Page 32 of Montana Bride By Christmas
“Now, don’t be giving him a hard time. He’s earned every accolade he wants to own.” Hugh’s eyes were full of something so warm, so claiming that heat rushed up her neck and pooled in her cheeks. Thankfully, Grandfather couldn’t see.
He chuckled. “You listen to Hugh. He knows what he’s talking about. After all, he’s the preacher.”
“I’ll get the hot chocolate.” She rushed from the room.
She fought to gain control of her tangled thoughts. Their agreement was one of mutual convenience. There was to be no claiming involved. Realizing she had no call for concern, she slowed her breathing. As Grandfather said, Hugh was the preacher. He had to keep his word to keep feelings out of their arrangement.
And who, an errant voice in the distance of her thoughts asked, would make sure she stuck to her plans?
I will. I must.
“Can I help?”
She hadn’t realized that Hugh had followed her and was startled by his question. “Sure, you can take mugs for yourself and Grandfather.” She filled two of the waiting cups, relieved that her hands didn’t shake because her insides were as jumpy as a fly against a windowpane. She delayed so he could return to the living room.
He stood to the side and waited for her.
That made her hand jerk so hard she almost spilled the hot liquid on herself. She cooled Evan’s drink with milk and picked up the other two cups, stiffening her arms to stop any shaking.
They returned to the other room. Annie put Evan’s cup of hot chocolate in front of him.
He waited until she sat down again before he took the cup.
One day soon, she decided, they’d get him to start being a little boy.
They drank their hot chocolate slowly. She couldn’t say what the others were thinking, but Annie didn’t want the evening to end. She turned to Grandfather. “Tell about the time a bunch of desperadoes came to your camp.”
Grandfather was an excellent storyteller. He knew how to make a dramatic moment more dramatic and how to drag out anticipation. He wove a tale of bad guys coming to visit him and told how they’d looked at his belongings. He’d been sure they would steal everything. What was he to do?
Annie smiled as Evan shifted so he could watch Grandfather. She looked at Hugh and saw the same pleasure on his face. And something more. Or was she imagining that she saw approval?
She must not let herself grow fond of this man. Her heart wasn’t ready to take the risk of being hurt again. It would never be ready for that risk.
She forced her gaze to the fire, watching the flames leap and twist, and listened to Grandfather tell how he’d invited the bunch to join him for a meal, and as they ate, he told them about God’s love for them.
Grandfather finished his story with a flourish. “And that’s how, by showing them kindness, I outwitted the bad guys.”
Evan let out a thin sigh. He looked at the parcel at Annie’s side.
“I almost forgot. I’ve got something for you here.” She brought the package to her lap and slowly folded back the paper, taking her time as she enjoyed watching Evan’s anticipation. Unable to stop herself, she looked toward Hugh, saw the same look on his face, and chuckled.
Hugh raised his eyebrows in silent question.
“You and Evan are wearing matching expressions.”
Hugh’s gaze went to Evan. Evan stared at him for the length of the blink, then lowered his head. He couldn’t resist the allure of the parcel, and as he watched, Annie withdrew a new shirt, white with blue stripes. “Just the right size for you,” she said to Evan.
His mouth hung open, and he stared at the shirt, then looked at the one he wore as if comparing them.
“One more thing.” Annie waited for him to look her way again and pulled out a pair of trousers. “To go with the new shirt.”
Again, Evan looked from the new to the old.
“New clothes to wear after you have a bath,” she said. There were new underthings, too, but she didn’t pull them out.
Evan shifted, grabbed his mat, and scurried back to the kitchen.
Annie called after him. “I won’t make you bathe, but you need one. You let me know when you’re ready.” She sighed. “I wasn’t sure how he’d react.”
