Her hands idle on the wooden crate, she frowned. “I never thought of it in those terms. I’ve always thought people heading west into new land were seeking adventure or a more challenging life. But now I wonder how many are running from something.” With a puzzled shake of her head, she lifted a book and turned it over.
She had no idea that right before her stood a man determined to forget his past.
“This might interest someone.”
“Yes.” Though he didn’t read the title. “Let’s pick out a few.” Forcing his attention back to the task, he helped select books—three works of fiction, a history book, one on geography, and two travel diaries. “Maybe this will quiet the complaining.”
She drew back, her eyes darkening. “I’m sorry. Am I annoying you?”
“What? No. Addie, I didn’t mean you. Why would you think that?” He blocked the doorway so she couldn’t leave.
“I’m the only one here…besides you.” Each word huffed out.
“What about those out there?” He jerked his head toward the other room.
“Them?” She blinked and drew her lips into?—
Squinting and leaning close, he let out an exasperated huff. “You’re joshing me, aren’t you?”
Her laugh rebounded to the corners of the room.
“You are a tease.”
“And you like it.”
Their gazes crashed at her assessment and his silentadmission. Yes, he liked it. Very much. More than he had a right to. Except?—
What stopped him from showing his interest in her?
He had his own place. He had a house suitable for a family. In fact, why had he built it as if he had, in the back of his mind, behind the debris of his past, always planned for a family of his own?
Only one thing stood in his way. The secret of his past he wanted no one to know. Ever.
“Shall we?” He stepped aside and gestured for her to leave before him.
They set the books on the table, and everyone except Mrs. Stone, who continued to sleep, chose a title. Nash picked the travel diary of David Thompson and looked around, uncertain where he wanted to sit. The benches were a bit crowded.
Addie claimed one of the novels and sat on the floor with her back to the wall close to her mother. In the same spot as they’d been last night. Where she’d fallen asleep on Nash’s shoulder.
“Mind if I join you?” He waited for her go-ahead nod before he lowered himself to her side. He had so much he wanted to know about her. But not now, with the others so close. Surely there’d come a time and a place before they reached Golden Valley and parted ways. He’d make sure of it.
For now, he’d bide his time, and he opened the bookand began to read.
Quiet descended, carrying only the rain on the roof, the turning of pages, the ticking of the clock on the wall by the cupboard, and the hitch of Mr. Zacharius’s breathing.
The recounting of exploration and discoveries proved interesting enough, but Nash kept losing his place.
Addie didn’t seem to have the same problem. She turned the pages at a steady pace. Twice, she groaned as if the characters in her book had made a foolish choice. Once, she laughed softly.
Nash held the book open on his lap. His reading forgotten; he rested his head against the wall and studied Addie. She’d brushed her hair at some point, and it hung in a neat braid down her back, various shades of blonde running in and out of the curves. Her neck was slender, the skin white, unmarred except for a row of freckles along her hairline. They were so pale no one would have noticed them without close scrutiny, which explained why he’d observed them. Her ears were smallish, and he smiled at that realization, though he couldn’t say why.
Her shoulders twitched.
Had she grown aware of his study?
Before he got his attention back to the pages, she caught him staring.
What did he see in her eyes? Surprise? Or was it?—?
