Page 158 of Conveniently Wed
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Leah sent Miriam a thankful smile as the young woman approached the bed with a pot of water and a rag.
“Thank you, Miri. I’m afraid my hands are in need of a bit of fresh water.” She glanced down at her dirt-streaked dress and bandages. “I probably need to get the rest of me cleaned up too.”
Miriam flashed a sly smile. “You might also want to work on your face.” She set the pot on the bed linen. “Hold on a minute, and I’ll get you a mirror.”
One look in said mirror brought a gasp to Leah’s lips. “Why didn’t you tell me?” Dirt streaks lined both sides of her face, across her forehead, and under her left eye. She looked like the pictures she’d seen of Indians on the advertisements for a Wild West show that had come through Richmond last year.
And her hair looked like she’d ridden through a windstorm. Stray wisps stuck out around her face in every direction. Her chignon sagged several inches lower than she’d pinned it that morning.
When she looked up, Miriam watched her with crossed arms, amusement sparkling in her teal eyes.
“Well don’t just stand there, help me.” Leah dipped a corner of the rag in the water and rubbed it across her forehead. Gideonwould be back in the cabin any minute, and she didn’t want to be in the middle of her toilette when he entered.
Miriam rolled her eyes dramatically as she moved around to work on Leah’s hair. “Don’t worry, we’ll get you all prettied up again before Gideon gets back.”
Leah didn’t have time to correct her, but it was a good thing the dirt covered the pink that rose to her cheeks.
By the time Gideon came in for the meal, Leah had washed and straightened her hair. She may not qualify aspretty, but at least she was cleaner.
From the bed, she bit into her cold ham sandwich. Across the room, Miriam and Gideon ate their food at the table in silence. She longed to sit with them, but after the morning’s events, her leg throbbed. Her body could finally relax when she leaned back against the wall of pillows.
She sneaked glances at Gideon throughout the meal, often catching him watching her, as well. His expression could best be described as brooding. Creases formed on his forehead, and his brows came so low she couldn’t see the deep green color that always captivated her.
As soon as his plate was empty, Gideon rose and whistled for Drifter, then stalked out of the cabin.
Miriam released a heavy sigh as she rose to follow him. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
What was wrong now? Did Gideon blame her for being out in the garden today? Or had the ordeal brought back all his pain from losing his wife?
Finally, the click of Miriam’s heels sounded on the porch. She appeared, carrying Leah’s crutches, but the usual pleasant smile was missing from her pinched lips.
“Miriam, what’s wrong with Gideon? Is he angry with me?”
Miriam’s face took on a touch of bewilderment. “No, he’s not mad atyou.” She shook her head and picked up Leah’s tray fromthe side of the bed. “Don’t worry about him. He just needs to work out a few things.” Her lips pursed in amusement. “I think it threw him for a loop when he realized it was a harmless old garter snake.”
“You mean the snake wasn’t poisonous?”
“Nope.” Miriam began stacking dirty dishes from the table.
Leah sank back against the pillows, all the energy sucked out of her. It wasn’t poisonous. She felt a grin spill onto her lips. Poor Gideon.
It was happening all over again.
Heave.Thwak!Two chunks of wood sailed off the stump, landing in the piles that had already gathered.
Gideon had told himself he would never bring another woman to this place again. Ever. With another log on the stump, he heaved the ax back over his right shoulder.Thwak!
He’d told Abel not to do it. Women were trouble, every last one of them. And Easterners were the worst. Had Abel listened? No. And now look what had happened.
Heave.Thwak!His muscles griped, but Gideon pushed harder.
Heave.Thwak!Too hard this time. The ax lodged itself deep in the stump.
He stopped to swipe his sleeve across his sweaty face. With that woman around, he couldn’t even strip off his shirt anymore.
While his muscles rested, his mind wouldn’t stop. The image from earlier that day had been seared there. Leah, sitting between the green bean plants, her splinted leg extended, hair mussed in the cutest way.
