“I’ll find them.” And with one last glance in her direction, he turned and marched the short distance to the small building set off from the house. If he wasn’t incorrect, it was leaning precariously toward the left. Floor. Roof. Stable. He began a mental list of tasks for himself. All that, and he hadn’t yet ventured beyond the parlor.
If he took on the entire estate, perhaps he wouldn’t have to meet with Blackheart for damn near a year or so.
Or he could return to the conflict and avoid the meeting indefinitely.
REGRETS AND REPAIRS
“Iinsist you stop and rest,” called Naomi as she opened the front door, carrying a tray with lemonade and sandwiches. She’d been avoiding him and so was more than a little taken aback when she realized he’d already pulled up every last floorboard that had previously made up her porch. A second glance revealed a wagon drawing to a halt at the end of her drive, loaded with roughly cut planks of wood.
“I thought…” And then her voice trailed off when her eyes landed on him, her mouth having gone dry.
She ought to have considered this, what with the unusually warm temperatures of late.
Since she’d abandoned the major to his own devices, he had shed his heavy coat and hat and other military adornment and was now standing in the hole where her porch had once been, wearing only his shirt, boots, and tightly fitted breeches.
Sweat caused the white linen to cling like a second skin to thick, broad, and well-muscled shoulders. His jacket had not been padded in the least.
Her gaze dropped to where sinewy and tanned forearms peeked out from rolled-up shirt sleeves and then lower to where one booted foot rested on one of the beams.
“My apologies, Mrs. Gilcrest.” His voice brought her gaze back to his face. As he went to reach for the coat draped over the railing, Naomi put out a hand to halt him.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” He couldn’t work wearing that heavy coat.
“You’d be surprised at the conditions this coat has emerged from intact.”
And then an image of her husband dying while wearing that uniform wiped the smile from her face.
“I can’t afford to buy wood,” she admitted. It didn’t make sense to keep her circumstances private from this man. He was very determined to fulfill whatever promise he’d made to Arthur.
“You may repay me if you’d like some time in the future.” Naomi hated being in anyone’s debt. “Gil would have my hide if I allowed you to set foot on that porch one more time. You’ve more than yourself to keep safe.”
She couldn’t argue with that, so instead, she turned to observe the two laborers unloading lumber from the old farmer’s cart that had just arrived. She could hardly allow herself to keep ogling Major Cockfield’s chest, for heaven’s sake.
She’d been alone in this house for too long. Even before Major Cockfield’s arrival, she’d been missing having her husband in her bed. Ester swore up and down that a lady was most plagued with irregular urges while expecting. Wanting a man’s attention was natural.
Naomi had wondered what her mother would have to say about that.
Luke hopped out of the pit he’d created and strode along the dirt path to the drive. Without hesitation, he set himself to assisting the men unloading the long pieces of wood.
Naomi hated the voice in her head that reminded her how many times she’d begged Arthur to repair that floorboard.
“I’m going to fall through to the ground one day, Arthur Gilcrest. Then you’ll be sorry.”She’d joked with him.
“Just step around it.”He’d sent her a cocky grin, his cinnamon eyes shining with mischief, and then chased after her, patting her on the bum.“I’ve never known a woman better at worrying than you are, Naomi. It’ll still be there tomorrow.”
And then he’d lifted her into his arms and carried her to their bed. How could she complain when his highest priority had been loving her?
He’d been rather good at that.
A shiver ran through her when she realized she was still holding the tray of sandwiches while staring at Major Cockfield again.
“You’ve more than earned a break, Major,” she hollered across to him as he piled the last board on top of a neat stack. Glancing over his shoulder, he met her gaze, and then… He winked. She could almost believe she’d imagined his audacity when he again exchanged a few words with the older of the two gentlemen who’d brought over the lumber and then shook each of their hands. As they drove off the property, he turned to jog back across to the house.
“Might as well eat in the kitchen,” she said. “Go around back and I’ll meet you…” But the major was already jumping down and climbing through the nonexistent floor towards the doorway. Naomi stepped back to allow him inside as he heaved himself back up to floor level and into the parlor. “There.”
With a little shrug, she led him through the cottage towards the kitchen, which tended to be darker than the rest of the house. Naomi found it rather soothing, especially of late, but she ought to leave the major to lunch alone. There were chores that needed tending to, and besides, she was a married woman.
But then she felt like something struck her.
