Page 48 of A Forgotten Heart
Nick saw when the realization slumped her shoulders. Her life depended on returning to the ranch with them.
But how was he going to survive with her underfoot?
Chapter 10
With the sun beginning to cast dawn’s pinkish light on the eastern horizon, Elsie realized she should have never let the McGraw men convince her to return to their family homestead.
After the dustup in the marshal’s office, Ed had been the most calm and rational. It’d been his plan to lie low for a while, then sneak over to the livery and rent a sleigh.
Elsie had felt the bile of uncertainty as she and Rebekah had bundled into the sleigh in the dark of night. It had taken a low argument between the brothers and Nick’s approach for her to realize he meant to ride in the sleigh with them.
Humiliation had poured over her like thick molasses when Nick had insisted Rebekah move so he wouldn’t be next to Elsie.
Nick hadn’t said a word to her since the marshal’s office—had only driven the horses through hours of snowy terrain.
Ed was riding Surrey, Nick’s horse, scouting ahead for danger. Rebekah had stopped speaking after several awkward attempts to begin a conversation. Elsie was left to stew in her thoughts.
Nick hated her. She’d known it was bound to happen. She’d hoped to be away from him when his memories returned. Nothing had prepared her for the hollowness inside.
Before the snowstorm, she’d been fine. Content at least. Those hours spent with the tender Nick had reignited the feelings she’d had for him years ago. It had been hard enough to move on from him the first time. How was she going to do so again?
The sleigh topped a hill, and a homestead came into view. Elsie took it all in as Ed circled his horse behind the sleigh.
The home was nestled into a snowy valley with a barn on the other side of an expansive yard. The original lodge had been built with logs, while the newer addition and upstairs were plank.
A glow emanated from the windows, inviting and warm.
Pesky tears sprang to Elsie’s eyes. That invitation surely wasn’t for her.
Nick drove the sleigh close to the house and stopped. He moved to help the women out of the sleigh. Ed’s horse blew.
Now the sun was coming up, and Elsie couldn’t seem to stop shivering after hours in the sleigh.
The door was flung open, and a man with Nick’s tall stature stepped out. The confused dip of his brow reminded Elsie of Papa Bear, ready to scold.
Thinking back to when Nick had talked about his brothers, she guessed this must be Drew.
Drew’s eyes swept over Nick as he gingerly got out of the sleigh. His frown deepened. “What happened?”
Ed was pulling packages from the sleigh. “We’ve got a problem in town.”
A tall, lanky kid with dark hair stepped out. He turned back inside and yelled, “Uncle Nick and Uncle Ed are back.”
Rebekah brushed past him with a hello.
An adolescent girl burst outside followed by a younger girl, hair in braids, neither wearing a coat. The little one ran straight for Nick and wrapped her arms around his waist.
Nick winced and embraced the child with stiff movements. He probably ached everywhere. “Hello, munchkin. Don’t get your socks all wet.”
Drew and the teen boy moved to help unload the sleigh, talking with Ed in low voices.
A smaller woman with blonde hair peeked out the door. She had a shawl wrapped around her. Even so, Elsie could see she was in the family way. “Welcome home. You’re just in time for breakfast.”
“Who’re you?” the littlest girl demanded of Elsie.
Every eye turned toward her. She felt like a new student joining the class for the first time at midterm.
“That’s Elsie,” Ed said when Elsie hesitated a moment too long.
