After all, the future lay ahead of them, unmarred by the past—especially his past.
Thirteen
Shouldn’t Addie be relieved something moving in the bushes had brought an end to their conversation? But mostly, she was disappointed. She’d opened her heart and confessed something she’d never admitted to even herself. She wanted to be free of striving to fulfill her duty to the Stones. Not that they asked it of her. No, they’d deny such expectations if they knew what she’d said. They were genuinely generous people.
But when she’d said she wondered if something more existed for her, she’d hoped he’d say there was, and he’d help her find it.
Hawk was talking to Mr. Bertrand. “I see no reason we won’t be leaving tomorrow, but I can’t promise. Roads and weather will determine our journey.”
Mr. Bertrand harrumphed.
Hawk pushed to his feet. “Been a long day. I’m going to sleep.” He eased past Addie and Nash and headed for the barn.
And peace and quiet. Addie almost envied him.
“Thanks for showing me the stars,” she murmured toNash before she went to Mother and touched her brow. “Cool,” she murmured, glancing at Nash as she did.
“That’s good news. Especially if we resume travel tomorrow.”
“Indeed.” Addie might have wished for another day or two here for Mother to rest. But also time to take walks with Nash. Of course, they’d see each other after they reached Golden Valley. They’d as much as promised to do so. But her reassurances did nothing to ease the loneliness growing in the pit of her stomach.
Mr. Bertrand grumbled his way to the spot on the floor where he’d spent the previous three nights.
Mr. Zacharius stayed at the table. Poor man must long for a comfortable bed and something to ease his cough.
Addie closed her eyes. Why hadn’t she thought to bring back one of Mother’s teas to help the man? How selfish and thoughtless.
Without apology, Shorty claimed the bed while Nash settled beside him on the floor.
Addie lay down next to Mother, so keenly aware of Nash’s breathing nearby that she wouldn’t sleep.
But she did and woke to Nash lighting the lamp. She sprang to her feet. “Is something wrong?”
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to disturb you. No. Nothing wrong. But Hawk is anxious to get things moving.” Nash scooped coffee beans into the grinder and ground them.
Hawk stepped inside with a bucket of fresh water and filled the coffeepot.
The men needed to eat before they returned to the task of clearing the trail, so Addie hurried over to start breakfast. With three people in the kitchen area, she kept bumping into Nash. Each time, her insides did a hop and a skip, and she smiled even as she murmured, “Excuse me.”
And each time, she raised her eyes and met his answering grin.
If she had to guess, she’d say he enjoyed this.
The coffee sputtered. Hawk poured a cupful and carried it to the table. Mother sat up, and Addie helped her to the outhouse.
“You seem improved today,” she observed.
“I’m feeling better.” But she clung to Addie’s arm as they traversed the path to the little place out back.
“That’s good. It appears we will be resuming our journey today.”
Mother nodded. “Good. I can’t wait to get settled and see Mr. Stone, of course.”
“Of course.”
The food was cooked and served, and the meal was eaten in haste. When the door closed behind Hawk and Nash, Addie told herself she didn’t feel lonely. She needed to keep busy, and it wasn’t hard to find that something.
Over the course of the days they’d been here, mud had been tracked into the cabin. She’d clean the floor and make sure they left the place as tidy as they’d found it.
