Page 32 of A Forgotten Heart
What had she done?
Chapter 7
Elsie didn’t want to open her eyes. Morning light seeped in from the hallway, but she didn’t move. If she was awake, it meant she should separate herself from the steady rise and fall of Nick’s chest beside her.
Last night, she’d been completely muddled by Nick’s kiss before she’d gone for firewood. She knew she should have pushed him away. Refused the kiss. But there was a part of her that wanted to relive the kiss. Cherish it.
It’d been so much sweeter than what she remembered from their time at normal school. It made her want to laugh and cry all at once.
All too soon, she’d found the firewood stockpiled along the wall at the side of the doctor’s office. She didn’t have a choice but to go back inside.
Nick stood by the window, coat still on, waiting for her.
It had been a very long time since someone had cared enough to check on her. Wait for her.
He’d offered a boyish smile. “Welcome home.”
At his words, something shifted deep inside her.
And she was so tired of resisting.
Next to her, Nick moved, bringing her back to the present. He tugged her closer.
Was this what it would’ve been like had they never had their fight? This loving, protective Nick, hers forever?
After experiencing what might’ve been, she didn’t know how to put her walls back up.
She opened her eyes. The room seemed brighter. The sun shone in from the front room and carried down the hall to their storeroom.
Outside, a muffled voice called. Someone answered. The sound slithered a cold realization down her back.
The storm was over. The townspeople were out and about.
Feeling suddenly exposed, she forced herself to stand and move down the hall to the exam room, a blanket tightly wrapped around her shoulders.
Out the window, sunlight glistened brightly against the pure white snow. Despite the drifts a couple feet high still blocking most doorways, a smattering of people were out shoveling doorways, sweeping snow into the street.
What if someone needed the doctor and came looking at the clinic? She and Nick would be discovered. Her reputation would be shattered.
She’d known the storm would end, and yet she wasn’t ready.
She quickly returned to the back room and bent down next to Nick.
Her hand hovered above his shoulder, ready to wake him, but first she studied his features. This was the Nick she wanted to remember.
It was unfair.Lord, why have You given me a glimpse of what might have been?
She swallowed against the lump in her throat and shook his shoulder. “Nick. Wake up. The storm’s over.”
His eyelids fluttered open, followed by a warm smile. “Morning, beautiful. What time is it?”
She went to the counter and began to quickly clean up the mess she’d made baking biscuits. Her hands shook. “I’m not sure, but people are milling about.”
He grunted as he pushed to a sitting position. “We’ll need to visit the ranch. My brothers will be looking for me.”
She was afraid of that. Nick had three brothers. They would surely be worried about him. Wondering where he’d been. And who he’d been with.
She left the last of the crumbs and grabbed a blanket to fold. “We should pick up. The doctor can’t return to this mess.” Nor could anyone see their sleeping arrangement. But she didn’t voice that.
