AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She worked hard to come up with something quick. “Of course. It’s just—well—the weather was so nice I thought I would go for a little stroll first.”
His arms crossed over his chest, an obvious sign he did not believe her. “And you’re lurking behind this tree because...?”
“I’m not lurking!” she snapped, then quickly got her temper under control when she noticed his one brow arch. “I told you I was taking a rest.”
Jay stood there simply looking down at her for what felt like eternity. She seriously considered telling him to turn away, but knew that would only fuel his curiosity. Therefore, Erika forced herself to sit there silently as he observed her. Putting on her best performance, she turned a sweet smile up at him.
He sighed at last and dropped his arms turning slightly back toward the house. “All right then. Enjoy your walk.”
He left so quickly, her jaw dropped in surprise. That was it? He wasn’t going to needle her with questions, tease her horribly?
She arched around the tree trunk to watch him walk back toward the house. Toward Ms. Freeman.
“Jay?”
He stopped and looked back. “Yes?”
“Um, well, where are you going?”
He grinned. “Back.”
Back to the young widow. Her eyes slid past him to where the woman stood waiting, and corrected herself. The young beautiful widow.
“Isn’t your parent’s farm back that way as well?” She gestured over h
er shoulder.
“Yes it is.”
He didn’t offer any more other than the tip of his hat as he turned to leave once again. With alarm, Erika sprung to her feet and accidentally hit her ankle against a protruding root. Instinctively she cried out. Jay stopped walking.
“Are you all right?”
She looked up, slightly confused by his question. All right? From a tree root? Then, like a flash of brilliance, she dropped theatrically against the tree.
“It’s nothing, truly. Don’t mind me.”
Jay frowned from his distance. “Are you sure?”
That wasn’t what she expected. Jay was always swift to be concerned. Apparently, he needed a little nudging.
“Of course,” she said, feigning loss of breath. “I think I might have twisted my ankle earlier. That was why I needed to stop.”
Like a charm it worked. He turned and headed back toward her. “You didn’t mention it before.”
“It’s of no concern. Truly.”
The sweet little worry frown between his brows deepened. “Sit down. Let me take a look.”
“Please, Jay, don’t concern yourself. Continue doing whatever you were doing with the widow Freeman.” Her voice caught on the bitterness of this last sentence, drawing Jay’s curious glance back to her face.
“You best let me have a look. It’s a long walk back if you’ve done any serious damage.”
She shrugged innocently and dropped down around the base of the tree. “If you insist. I’m sure if I give it a couple of hours, I can manage just fine.”
He shot her a look, but offered no comment in reply. Instead, he lifted her shoe and slid it off, gently touching the skin around her ankle. “It doesn’t feel swollen.”
“Ouch.”
