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“You might want to lie back.” Evelyn focused her attention back to the injured man and pushed against his chest to discourage him from doing more harm to his injuries. “And don’t thank me. If not for Alex, we would both be dead.”
“I did a stupid thing.” He reached for her hand, and Evelyn squeezed his.
“I put your life in danger. If anything had happened to you, Walker would have finished me off for sure.”
Evelyn cleared her throat. Apparently everyone was under the notion that Alex cared for her. Even she had started to believe it, but then why had he told her he was sending her back to St. Louis? Gritting her teeth, she didn’t know what to believe anymore. His tender kisses and those looks of longing in his eyes spoke of something more than casual affection for a friend’s sister.
Frustrated, she leaned back, and turned her head again to watch the men at the fire. Alex smiled broadly at something Jasper said, and her heart fluttered in her chest. Damn the man for being such a stubborn oaf! If he thought he could simply send her away, he was sorely mistaken.
For six long years, she had believed he was lost to her. Why she had allowed Charles Richardson to feed her and Henry a bunch of lies that Alex had killed her parents was beyond her scope of comprehension now. The only reason she planned to return to St. Louis some day was to bring the true murderer to justice.
“How bad am I hurt?” Yancey’s raspy voice forced her attention back to him. His eyes glazed over with pain. Evelyn wished she wasn’t so helpless and knew what to do to comfort him. She couldn’t lie to him.
“The bear tore the side of your face. You will always have a scar, but Laurent stitched it up as best as he could. The bear clawed you fairly deep along your ribs on your left side, as well as on your thigh. Laurent assured me that you would mend.” Evelyn met his stoic stare, and a look of acceptance washed over him.
“Let me bring you some broth. Alex wants to head out in the morning. You’ll need all your strength.”
Yancey nodded, and Evelyn pushed herself up off the ground. Silently she wondered how he could possibly travel with his injuries. By the fire, Alex stared in her direction, his lips drawn in a tight line. Squaring her shoulders, she strode toward the men.
“I need a bowl to bring Yancey some food,” she said, meeting Alex’s stare head on. The man was as unreadable as a stone statue. Laurent handed her a cup, and she leaned toward the kettle hanging over the fire to dip it into the hot broth that simmered within. Alex stood and took the cup from her.
“Laurent can bring it to him,” he said quietly. “You’ve done enough today.” His penetrating gaze locked onto her eyes, and for a second that look of longing that sent her heart racing emerged.
Evelyn tore her eyes away, and glanced from Laurent to Jasper, who had stopped talking when she approached. He seemed to find great interest in the lacings of his tobacco pouch that hung from around his neck. Laurent stood and relieved Alex of the cup.
“I will see to our young jeunot.” He dipped the cup in the kettle, and headed for the lean-to.
“Walk with me,” Alex said, and took hold of her hand. Evelyn’s pulse increased. He pulled her along with him away from camp toward the creek. A loud chorus of crickets and frogs greeted them, and swarms of insects fluttered above the water in the twilight. A lone coyote barked nearby, and a soft golden glow shimmered along the snow-capped mountain range in the distance.
Evelyn dared not speak first, and waited for Alex to say something. A soft breeze grazed against her cheeks, and she shivered involuntarily.
“Are you cold? We can go back.” Alex stopped walking, and turned to face her.
She shook her head, unable to speak. Her mouth went dry, and she ached for his embrace. Disappointment flooded her when Alex released her hand. She stiffened her back and glared at him. It was time to set some things straight.
“I’m not going back to St. Louis,” she stated firmly. “Why all of a sudden are you so eager to be rid of me, Alex? We had an agreement. You promised to protect me. You can’t do that if I’m in St. Louis, and you’re here in these mountains.”
Alex’s eyes narrowed. “By sending you back, I am protecting you,” he said. “Can’t you understand that, woman?” His arms clenched at his sides.
“Protecting me, or yourself?” Evelyn challenged, and stepped closer. She reached out and touched his uninjured arm. The muscles beneath his shirt bunched taut.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” His eyes blazed, but Evelyn refused to back away.
“I’m not afraid of you, Alex. You can continue to push me away, but I’m not leaving. Six years ago, you broke the heart of a thirteen-year-old girl when you left St. Charles. I’m no longer a little girl. Now that we’re here, together, I’m not letting you break my heart a second time.” Her heart pounded as she whispered the words. How would he react to such a confession?
