Page 55 of A Dangerous Heart
Isaac had sent Ed on ahead when they’d been a few miles from McGraw land. Would Ed tell everyone the news about their marriage before they arrived?
A deep, unsettled pit formed in her stomach as she realized that everyone in the family would learn about her past. Would they be angry? They had a right to be. Clare had piled more trouble onto an already teetering stack. Tears threatened.
The wagon rolled up to the barn. Jo and Tillie leaped off the porch and began to whoop and holler as they sprinted to the wagon. Ben perked up. He used his arms to lift himself so he could peer over the wagon side rails.
“Look who’s glad to see you, Ben,” Clare said, a little surprised by their joy.
A wide smile spread across Ben’s wan face, and Clare let out a breath of relief. He had been close-mouthed all day—a sure sign something was off.
Drew ambled out of the barn, offering her a hand down, then wrapped her in a warm embrace. “Welcome to the family,” he said before shooting Isaac a look that saidWe’ll talk later.
Kaitlyn pulled Clare close. “So good to have you back.”
Nick and Eli lagged behind Kaitlyn. Nick embraced Clare gently for a few brief seconds but kept his expression guarded.
Eli climbed into the wagon, positioning himself beside Ben. Leaning into his brother, he whispered in his ear while glaring at Clare. Her hope for an easy evening wilted. She bit her lip and narrowed her eyes at him. She needed to speak with him about his father. Eli was as capricious as the wind, and he would be conflicted. He idolized his pa.
Without missing a beat, Isaac stepped closer, his voice low as he addressed the two brothers. Clare couldn’t hear the words, but the look on Eli’s face suggested a kind of reluctant acknowledgment.
The girls circled round Clare. Jo gave her a quick hug.
Tillie threw her arms around Clare’s waist, pressed her cheek against Clare’s ribs and squeezed. “Pa said you got married. We didn’t even get to see the wedding.” She pouted for a moment before her expression brightened.
Clare’s gaze shot to Isaac. Their eyes met briefly. Her heart kicked up. What should she say? Had it only been this morning they’d recited their vows?
“We didn’t get to wear our Sunday dresses and throw flower petals,” Tillie added. She lifted her chin and kept her arms around Clare’s waist. Clare smiled and brushed a loose chunk of hair back from Tillie’s forehead.
“Yes, well, it only happened this morning.”
“That means it’s still your wedding day,” Jo announced seriously.
“Can we bake a wedding cake? I love cake!” Tillie’s voice amped up until she was fairly shouting “cake.”
Isaac rounded the wagon.
“Whoa there, girls,” he said, like he was settling wild horses. “It’s late. Let’s get Ben settled inside before we start baking.”
Clare was surprised the girls were planning to bake a cake this late in the day. Kaitlyn stepped in.
“Girls, clear the way so Uncle Isaac can bring Ben into the house.” Kaitlyn paused to let Tillie skip ahead while she and Jo strolled up to the porch and into the house.
Clare met Eli at the back of the wagon as he climbed down. As he stood waiting for Isaac to lift Ben, Clare reached out to hug him, but he pulled away and crossed his arms defensively. The rejection was a sharp pinch to her heart.
Eli was growing up. He was every bit like the dynamite they’d found. No telling what would set him off.
Isaac pulled on the blankets so that Ben was scooted to the tailgate. He carefully gathered him in his arms and carried him to the house, Clare and Eli trailing.
Kaitlyn met the group at the door and held it open to allow Isaac to pass.
“Ben here is going to need to stay in the main house.” Isaac’s gaze went to Ben’s leg. “Obviously he won’t be climbing the stairs anytime soon. Think we can put him in David’s bedroom?”
Kaitlyn sent him a reassuring smile. “Of course. David can bunk with Nick until Ben heals up enough to stay at the cabin.”
Before Kaitlyn turned to lead them to a small bedroom off the kitchen, she flashed Clare a reassuring smile. Anxiety twisted in Clare’s gut again. Kaitlyn didn’t know about her past. This wasn’t the joyous homecoming expected of a newlywed couple. Her marriage was hardly a real marriage at all. Isaac didn’t love her, but he had offered her refuge and his family name, which to the McGraws, meant something.
Stop clinging to girlish dreams, Clare Barlow.No. She was Clare McGraw now.
She would play the hand she was dealt.
