Obadiah turned back to the leather in his lap. He’d been working on this project for almost a week now, and for the life of him, Jacob couldn’t figure out what it was supposed to be. Some part of a harness? But the pieces were much too small, even if it was meant for Dantès. The wolfdog dozed on the other side of the fire.
“You gonna tell me what that is yet?” Jacob asked.
“Uh-uh,” Obadiah said, squinting down a thin length of pliable leather.Laces maybe?“Don’t know if it’ll even work yet, so I’ll just keep it to myself for now.”
“Can I help?”
“No, no. It’s almost done. You just sit and rest. You’re doin’ exactly what you need to be doin’.”
“I’m doin’ exactly nothin’. Don’t seem right.”
Obadiah flashed a gap-toothed grin. “I’ll put you to work soon enough. Enjoy your life of leisure for a spell. Let someone else take care of you.”
Jacob huffed. He hated being treated like an invalid. Although, now that he thought of it, there was that one time he had secretly enjoyed it. His blood warmed thinking of Kate ever so gently caring for his cracked ribs. He scowled. She was the whole reason he was in this mess in the first place. He turned back to his book. He read the same sentence again. Then again. And again. He snapped the book closed.
Obadiah glanced over at him. “Somethin’ on your mind?”
“Nothin’ to bother you with.”
“What’s the point in havin’ company if not to be bothered by them? Come on, son. Out with it.”
Jacob scrubbed a hand over his unkempt beard. “I just can’t seem to forget her.”
“The woman you’re runnin’ from?”
Jacob laughed bitterly. “Yeah.”
“What’s her name again?”
“Kate.”
“What’s she like?”
“Doesn’t matter now.”
“Why not?”
“Because she’s engaged to another man! Might even be married already.”
“Ah,” Obadiah said softly. “Why don’t you tell me about her?”
“What’s the point? She’s lost now. I need to forget her. Clear my head.”
“Might be if you talked ’bout her,” the old trapper mused, “talked ’bout what happened, you’d be able to let her go.”
“Maybe,” Jacob said despondently, leaning back and staring at the ceiling. “Or maybe it’ll just bring the hurt back up to the surface for me to experience all over again.”
“Well, seems like you’re hurtin’ already. Might as well give it a try.”
Jacob crooked a bitter smile. “That’s true enough.”
Obadiah punched another hole in the leather he worked. “I’m all ears.”
“Where do I start?”
“The beginnin’s usually a good place.”
“It’s a long story.”
