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Of course men had more ways to hurt than with their hands! The lashing of questions felt as wounding as any hard-ironed grip.
    In a panic, she was tempted to make up lies. To say something about her husband dying. Or that he was with an ailing parent and so had encouraged her to go to the inn.
    Anything that would be socially acceptable, even if thought to be strange. But she’d been caught in lies so often lately, she didn’t dare.
    Lies meant that you had to remember things. And she had no willpower for that at the moment. In fact, she was fairly sure she would completely forget just about everything the moment she’d said a word. That was how it had been going lately, anyway.
    So she evaded. Again. “I don’t believe the reason I’m here is anyone’s business.”
    “I think otherwise.” His voice was harsh, and the look he gave her made her shudder. “You have put everyone here in a state of worry.”
    “I certainly have not. Who said such a thing?”
    He paused. “What if you need medical assistance?”
    Ah, it looked like she wasn’t the only one who could dodge questions. “If I did, I don’t see how that would be your concern.”
    “I’d never be able to stand by while a woman needed help.”
    She wondered why he was even thinking about such things.
    “We are strangers. I promise you, if I need help, I certainly won’t be calling for you.”
    Irritation emanated from him.
    Which pricked her temper even further. With effort, she fought to keep her voice low and even. She didn’t want to risk showing too much of her emotions to this man. No doubt, he would use her weaknesses as fodder for another barb later. “Well, I’m not quite sure why the Lord brought us here together. Perhaps it was simply chance.”
    “Our Lord makes no accidents.”
    Melody imagined he was right. But there was something about his sanctimonious tone that riled her up in a way only the prim ladies who said they were friends with her mother could.
    Those ladies had done everything they could to make sure she knew she wasn’t worthy enough to cross their paths.
    And this man … this dark-haired, dark-eyed, angry man—why, he acted like he was just as dismayed.
    She cleared her throat. “Mr. Bender. We only happen to be here for a short while. I suggest we try our best to be civil to each other. After all, by the time the new year comes, we both will be gone. And after that, why, I’m sure our paths will likely never cross again.”
    “I sincerely hope they do not.”
    The tension between them increased. Melody considered leaving the room in a huff. She was mad enough and certainly had no desire to see him. But there was nowhere to go, save her room. And though the featherbed and comforters would keep her snug during the night, it was a far sight chillier in her room than where she was sitting.
    Almost as chilly as the glare he was sending her way. And that, of course, made her completely confused. He seemed like the type of man who did his best to stay away from people who he didn’t like. To stay away from opinions he didn’t share.
    Inside her, emotions clashed and battled with each other. Part of her wanted nothing better than to move away from Levi and sit by herself. But a whole different side yearned for the thrill she got from conversing with him. He challenged her in a way that wasn’t hard-hearted or scary. Instead, he seemed to treat her as an equal. Not someone damaged by life.
    No one else had treated her in such a way. As the battle of wills played out, she wondered who would be the victor. She’d already sat by herself for hours. She knew what that felt like.
    And, just as she knew that she didn’t care for spinach … or that nothing could make her smile like a daffodil in springtime … she knew this time with Levi would end eventually.
    And with it, her only chance to converse like someone who was strong. Not afraid of life.
    “Why did you come to a bed-and-breakfast for Christmas, anyway? It seems