Page 51 of Montana Bride By Christmas
Slowly, Evan unbuttoned his shirt and pants, struggling often, but Annie didn’t offer to help.
Nor did Hugh. The boy needed to set his own pace.
Evan was down to his undergarments. He stopped. A shudder crossed his shoulders and rippled down his body.
Annie waited.
Hugh stood motionless, uncertain of what to do.
Happy lapped water from the tub.
Evan laughed, and the tension in the room eased.
“Do you need help?” Annie asked.
Evan turned toward her and let her peel the garment from him. It was so heavily soiled he wondered if it could even be cleaned.
Annie held it at arm’s length and dropped it near the fireplace. “I’ll burn it later,” she murmured for Hugh’s ears alone.
Evan stood shivering, though the room was not cold.
“In you go.” Annie held out a hand and helped Evan step into the water. “Sit down. The water is nice and warm.”
Evan looked like he couldn’t bend.
“You need to show Happy how to have a bath.”
Evan nodded and sat.
His head cocked to one side, Happy watched over the rim.
Annie knelt beside the tub, the bar of soap in her hands. She turned to Hugh. “You can soap him up.”
“Me?” He’d thought he’d watch the proceedings from a safe distance.
He knew that kneeling beside Annie and together, scrubbing the soil off his little son would take him further into dangerous territory. But how could he refuse the opportunity to share this joy?
CHAPTER TEN
Annie saw Hugh’s hesitation. They would be arm to arm and shoulder to shoulder in this task. Did he object to that? No reason he should. After all, they lived in the same house. Took care of the same boy. And would be married in about three weeks. Her cheeks burned, and it wasn’t from the heat of the nearby fire.
Hugh rubbed his hands on his thighs and then knelt beside Annie. “What do you want me to do?”
I want you to say you’ll marry me. I want a marriage based on security, not love. Love offers only the fear of loss. “Soap him up and scrub him clean.” She handed him the bar of soap.
“Okay, little man, it’s time to get rid of that dirt.” Hugh sounded strong and in control, but she guessed from the way he hesitated that he wasn’t.
Evan looked uncertain and shivered. He closed his eyes as Hugh began to wash him. His expression softened.
Annie nudged Hugh’s arm and nodded toward the boy. She leaned close to whisper in his ear. “I think he likes it.”
The flames crackled and flared. Happy flopped down before the warmth of the fire and fell asleep.
Hugh washed the soap off. “His hair needs washing.”
Evan tried to scramble to his feet, the noise bringing Happy to the side of the tub.
“Whoa, there.” Hugh steadied the boy. “You don’t want to frighten Happy, do you? I’ll hold you with your head back, and Annie will wash your hair.”
