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She let out a slow breath, trying to calm her thundering heart, as she waited for him to come into view.

“Mrs. Whitley,” he said in surprise when he set eyes on her.

“I see you are taking your job as caretaker very seriously,” she said.

“I heard the crunch of wheels coming up the drive. I didn’t expect to see you so late.”

“I have decided to stay awhile.”

He nodded. “It is your house.”

“Yes, it is.” Thank goodness for that.

“I’ll take care of the horse then,” he said.

“If you would, thank you.”

“Would you like me to carry the trunk up for you as well?” he asked.

“Please,” she said.

He looped the horse’s traces around the porch railing and then went round to the back of the buggy to heave the trunk up onto his shoulder.

She hurried to unlock the door as he walked up the porch steps.

“Where do you want it?” he grunted.

“Upstairs, please,” she said.

Without a word, he began to climb the stairs. She followed him and, when he stopped at the top of the stairs, she squeezed around him to open the door to her bedroom.

She had never actually stayed in this room overnight. Instead, she had used it to rest after a long lunch a few times, but she had nonetheless decorated it to appeal to a simpler side of her taste compared to the furnishings at the Gables.

“Here?” asked Macalister.

She turned to see him edging closer to the dressing table on one wall of the room.

“Yes, thank you,” she said.

He set the trunk down with a grunt and then placed his hands on his hips. She watched him look around, noticing the exact moment when he realized that he was standing in the middle of her bedroom.

“I’ll see the horse is taken care of,” he said.

“Thank you, Macalister,” she said.

He made it to the door but paused on the threshold.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“I’m perfectly fine,” she said.

The disbelief was easy to read in his eyes.

“I will be perfectly fine,” she amended.

“Then you aren’t hurt?” His gaze searched hers.

Goodness, he thought that something had happened to her—something violent and ugly that would cause her to retreat up to the mountains.