The clearing where Jonah was building their cabin was less than five minutes’ walk from the main house, and she could hear Jonah and Miles talking even before the structure came into view through the trees.
Her heart quickened at the thought of seeing Jonah. He would get that glimmer of happy pride in his eyes as he told her what they were working on. That hint of longing for the day they would finally be able to move in there as man and wife. They'd not shared much physical contact, not even a kiss. Sometimes he brushed her arm in passing, and their hands grazed when they passed Mary Ellen between them. But he'd given her space, allowing her to adjust to the idea of their coming marriage.
She was eager to have her own home. And Jonah would be a good husband.
But...
Her middle always knotted when he gave her that look. It was as if marrying her and building the cabin would be the culmination of all his dreams.
Hers too. Except a few details that hadn’t seemed important until Eric showed up.
She and Lillian stepped into the clearing, and the half-built cabin stood before them. The walls rose up to waist-height. Jonah and Miles were working a two-man saw through the top log to the right of the opening that would hold the door, cutting out the opening for a window, she guessed.
Jonah's back was to them, and Miles must have been too focused to notice their approach. She allowed a quick look at Jonah as he bent, straining to pull the saw through the sappy pine. Life on the ranch had given him a strong, muscled form. Plenty strong enough to keep her and Mary Ellen safe and cared for. And he had those Coulter good looks, an added benefit.
She moved her gaze to the cabin itself, her mind filling in the remaining structure. She would have curtains framing the windows, and she would plant wildflowers on either side of the door. To the right of the house was a fairly level area where she could put a vegetable garden. The growing season wouldn't be long here, but how wonderful it would feel to work with the plants while the sun shone warm overhead.
Sean shouted something that caught the men's attention. They paused their sawing, and when Jonah turned and saw her, the easy smile he sent sank through her, warm like a hearth fire on a winter's eve. He wiped his brow with his forearm, then walked toward them. Sean trotted inside the cabin walls, only his bobbing head visible as he aimed toward his Uncle Miles.
"Didn't expect to see you here this morning." Jonah’s pleasure took on that look of hopeful longing that made her want to step back.
But she forced a bright expression. "We thoughta change of scenery might help us get back into the rhythm of studies." She glanced past Jonah to where Sean was scampering along the front of the cabin to the place Jonah had been standing. Maybe Miles was allowing him to try his hand at being the other man to wield the saw. "It's nice to see the progress."
Jonah turned to eye the building. "It's coming along. We'll have it finished and ready before Christmas if we keep at it."
She nodded, the weight of those words settling in her gut. Ready for Christmas. Ready for a life she had agreed to but was now seeming much less desirable than before.
"Sean is supposed to use the logs to practice his multiplication tables." Lillian’s voice held that big-sister tone, the one proving she wanted to make sure her little brother didn't have too much fun.
Jonah eyed her. "Sounds like the best way to learn. I'd be grateful if you both can figure out how many more logs and nails we need to finish these walls."
Naomi smiled. "That’s a fine way to put their lessons to practical use." She touched Lillian's shoulder. "Let's go pull your brother away from that saw before he hurts himself."
Sean had taken up Jonah’s end and was heaving the blade back and forth with his entire body. Miles manned the other side, likely bearing the brunt of the work. But Sean appeared to be doing as much of his part as an seven-year-old boy could.
She started toward them, a niggle of worry slipping in as Sean strained to pull the saw back at an odd angle. The leg he braced himself with was far too close to the saw blade, or at least it appeared so from this distance.
She called out, "Be careful, Sean."
He glanced back at her as he pushed the saw handle toward Miles. His teeth flashed white in a grin, showing just how much he loved working with his uncles.
When he pulled the blade back with a heave, his foot slippedout from beneath him. His upper body dropped as his legs flew into the air.
He yelped, and Naomi's heart slammed. Had he hurt himself? She couldn't tell if his legs had struck the blade or not.
She sprinted forward. She couldn't see him well through the tall wheatgrass between them.
Then a howl rose up that made her heart nearly cease beating. "Sean!"
He lay curled on the ground, clutching the top of his thigh as blood spilled through his fingers. Lord, don't let him have cut an artery.
Jonah had nearly bled to death when his thigh bone broke in an accident that had happened the day she and Dinah arrived at the ranch. They couldn't lose Sean from a leg injury. And under her care.
Jonah reached him first, kneeling at his side. She dropped next to him. "What's hurt?"
Sean's howls had turned to sobs, and no wonder. Blood covered both his hands. Jonah was trying to pry one of them away to see the injury.
They had to slow the bleeding.
