As the piece in Violet’s mouth dissolved, she reached for the second piece of candy Sterling had created.
“Did you like it?” Sterling asked. Was there a hopeful note to his voice?
Her heart gave another soft flutter. She knew she shouldn’t let herself feel anything for Sterling. She didn’t want to hurt him again. And she didn’t want to put herself into a position where she might be hurt too.
Even so, she couldn’t keep from smiling up at him. “I loved it.”
His lips turned up into a grin—one that made the corners of his eyes crinkle with genuine pleasure.
Oh, she’d missed his grins. And yes, maybe it was finally time to admit how much she’d missed him and to acknowledge toherself that was why she’d come back to Colorado—because a big part of her heart belonged to him and maybe always would.
“Thank you for this, Sterling.” She waved a hand at the snow candy and at the pinecones. “I haven’t had this much fun in a long time.”
Hyacinth snorted.
Violet tossed her sister a censuring sideways look. “Itisfun.” Hyacinth had never enjoyed decorating as much as Violet and their mother. She’d always done so grudgingly and only if it involved sewing, which was something she loved doing.
Hyacinth paused with a piece of candy halfway to her mouth and pinned a narrowed look on Sterling. “This whole experience is not fun. Not when I have to worry about Sterling’s motivation for being nice all of a sudden.”
“Hyacinth.” Violet couldn’t keep from scolding her sister. “We’re just trying to put the past behind us, and maybe it’s time for you to do the same.”
“I don’t trust you, Sterling.” Hyacinth didn’t take her gaze from him. “You hurt Violet once. How can I be assured you aren’t going to hurt her again?”
“Stop, Hyacinth.” Embarrassment surged through Violet, and she pushed up from the table, heedless of her ankle. “Sterling has always been a nice man to everyone. And that’s all this is. Nothing more.”
Sterling didn’t say anything. Instead, his eyes were locked with Hyacinth’s in a hard, silent battle of wills.
“Just tell me you’ll do better this time,” Hyacinth said evenly.
Violet released an exasperated sigh. What was Hyacinth talking about? “There is nothis time.”
“We’ll see about that.” Hyacinth quirked one brow, then popped the piece of molasses candy into her mouth, all the while holding the stare with Sterling.
Sterling was finally the one to turn away, his back straight, his shoulders rigid.
Violet frowned and mouthed the wordstopto her sister.
Hyacinth shrugged nonchalantly and took another bite of the candy.
Blowing out a long breath, Sterling reached for the sled he’d been fashioning, lowered himself to one of the chairs, and began working on it. No doubt he was thinking that the sooner he finished, the sooner he would be able to return home. Because no matter how nice he might be, their time together didn’t mean anything, and Violet couldn’t start to believe that it did.
From where she lay in the bunk, Violet couldn’t keep from watching Sterling as he locked the cabin door for the night. She and Hyacinth left the lantern on the table lit for him so that he didn’t have to walk inside to complete darkness.
He’d gone out for a little bit, telling them he wanted to check around the cabin and make sure everything looked all right. But Violet knew that he’d also stepped outside to allow her and Hyacinth to get ready for bed.
He was always so considerate.
Even now as he slipped off his boots, he did so quietly, likely not wanting to disturb them. He hung his coat on the peg next to the door, then turned and scanned the room, his gaze landing on the lower bunk bed where she was lying next to Hyacinth. Her sister had fallen asleep easily, clearly able to put all their concerns out of her mind—something Violet wasn’t as good at doing.
What was he thinking now after the past couple of days? He wasn’t exactly warm toward her, but the anger and disdain andeven the coldness had dissipated. He hadn’t needed to make the snow candy earlier, but for some reason, he had.
“How is your ankle?” he whispered.
She wiggled her toes and felt only a small twinge of pain. The swelling had gone down, and the pain had diminished, likely because of his vigilance in keeping her ankle iced and elevated as well as preventing her from walking around. “It’s getting better, thanks to you and your doctoring.”
“Good.”
She tugged her blanket up.
