“Christ,” he murmured, his voice filled with helplessness. “Don’t cry.”
He was huge, almost a foot taller than she. The heat of his body seemed to burn through her clothes, making her light-headed with fear.
“Please. Let me go.”
“I can’t,” he muttered, his voice low and rough.
She whirled to face him, terror rising in her throat. She drew in a breath of whiskey-scented air, wondering just how drunk he was.
“I’m leaving,” she asserted, hoping he only saw her anger, not her fear. “You can’t make me stay.”
His gray eyes narrowed. “Don’t be a fool. It’s nearly dark. You’ll never find your way back to town.”
She’d been poised to flee, certain she could outrun him, but his wry words made her hesitate. He didn’t sound threatening. “What are you suggesting?”
“Stay the night. There’s plenty of room. You can sleep in one of the guest bedrooms upstairs. Tomorrow morning, I’ll hitch up the wagon and drive you into town.” He sighed and lifted his broad shoulders in a slight shrug. “It’s the least I can do. You’ve come all this way.”
Sarah searched his scruffy face for an ulterior motive, but she found nothing but resignation. She considered his offer for a long moment, drawn in by the prospect of a hot meal and a bed that didn’t move. “I don’t have much of a choice, do I?”
He brushed a lock of dark hair out of his eyes. “No. Damn my brother’s meddling hide, I’m afraid you don’t.”
“Then yes, thank you. I’ll stay.”
He cleared his throat. “I think it’s for the best.”
They stared at each other for several long moments. Sarah swayed, overcome by frustration and exhaustion. She had a roof over her head for the night at least, but she had no idea what tomorrow would bring.
The faintly annoyed expression on Luke’s face gentled. “You look as though you’re about to drop. Why don’t you go on upstairs and rest for a while? I’ll see if I can rustle up something to eat.”
She nodded, grateful for the reprieve. It would be wonderful to close her eyes for a moment and loosen her stays so she could take a deep, unfettered breath. She would regain her strength. She had to. All she needed was some time alone so she could pull herself together.
Luke glanced at the small, ragged suitcase she’d left by the front door. “Do you have any other bags?”
Heat rose in her cheeks. “No. It’s just the one. I can manage.”
“All right then. I’ll see you in an hour or two.” Without a backward glance, her mysterious host strode away, disappearing through a door down the hall.
