He touched the fur that covered her arm and studied her eyes for signs of pain or damage. Red tinted the whitesof her eyes, but her gaze looked blessedly whole. And the joy that glimmered there sparked the same emotion in his own chest.
She was alive. Not just alive, butwell.
He let his focus roam her face, then scan the length of her. But there was nothing to see except the fur covering.
He moved his gaze back to her face. “Are you well? Hurt anywhere?”
She shook her head. “God provided a safe place for us to weather the storm.”
He couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face. “Indeed.” Godhadcertainly provided.
She shifted her focus to the others around her, but still spoke to him. “Have you met everyone? You know Audrey and my sister and my father. This is Uncle Carter.”
Evan gave a friendly nod to the man who possessed the same strong chin and cheekbones as Brielle.
Carter Maurier had already been scrutinizing him, if his narrowed gaze was a sign. The man offered a responding nod, but his mouth didn’t curve into a smile. Any man who sought to court Brielle would likely have to prove himself to the whole family, and Evan would have much to make up for in order to overcome his current status as a stranger and prisoner. He would do his best, though.
Brielle was still making introductions, so he shifted his focus to each as she pointed and offered names. Jeanette was sitting beside Marcellus, her arm wrapped around her son as he sat beneath a heavy fur. The young man didn’t seem quite as cheerful as the last time Evan had talked with him, but he still offered Evan a toothy smile that was impossible not to return.
After Brielle finished announcing names, silence fell over the group.
Her father broke it shortly. “Tell us what happened, Brielle.”
Evan stayed at her side as she told an incredible story. He’d known the storm was bad, but he’d not realized how strong the wind was, nor how little she’d been able to see. Only God could have led her to that mountain and helped her find the very nook where Marcellus was hiding.
A few times during the telling, she urged Marcellus to add a comment. But the fellow seemed content to listen and soak in the attention—and the warmth.
When she finished, Evan had to ask once more, “Are you injured anywhere? Perhaps from frostbite?” He slid his gaze from her to Marcellus, then back.
Brielle looked at Audrey, as if for confirmation. “I don’t think so.”
Audrey offered a shaky grin. “I can’t believe it myself, but I don’t see signs of permanent damage to fingers or toes.”
Evan let his eyes close for a heartbeat while he sent up a prayer of thanks. As God promised in the verse from James, He had used those fervent prayers to avail much in this situation.
“Marcellus.” Chief Durand leaned forward slightly as he spoke to the lad. “Can you tell us why you went out?”
Marcellus’s eyes widened, and his gaze flitted from face to face. He seemed to shrink back from them all, and his mouth parted, then hung there. His mother wrapped her arm tighter around him and sent the chief a look full of worry.
Chief Durand eased back. “It’s all right, son. We can talklater when you’ve warmed up and feel more like yourself. You’ve been through a hard time, and we’re so glad to have you back safely.”
Marcellus’s wide eyes eased, but a bit of fear still showed there.
Maybe a change of subject would help. Evan shifted his gaze to Brielle’s father. “What of the other two who went out the second time?”
The man gave a solemn nod. “They told us where they planned to look, so two men have gone to bring them back. The storm is mostly over, so we don’t fear for their safety.”
Evan let his relief show. “Good.” But he would add the additional pair to his prayer list until all were safely within the walls of Laurent.
He could understand even more now why these people were so protective of their little community. Their walls were a source of safety. Of protection.
Not just against strangers, but against being lost and frozen in the elements. And being hurt by wild animals. And probably a host of other deadly possibilities. Staying within these walls meant safety. In this land that was more treacherous than any he’d seen, these people had survived, and even thrived, because of the walls.
Would they ever open themselves to correspondence and trade with the rest of the world? For that matter, would they open themselves to an outsider—him—moving in and becoming one of their own . . . maybe married to Brielle? Both remained to be seen.
Another silence settled over the group, and Evan began to receive more than one questioning stare. It was probably time he returned to his cell before they felt the need to forcehim to. Brielle was safe, and he had some prayers of thanksgiving to send up. Then a nap might be in his near future.
But as he prepared to walk back with Leonard, he leaned close to Brielle once more and kept his voice low. “When you’re well enough, I need to speak with you.”
