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“Rose Arden spent ten minutes explaining why most men ought to be sent outdoors whenever important decisions need to be made.”

“She’s got a point.”

“Marmee disagreed. She said men are useful for moving heavy furniture.”

Jesse laughed before he thought better of it. The pull along his ribs made him wince, but Eden didn’t leap from her chair.

“Did you agree with them?” he asked.

“I said I knew one man who was currently doing his best work lying down.”

He stopped smiling. “You told them about me?”

“About what you remembered. And the warning you gave Izzy.”

“Anybody can hit a piano.”

“Not everybody would go back into a dangerous hallway afterward.”

There was nothing he could say to that without arguing over an act he barely remembered. He shifted his hand on the blanket.

“Wish I hadn’t left Peter at the table.”

“Peter is alive.”

“He followed me.”

“And the men chose to hurt both of you.”

Jesse frowned. “You always this determined?”

“Ask Josiah.”

“I’d like to.” The words surprised him as much as they appeared to surprise her. “To meet your brother,” he added.

Eden’s mouth curved. “He’d have a great deal to say about you.”

“All bad?”

“I expect he’d begin with your manners.”

“Then we’d get along.”

She laughed, and Jesse found himself wanting to hear it again.

The rain eased to a steady patter. Somewhere beyond the clinic, a wagon rattled over the street. Still no hoofbeats from the riders.

Eden picked up the novel she’d left on the windowsill earlier. “Shall I read?”

“Not yet.”

She waited.

Jesse shifted his left hand toward the edge of the mattress. The movement was small enough to be missed, but Eden’s attention fell to it. She set the book down.

He could have pretended he wanted the cup on the bedside table. It stood well within her reach, but it wasn’t water he wanted.

She placed her hand in his.