Page 45 of Montana Bride By Christmas
She waited as Evan settled himself on the mattress, the quilt over him. How she would have liked to kiss him good night and tuck the quilt around his shoulders. Maybe someday soon. For a long, breathless moment, she looked at Hugh’s bed.
Evan, wide-eyed and watchful, waited for her to lie down.
She turned the lamp low, grabbed the quilt that lay folded across the foot of the bed, adjusted the pillow, and stretched out on top of the covers. A hollow in the pillow indicated where he rested his head. His scent clung to the room. She pulled the quilt up to her nose, hoping to find the smell of fresh laundry, but his scent clung to the quilt as well.
Stiff, silent, and staring at the ceiling, she waited for Evan to fall asleep. His breathing deepened. She waited a bit longer, making sure he was slumbering deeply. Quietly, she slid the quilt down to her feet and tiptoed to the door. Evan didn’t stir, and she continued down the hall.
“Grandfather.” She shook him gently. “You can go to bed now.”
He came awake slowly. “He’s back?”
“Not yet, but for all we know, he might stay overnight.”
“Little Evan is asleep?”
“I left the lamp on so he wouldn’t be afraid if he woke.” She helped Grandfather to his feet and handed him his canes.
“Will the young one be okay?”
“I’ll curl up on the couch. I’ll be able to hear Evan if he wakens.” She wouldn’t likely sleep until she heard Hugh return.
“I suppose that’s for the best. My old bones need to feel a soft bed.”
She kissed him on the cheek, wished him good night, and watched him make his slow way down the hall to his room. She waited until the lamp in his room went out, then hurried tostare out the dark window. Of course, she could see nothing even when she scraped a hole in the frost except the lantern hanging outside the hotel to guide in any late travelers.
She had no way of knowing if Hugh was still at the Lewis’s or on his way home. Or even if he’d left some time ago and fallen into some kind of trouble. She could do nothing but watch and wait.
And pray. Lord, bring him home safely.
After a bit, she realized how cold she’d grown and returned to put more wood on the fire. An afghan hung over the arm of one of the chairs, and she plucked it up, wrapped it around herself, and returned to the window.
The town lay before her, silent and still except for the moan of the wind.
Finally, accepting that he would not return tonight, she curled up on the couch and fell into a restless sleep.
Hugh had waiteduntil morning to leave the Lewis place, though even then, the sky was still black. He would arrive home before dawn changed the sky to gray. Ida Lewis still clung to life. The woman was a fighter. Dr. Baker said if she pulled through this bout of pneumonia, she had a good chance of a full recovery.
Hugh had been glad enough to be there and offer encouragement and prayers to the Lewis’s. However, he couldn’t keep from worrying about his own family. Despite every warning he’d ever uttered, he included Annie and Grandfather in that word. And why not? he reasoned. For the time being, they resided in his house and were, therefore, his responsibility.
How had they managed in his absence? Would Annie have been able to get Evan to bed? Would Evan have fought her? Were they warm enough?
Had she missed him?
He slammed the door on such thoughts. Their relationship was strictly business. Both of them wanted it that way.
He stopped at the livery barn and stabled his horse, taking the time to brush him well and giving instructions for feeding the animal to the sleepy young fellow tending the place; then he made his way to the house. The cold had a decided bite to it, which explained his hurried stride. He passed the hotel, welcoming the lantern light to guide him on his way. From there, he could see the manse. Light flickered in the front window. Like flames.
His heart kicked into a frenzy. Was the place on fire? He broke into a run, reached the door, wrenched it open, and burst indoors. Flames blazed in the fireplace. He sank back on his heels, his breathing ragged. Why had he panicked? Then he noticed someone on the couch. He eased forward to look over the back until he could see.
His ragged breathing returned at the sight of Annie sleeping, a hand under her cheek, her long blonde hair in a braid but strands of it coiling about her face.
Had she stayed up to wait for him? The thought sent his heart into a gallop. Bernice had never waited up for him. Why, his own mother wouldn’t have worried about him getting home safely. He had no right to stand gazing down at a sleeping young woman, backed up to the door, and shut it with a resounding bang.
Annie grunted and sat up. She glanced around, her eyes wide and bottomless as she met his gaze. Then she blinked and focused. A slow smile wreathed her face. “You’re home.”
The look between them held him immobile. He knew he dreamed all the things he thought he saw—welcome, warmth, acceptance?—
He jerked his gaze away.
