They both began to eat in silence. Each time she glanced up, she caught Cade watching her with something approaching wariness.
Jolie sighed and set down her knife and fork. “I’m not angry with you.”
A smile broke across his face. “You aren’t?”
“No.” The guilt flared again at realizing he’d mistaken her secrecy for anger.
“Well, I’m glad to hear that.” He cut his chicken with renewed vigor. “Horace brought a newspaper from town. If you’d like, we can read it together after we eat. I thought I saw an article about some newly discovered species on some island.”
“I would love that.” Jolie hid her smile with a bite of potatoes.
True to his word, Cade pulled out the paper after they finished, and they sat side by side at the table to read. His hand reached for hers, and she was more than happy to let him take it. They’d reached the third page when Jolie found herself staring into his eyes instead of perusing the newsprint.
“Have I told you how beautiful you look by lantern light?” he asked. “It illuminates your hair.” He brushed a curl between his fingers before tucking it behind her ear. The feather light touch of his hand against her skin made Jolie shiver.
His eyes seemed to grow darker as he looked at her, and all Jolie wanted was for him to lean in and kiss her again. She wanted it so badly that if he didn’t, she was certain she would reach up, place her hands on his face and pull him to her.
His hand fell to her cheek, and her eyes closed. But instead of the anticipation of what might happen next, all she saw was that list of names.
And how Cade would feel if he knew what she was doing.
Her eyes flew open, and she stood up so fast that she startled him. “I’m sorry, I just realized I haven’t tossed out the old water yet. I can’t have all that dirty water sitting overnight.”
Before Cade could say a word, Jolie had grabbed the pot of water she’d used to clean the dishes and ran out the back door without grabbing a coat.
The cold air bit at her face and her hands and seemed to blast its way in through her clothing. She gritted her teeth against it and walked several feet away from the house to toss the water.
It landed with a splash against the grasses and brush, the moonlight illuminating it as it fell in a wide arc. But as the water trickled away, there was a rustling from somewhere over toward her left.
Jolie sucked in a breath. Her fingers dug into the edges of the pot as she stood perfectly still. The rustling sound came again.
It was an animal. It had to be. It was far too late for a person to be outside their home.
Unless it was someone who shouldn’t be there—and knew it.
All she could think of was the man on the white horse. She was several feet away from the door. She could run. Or perhaps the person hadn’t seen her.
No, of course he’d seen her. She hadn’t exactly been quiet when she’d rushed out the door and tossed the dirty water.
Jolie raised the pot to her chest. If she had to, she could use it as a weapon. It was heavy enough to hurt, and it might give her a few precious seconds to get to the door.
She took a step backward. Nothing happened. One more step, and the rustling started again. It was louder this time. She held the pot up, ready to strike.
The sounds grew louder, and then a shadow emerged.
Jolie drew in a sharp breath. Itwasa man. She couldn’t tell how tall he was, or much about him at all. The moon’s light just barely made him visible in his dark coat, and he was hunched down, as if he hoped that would make him invisible.
He moved fast, but then he turned. And for just a split second, she caught a shadowed glimpse of a man with tanned skin and a dark beard. But that was all. He turned again just as quickly and ran fast across the open area between the house and barn, toward the road and the railroad tracks.
As soon as he was out of sight, Jolie dropped the pot and ran inside.
“Cade!”
He was still in the kitchen, the newspaper spread out on the table. She pressed herself against the closed door, and the words spilled out.
“There was a man! Outside. He ran toward the road.”
Cade didn’t hesitate. Before Jolie could say anything else, he’d grabbed one of his pistols and was out the front door.
