“I had to hear the words, too.” Emily sighed. “Some of it was because I believed they should be said and some because I can be a silly romantic but, under it all, is just what you said. I knew if he said the words they were true, they were meant, and I could trust in them. So, are you going to make him say it first or will you marry him if asked and hope for them after?”
“He will say them before or I will punch him right in the nose.”
Emily laughed so hard she woke her son and had to spend the remainder of the ride home calming him down.
Chapter Seventeen
Matthew went to the door to answer the knock. He peered out the small window at the side, saw the Jones brothers, and relaxed. He opened the door then gave a start when he saw the tall, bone-thin man standing with them. Under the man’s long dark coat was the hint of gray and Matthew tensed.
“Who have ye brought us, boys?” he asked the Jones brothers, pleased to see that both men were armed.
“Man is looking for your woman. Says he is her kinsman, her brother,” answered Owen.
Looking at the man again, Matthew could see no similarities, no hint of Abbie in his face or eyes. The man’s hair was a deep brown and his eyes were blue. He had looked at Abigail’s parents so little that he could not even tell if this man looked like one of them. His thinness and the scar on his cheek also made seeing any similarities difficult.
“What is your name?” he asked the man.
“Reid Aaron Jenson. I found the cabin burned and the bones of my parents.” His deep voice broke a little as he said those words. “Also saw the stone for Ab’s damn cat and that George and the wagon were gone. Found her scrawled message in George’s stall. So I then started tracking you, too. Wasn’t easy, got even less so when the war began to draw to an end.”
“So how did ye track me down?” Matthew opened the door wider.
“Found your officer, Major Cummings. He was still in the hospital and this woman was with him.” Reid stepped inside when the Jones brothers nudged him.
“How badly was he hurt?”
“Dr. Pettibone said he would heal and I don’t think that Maude lady will let your major prove the man wrong.”
Matthew nodded, unable to hide his relief. “Good. Pleased to hear it. He is a good man. As for Maude, a very strong-willed woman. Come on in. We’ll go into the kitchen.”
“Mrs. O’Neal been cooking?” asked David as he started walking toward the kitchen.
“Always thinking with your stomach,” said Owen as he followed him.
Matthew finally noticed that there was something or someone behind the man. “Who is with you?” he asked and sighed when an all-too-familiar small face peered around Reid. “Noah.”
“Hello, Lieutenant. I came with Abbie’s brother.”
“I can see that.” He looked at Reid who was smiling a little. “What I cannae understand is how is it he let ye tag along?”
“He would not turn back,” said Reid, not hiding his exasperation. “Only thing I did not try was shooting him. Stuck like a burr. Claims my sister forgot him.”
Looking at the boy who was staring at one of Iain’s paintings and trying to appear innocent, Matthew attempted to look stern. “Ye told him that Abbie forgot ye? Ye ken that isnae true.”
Noah glanced at him and stuck his bottom lip out. “She didn’t give me time to talk to her.”
Crouching down, Matthew said, “Laddie, she didnae want to leave, but she has no house to live in, no husband to help her raise ye. It is verra difficult for a lone woman to raise a child and she already has one because of a promise she made to a dying woman.”
The child’s mouth quivered and his eyes filled with tears. Matthew felt like the meanest man alive and that annoyed him. It also roused some guilt for it was his fault, his own cowardice, that kept Abbie from having a solution to her problem. It made Abigail think she had no future that would allow her to keep Noah. He was going to have to get some backbone when he next had the woman alone.
“I don’t care. I just want Abbie. I brought my puppy and a bag with my things.” He held up the bag, then held the dog out and Matthew scratched the little animal’s ears. “I just want Abbie.”
Matthew stood up and ran his hand through his hair. “I ken it. Weel, she will be back soon and ye can talk to her then.”
“Okay. Where is Jeremiah?”
“With her. She went to get him a few clothes.”
Noah nodded. “Women like to buy clothes for itty bitty babies. Or make some.”
