Grace dragged herself upright, shoulders sagging under the weight of exhaustion. Her mind felt muddled, thoughts sluggish as she tried to remember...
Sampson.
Had he returned last night? She glanced around the small room. His bedroll still lay against the wall. Was it in the same position? Yes…maybe.
Worry stirred in her middle. Her father had sent him out of town on an errand. Had he run into trouble?
Ruby's insistent sobs drew her back to her primary concern.
With effort, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and leaned down to the basket, swaying a little as a wave of dizziness washed over her. Ruby fussed, her face scrunched and red.
"Shh, I'm here," Grace cooed, reaching in to lift the squirming bundle into her arms.
Ruby's cries quieted to whimpers as she nuzzled against Grace's neck, rooting for milk.
A soft knock at the door made Grace’s insides tighten. Her father? The thought made her heart pound.
But then a familiar deep voice called through the wood. "Grace? It's Sampson. Can I come in?"
Her pulse shifted to a different kind of racing. Not fear this time but…nerves. She let out a shaky breath. "Yes."
The door creaked open, revealing Sampson's broad frame. In his hands, he carried a steaming mug and a plate laden with food. “I thought you might be ready for some breakfast.” His voice came low, not loud enough to carry through the wall to her father’s room.
When his warm brown eyes met hers, they softened and roamed her face. Ruby made another fussing sound, and his gaze dropped to the babe. “Is she hungry?”
She nodded, turning her focus to her highest priority. She reached for the bottle she’d readied after the last time Ruby woke. “I’ll need to feed her before I can eat. Thank you for bringing the meal though. And coffee.” The rich aroma filled the room, giving her a tiny bit of clarity with only the scent of it.
Sampson stepped closer, moving around Ruby’s basket to set the food and drink on the small table beside the bed. This space felt so much smaller with his presence filling it. "I could... Would you like me to try to feed her? While you eat?"
Surprise flashed through her. Other than that first night in the trapper’s cabin when he’d knelt to talk to Ruby, Sampson had kept a respectful distance, letting Grace be the one to tend to the baby's needs. He’d never even held her.
But, if he was offering… He did look sincere, though a little nervous.
He always held such a confident air. Not arrogant or prideful, just…comfortable in his own skin. But the hesitation in his eyes, the way he held his upper body back a little, made her almost want to chuckle. If he could handle her father, then he was more than capable of feeding Ruby.
She gave a thankful smile. “If you don’t mind, that would be wonderful.”
She motioned for him to sit on the bed beside her, and he moved around to ease down where she’d pointed. He left nearly an arm’s length between them, which meant she had to stand to step closer to place Ruby into his arms.
As the babe’s weight settled on him, he seemed to go rigid. Not even breathing.
“Just relax with her.” She placed the bottle in the babe’s mouth, and Ruby latched on hungrily. “There’s a girl. That’s what you needed, isn’t it?”
Sampson hadn’t moved, still holding the babe with both arms so he didn’t have a free hand to take the bottle.
Grace glanced up to see his expression. She’d not realized how close she stood, their faces only a handsbreadth apart.
His eyes were locked on Ruby, though, wonder transforming his rugged features. The rough edges softened, and a smile curved his lips as he watched the tiny girl drink from the bottle Grace held.
"She's so small." His voice came out in a rough whisper, like speaking louder would break the spell. "I've never held a baby before."
Her heart squeezed as warmth melted her insides. This strong, capable man cradled Ruby with such gentleness. Such awe. "You're doing great. You can let her legs rest on yours so you have a free hand to hold the bottle.”
With an anxious grimace, he did as she said, easing his hand out from beneath the babe with painstaking care. Once he’d accomplished it, he let out an audible breath, and Grace bit back a smile. No need to worry about him being too rough with the child.
He took the bottle, their hands brushing in the transfer, and Grace fought her body’s reaction as she stepped back. She eased out her own breath. Being so near him had her insides befuddled. How could he affect her so much?
She let herself stand and watch them. The big man—so handsome that he made her breath catch every time she looked at him—holding Ruby like the treasure she was.
