Page 36 of Wagon Train Promises
She stood back while Cecil said grace. Continued to hover in the background when Hazel dished up food for herself and Petey. She stepped aside for Cecil to help himself. Instead, he nodded toward her empty plate.
“You’re eating?” he asked.
He was going to wait until she got food. In that case…
She hurried toward the pot and, with a clang of metal against metal, put two scoops on her plate and stepped back. The log across the fire was the farthest from Hazel. Louise sat there, leaving spots on either side of her friend.
The stew smelled good. Saliva flooded her mouth. She bent forward, her attention totally on the food before her. If Cecil hovered nearby, she wasn’t paying him any mind. Let him sit where he wanted. But when he pulled a log to her side, her throat closed off, and she couldn’t swallow.
Why didn’t he sit beside Hazel? Feed Petey as he’d done before? Talk to them. Play games with the little one. Did he want to continue the conversation they’d had by the river? Except what was there left to say? That young lady—Myra—chose someone else based on money and position. Louise had voiced her opinion on the matter. End of discussion.
“Hazel, how are you feeling?” Louise scraped up the last of her meal. When had she eaten it? It wasn’t like her to be so…so…distracted.
“I’m fine.”
“I’ll clean up.” Louise was on her feet and reaching for the empty plates.
Cecil didn’t release his.
Steeling herself to be calm and professional—after all, she had learned how to be so in her training—she met his gaze. “I’ll take your dish.”
“Thanks.” But still, he held on.
What did he want? Why were his eyes full of—she gulped. It wasn’t interest she saw. It was only kindness. After all, like she’d said, he was a kind man.
Exactly what Hazel and Petey needed.
With a little jerk, she got control of the plate and hurried to the washbasin. She submerged her trembling fingers and inhaled the smoke of the fire. The warm water eased the pain in her hand.
Washing a few things didn’t take long, but she lingered at the basin, waiting for Hazel and Cecil to do something.
She’d give them a little encouragement. “Hazel, why don’t you and Cecil take Petey for a walk? I think he’d enjoy it.”
Hearing his name, Petey wailed.
“He’s ready for a nap.” Hazel picked up her little son. “I’ll rest with him.” She climbed into the wagon and pulled the canvas tight to provide privacy.
Louise’s fingers were wrinkling. There was no more reason to keep them in the cooling water. She emptied the basin and dried her hands. All the while, Cecil watched her.
She hung the towel over a branch to dry.
“Let’s go back to the river.”
His suggestion sent an unfamiliar jolt through her. She wasn’t going to admit it was eagerness to spend more time with him.
She hadn’t learned to keep her feelings under control, only to forget now.
Cecil jammedhis hands in his pockets, his shoulders hunching. Why did Louise hesitate to resume what he’d thought was a very pleasant visit? He liked how she’d teased him. Even more, heliked how she’d described him. Good. Noble. Kind. He’d never thought of himself in those terms. Not that he was needy and wanted to hear her say similar things. Well, maybe it would be nice.
“Why not go back and get some of that wood?”
It sounded more like work than what he’d had in mind. With the toe of his boot, he helped a beetle over a rock. “Might it be a little early for you to be wandering about in the woods?”
Her eyebrows rose. One crooked to the side because of the cut on her forehead. Her cheek appeared slightly swollen.
“You know. After falling. Maybe we should stay close to camp.”
She touched her cheek. She refused to meet his look. “I don’t think a few scrapes are putting me in any danger.”
