Page 42 of Brian and Cora
Barely.
CHAPTER 13
Pounding footsteps sounded outside. Brian pointed toward the door. “Here he comes.”
Jewel’s father burst through the door, seeming not to see Cora, his only focus his daughter. He immediately calmed, bending to place his hands on his legs and panting for breath. “This child’s going to be the death of me,” he gasped out.
What an astonishingly handsome man. Hardly the misshapen oldster she’d originally imagined.
“Your daughter is growing up,” Cora said in a gentle tone. “Becoming independent.”
Torin jolted erect, shock contorting his face. “Jewel, come to Papa,” he ordered.
Jewel set down the dishcloth and pointed to Brian. “Papa, Bry-an ow.”
His shoulders were high and tight. After a brief glance, Torin didn’t make eye contact with Cora, instead, keeping his focus on Brian. “I overslept, and Jewel snuck away. She was worried about you. But I told her we couldn’t visit.” He slid a sidelong glance at Cora. “No disrespect meant, ma’am.”
“Torin, I think everything will be just fine.” But Brian’s underlying message to his friend seemed to be, I think she’s safe for Jewel.
Cora sent him a startled glance, surprised by the reassurance in his voice. Strange how he’s done nothing but bark at me since he arrived home. I’d never have thought he’d put in a favorable word about me.
Of course, having me safe with Jewel doesn’t mean he wants me nursing him.
Cora made sure her smile at the reclusive man was as warm and friendly as she felt. “Mr. Rees, I’m Cora Collier.”
He didn’t quite meet her eyes. “Call me Torin. Haven’t been called Mr. Rees since I moved here. Brings back bad memories.”
“And I’m Cora. I’ve been delighted to make your daughter’s acquaintance. I can tell Jewel’s a very special and a much-loved little girl. I look forward to her feeling comfortable with me.” And you, too.
Mr. Rees’s shoulders relaxed, and he met her gaze more directly. “I couldn’t agree more. But most people won’t see Jewel’s sweetness. Just that she’s not right.”
“I think—” Cora spoke in her firm nurse’s tone “—you both need to stop referring to Jewel as ‘not right.’ As the medical term for Jewel’s condition is Mongolism, that’s a more pertinent label than ‘not right.’”
Torin gaped at her, his blue eyes wide with shock.
“Jewel is the way God created her,” Cora continued her lecture. “She’s meant to be her own very special self. And—" she sent Brian a pointed look “—as I’ve told Brian, in my eyes, Jewel is quite right. She’s verbal.” She gestured to the girl still engrossed in her dishwashing. “She’s helpful. She’s empathetic. You’ve done a very good job raising her.”
As she’d lectured him, Torin’s expression changed from shocked to astonished. He shot Brian a sheepish smile. “I’ve hadsome help with the raising of her. I consider Hank and Brian to be my daughter’s honorary uncles.”
“We’re brothers,” Brian said simply. “We fiercely love her.”
Knock me over with a feather. She never would have pegged Mr. Grumpy as a lover of children, especially one whom most people would label an idiot. But after observing his obvious care for Jewel, his friendship with Torin…. Something inside her shifted, softened. Something too dangerous to consider.
Torin relaxed enough to wave for Cora to take the other armchair. Then he scooted out a wooden chair from the table and sat, leaning forward toward Brian. “I’ve been so concerned about you and Hank since Elsie and Constance brought the news of the robbery and how you two fools joined the posse.”
“Hey!” Brian protested.
“The day after the Harvest Festival, the ladies made the trip up here, so we would know why Hank and Brian hadn’t returned and wouldn’t worry.”
Brian made a gruff scoffing sound.
“Right. And, thus, giving me the far more intense worry of if you two would survive a showdown with the outlaw gang. Went through some long days of waiting.” His eyes clouded, his expression holding a lost look. “I tried not to let my imagination run wild, tried not to wonder what Jewel and I would do without you two, not to think of how lonely I’d be, or how she’d miss her uncles….”
Cora’s healer’s heart ached, and she wished to move close, take Torin’s hand or touch his shoulder, something physical and gentle to reassure him. But she needed to tiptoe very carefully around this wounded man. She sensed something or someone had deeply hurt him, and he wouldn’t trust easily. She cast a surreptitious glance at Brian. Neither of them will.
“When he returned to town, Hank hastened up the mountain to tell me you were injured, but alive, and expected to make a full recovery. Best news of my life.” Torin choked up.
“Did he also warn you about—” Brian’s voice sounded light as if he wanted to spare Torin any sign of emotion.
