The moment they stepped under the shelter of branches, the wind faded, it’s howl muted. She drew in a deep breath, then eased out her tension with spent air.
“Look.” Heidi’s voice on her left pulled her gaze that way.
A fire.
Her body tensed as she worked to make out the scene. A campfire blazed through the trees ahead. A tent or some sort of cover had been erected nearby. And figures.
Two Stones threw up a hand to halt them.
She jerked back on her reins, a delayed reaction she should have thought of when she first saw the fire.
Was this Eric? Or some other stranger taking refuge from the weather? They would likely be friendly, but until that fact was certain, best not to charge in on them.
Two Stones and Jonah rode forward slowlywhile she and Heidi waited. She couldn’t make out who the figures were, though there looked to be two or three of them.
Lord, let us have caught up to Eric.
Her insides churned at the thought she would face Harvey again. But Eric would be there. She had to face the truth. Had to let the truth be known, if she and Eric were to ever reach the life together they craved.
Jonah’s voice called ahead. “Hello? Eric, is that you?”
Her middle clenched. This really might be it.God, help me.She couldn’t find other words, but these captured her need fully. She couldn’t get through this without Divine strength carrying her.
“Jonah? Two Stones?” Eric’s voice sent a flood of relief through her chest. “What are you doing here?”
She nudged her horse forward. She had to get to him. To see with her eyes that he was well. Unhurt from the storm and all the dangers it brought.
Heidi followed behind her and the men’s voices sounded ahead, but she couldn’t decipher their words with the swish of her horse’s hooves in the snow and the squeak of her saddle. Not to mention the distant howl of the wind and her heart pounding in her ears.
But now she could make out the figures ahead. Three men stood around the campfire. An older fellow who must be their guide. The instant her gaze caught on Harvey, she jerked it away.
And there, in the center of it all…Eric.
Emotion surged to her eyes, and she kicked her horse to go faster. At the edge of the camp, she leaped from her saddle.
Eric swung her into his arms, nearly crushing her with the strength of his embrace.
She hugged him back, breathing in his scent—woodsmoke and that unique scent that was his alone. The warmth of him.Solid, well, and really here. The strength in his arms that always made her feel so safe and protected.
That thought raised a niggle that pulled her back to reality.
His cousin. She had to tell Eric—tell them all—what he’d done.
She pulled back from Eric’s hold and made the mistake of glancing at his face. Such concern in those beautiful eyes.
“What’s wrong? Didn’t you get my letter?” His gaze slid to Jonah, then returned to hers.
Her body began to tremble, but she couldn’t weaken now. She had to stay strong for this confession. She took in a breath and glanced at Harvey. Her body reacted to the sight of him with a jerk she couldn’t control. He didn’t belong out here in this wilderness where she’d found sanctuary.
Yet his narrow-eyed glare gave her the push she needed.
She stepped back from Eric, though not so far that he couldn’t keep one hand at her back. She raised her voice enough for all to hear, but spoke to Eric. “I came because I had to warn you. You can’t trust what Harvey says. If he came all the way out here, it’s because he wants something from you. He’s not here to help you, I can promise you that. He’ll take whatever he can get, no matter who he hurts.” Her voice broke on those last words.
Eric stepped close again, wrapping his arm around her. “Didn’t you get my letter? My father’s ill. Dying maybe. That’s why I’m going east. I’ll be back, though. Harvey just came to tell me.”
Anger sluiced through her in such a rush that her veins felt like they might explode. Though her whole body trembled, she wouldn’t back down.
She faced Harvey, whose eyes were hard as flint and filled with hatred. His hands were clenched like he was itching to strangle her.
