She found it difficult to speak, so she nodded.
He held his hand out to her. “Let’s get you inside, shall we?”
Elise’s fingers trembled as she put her gloved hand in his.
Once they were in the safety of the cabin, she released a long exhale.She should have been grateful that he’d scared the wolf off, but she was angry that she’dallowedthisman to distract her from something as simple as remembering to take protection with her. She wasn’t a weak willed woman who fainted at the sight of a handsome man. Her mother had taught her to be strong and resilient, so where had that Elise gone?
She was about to tell him to leave right then, poor weather conditions or not, when she happened to spy the mending, neatly folded in a corner of the room. She tamped down her irritation at herself and said evenly, “Did you do that?”
He followed her gaze and then set aside the rifle with a rather sheepish expression. “I wanted to be useful, instead of just sitting around twiddling my thumbs.I’m afraid it’s one more torturous lesson that my mother insisted I learn.”
Elise nodded, not trusting herself to speak. While she was truly grateful that the sewing was done so that she didn’t have to suffer through it herself, it wasn’t his place to see to the things that needed fixing in her life.
She removed her cloak and hung it on the peg by the door. “Thank you, Mr. Cade. I’ll get lunch on.” She tied her apron around her waist and headed for the kitchen.
***
Chaunceywondered if he hadn’t overstepped, for Elise didn’t appear pleased that he’d intervened with the wolf, nor that he’d tried to do something to repay her kindness.
Perhaps it was time he moved on, whether he was ready or not.
He stared at her stiff back and said, “I think it’s best if I leave in the morning.”
She paused in her task of chopping carrots, but didn’t face him. “If that’s what you want.”
As silence enveloped them,Beau got to his feet and walked over to him, looking up with those soulful eyes, as if begging him to reconsider. He knelt by the hound and scratched behind his ears to murmur, “Sorry, boy, but we don’t want to overstay our welcome.”
Since he wasn’t sure if any further help would be greeted with enthusiasm, Chauncey went over to the sofa and sat down. Without anything else to do, he picked up a book that had been discarded on a side table. His mouth kicked up at one corner to see that it was‘Walden, or Life in the Woods’by Henry David Thoreau. He’d read the popularmemoir, and the irony was not lost on him that Miss Erindelle should have a copy. It spoke of shunning material things, and to embrace the nature around you tolive a simple life.
He flipped through the pages and paused now and then to read a familiar passage.After a time, he became so engrossed that he didn’t even know how much time had passed.
“That was my father’s favorite book.”
Chauncey glanced up to see his hostess standing a short distance away. She held a rather wistful expression on her face.
He shut the volume and put it back where he’d found it, suddenly feeling as though he’d intrudedonsomething rather personal. “It was one of my favorites too.”
“You’re welcome to keep reading it. As much as my father wanted me to engage with the writing, it just wasn’t for me.” Her cheeks reddened slightly. “I was actually more fond of Jane Austen.”
“Ah. The romantic English novelist.” Chauncey smiled. “Which one was your favorite?”
“I think it was probably Northanger Abbey.” She shrugged. “Although I devoured them all. Grannie had all of her novels, and after school I would make my way to the inn andthensneak the book into my room when I got home. Sometimes I would read all nightand my mother and father never knew.”
He frowned slightly. “They wouldn’t have approved?”
She shook her white blond head. “No. They preferred that I read something that would develop the mind. Reading romantic novels wasn’t part of that plan.”
His frown grew deeper, and while he considered what he was about to say, for it was none of his business, he couldn’t help asking, “Why do you stay here, Miss Erindelle? It’s apparent that you weren’t meant for the same path as your parents.”
She lifted her chin slightly. “Because this is where I belong.” She swallowed visibly. “The people of Charming whispered that my mother was a witch. I don’t care to carry around the same nomenclature.”
It all became clear. He slowlystood. “So you stay here in this isolated cabin, prepared to throw your entire life away…because you’re afraid?”
Her expression hardened. “You don’t know anything about it, Mr. Cade. And I’ll thank you to stay out of my private affairs.”
She spun on her heel, intending to put an end to their conversation. But he wasn’t ready to stop there. He reached out and grabbed her arm. “You can’t hide forever, Miss Erindelle. Someday youwillhave to dare to trust someone.”
Her blue eyes flashed. “I suppose that means I should trust you?”
