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But desiring one who is dead to yet live was not something for which any could dare hope.
She met his kindness with her own, grateful that one who was supposed to be her enemy would show such humanity. “Your sincerity means a great deal, Captain.”
The quick dip of his brow and bob of his chin said something she hadn’t a chance to interpret before he spoke again. “On a separate subject, I should like to advise you, Miss Young, that if you must come to town, do not come alone.”
She raised her eyebrows, the action not needing to be forced as she asked the necessary question. “Is there something amiss?”
“Nay, ’tis simply…I know not how to say this…” He craned his neck to look over his shoulder, revealing for the first time a ghastly missing section of his ear. Poor man. How had he come by such a wound? A battle injury perhaps? Thank the Lord ’twas only his ear that had been hurt.
Turning back, he took a single step forward. “There are too many soldiers about, Miss Young. They are quite suspicious. I should not like you to fall prey to any…”
He stopped, a tight smile on his lips. He knew he needn’t say the rest.
Her heart slowed as her mind scrambled to measure the length of his meaning. Was she in danger?
“You are most thoughtful, Captain.” Her voice was more pinched than she would have liked. “But I am sure I will—”
“I must insist. In fact…” He glanced around again, then held her with a stare that demanded he be trusted. And almost unwittingly, she did.
“Miss Young, if you would allow me, I should like to escort you home.”
Her cheeks scalded. She knew he asked not for his own gratification, but still his generosity made her glance down, heavy with reticence. “That is very kind of you, Captain. I didn’t see anyone on the road. And…and as my business here is…done…I will return immediately.”
“I insist.”
The charity in his unwavering stare seemed somehow to make her spirit incline to trust far deeper than she would have done on her own.
She lowered her lashes. “I will accept, gladly. Thank you.”
“Higley.”
A call from behind turned them both.
“What is it?” Higley didn’t care to hide the irritation in his tone. “Abrams, I’m—”
“Major Pitman wishes to see you.”
By the crouch of his brow and flex of his jaw, Hannah knew his thoughts as well as if he’d voiced them. He glanced to her, the heavy frustration replaced by strict kindness. “It seems I cannot accompany you as I’d wished. Walk swiftly. Do not stop. And do not come to town alone again, I pray you.”
The concern in his expression made her stomach twitch. What did he know that she didn’t?
“Of course.”
She glanced to the road again, praying hope against hope that Joseph would ride into view. She slid a forced smile to Higley, who bowed and started down the road toward his companion.
Abrams spoke something to him as Hannah faced the way she’d come, battling the irksome knowledge she’d failed to accomplish the very thing she’d set out to do. She looked down at the muddy ice, her legs so weighted she could hardly get them to comply with her command to move.
Peering behind, she saw Higley speaking with two others, when another man came out of a large building, speaking as loud with his motions as he did with his mouth.
Kicking her legs into action, she hurried down the road, the missive at her chest chiding her like a scorned mother. She should have kept going—and perhaps would have if not for Higley. The moment she thought to question his admonition, his sincerity cut through, and she sighed a long, audible breath.
At least another half hour of walking, and for what purpose? And what was more, this extended solitude allowed her mind to toy with thoughts she would rather evade. But silence had its way of imposing on the soul the very thing one wished to avoid. Joseph’s smile, his strength—both of body and heart—his sincerity and warm tenderness caressed her imagination.
He hadn’t meant to touch her, surely. He was only acting in simple and natural affection as any person would do.
Affection.
Her mouth went dry at the thought. He didn’t still care for her. Her feet slowed. But what if he did? Then she stopped completely. Dear Lord, what if he did?
