Page 14 of Montana Bride By Christmas
It was up to Annie and Hugh and even Grandfather to prove to Evan that he could trust their love and concern.
Hugh prayed for a good night’s sleep for them all. He asked for people to be safe in the cold winter wind, and he especially thanked God for allowing him to find Evan and bring him home.
Annie continued to watch the boy from under the curtain of her lashes and saw wonder and doubt intermingled in his face.
“Amen.” Hugh met Annie’s eyes across the table. His eyes were troubled.
He didn’t look forward to getting Evan into bed. She rose. “My mama always said it was time for me to go to sleep after the prayers were said.”
Evan crowded into the corner as if he wanted to become part of the walls.
Annie tipped her head toward Hugh. It had to be done. She went to Hugh’s side. “We’re in this together,” she murmured.
“Thanks.” With a deep sigh, he got to his feet and faced his son. “Evan, it’s bedtime, and I’m going to take you to bed.”
The boy stiffened, and then his legs windmilled.
“Evan,” Annie said. “We all have our own beds, and we all sleep in them. That’s what people in a family do. Grandfather sleeps in his bed. I sleep in mine. You sleep in yours with your papa in his.”
Hugh sucked in air like his lungs had no bottom and then gathered the boy in his arms. As expected, Evan tried to kick and squirm from Hugh’s grasp, but Hugh was prepared and held his son firmly.
Seeing the look of distress on both of their faces, Annie started after Hugh.
“I’ll be right here,” Grandfather announced.
“I have to help with Evan.” Annie followed Hugh down the hallway to the room he and Evan shared.
She had taken care of three brothers, a father, and a grandfather so stepping into a room where a male slept was nothing new to her, and yet, this was different, and her cheeks burned as she glanced about. There was a mattress against the far wall and a tangle of blankets. There was also a narrow bed with the covers pulled tight. Odd, the men in her family never made their beds. She’d assumed men simply didn’t know how or didn’t care. She took in the rest of the room. A wardrobe with the door closed. A coat hanging from a hook on the wall. A table next to the bed held a lamp, a Bible, and three books stacked neatly. From under the bed peeked a valise.
Hugh was a neat, orderly man.
She liked that. However, she couldn’t dwell on her reaction as Hugh struggled with Evan.
He reached the mattress and set Evan down. “Time to go to sleep, son.”
The tenderness in Hugh’s voice caused Annie’s throat to constrict.
A keening sound came from Evan’s throat, and he scrambled off the mattress and into the corner, watching his father with wide eyes.
Grooves appeared in Hugh’s cheeks at the way Evan shrank from him.
Annie wanted so badly to comfort both of them that she acted without thinking. She went to Hugh’s side and squeezed his arm as she spoke to Evan.
“Evan, honey, your papa loves you and wants to help you. So do I. We are both going to be here to take care of you, to protect you, and to help you learn to trust us.”
Hugh’s hand came over hers. “That’s right, son. We are here for you. Always and forever.”
Evan grabbed the quilt off his mattress and clutched it to him.
“Good night, Evan,” Annie said. She longed to kiss him but knew she couldn’t. She slipped from Hugh’s side and left the room. In the hall, she paused. Had Hugh really said they were in this together for always?
He stepped from the room and pulled the door partly closed behind him. “Thank you for all your help with Evan. I truly appreciate it.”
“Did you mean what you said?”
“I hope so. What specifically do you have in mind?”
She shouldn’t have brought it up. She didn’t want easily made and as easily forgotten promises. Yet if he’d already made up his mind about her staying, she wouldn’t have to worry about it.
