His words struck her with a new thought.Hewas here forher.
Was this friendship as one-sided as that sounded? Did she ever do things to help him, simply for his good, with no other motive?
She’d have to think about that. For now, though, she nodded. “Anything I can do for you, just let me know.”
She faced his cabin, forcing cheerfulness into her voice. “Like chinking. Can I work while you eat?”
He reached for the basket. “Naw. I don’t have much left. You’ll be missing time with Anna too. Go on back and ask her to show you the meadow of flowers. She’ll like to get outside a while.”
Patience was being dismissed, but he was right. She should use this time to strengthen her bond with her niece. After all, they should be moving on soon.
Maybe, while they walked to the meadow, she could talk to Anna about when they could leave. Even as she started back to the main house, she had to fight the burn of tears that came with the thought of leaving Jonah Coulter for good.
CHAPTER 10
As Jonah stepped into the barn the next morning, dust motes danced in the sunlight filtering between the boards. One of the broodmares nickered a greeting, but the sound of voices drew his attention toward the feed room and the two figures standing in front of it.
Patsy and Jericho. His brother held his work saddle in both hands, on his way to tack up Pinto for the day, no doubt. When Patsy glanced at him, he couldn’t see her eyes well in the shadows, but the tension in her shoulders and the way she gripped her gloves was hard to miss.
After a nod at Jonah, she spoke to Jericho. “I’d like to buy that gelding that I rode here from Missoula Mills. And another, safe enough for Anna to ride if you have one to spare. I’ll pay what they’re worth.” Even her voice sounded worried, though his brother might not pick up the deeper pitch of her voice.
Buy a horse. To leave? So soon?
He should step forward and join the conversation, but his heart had ceased beating, his legs not capable of moving.
That immediate refusal to his suggestion of courting yesterday had knocked him backwards, but when he had time tothink through things, he’d planned to see if he could change her mind.
But she was really leaving. She didn’t care about him, certainly not enough. He’d been set to give his heart to this woman, and she’d been focused all the time on retrieving her niece and getting out of here.
What did that make Jonah? Her friend, sure. But that kiss… That kiss was what?
Just a temporary amusement.
He tried to swallow, but his throat was too dry.
When would he ever learn?
“You going somewhere?” Jericho’s voice was friendly, but the wariness was hard to miss. Patsy had the right to take Anna, but they were all dreading the girl’s leaving.
“It’s time Anna and I head on. I need to get to Fort Benton and take care of business with my mother’s solicitor. We’ll plan our next step from there.”
Jericho's brow furrowed. "I understand your need to move on, but Fort Benton is a long journey, especially with a young girl. It's not safe for the two of you to travel alone."
Patsy lifted her chin. "I can handle myself. I've made my way in this world for a long time now."
The words twisted like a knife in Jonah's gut. Was this how it would always be? First Naomi, now Patsy, slipping through his fingers, never choosing him. Maybe he just wasn't enough, would never be enough, for any woman to want to stay.
Jericho huffed. "Still too dangerous. Jonah here could go with you."
Two pairs of eyes swung his way, and Jonah swallowed hard, torn. A chance to spend more time with Patsy, to convince her to give him a chance. But could he bear it if, at the end of the trail, she still chose to leave?
Patsy shook her head. "I won't be a burden. We'll befine on our own."
Right.
He turned on his heel and strode out of the barn.
He needed to think. Needed to hit something.
