“Uh… hibiscus leaves. They… work really well...” she blurted out. There was nothing else that she could do at that very moment but bask in his presence. She found herself wishing he would stay by her side longer.
He pulled away just then and Elaina immediately missed him, “I should get started on it right now. The sooner I start, thesooner I will be done with it.”
“Right... thanks… Running Wolf,” Not turning around, so he would not see the blush that had crept all the way up her neck, Elaina hurried off to the shack where her daughter lay.
She literally collapsed beside her child and muttered, “I don’t know what I’m going to do with these feelings, Jessica. What does mother do?”
Jessica mumbled in her sleep. Her long eyelashes fluttered for a moment, and then, she settled down. Elaina sighed and she patted her daughter gently.
“You are right, my dear. Mother should not stress you with her problems. I should figure out the way I am feeling on my own, right?”
Elaina stared at her daughter with love-filled eyes.I don’t want to forget your father, my love. He was the first man I ever loved. it’s just, I cannot explain these overwhelming feelings I have when I am around Running Wolf or when I think about him. I thought I would never feel what I felt for your father for anyone else. I thought I would never care as much for anyone other than him, but now, I honestly am so very confused, my baby. Mother has no idea what to think or how to feel. What do I do, my dear? What do I do?
Elaina turned to her side so she could watch the rise and fall of her daughter’s chest as she slept.Is it gratitude? Maybe it is just gratitude. After all, he is the one I am most grateful to in this world. He has been amazing and has helped in more ways than anyone has ever helped us. Of course it is normal to feel this much gratitude to him. Sure, that’s it, it’s gratitude. That is the only thing I feel for him. Nothing more and nothing less,Elaina concluded with a slow nod.
Feeling more confident, she planted a kiss on her daughter’s cheek and headed out of the shack. She froze in her tracks at the sight of Running Wolf working on the cooking shed. His hands were covered with mud as he plastered the wall carefully.How can a man with such large hands work so delicately?That wasthe thought that ran through Elaina’s head. Her eyes flitted over his bare chest, taking in every single chiseled part.
He looked up just then and smiled at her.What would it be like to be pulled into those arms in a tight embrace? What would it be like to run my hands over him? To be kissed by him?Elaina gulped and she backed away. She stumbled and he stood up to run to her. She quickly picked herself up and slipped into the shack, shutting the door behind her immediately. No way was this gratitude she was feeling. She actually wanted the man.Oh crap, what on earth is wrong with me?Elaina groaned.
She buried her head in a deerskin and groaned louder.
Chapter Sixteen
Running Wolf stepped back quickly. He knew that if he stayed next to her a moment longer, he was going to end up ravaging her with kisses. He could not do that, he would not dare. The last thing he wanted was for her to run away from him. He watched her hurry off to the shack and sighing, he ran a hand through his hair.
When had this started? Wanting to be close to her? To touch her? To feel her? Running Wolf shook his head. He was feeling strong feelings and he had never felt them before, not even when he was with Fala and he had been with her for a long time. Never had he felt as strongly for her or for any other woman as he felt for Elaina. They were feelings he could neither describe nor understand.
He looked down at the mess and his heart bubbled with gratitude to the Great Spirit for sparing her life. He hated to think what would have happened to her if she had been in the shed. It would have been very difficult getting help from the village. Sure, for minor health issues, he could handle them without getting anyone else involved. But an accident? He shuddered at the thought. If anything were to happen to Elaina and Jessica, he had no idea what he was going to do. He would probably lose it. He cared about them too much not to go crazy if help was being deprived to them.
Running Wolf shook his head. It was not time to think those kinds of thoughts. The Great Spirit forbid that anything happen to Elaina and her baby. He did not know her story but he knew for a fact that she had already been through a whole lot. He would do all in his power to ensure that she did not get hurt ever again, he promised himself.
Running Wolf turned to the shed and got to work repairing it. He was focused on the repair for a while, and then, he sensed her presence. Running Wolf looked up and smiled. Hetilted his head as he tried to make sense of the expression on her face. She stumbled just then and Running Wolf jumped up. Before he could get to her, she ran back into the shack. He frowned, puzzled. Maybe she heard Jessica’s cries? Yes, that had to be it. After all, what else would make her spring into action so quickly?
He surveyed the work left and he could not help but smile. So yes, he loved being around her. There was no point lying to himself about it. Working on the shed would ensure he was around her, even if it was just for a day. Still, he did not mind. These moments were precious to him.
Hours later, Running Wolf stepped back to inspect the work he had done. He sighed as his eyes darted around the yard. He needed to set up a tepee behind the shack where Elaina now lived. It would be better for her and Jessica then the shack. He wondered what she would think about living in a tepee. She could only stay in the shack for some time. Yes, that was what he needed to do. He had to get to work on it as soon as possible. His eyes rested on the door of the shack. She had stepped out only a total of three times while he was working. The second and third times, she had been with Jessica. He had been able to take a break and play with Jessica.
Could she be hiding from him? The thought crossed his mind but it was only for a moment. He shook his head. That was impossible. She had absolutely no reason to do that. If there was anyone who should even be hiding, it had to be him. She made him feel so nervous and overwhelmed. It seemed his heart called out to her because at that moment, she stepped out of the shack. She smiled softly as she approached him. Running Wolf let out a soft sigh. He had no idea how much he missed that smile until he saw her.
“Hello,” he said softly.
“Hi, Running Wolf.” She turned to the shed and her smile deepened, “You’ve done a really good job. I am really impressed.”
Running Wolf felt a warm tingle in the pit of his belly at her words. He raised his hand to his hair and scratched it, “I’m glad you are satisfied with my...”
“Running Wolf, don’t...” she shouted but it was too late. He stared at her, confused at her warning. She covered her mouth with her hand as she laughed. Running Wolf watched her, trying to grasp the situation. She pointed to him, and her laughter increased. She held her stomach as she almost buckled over.
Running Wolf chuckled, still confused as to why he was the brunt of her joke, “As much as I love seeing you laugh, I will still love to know what I did that’s gotten you so riled up.”
Chuckling, she walked toward him. She stopped in front of him and swallowing hard, Running Wolf backed away. Being so close to her was unnerving for him. She chuckled and took a step closer to him. He made to move back again but she raised her hand to his hair. He sucked in a breath as her touch enveloped him. Running Wolf looked down at her, watching her face. The flutter of her eyelashes as she blinked, the slight split of her lips as she smiled, the little dimple on her right cheek. His heart began to beat faster.
He felt her hand moving around his hair. He had no idea what she was doing but he really did not want her to stop anytime soon.Please go on, he whispered in his head. Her smile widened and she pulled her hand away. Running Wolf’s eyes popped at the sight of caked red mud in her hands.
“How did that…?” he trailed off.
She chuckled, “Only you Running Wolf would scratch your hair forgetting that your hand is covered with mud.”
Running Wolf chuckled as he shook his head, “Can you help me with some water so I can clean my hands and get rid of the rest?”
