She met him look for look. Examining him as much as he examined her. Her gaze scanned his face, dropped to his right shoulder, crossed his chest in a measured pace, reached his left shoulder, and returned to his face, stopping when their eyes connected.
The air between them shimmered with possibility.
Mr. Zacharius coughed long and hard, jarring their attention toward him.
They looked at each other again, but the boundaries were again in place. The moment had passed. He shifted his gaze to the window. Rain still streaked it. According to the clock, the afternoon drew to an end.
Addie eased to her feet. “I’ll see what I can find for supper.”
He followed on her heels. “I’ll help.”
Side by side, they examined the cupboard’s contents. Despite Mr. Bertrand’s complaints about beans, those would have to do for supper.
“I’ll make biscuits again,” he offered. “Unless you’d like to.”
She held her palms toward him. “I couldn’t compete with your expertise.”
He scoffed. “I have no doubt you can make them as well as I.”
“Oh, I don’t think you can be certain of that.” One of those palms lowered with a dismissive wave. “You go ahead while I slave over the beans. First, I have to find a can opener.”
They grinned at each other.
Hawk left, saying he had to do chores. By the time he returned, the biscuits were ready to eat. Addie had found a can opener, opened half a dozen cans, and dumped them into the big pot.
Before she went to the table, she took water to her mother, waking her to drink.
Mrs. Stone again refused food.
At the way Addie’s eyes dimmed, Nash squeezed her shoulder. “She’s resting.” As if that wasn’t obvious. But what other assurances could he offer?
Addie nodded. “And she isn’t burning up. But I wish she would rally.”
They joined the others at the table, crowded together. Nash resisted the urge to put his arm around Addie’s shoulders, draw her even closer, and offer his comfort.
Again, he said grace and included a request for Mrs. Stone to get better. Addie rewarded him with a whispered thanks.
Only one person complained about the menu.Everyone else thanked Addie and Nash for preparing the food.
After the meal, Mr. Zacharius offered to help with the washing up, but Addie waved him away. “It’s not necessary, but thanks.”
Nash hoped he didn’t smile wide enough to make the others wonder at the reason, but it pleased him that Addie didn’t want to share their time together with anyone else. But how long could they linger over the few dishes, pretending to be busy so they could stand side by side, talking softly?
“Did you ever reach a crossroads in your faith such as I did?” It seemed like a good place to begin learning more about her.
She squeezed the water from the washrag and twisted it to within a fraction of destruction. Although she hadn’t answered his question, he knew she had.
“I did.”
“Care to tell me about it?”
Her shoulders rose and fell as she drew in several deep breaths. Just when he thought she’d refuse, the words ground from her throat.
“It happened after my parents died.” She turned to face him full-on, troubled emotions racing through her eyes. “They died needlessly and cruelly.”
He placed both hands on her shoulders to still their quivering. As she leaned into his grasp, the shaking quietened. “I’m sorry,” he murmured, wanting to crush her to his chest and erase every ugly memory.
Her gaze searched his, and he held steady, letting her look long and deep.
