Page 499 of Conveniently Wed
What is taking her so long?
As if in answer to his unspoken question, a tentative knock sounded on his door. He hurried over to jerk it open.
Franklin had tried to keep his eyes from straying toward the woman during the meal. Now she stood in front of him, in a dress that fit her far better than the one Mrs. Oleson had loaned her. The material brought out the rich blue of her eyes. He’d never seen her lovelier. For a moment, he couldn’t tear his gaze away from her. With unwavering tenacity, she studied him as well. The thin mountain air was even harder to breathe until he finally escaped from the magnetic pull of her eyes that were bluer than the spring sky.
He stepped back. “Please... ” He gestured toward the two upholstered chairs near the window. “Come in. Have a seat.”
After she perched daintily upon one, he dropped into the other. He cast around his mind, trying to decide how to start their conversation. A clear question settled in her eyes.
“How...are you feeling?”Why couldn’t I come up with a better question for her?
She settled deeper into the chair. “I’m...fine.”
Evidently, she felt as uncomfortable as he did. He’d never imagined having a conversation like this with any woman.
“Good...good.”I sound like an idiot.
He was a successful rancher who was respected by many people living in the area. He could do this. “I thought we needed to discuss...things.”
She nodded. “All right.” The sound so tentative it was almost a whisper.
As he studied her, he wondered if she’d been taking good care of herself. Besides the burden she carried, she was far too thin. He didn’t remember her arms being that skinny when they took her husband’s body to bury it. She’d raised the heavy rifle with a show of strength almost equal to a man. Had she been eating right? With no one to encourage her during the long winter months, had she just barely managed to get along?
“I didn’t check while we were up at your place. Did you run low on provisions?”
His question must have bothered her, because she winced.
“No.” Her voice was soft. Musical. “You had the provisions brought down here.”
He nodded. “I know, but I didn’t check to see how much was left.”
She gave him a tentative smile that didn’t reach her eyes, and her neck stiffened. “Enough to help pay for my being here.”
That comment sent a knife through his gut. Did she really think he wanted her to pay? Maybe his remaining aloof from her gave her that impression.
“You don’t owe me anything.” The words felt good to him.
“I don’t want to be a burden on anyone.” She rearranged her skirt around her limbs and clasped her hands together so tight her knuckles matched the snow outside the window.
“You’re not a burden.” But wouldn’t the things he wanted to say to her reinforce that thought in her mind?
“Then why did you want to talk to me?”
A simple question. He wished he had a simple answer.
“I just wanted to know what...you want to happen in your life.” He stopped himself before he addednow that your husband’s dead and your cabin’s gone.Why could he talk to his men and make perfect sense, and this little slip of a woman had him babbling like an idiot?
Tears trembled on her lower lashes. “I wish I knew.” She sat there staring down at the floor before glancing up at him. “At least with all the things your neighbors brought me, I have clothing for me...and my child. But I don’t have a home.”
Although he didn’t think it was a good idea, he had to ask, “Do you want my men and me to rebuild your cabin for you?”
That question must have surprised her. Her eyes cut toward him, a startled expression in them. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” Finally, she released her tight grip on her hands, and one waved toward the mountain behind him. “I must keep the land as an inheritance for my child, but after this last six months, I don’t think staying on the mountain with a baby is the right thing for me to do.”
He couldn’t disagree with her assessment of the situation. This discussion was going nowhere fast. “We don’t have to decide anything tonight.” He stood and tried to give her a pleasant smile. “If you think of anything else you want to do, just let me know.”
She quickly arose from the chair, then stood none too steadily. “I’ll do that.”
Without thought, he raised his hand to help her, then noticed her spine was straight as one of the aspen trees on her property. He figured she wouldn’t welcome his touch, and that was fine with him.
