Page 58 of A Forgotten Heart
“That’s easy to do,” Elsie murmured
He ran a hand down his face. “I was in the house and heard a commotion outside. Pa had tried to move my colt himself. It’d spooked and tossed my dad into the fence, stomped on his leg.”
Before she could stop herself, Elsie reached out and laid her hand on Nick’s arm. His muscle twitched beneath her hand, but he didn’t push her away.
His throat bobbed as he swallowed. “His leg never healed properly. If I’d done what I was told, it never would’ve happened.”
She hadn’t known he bore this guilt. “Nick, it was an accident.”
“A year later, he died.” He rubbed his chest, as if his heart ached. “I was told his leg had some sort of infection that eventually killed him. Because of me chasing my dream, my dad died.”
He moved his hand to rest on hers, its warmth rendering her speechless.
“My mom encouraged me to return to school, so I did all I could for the sake of proving my dad didn’t die in vain, but then…”
Then.
A stone dropped in Elsie’s gut. No wonder he’d been so angry. So hurt.
Had she been the selfish one? Not understanding the guilt he carried?
He looked up at her, the shame in his expression making her ache. “My priorities were all mixed up. I can’t let anything distract me from my responsibilities.”
Was that how he saw himself? How he thought his brothers saw him? She couldn’t stand the thought.
“Your family doesn’t need another warrior. What they need is you. Your brothers need you to help them.”
Nick’s expression was unreadable. “They need another gun at their backs. Not someone to sit at home.”
How could she explain so he’d understand? “You’ve a way of seeing what no one else sees. You see Quade’s next move. You see a different approach. You see a kid who needs a kind word.” She swallowed. “You saw a frightened girl on her first day of teaching school and made her feel included. Like she belonged.”
His eyes held hers, and her heart pattered in her chest.
Elsie’s throat clenched so tight, she had to force out “You noticed me.”
He drew away, leaving her to put her hand in her lap. A muscle in his jaw ticked. “How could anyone not notice you?”
Heat gathered behind her eyes. Maybe he’d noticed her then, but after, he’d forgotten all about her.
He simply stared.
And the kitchen door swung open.
“Is it time for lunch? I’m starving.” Jo headed straight for the larder as if she hadn’t even noticed Nick and Elsie sitting there.
Elsie stood, her movements stiff. “Not quite.”
Awareness pricked as Nick’s eyes followed her when she crossed to help Jo. Maybe the interruption was for the best.
They both knew there was no future together, not for the two of them. It was no use focusing on the past.
She needed to make it through the next few days with her heart intact.
Chapter 12
Elsie had never managed a classroom like this.
“Gimme!” Ben cried.
