Page 33 of Wagon Train Promises
Surprise flashed over her expression.
“When I heard you fall and saw you on the ground—” His throat closed off, and he couldn’t finish. Just thinking of it felt like a runaway horse raced through his chest, pounding and thumping and crowding so he couldn’t get in enough air to dispel the sensation.
Her gaze remained steady. Holding his.
His heart slowed.
“I didn’t mean to upset you,” she whispered.
“Of course, you didn’t.” His voice surprised him. Soft. Like he spoke to his grandmother to soothe her fears and worries. Which wasn’t surprising seeing as he wanted to comfort Louise.
He brushed his fingers along her cheek, careful not to exert any pressure on the darkening bruise. “You hurt yourself.” The words grated from his throat.
Her lips parted as if she meant to say something, but then her mouth closed.
Did he imagine she tipped her head toward his touch?
“Louise.” He breathed her name.
Her eyelids lowered halfway, then drifted open, her gaze searching his, delving deep. Looking for something.
He wished he could give her what she wanted.
“Louise,” he whispered her name again.
Something behind him caught her attention, and she blinked, sat back, and drew in a breath that seemed to go on forever.
Her gaze did not return to his. Instead, she studied her clasped hands.
He waited, but she didn’t look at him.
Petey’s babble drifted past, and then Hazel’s laughing reply. They had returned, making Louise pull back. Just when he thought she might begin to see him as something more than a fellow traveler.
She pushed to her feet and stood a moment as if needing to get her balance. “Hazel, you can sit here.” She indicated the stool she’d vacated even though there were others. “Let Petey play with Cecil.”
And then she slipped away. Potlids rattled as she lifted them.
Hazel stopped a few feet from the campfire. Was she as confused by Louise’s behavior as he was? The way her brows went up, and her eyes widened, she must be.
At least, Hazel appeared much improved over the last couple of days. Or was she hiding it? “How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Good. I’m good.” She edged close to Louise. “How are you? Your face is certainly bruised.”
Louise pressed her fingers to her cheek. “I’m sure it looks worse than it is.” A potlidclanged into place. “But it’s only bruises.”
Petey had been at his mother’s side but toddled toward Cecil. “Play.” He caught his toe on the uneven ground and fell.
His outstretched hands headed straight for the hot coals.
CHAPTER 9
Louise was doing her best to pretend she wasn’t there, a spectator to Hazel and Cecil’s interest in each other.
Hazel’s gasp drew Louise’s attention. Her heart crashed against her ribs as Petey stumbled. He was going to land face-first in the fire, and she was too far away to catch him.
Cecil scooped up the baby. “You don’t want to be going that direction.”
Hazel rushed forward to hold Petey. With her son still in Cecil’s arms, the three of them shared a group hug.
