AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She crossed the river and climbed over the fence, then let Blaze return to the other side. “Odd that none of our horses have the sickness. Do yours?” If he had, she’d call her horse back.
“Now that you mention it, no.” He stopped, and she knelt on the ground next to him.
“What are you looking for?”
“Anything out of place. You know what plants are native. Anything you don’t recognize, point it out.”
He swished his hand through the water. Though it looked clear when she’d ridden through it, disturbing the water that close and that shallow showed things floating in it she’d never noticed before. “What are those?”
“I’m not sure. I may take a sample of the water to Dr. Spight and ask to look at it under his microscope, if he’ll allow me to use it.” He flicked the water from his fingertips and went back to hunting through the grass. “You’ve got illness there, as do I and the Oleson’s. That’s three families affected by the sickness. Two right next to the river, one that suffered from widespread and extensive flooding.”
“Everyone suffered from the flooding. No one escaped it. Years of too much rain.” Alice splayed her fingers, looking through the grasses. Nothing seemed out of place, but what if she missed something important? She’d never in her life looked deeply at all the little things growing right under her feet.
Bugs crawled around near her, a small spider scuttled out of reach. She picked through the dried, dead grass from the year before and the new blades as they pushed through the old. “Are we looking at what is dead, or what is alive?”
He stilled, and she felt his leg tense next to her own. “That is a good question. I’d been focusing on living plants, as those are what the cows would lean toward eating. But that’s not to say they wouldn’t crop some of the old, too.”
He leaned over to an area completely devoid of plants, where black dirt gathered heat in the sun. He dug a handful and let it sift through his fingers. “What if what we’re looking for is in the very soil? If so, I don’t know how I’d ever find it.”
Deep furrows covered his brow as he scanned the dirt and grass, hunting for something that could be so small the eye might never notice it. Her heart went out to him and his frustration. How terrible to have that burden?
“I’ll help you in any way I can.” Though she also had to help poor Colby. Hannah would be distraught if the puppy didn’t make it.
“You will? Why?” He stopped, taking a moment to look at her.
His gaze roamed her face, warming her cheeks and she wanted him to turn his attention to her more, not just when she went out of her way to help him, but always. She wished he’d been as dedicated to their love as he was to helping animals. But maybe if that became important to her, too, they could at least share that in common.
“Because it matters. My family’s flock is in danger, just as your herd is. If we don’t find the cause, both our families could lose everything.”
He nodded, pushing to his feet. He brushed his hands off against his trouser legs, then held out his hand to help her up. The moment she touched him, she didn’t want to let go. The pull to stay there next to him was so strong it could only be some strange magnetism.
“I should get back and help find the dog if she hasn’t returned to be fed yet.”
He laughed, still holding her hand as though he couldn’t release it. She wasn’t about to remind him of that fact. “It’s strange how much nourishment can motivate animals.” He met her gaze and his blue eyes popped with energy. “Of all kinds.”
Her breath lodged in her lungs. Did he feel the same pull? Did he crave the nourishment of being together as she did? She’d been so foolish to try to run him off and blame him for everything. Yet, that anger was natural. Justified even. Too bad her heart wanted none of it. Only Kent.
If she allowed him to keep looking at her like that, she would haul up on her tiptoes and kiss the anger right out of him. She’d thought about kissing him so many times. Actually doing it couldn’t be that difficult.
The moment the thought hit her, she could think of nothing else but fear held her back. He hadn’t covered his face today, but he had at every meeting before now. If she was so bold as to kiss him, he might never uncover his face to her again.
Slow and steady. That’s how she’d gain his trust. She closed her eyes, breaking the fierce hold he had over her, and stepped back. He released her hand, and a chill swept over her the moment his touch was gone.
He whistled softly, and Blaze trotted up as if he knew Kent. Water splashed as the horse crossed the river. “You should go. I’ll see you later when I come to check on Colby.” The statement wasn’t a question. It was practically a challenge.
“I’ll be there.” When had she ever sounded so breathless?
He nodded and swallowed so hard his Adam’s apple bobbed. She headed for the fence to climb to the top rail and mount from there so Blaze wouldn’t have to cross over the fence. In a heartbeat, Kent was behind her, his hands on her waist, guiding her over the rail and onto the horse.
She could’ve made the climb all on her own, had at least a hundred times between her youth and that day, but she wouldn’t tell him that. Let him help her. Let the sweet, rolling fissures of pleasure take over her whole body and deepen the hold forming over her.
Taking hold of the reins, she also took a deep breath. “I’ll be there,” she repeated, not even sure she’d answered him the first time.
What if he left her again? Armstrong’s need for help with his father was the reason Kent had returned, but if his father got well or if he died, Kent wouldn’t be needed there anymore. Would he push her aside again and walk away?
She reached for his hand, then stalled, wrapping the rein around her fingers instead. “Will you go to town today to test the soil and water?”
He leaned against the railing, so close to her. “If I can find a way to get good samples, yes. If I can’t, there’s no sense in wasting his time. I must go back to the Oleson ranch and check on his cattle. He noticed it first, so we’ll see the progression there faster than here.”
