throw clothes on, ride off on his gelding, and never come back.
"Now listen, Clint . . ."
What was going on with Mary? She'd been relentless in the past about him settling down. But this was heightened meddling.
"Exactly how is Jessica different from what you want deep down—" Her voice had shifted. Tender, full of love. "—other than she loves God, and you know how I feel about that one. Really think before you speak."
Oh, she was going to regret that statement. He didn't speak. At all.
"So, you're not going to face this, are you?" Mary said with dejection in her eyes. She looked at him long and hard. Guilt settled in when he saw true concern in her kind eyes. She was the only mother he'd had for a very long time.
He softened his manner. "You should know all about the reason I prefer to be alone."
"Why? Because Roy's alone and he raised you to be like him?"
That wasn't what he'd been thinking. But okay. "Roy seems to be happy with his life. Being a confirmed bachelor has worked out fine for him."
"Well, maybe you should ask Roy why he's alone. I agree he's a great man to emulate in all aspects, Clint, but maybe there's more to his not marrying than you know about. I suggest you ask him before you make the same mistake." She patted his cheek and stood. "But right now the important thing is to get you well. I'll send Jessica back in here to take care of that arm of yours. When she's done, try and get some rest."
Clint gazed up at the ceiling. Maybe Mary's and Roy's pushing was making him rebellious—sending him in a different direction than he would otherwise go. After all, he could hardly believe he'd actually considered marrying.
So, what exactly did he want?
Right now, some peace and quiet.