An ache pressed in her chest. Did he still think so little of his worth? What could she say or do to convince him?
He lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed the backs of her fingers, then pressed her palm to his chest, holding it there. He seemed to be searching for words, so she waited for him to speak. “You make me believe what you said the other night is true.”
Her breath caught.
He kept going. “That I’m good enough for God the way I am. He and I have been talking more about it. Or rather, I talk and He presses a thought in my spirit. Or something happens to show He heard me, like you coming to save me or cleaning and inventorying my trade store.” His brow lowered a little as his tone turned serious. “I want to know Him the way you do. I hope this is a start.”
The joy overflowing in her chest spread through her entire body. This was far better than words of love.Lord, I guess you knew what you were doing that night.
Her cheeks hurt from grinning. “It’s a wonderful start. And God speaks so often through His word. Do you have a Bible?”
“I don’t. Perhaps when I come see you at the ranch, we can read it together.”
The burn of happy tears sprang to her eyes. “I would love that more than you know.”
His expression softened. “Speaking of love, there’s something else from that conversation I wanted to revisit.” His lips curved in a smile. “I didn’t tell you then that I loved you because I was afraid. I told myself I didn’t want to rush you, but really, I was afraid to let you know how much I’d already fallen for you.” He gathered both her hands at his chest. “How much I love you.”
So much emotion clogged her insides, she couldn’t manage a word.Dear Lord. This istoo much.
But Tanner seemed to understand, for he pulled her closer, wrapping her in his arms in a hug she never wanted to leave.
thirty-one
We’d just as soon bed down under the stars, Miz Juniper.”
Tanner leaned against the cabin wall at the Collins ranch as he watched Dragoon and Ol’ Henry say good night to the group.
Dragoon gave Juniper a respectful grin. “The nights are so pleasant these days. Come the next few weeks, we’ll be sweating no matter where we sleep.”
Tanner hadn’t experienced a summer in this territory yet, but the days were already hot enough to make a person perspire.
“If you’re certain.” Juniper offered a soft smile. “But take some of these sweet biscuits out with you in case you get hungry in the night.”
Dragoon’s grin turned boyish. “Not sure I can say no to that, ma’am.”
Ol’ Henry tipped his hat as the younger man took the bundle Lorelei offered him. “You folks have made this a right nice visit. We’ll be in to say our farewells afore we head to the rendezvous come morning.”
“Make sure you do that.” Rosie nodded from her usual place in the corner.
Lorelei patted Dragoon’s shoulder as she walked by the man to take up the lantern hanging near the door. “I’ll walk you both out. There’s a mare I need to check on in the barn.”
Tanner straightened. As much as he hated to leave this place that felt more like a home than his childhood residence, he needed to get back to the fort. And this would be his best opportunity for a few minutes alone with Lorelei before doing that.
After he and the two trappers said their good nights to the sisters and Riley, he followed Lorelei, Ol’ Henry, and Dragoon out the cabin door.
Outside, Ol’ Henry turned to him. “It’s been right nice comin’ to know you, young feller.” He held out a hand, and as Tanner extended his arm and shook, the acceptance in the man’s act swept through him. Even these two trappers treated him as an equal. As a friend. They seemed to be almost family with the Collins sisters, and now they were including him in the group.
“Thank you.” It was all he could manage as Ol’ Henry released his hand.
“If’n there’s anything you think of you need from the rendezvous, just send word over in the morning. Now that they have you here, I don’t think Riley or them gals are comin’ to the meetup. Especially not with Juniper’s condition. But we’re awful glad to trade for whatever you might need.” His teeth flashed. “’Course, I reckon you’ve got your own suppliers.”
Tanner raised his brows. “I don’t expect Wally to come more than two months still, but I doubt I’ll have manygoods left to trade for by then. Might be I get a few days off.”
Ol’ Henry’s chuckle rose into the night, pulling a smile from all of them.
He then turned to Lorelei but pointed to Tanner. “You let this young fella help protect you gals, you hear?”
She started to speak, but Ol’ Henry raised his hand. “I know you sisters are as capable as any women I’ve known, but this here Tanner, I get the feelin’ he’s a good fella.” The man dropped his voice conspiratorially with the last words, as though speaking just to Lorelei.
