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“Yes?”
“When I’m able, I’m taking you out to see Buck myself.”
“I’ve already met him.”
“Ain’t the same.”
“What will we do?”
“Ride out past the south meadow. Show you where the river bends.”
She could picture it: Buck’s sorrel coat in the sun, Jesse sitting tall in the saddle, the prairie opening before them. She wanted it badly enough to be afraid of the wanting.
“Then you’d better concentrate on getting well,” she said.
His hand closed gently over hers.
“I intend to.”
Eden kept her hand beneath his. They’d made no promise beyond a ride, and neither knew when he might be ready. For now, he was asking her to share a piece of the life he wanted back.
A knock sounded at the door.
Nate leaned in. “Eden? Whit sent a word. Marmee’s gathering is earlier than planned.”
“I’ll be there.” She eased her hand free and stood.
Jesse released her without protest.
“Don’t let Marmee scare Whit off,” he said.
“I believe he’s survived worse.”
“Not sure he has.”
She laughed on her way to the door.
“Eden.”
She paused.
“Tell me what happens to the heroine when you come back.”
She raised the book. “Only if you promise not to guess the ending.”
“Can’t promise that.”
She carried his grin with her into the hall.
Chapter Ten
Rain rattled against Marmee Chapman’s windows that afternoon as Eden opened Jesse’s notebook.
Eden had expected a few questions about the men at Miss Marcy’s. Instead, Marmee had sent for the women who might have seen them around town. June Hardin sat at the writing desk with a fresh sheet of paper. Rose Arden had come from the mercantile, Hannah King had come from the livery, and Libby Matthews had brought Izzy.
Izzy sat beside Libby on the settee, twisting the fringe of her shawl. Eden remembered how the girl had gone quiet at the clinic when anyone mentioned the piano. This gathering could prove difficult for her.
Marmee pulled a chair closer to the settee. “Nobody’s here to accuse you of anything, Izzy. We need to know what happened before Jesse was hurt. Tell us what you can.”
