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Not seeing any mint grow along the edges of the water, she headed away from the river and further toward the base of the mountains. The narrow trail she followed became steep in some areas, and she stopped to catch her breath and to allow her stomach to settle again. She was sure that she had seen mint growing in some shady patches where the soil was moist.
Alex had brought her this way on a few occasions, and they had explored the base of the mountains and surrounding small lakes, and even bathed under a towering waterfall after a somewhat steep climb at the opposite shore of one of the larger lakes. She hadn’t planned to come this far on her own, and a slight tingle of apprehension passed through her.
Evelyn stopped and sat to rest on a large boulder. Swallowing back the nausea, she placed a hand over her abdomen and smiled softly. She was carrying Alex’s child. Nothing, not even her unsettled stomach, deterred her from her happiness. Tonight, she would tell him he would be a father. She had kept the news to herself long enough.
She removed the capote, and swiped her palm across her damp forehead. The somewhat strenuous uphill trail left her flushed and sweaty under the thick material. Leaning back, Evelyn closed her eyes and allowed her mind to wander. She thought of the years ahead, and the family she and Alex would raise. The subject of children had never come up, but she had no doubt that Alex would be a wonderful father, just as he was a loving husband to her.
For a moment, she wondered how he would react to the news. Would he be overjoyed, or would he remember his own childhood, and doubt his abilities again? He hadn’t spoken of his father, nor had he given any indication that he still thought he might turn into the same abusive man as Silas Walker had been. It appeared as if he had completely laid that demon to rest.
Evelyn hoped that by the time her child arrived, Whispering Waters would be back. She would surely want female company during the time of the birth.
Early spring! Her baby would be born in early spring, right here beneath the mountains that she’d fallen in love with.
Suddenly eager to see Alex and tell him the news, Evelyn stood. She would search just a little further up the mountain for the mint, and then head back. If she didn’t find any now, she would ask Alex if he knew where to look. She’d been gone from the cabin longer than she planned.
Reaching for the rifle and wool capote, the sound of gravel rolling downhill startled her, and she spun around on her heels. Wide-eyed, her hands flew to cover her mouth, and her heart leapt up into her throat.
“Hello, Evie,” the man who stood several paces away from her said in a low even voice, a smile forming on his lips.
Chapter 19
“Oh my goodness! Henry!”
Evelyn’s heart hammered in her chest, and her knees went weak. She inhaled sharply, trying to recover from the shock of seeing her brother stand right before her. All these months, she had believed him to be dead. Evelyn stumbled toward him on shaky legs. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him close, sobbing against his shoulder.
Henry stood stiffly, and patted her back.
“I thought you were dead,” Evelyn cried, and her voice cracked. “I saw that horrible man stab you, and you . . . fell overboard.”
“I survived,” Henry said dryly. There was no warmth to his voice. With his hands at her waist, he peeled her away from him.
Evelyn wiped at the tears in her eyes. “How?” she asked, shaking her head slightly. Her eyebrows pulled together.
“Some Indians found me, and pulled me from the water,” he said hastily. Henry avoided her stare. “After I recovered, I’ve been looking for you.”
Evelyn smiled warmly at her brother. She touched his cheek just to make sure he was even real, then squeezed his hands. Joy flooded through her like a ray of sunshine. Could her life get any better? She was married to the man of her dreams, she was carrying his child, and Henry was alive!
Her eyes roamed over him, her mind still not quite comprehending that she hadn’t lost the only remaining member of her family after all. Dressed in wool trousers and shirt, with a wide brimmed hat on his head, he looked as out of place in this wilderness as he had when he stood next to that bunch of river pirates. Evelyn shuddered involuntarily. One man’s dark and menacing face flashed before her eyes, and her heart leapt nervously in her chest. She hoped she never had to cross Oliver Sabin’s path again.
“How did you find me?” Evelyn asked. Her lips quivered, overwhelmed at seeing her brother alive. She looked past Henry’s shoulder to see if anyone else was with him, but he appeared to be alone. Her eyebrows drew together slightly. “And here on this trail, of all places.”
