Page 34 of Montana Lawman Rescuer
“’Kay.”
Emily caught up to them and rubbed Mikey’s back. “We wouldn’t want anything to happen to you.” The look she gave Jesse, worry and affection for Mikey interwoven, made him forget any idea of caution. He wanted only to ease the worry and receive some of the affection. And if the notion seemed at odds with the way he normally viewed his life, he credited it to the unusual circumstances.
He put the boy down, staying close at hand as Mikey picked up one stone after another and presented it to Emily.
“Nice,” he said with each.
“Thank you.” She pocketed them.
After a dozen or so, Jesse started to laugh. “You’ll soon be so heavy you won’t be able to walk.”
She leaned close to whisper in his ear. “Some are falling to the ground when he’s not looking. How high can he count, do you suppose?”
Her breath fanned against his cheek. Knowing he should step away but unable to remember his vow to be cautious around women, he turned and looked directly into her dark blue eyes—like the water in the deepest, stillest part of the river. Did those two words not describe Emily—deep and still? He did not fear she had a dark secret. As he’d said, he prided himself on being a good judge of character.
What about Agnes?His heart mocked.
Agnes was the one responsible for his guarded judgment.
Except perhaps he was letting Emily’s circumstances confuse him. He needed to be more careful of where he let his feelings go.
He made sure to stand between the river and Mikey as he continued to explore Emily’s gaze. Jesse felt, as much as he saw, the pleading in her eyes.Help me find myself.He vowed he would do so.
Her gaze was long and searching. He made silent promises as her look probed deeper, and he hoped she would read them. He was about to give them words when Mikey patted his leg.
“Big.”
Jesse looked down and laughed. Mikey held a rock almost as big as his head. “How did you manage to lift that?”
“Big.”
“It sure is.” Still laughing, Jesse took the rock.
Mikey patted his hands together, pleased with the gift he’d given Jesse.
Jesse brought his gaze back to Emily’s and saw admiration as well as amusement. She’d said he was noble and kind. Did she admire him for other qualities, as well? When she got her memory back, would she see him differently? Like his mother had? Like Agnes had? He heard the warning in his questions, but he couldn’t deny the pleasure of sharing a few moments with her.
Only the need to watch Mikey overruled the call of his heart, and he jerked away to follow the boy. They stood on the bank, and he showed Mikey how to skip a stone. Mikey grabbed rock after rock and threw them into the water, laughing at the splash they made.
Jesse chuckled. Emily’s amusement rang out in soft music. She came to his side, standing close enough that their arms brushed. There was something special about sharing the moment with them. He remained motionless, enjoying the warmth of his arm against hers.
She grew quiet, staring toward the trees across the river, her expression serious.
He held his breath, afraid to intrude into her thoughts. Was she remembering?
She sighed and looked at him. Then, she let her gaze slip past him to Mikey and grinned. “We better move on before he clears the bank of every last rock.”
“I have something special to show you.”
“You mean, this isn’t it?” Her eyes widened. “It gets better?”
He squinted at her, trying to decide if she teased or not, but he didn’t have long to wait as the corners of her mouth crinkled. With a little chuckle, he took her hand. “I can’t take any credit for the surprise I have for you. It’s all God’s creation.” He scooped Mikey into his other arm, and they walked along the shore.
Mikey babbled away. Occasionally, Jesse understood a word or two but it was not enough to have any idea of what the boy was saying. He grinned at Emily. “I wish I could speak Mikey. He might be able to tell us lots of things.”
“He certainly tries.”
The creek turned ahead of them. Rather than following the curve, he drew them toward a little meadow in the crook formed by the bend in the creek. He’d visited a few days ago, so he knew what to expect.
