Page 56 of A Secret Heart
Ed blinked in surprise. Rebekah was aware of the entire table watching her watch him.
Isaac cleared his throat. “I think he still has the ribbon.”
The moment was broken, and murmurs of conversation started up again.
She tried to keep her focus on her food but felt Ed shifting in the chair next to her. Under the table, the soft pressure of his boot pressed against hers from the side.
The basket of biscuits made its way to Isaac. He reached in to grab the next to last one. Ed had his hand out for the basket, but turned to Nick to answer a question. In a quick motion, Rebekah reached for the last biscuit. Everyone else was distracted, and Rebekah slid the biscuit, still warm in her hand, onto the edge of Ed’s plate.
“Pass that basket this way.” Kaitlyn called from the other end, and Isaac handed it off without looking inside.
Ed’s shoulders slumped until he turned to his plate. His eyes darted up to hers, questioning. A blush flooded her face as he mouthed a thank-you that sent a warm, pleasing sensation through her.
“How long is Rebekah staying?” Tillie pushed the chunks of venison around her bowl.
“As long as she needs,” Ed piped up from beside her, answering before she had a chance. His expression reminded her of their confrontation about the interviews. All the protectiveness of Ed rolled over her as he leaned out to focus on Isaac. “How long could it take to track down a single outlaw?”
Isaac stirred his stew around, refusing to meet Ed’s stare. “Not sure I’m the one to ask.” His spoon scraped against the side of his bowl, a disjointed sound.
Something in his answer unnerved her. This wasn’t the man she’d known, even from afar, all those years ago. And yet she sensed it had nothing to do with her or her letters.
Ed focused on her as if no one else were there. “When do you plan to get back to the paper? We’ll plan for a way to get you there safely.”
Warmth filled in the cold cracks of her heart at the thought of going back to town. Ed hadn’t asked her to give up working at the paper. He knew how much it meant to her.
Conversation had dwindled and Drew stood. Ed pushed away from the table. When Drew called to him, he offered a quick “I’ll be back” and followed his older brother out the front door.
“We’ll go draw you some water for the dishes.” Nick nodded to Kaitlyn as Isaac grabbed the wash buckets and followed Nick outside.
Rebekah and Jo cleared the table, then Rebekah helped Kaitlyn wash up the dishes. As Kaitlyn finished putting away the last of the bowls, Rebekah took the dishrag out to wipe off the dining table. Isaac sat in a chair at the end, watching the children on the other side of the room.
When Tillie summoned him with a wave, he shook his head.
He rose to move as he saw her approach.
“I need to talk to you.” Her fingers trembled in time with her insides as she pushed the rag over the table. This was her chance to set things straight.
He shifted. Uncomfortable?
Boots shuffled on the front porch. She’d best speak quick before they were interrupted again.
“You never answered my last letter.” She rushed on without waiting on him to answer. “I think I was…letting my imagination get the better of me. Although you wrote me those beautiful letters, in person there’s no spark between us.”
Meeting his gaze was difficult, but she forced herself to do it. It was the first time he’d really looked at her since she’d arrived at the ranch.
The front door opened, and she was aware that the time for this conversation was over.
“I’ve never been one to put stock in writing letters.”
She smoothed her apron with shaking hands. No stock in writing letters? She’d expected more than that. Disappointment surged. He had written such lovely sentiments. Did he feel nothing for her now? Was it so easy for him to accept she didn’t want him? It was better that he wasn’t making things difficult, but somehow, things still felt unfinished.
Drew’s and Ed’s voices filtered into the front room as they entered. Rebekah lifted her eyes. Ed’s watchful gaze caught hers. What had been a smile on his face faded to a frown. Just then, Kaitlyn called Rebekah back into the kitchen.
Was something wrong?
* * *
“Uncle Ed, come with us. Please.” Tillie held up an empty jar that Kaitlyn used for canning. Rebekah stood just behind her. “We’re going to catch fireflies.”
