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“Sounds like a fellow I’d get along with.”

“He is, provided you don’t ask him where he put anything.”

Jesse gave a quiet laugh, then held his ribs until it passed.

“Sorry,” Eden said.

“Don’t be. Haven’t had much to laugh about.”

She slipped another stitch through the cuff.

“Why’d you miss his wedding?” he asked.

“The train wouldn’t wait for me. Neither would the stage connection.”

“You could’ve come later.”

“I could have.”

“You didn’t.”

Eden drew the thread taut. “Your family asked for help. I decided to come.”

He said nothing for a while. Then, “You regretting it?”

“The stagecoach nearly shook my teeth lose. Flat River is pleasant enough, though I haven’t seen much beyond this room.”

“That’s not much of a recommendation.”

“I haven’t had time to form one.”

His mouth pulled to one side. “Reckon you’re stubborn.”

“Josiah claims I inherited it from Mama. Mama blames our father.”

“Sounds familiar.”

The ordinary conversation eased the stiffness in Eden’s shoulders. She had been grateful for quiet when she cared for Josiah, but she’d missed his talk even more during the months when words wouldn’t come. Jesse could manage only short stretches of it. She wouldn’t waste this one telling him how far he still had to go.

“Do you have a horse?” she asked.

“Buck. Sorrel gelding with a blaze. Big enough to carry Bass if the fool would quit pretending he’s too heavy.”

“Does Buck have better manners than his owner?”

“Worse. Stole a whole sack of oats once.”

“Then I pity the stableman.”

“Buck knows where the good feed is. Can’t fault him for that.”

Eden tried to stitch around a knot, failed, and pulled the thread free.

Jesse caught her struggling. “Need help?”

“Can you sew?”

“No.”