Edith’s brow furrowed. “No. The only ones that have come through recently were five men on horseback. They didn’t stop.”
Christian glanced back toward the river. Sage must have continued along the bank.
“Christian!” a voice called. A young woman wearing a beige linen shirt that fell to the ground and a green full-length tunic over that swept forward and flung her arms about Christian’s neck. She lifted her lips to his cheek and pressed a kiss there. Her brown hair was long, and a tan cap covered her head.
Christian quickly set her on her feet. Bea. He’d had a relationship with her two years ago. He had ended it when he left.
“Where have you been?” Bea demanded. “I waited.”
Surprise filled him as he pinched his lips. “I told you, Bea. I told you that I couldn’t come back,” Christian said. “I didn’t want you to wait.” He had made it abundantly clear.
“I’m so glad youdidcome back,” Bea said brightly.
This was a mistake. He should never have returned. Christian locked eyes with a grinning Edith. He took Bea’s hand. “We have to talk.” He tugged Bea around to the side of the farmhouse. He had thought Bea understood their relationship was over. He’d thought he had made it clear before that she wasn’t the woman for him. He had been searching for something, something that could make up for the feelings of loneliness and missing Willow.
Bea trailed along, happily oblivious.
He stopped and faced her, dropping her hand. “Bea—”
“I knew you would come back. I knew it,” she said, her voice full of joy. Her brown eyes lit with happiness.
“I am on a mission,” he stated. He didn’t want to hurt her, but he knew he had to be firm. She had to understand he was not here for her. “That is the only reason I returned. I am searching for some people.”
“For me!” she exclaimed. “I knew it. You love me!”
“No, Bea,” Christian said quickly. “You’re a lovely woman. But you are not the woman for me.”
Her hope dimmed, but she remained positive. “You came back for me. I know you did,” she repeated the mantra.
“Bea,” he said gently. “I did not come back for you. I am looking for a man and a woman who are traveling together. I thought they stopped in this village.”
Bea stood, staring at him with her head tilted to the side as if she didn’t understand.
“I told you before that I wouldn’t be coming back,” he said, hoping he was making this clear.
“And yet, you have.” The excitement returned to her eyes and her tone. “Because you couldn’t stay away. You missed me.”
“No,” he said in a tough tone.
She winced, and her shoulders slumped as her joy fled.
He had to be strict. “I came back because I had to find some people.”
She scowled in confusion as her gaze swept him. She lifted her chin. “You just don’t realize how much you’ve missed me. You’ve forgotten what we had.”
What did he have to do to get through to this woman? “No, Bea.”
“This will remind you.” She stepped toward him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her lips to his.
Startled, Christian instinctively pulled his head back, but she wouldn’t break the kiss. She kept her dry lips against to his. She smelled of dirt and sweat, not of roses. He firmly grabbed her arms and broke the kiss…
Only to find Willow standing at the corner of the building, staring at him with wide eyes and an open mouth.
