“Rafe?” Hannah’s voice was quiet. She ran a hand up and down the back of one of her arms as she watched him.
He made a noise, his mind still on how to best protect her while he was working.
Her hand stilled, and she drew in a breath. “I understand if you wish me to leave.”
“Leave?” he repeated, startled out of his thoughts. “Where would you go?”
“Back home, I suppose. To New York?” She sounded uncertain, as if there were a hundred other places she could go instead.
Rafe went still as a numb sort of sensation crept up his extremities, fueling the disappointment that was slowly gathering in his throat. “Do you want to leave?”
She watched him carefully before slowly shaking her head. “I prefer it here.”
She did? He pulled off his hat and ran a hand through his hair, trying to figure out why she’d asked and what any of this meant at all.
“I only thought that . . . Well . . .” She closed her eyes and took a breath before opening them again. “I heard what you said after the wedding, to the mayor. I know you’d prefer not to be married to . . . me,” she finished weakly.
Rafe winced. He hadn’t realized she’d heard him, much less that she’d interpreted his words to mean he took any issue with her. But the way she repeated them, he could see exactly how she’d heard it. “That’s not what I meant at all.”
She said nothing, clearly waiting for him to explain.
He took off his hat again, feeling the need for more air. “I had misgivings about bringing ladies such as yourself and your friends to Perseverance. Given what you’ve just been through, you can see why I’d be concerned. It had nothing at all to do with you, Hannah. I promise that.” He caught her gaze, thinking any man would be foolish to find fault with this woman. She was nice to look at, there was no denying that, but it was her strength that intrigued him most. Between saving Joseph King and trying to fight off that thief outside the general store, it was clear she was no wilting flower. Aside from Miss Danforth, who could probably fight a bear and win, he’d never met a woman as strong as Hannah.
“I . . .” She closed her mouth, seemingly at a loss for words.
Of course, she’d also seemed to want nothing to do with him. He held her gaze a moment, trying to read her mind. It was no use. He had to ask. “I thought you might want to leave after what happened at the wedding.”
Hannah’s face went scarlet, and she wound her fingers together. “I’m so sorry for that. It wasn’t because of you. I promise.”
Rafe didn’t realize how much he’d needed to hear that. It felt as if he had been caught under a wagon wheel since that morning, and she’d just pulled him free. “It seems we both misunderstood each other.”
“It does.” She gave him a little smile.
“Would you do me a favor?” he asked, moving away from his place by the table to reach for her hand. “Sit down a moment? Please?”
She didn’t take his hand right away, and for a moment, he feared he’d misunderstood her again. But then she placed her hand in his and let him lead her to a chair.
“I won’t sit here long,” she said. “I need to get started on supper if we hope to eat tonight.”
Rafe laughed. “Just long enough so that I don’t come home to find you passed out again.”
“You know, I don’t intend for that to ever happen again.”
“Just for a little while, please?” He picked up his hat. “I need to get back to work, but I’ll be home as soon as I can tonight.”
Then he walked to the door, smiling for the first time in days. All because of Hannah.
Chapter Ten
WhenHannahdecidedtomake a simple cake with strawberries the sheriff’s wife had kindly dropped off after Rafe had left, she thought it might be a nice surprise for him.
She hadn’t expected him to eat half the cake in one sitting.
He gave her a sheepish grin as she cleared off the table. “That cake puts Mrs. Garner’s to shame.”
Hannah warmed with pride. She hardly considered herself a baker, but perhaps she was more talented than she’d thought.
She scrubbed the dishes with water she’d put on to boil before setting them out to dry. Rafe had managed to roll himself out of the chair and onto the settee in the middle of the room. He leaned back like a man in pain.
