Jacob let Hannah take over the conversation—which she was entirely capable of holding on her own with the occasional encouraging exclamations from him—and let his eyes wander over the group surrounding him. It seemed like everyone had someone. The little knots of families were gathered together like beacons in the twilight, shining with their love for each other. A longing sprang up in Jacob, sharp and strong, a yearning to belong, to know and be known, to have someone by his side through all that life would throw at him. Was there anyone else out there who longed for that like he did? Or was he all alone, like he had been most of his life? He suppressed a sigh, not wanting to offend Hannahas she chattered on. He searched for something to take his mind off his morose thoughts.
He saw Kate McGrath sitting on the ground on the outskirts of the conversation. She looked very serious, her brow furrowed, concentrating on something she held in her lap. She was completely focused. She didn’t even twitch when one of the running children passed close behind her and reached out to flick the end of her braid. A corner of his mouth turned up. Was she even paying attention to the conversation around her? Then he saw her mouth quirk at something humorous her pa said. Maybe she just liked having something to do with her hands while she listened. But he couldn’t for the life of him figure out what she was working on. Was she braiding something?
The next time Hannah paused her incredible rate of chatter to take a breath, he excused himself as politely as he could. Then he ambled around the fire, taking his time, not wanting Hannah to think he had abandoned her just to go sit with another girl. It wasn’t her fault she wasn’t his type. His eyes were still on Kate. Her concentration was formidable. Shewasbraiding something. It looked like leather and ribbon, of all things. Intrigued, Jacob sidled up to her, leaning a shoulder against the wagon box just behind her. Still, she didn’t look up. Jacob’s hands itched to reach out and tug her braid like an incorrigible schoolboy just to see if he could get a reaction.
“You gonna hover over my shoulder all night or are you gonna sit down?”
Jacob started, then grinned. “You were concentratin’ so hard, I didn’t think you’d noticed,” he said, folding his legs under himself to settle beside her. “And I wasn’t hoverin’.”
“You were most definitely hoverin’,” she said, still concentrating on her project.
“All right, I was hoverin’. Couldn’t help it. Had to know what you’re workin’ on.”
“So you’re nosy too?” She didn’t even crack a smile. He couldn’t tell if she was joking or being serious.
“Guilty, I guess,” he said. “So you gonna tell me or what?”
“It’s a hatband,” she said, carefully pulling the thin strips of leather and blue and gold ribbon tight in an intricate five-strand braid. Her fingers were strong and sure, keeping the plaits flat and even, working the different textures together expertly. Mesmerizing.
“Who’s it for?” he asked after a moment.
“Me.”
“You’re puttin’ a hatband on a bonnet?”
She glanced at him, the corners of her eyes crinkling the slightest bit. “Now, why would anyone put a leather hatband on a bonnet?”
“That’s exactly the question I’m askin’ myself.”
“Well, since you must know, it’s for my hat,” she said matter-of-factly. Her eyes flicked up to the hat on his head. “It’s nearly the same as yours, actually.”
He couldn’t help the smirk that tugged at his mouth. “You wear a man’s hat?”
“Darn right,” she said, a challenge sparking in her eyes.
“That’s”—he paused, trying to think of a word that wasn’t rude—“interestin’.”
It was her turn to smirk. “That’s the nicest way anyone’s ever put it.”
He laughed softly. “You don’t care what people think of you?”
A crease appeared between her brows as she turned back to her work. “’Course I do. About things that are important, like bein’ kind, and carin’ for folks who need your help. But silly things like what someone puts on their head? People can think what they want. Hats are far more practical and a sight more comfortable besides. Bonnets knock out your peripheral vision, and hats keep the rain off your neck most times. You wear a bonnet for a dayand tell me which is better.”
His eyebrows climbed as she talked. It had been the most words he had heard her speak in one sitting, let alone one speech. Her eyes sparkled with spirit. This was by far the most interesting conversation he’d had in months. He shook his head in disbelief. “But you’re a girl. What do you need peripheral vision for?”
It was the wrong thing to say. Her hands stilled abruptly. Then she gave him a look of such disappointment his heart fell to his toes.
“So you’re tellin’ me that because I’m a girl, I should be fine with being half blind and vulnerable, all for the sake of what’s fashionable?” she asked.
Her soft question hit him right in the chest. It was true. Not having peripheral vision did make a body vulnerable. And here they were, out in the wilderness with wild animals and Indians and goodness knows what else, and every woman was walking around without the use of all their faculties because of what society said was proper for them to wear. He ran a hand over his beard. “I guess I’d never thought of it that way.”
She turned back to her plait, the sparkle in her eyes shuttered behind a veil of reserve. “Most people don’t.”
Jacob winced. He hadn’t meant to hurt her. He was just taken by surprise. He’d never even thought about this kind of thing, let alone talked about it so frankly and with a young woman no less. He was flummoxed. And he wasn’t used to being flummoxed. His mouth tipped up. He kind of liked it. “Maybe you let me borrow one of your bonnets for a day and I’ll let you know what I think.”
The corner of her mouth tugged up ever so slightly. “I think you’ve been educated enough for one day,” she said quietly.
He relaxed and let out a breath. He hadn’t ruined everything. Kate McGrath sure was strange. Then Jacob realized he hadn’t been even the least bit bored.
