Better not let Micah see it, she mused.He’ll no doubt think he needs to render medical attention.Of course, he’d need to be there in order to do so. She frowned.Please, God, let him be all right.
Outside, the caldrons were bubbling with fresh hot water. Sprinkles of rain had begun to fall, causing Kenzie to hurry as she filled the bucket, but it was no use. The rain was pouring steadily by the time she made her way back into the warehouse. She bent to place the pail of water on the kitchen floor, and a strand of wet hair fell across her forehead. With a sigh, Kenzie straightened and pushed it back into place. It was impossible these days to worry about keeping up appearances. To think she had been worried about keeping ash out of her hair. Thankfully everyone else was in the same position, and no one really cared. Fighting to stay alive had taken precedence over every other earthly concern.
Kenzie added soap to the water and picked up her scrub brush. She got on her hands and knees and began the rhythmic motions of cleaning. There was something calming in the mundane washing of the floor, although she’d gladly give up the job should someone else want it.
Camri’s raised voice caused Kenzie to look up. Her friend was in a heated discussion with Patrick regarding something. Her arms flailed in different directions as she pointed and tried to explain her desires. Kenzie couldn’t help but smile as Patrick moved closer and bent until they were almost nose to nose. He countered her commands with a few of his own. They were a feisty couple, to be sure. Kenzie had never once argued like that with Arthur. Of course, she fought like that with Micah all the time. Micah Fisher was possibly the most obstinate man she’d ever known.
How she longed to see him—just to know he was all right.
And then, as if he knew what she were thinking, Micah appeared at the door of the warehouse. He was drenched from the rain and filthy from what had no doubt been hours of tending patients. His dark blue eyes narrowed as he scanned the room. The look on his face was determined.
Kenzie’s gaze locked on him. She was unable to look away. Her heart beat faster, and she dropped her brush. Caleb and Camri spied Micah and rushed to his side. Judith gave a squeal of delight and came from where she’d been helping make up the cots. They all crowded around him, everyone talking at the same time. Micah nodded and even commented, but still he searched until his eyes met Kenzie’s. She watched as his stern expression changed. The corners of his mouth lifted in that smile he often got when dealing with her. Without warning, he stepped past his friends and marched across the warehouse like a man on a mission.
What was he doing? Kenzie thought about standing but wasn’t sure her legs would support her. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t look away. She watched Micah move toward her and then felt her breath catch in her throat as he reached down to take hold of her. He drew her to her feet without so much as a word and then pulled her tightly to him. Kenzie could only look up in wonder, which made it easy for Micah to complete his next move. With one hand still holding her fast, he put his other hand to the back of her head and lowered his mouth to hers.
The kiss was unlike anything Kenzie had ever experienced. There was a hunger, a desperation in the way he kissed her. Almost without realizing what she was doing, Kenzie’s arms went around his neck, and she began to kiss him in return.
She lost track of time altogether. They might have been that way for mere seconds or days. It didn’t matter. The effect was overwhelming and rendered her completely speechless as he pulled away.
“The thought of doing that is all that got me through the week,” Micah said, grinning like a mischievous child. “I’m so glad to see you’re all right.”
Kenzie just stared at him in dumbstruck silence. Caleb and the others were coming toward them, and the looks on their faces left little doubt that they were just as stunned as she was.
Micah released her and turned to face the others. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to ignore you, but I had business to take care of.”
Caleb laughed. “Seems your business is similar to our own.” He looked at Camri and Judith with raised brows. “Maybe you girls should be planning a triple wedding instead of a double.”
CHAPTER
4
Micah had never been happier. He knew by the way Kenzie had responded to his kiss that she had wanted it as much as he did. As he released her, he could see the confusion coursing through her. Her eyes—those incredible big blue eyes—were wide with wonder, and her lips were slightly parted as if she were about to speak but couldn’t find the words. He wanted very much to kiss her again but knew they’d do better to talk instead. However, Caleb and the others weren’t about to let that happen.
“Micah, where have you been? We’ve been so worried,” Camri said first.
He forced his gaze away from Kenzie and smiled. “Working. There was this earthquake and then a fire, and lots of people were caught up in it. Maybe you read about it in the paper?” He grinned as Camri rolled her eyes.
“We knew you were working, but we hadn’t heard anything from you. We were worried, and I know your poor parents were half sick, wondering if you were still alive.” Her tone was more chastising now.
Micah shrugged. “I couldn’t leave. There was too much to do. Even earlier today, they brought me a man who’d just been dug out of the rubble. People had to focus on putting out the fires, but there are so many places untouched by the fire that the earthquake put in ruins. Unfortunately, rescuers are still finding people who were trapped.”
“Can they be saved after such a long time?” Judith asked.
“Some, but it’s becoming less and less of a possibility.” Micah remembered the young man from that morning. “I’ve seen far too many die, however, and the camps are filled with injured people.” He glanced around the warehouse. “I see you’ve got things in order here. God certainly knew what He was doing in getting you to buy this place, Caleb.”
“We’ve said as much ourselves,” Caleb agreed. “Although the army was quick to set up the relief camps and at least get folks the shelter of a tent and hot food.”
Micah nodded. “They’re forcing people to work at gunpoint. I got stopped myself. The poor boy couldn’t have been much more than eighteen or nineteen. Pointed a rifle at me and told me to get to work. I tried to explain I’d just come from working an entire week with very little rest.”
“What did you do?” Judith asked.
“I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. I tried to show him my medical bag, but he wasn’t interested. But then one of his officers came and realized the situation. He sent me on my way, which was good, because I probably would have collapsed from fatigue had I not kept moving for home.”
Caleb smiled and put a hand on Micah’s shoulder. “You saw your parents?”
“Yes. I even managed to sleep a couple of hours and then stitched up a leg wound. Then I had to come here.” He grinned and looked back toward where Kenzie had been.
But she was gone.
