Page 38 of A Forgotten Heart
Her eyes skittered away and took in the small loft.
Festive decorations brought warmth to the living room. A Christmas tree stood in the corner and poinsettias graced the end table. In the center of the room sat a cast-iron stove radiating a cozy glow, with a small kitchen against the other wall. The scent of cinnamon lingered in the air.
It felt like a home. Not like Elsie’s tidy, empty rented room with its lone desk and chair.
“Thank you for helping get Nick here.” Rebekah’s words jerked Elsie from her thoughts.
Rebekah left the two men at the sofa and moved toward Elsie.
Ed propped a pillow behind Nick’s back. “This is Elsie.” Was that a hint of annoyance in his voice?
Rebekah’s eyebrows rose. “I believe I’ve seen you around. The new schoolteacher, correct?”
Nick grunted as he twisted his head on the pillow, trying to see past Ed. “The teacher here in Calvin?”
Elsie kept her focus on Rebekah, stomach twisting. “Yes.”
Ed cleared his throat. “I think I’ll put on some hot water for coffee.”
As he passed Rebekah, he stopped for a moment to lean in and whisper something in her ear.
Elsie could only imagine what he might be saying. Then her imagination took flight and provided a vision of her whereabouts splashed on the front page of the paper.
She eyed the stairs. Nick threw off his blanket, earning a harsh protest from his brother.
Nick ignored him. “You’re staying put, right?”
Elsie opened her mouth, but nothing came out. How could one look at Nick’s earnest, protective expression hurt so much?
“Look at you,” Rebekah interrupted. “Skirts soaked to the bone. You must be freezing. Come into the bedroom, and we’ll get you warm and dry.”
Elsie stiffened. “No, I need to go home.”
Nick immediately leaned forward, grunting in pain as he reached for his boot.
“What are you doing?” Ed demanded.
A clank sounded from behind Elsie in the kitchen, but she couldn’t look away from Nick, who was clearly trying to tug on his boot.
“I told you I’m going with you.” His gaze never left hers.
Rebekah watched everything with narrowed eyes. Everyone in the room knew Nick couldn’t make it down the stairs. Elsie knew he was stubborn enough to try, even though he was squinting in pain.
“I don’t know why you’re teaching in my hometown, and my head hurts too bad to try and figure it out. But if you leave, I’m going too.”
Rebekah looped her arm through Elsie’s, breaking the tension in the room. Nick sat back. Elsie had no choice but to give in.
She allowed Rebekah to usher her into a bedroom.
Rebekah bustled to a shelf in one corner of the room. Even with her face averted, Elsie caught her curious expression. “Nick seems very protective of you.”
Elsie accepted the towel Rebekah offered her. That hadn’t been a question.
She avoided answering by hiding her face in the towel for a long moment. But Rebekah was still there when Elsie lowered the towel, now laying a dress across the neatly made bed.
“Have you known each other long?”
There would be no avoiding this question, not with the pointed look Rebekah aimed at her.
