Page 28 of Wagon Train Promises
Petey’s happy laugh, and Hazel’s quiet words pulled their attention to the wagon.
“She seems much better today, don’t you think?” Uncertainty edged Cecil’s words.
Louise wanted to reassure him. “Definitely. She’ll soon be taking care of us both.” Whoops. She didn’t mean to make it sound like she thought Hazel was bossy. Or anything like that.
His chuckle rippled through her. “Say. Seeing as you don’t need to watch over her, why don’t you come with me to get more wood?”
“I’d love to. Thank you.” The words were out of her mouth before she remembered that she should be doing something to get him and Hazel together. Well, it wasn’t her fault Hazel was too tired.
“Come on, then.”
She paused long enough to tell Hazel of her plans. Hazel waved her off as if she didn’t care that Louise meant to spend time with Cecil. Well, if that was the case, it left Louise free to enjoy herself.
The grass sighed under her feet as she walked at his side. A gentle breeze carried the scent of damp earth. The deciduous trees were green and fragrant from the recent rain. Cecil reachedback to help her over a moss-covered fallen log. His hand was firm. Solid. Someone a person could count on.
Tall grass tangled at their feet, and he retained her hand.
“Wouldn’t want you to trip.”
She accepted his reasoning a little too readily.
They reached a clearing. The dappled sunshine bounced off the leaves and pooled in the grass at their feet.
“There’s lots of deadfall here.” He released her hand and stepped away.
A chill raced up from her fingers, and she wrapped her arms around herself for warmth.
“Listen.” He cocked his head toward the overhead branches.
She heard what he meant. Thechirp chirpof baby birds. She searched for the source until she saw the nest and four tiny heads.
Cecil had seen it, too, and they watched as the adult birds hovered overhead.
“They aren’t very old,” Louise murmured. “They only have rough feathers.”
“I don’t like to disturb them. Let’s move away.” He reached again for her hand as if to make certain she came along.
She didn’t care what his reason was. A gurgle of laughter escaped her while they hurried away to the far side of the clearing. It took no effort to forget about Hazel and enjoy this moment.
Cecil was slightlyshort of breath as they dashed across the grass. Louise’s laughter seemed equally breathless. Only because the grass caught at their feet and forced them to make more ofan effort than a normal walk required. It had nothing to do with anticipation or excitement. No, he wouldn’t admit to that.
Though—he allowed himself—he might be looking forward to spending time with her because she’d proven to be good company. He might be eager to learn more about her. She’d had a hard life. Seemed it had been full of work and responsibility, and yet she retained a sense of humor. He liked that.
“Let’s sit.” There was lots of time to gather wood. Right now, he wanted to enjoy the moment with Louise, whom he was finding more and more intriguing with every hour they spent together. She was easy to be around. Now, that made her sound like an old, worn, comfortable pair of socks, which was not at all what he had in mind.
“Tell me how you managed schooling on top of taking care of your brothers.” It seemed a difficult task.
“My teachers were kind to me. They helped me a lot.” Her fingers curled and uncurled.
“Are your hands bothering you?” He covered one with his own.
The restless movement stopped. She drew in a sharp breath. When she made no effort to pull her hand free, he squeezed. Just enough to inform her he liked holding her hand. Not surprisingly, it had a solid feel to it.
“No, my hands are fine. Why do you ask?”
“You were making a fist and letting it go. I thought perhaps they ached.”
“Oh.” Her fingers twitched against his palm. “No.” Her shoulders rose and fell. “I suppose I was remembering what it was like. Feeling again the uncertainty.”
