The more Eric thought, the more certainty pulsed through his veins. He needed to be there for that part. Thorough attention to detail was part of his role in LaGrange Exports, and one of the skills that helped him excel in his dealings.
"I'd like to go along and help with the search."
Once more, the attention of all homed on Eric. Jonah’s eyeshad narrowed, though he didn’t look angry. Maybe just deep in thought.
Something in the way Naomi moved drew his gaze toward her. Her face had paled. Was she worried about him and Jonah traveling together? That was a valid concern, one he should address.
He shifted his focus between Naomi and Jericho as he spoke. "I’m good at digging through records. I'll do my best to help on the journey, or at least stay out of the way." He let his lips tug up in a grin and tried for a lighter tone. "And when we get to Fort Benton, I don't mind sitting in front of a ledger for days on end."
Naomi's mouth curved a little, but the worry lines didn't leave her brow.
Jericho let out a sigh. "I suppose it will go faster with two handling the search." He turned to face his brother. “You all right with that?"
Jonah gave a curt nod, not meeting anyone's eyes that Eric could tell. He raised his mug and took another swig, then set it down with athunk. "I need a day to wrap things up at my cabin. We'll leave day after tomorrow."
He pushed to his feet, his chair scraping as it moved backward. He gripped the rest of his biscuit in one hand and his empty plate in the other as he sent a tight smile to the women in the group. "Food was good. Thank you."
A few strides carried him to the work counter, where he plopped his plate in the bucket of wash water. Then his long legs carried him to the front door and out into the cold.
The door slapped shut behind him, leaving a tense quiet to settle in his wake.
CHAPTER 19
Naomi's insides churned as she directed Anna to carry her plate and spoon and place them in the wash bucket. "Can you help Lillian and Angela bring more plates from the table?" Assisting with clean-up would help the girl feel like a part of them all.
Besides, Naomi desperately needed out of this cabin, and this way, Anna would be occupied and under Angela’s watchful eyes. Naomi’s tears were so close to the edge, they would escape her defenses soon, and she couldn't let that happen until she was alone. Eric was leaving. Again. He probably meant to return after searching in Fort Benton. But what if he didn’t? What if something happened and he received an urgent summons from home? Or what if he simply changed his mind about how important she and Mary Ellen were to him?
"Let's get Sean's plate. I think he nearly licked it clean." Lillian rested a hand on Anna's shoulder to guide the girl back to the table.
Naomi slipped toward the front door while Anna was distracted. Dinah had taken Mary Ellen into Naomi's room to change her diaper. She would occupy her until Naomi returned.
Eric had gone outside with the rest of the men. Making plans for the trip, it sounded like.
Panic welled in Naomi’s chest, and she grabbed her coat from the hook as she edged the door open and stepped out into the cold. The sun was bright again this morning, so the day would warm a little.
She turned toward the hidden trail to her little clearing. She needed to be alone. Needed a place to rid herself of these tears, then compose her mind, heart, and face before she returned to the others.
She'd just about reached the woods when a voice called from not too far behind her.
"Naomi." Her name in that deep voice always sent a ripple of warmth through her, but this time the ripple carried dread.
She couldn't face Eric now. Not yet.
But his footsteps crunched in the snow, and she stopped to wait for him to catch up.
When he reached her, she kept her face forward. Hopefully, her hood would conceal her red-rimmed eyes and splotchy cheeks.
"What's wrong?" His voice was laced with concern, his breath forming white clouds that lingered between them.
She walked again, her gaze fixed on the path ahead. She had to keep moving.
He matched her pace, staying at her side. "Are you worried about Jonah and me traveling together? Please don't fret. I'll do everything in my power to keep the peace."
A snort escaped before she could stop it. She shook her head. "You're both grown men. If you want to pummel each other, that's up to you."
They were almost to the clearing now. She could see the sunlight through the branches ahead.
Eric didn't speak again as they stepped intothe open area. The snow was mostly unbroken here, though several sets of small animal tracks crossed the white.
