AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She bit her lip. “If that’s true, then it can’t be in the water. He has no river along his land.”
He frowned. “That’s true, but the river spilled over and ended up in places it’s never been before.”
She wouldn’t question his reasoning, but the grass or dirt seemed a more likely suspect than the water. Especially water that flowed. If it were stagnant, then she could see some foreign plant taking root, but how could anything grow in a moving river? “I’ll leave that puzzle for you to solve.” She lifted her hands from the pommel and Blaze immediately raised his head, ready to go.
Before she could press her heels to his flanks, Kent reached out and gave Blaze’s haunch a slap to get him moving. Blaze whipped his head away from what wasn’t much more than a pat and leapt into action. The river passed in two great jumps, soaking her skirts halfway up her legs.
At least the chill cooled her heated thoughts. She held in a giggle as she raced back home. Only a few hours of work until she could see Kent again. Just like when she’d first been drawn to him, before he’d changed, she would count the hours until she got to see him. She’d have to thank Hannah for the excuse the next time they met.
Chapter8
With sleepy motions, Alice spooned the last bite of oatmeal to her mouth. She’d stayed in the barn far too late with Colby the night before, and every night for the past five, not only to help him but to see Kent. Unfortunately, Colby wasn’t improving.
Hastening to put her bowl in the washtub for Mrs. Eliza, she grabbed the warm milk in the bottle she’d prepared and headed to the barn before either of her brothers. She’d returned to helping them, but that meant, if she wanted to see Kent and help Colby, she had to be up and moving before either of them. She was also staying up later and the lack of sleep played tricks on her mind.
In fact, she was sure she imagined someone in the barn before her, sitting there in the shadows. She stepped a few more paces into the dim light of the barn just as the rooster crowed, scaring her so greatly she almost tossed the bottle into the hay.
A deep laugh rumbled from the end of the barn where Colby’s blankets lay. Could Kent be there already? She hurled herself forward, desperate to see. A lantern light flickered to life and Kent’s form came into relief. She sucked in a breath at the sight of his bared arms, his sleeves rolled up to the elbow.
Though it shouldn’t, the sight reminded her of when she’d come upon him at the river days before. The vision hadn’t been far from her thoughts since. Despite how she’d assumed they were getting closer to each other after that day, he’d returned to his gruff, almost clinical, way.
“Good morning,” she offered, hoping it was going to be such a day.
He lowered himself back to the hay and continued looking at the weak pup, ignoring her greeting. She waited for him to finish, but she would have to hurry if she meant to feed the animal before Leo and Gideon emerged from the house. With the crow of the rooster, her time was running out.
“He’s gaining weight, but not strength.” The muscles in Kent’s arms flexed as he tugged and moved little Colby’s form.
“I’ve been doing all you asked of me.” She knelt near the puppy and held out the bottle. The dog slunk over, whining softly for the bottle, then latched on as if his tiny life depended on it and suckled hungrily.
“Does he ever require more than one bottle? If he still seems hungry, do you give it to him?” Kent asked, focusing on the dog, not her.
“He usually falls right to sleep as he finishes. He’ll drink it dry, try a few more times to get something from the bottle, then sleep overtakes him. I don’t think he’d be awake long enough for me to go prepare another.” The question felt a little like blame. She’d done what he had asked of her. More if she counted the time during Colby’s midday feedings when she lavished him with petting as he ate. The dog would be useless now as anything but a beloved pet, but at least he was alive.
Kent pursed his lips. “When Hannah wants him back, return him. He may simply be lonely for her. She was the mother who took over when he was removed from his own. He may not understand that he’ll be returning to her. That is merely a guess, mind you.”
With as much as her own heart hurt at losing Kent, she could imagine the puppy’s pain. Alice ate and drank, going on with life, that was certain, but some of the joy was gone. “As soon as she requests him, I’ll bring him back.”
“You did your best. You did everything I told you to do. Sometimes, despite the best care, animals don’t improve. There’s something wrong besides the physical body. I’m sorry.”
Her stomach fluttered as he leaned back, then stood. She couldn’t continue this way. Every thought during her day had been framed around Kent. She woke early enough to see him. She stayed up late to see him. Everything she did during the day was by memory, so she could think about her stolen minutes with Kent.
And with the puppy going home, those moments would be gone. She should be happy. Without Kent, she could return to her life as it had been before he returned, since he obviously had no intention of becoming interested in her again. Nothing he’d done told her otherwise.
In fact, when she’d thought he felt something because his eyes had blazed at her with such heat, he’d slapped her horse, sending her away as quickly as possible.
He wanted her gone. He wanted the dog gone, so he didn’t have to see her anymore. And the realization froze her to the very core. Her slow and steady wooing hadn’t worked. She swallowed hard and prayed for a heart as hard and strong as the muscles in Kent’s arms. A heart so hard she wouldn’t cry when he didn’t call on her. A heart so hard she wouldn’t care anymore.
Colby finished his bottle in one last gulp. He sighed and his neck went slack as he fell asleep. She stood, ignoring Kent where he was a few feet away, and she rushed from the barn without a second glance. Escape was her only recourse.
Footfalls behind her made her pick up her pace. She couldn’t talk to him or she’d reveal her heart. How could he be so strong that his heart was unaffected? How could he come twice daily to see her and feel nothing? Maybe he really had only come to see the puppy. Tears stung her eyes, then chilled her as they traced down her cheeks.
She swiped them away, then clutched her skirts, picking up the pace until she almost ran. A few steps later, a strong hand gripped her arm and stopped her escape. Kent tugged her around to face him and her tears came in earnest at the hurt in his eyes.
Yet, it had changed to surprise in the moment before he took her into his arms and pulled her to his chest. “Alice? What’s the matter? Is it the puppy? You did all you could. You did a wonderful job.” He stroked her back, making her shudder all the more. Didn’t he feel her love for him? She’d been trying to show him, but he still didn’t care?
The puppy was a ready excuse for her behavior. Why should she risk humiliation knowing he didn’t return her feelings? She simply wouldn’t admit to having them. “I’ll return the dog straightaway. You won’t be needed here further.” Blast the tightness in her voice as she tried to pull away. “I’ve done all I can.”
With great effort, she forced herself to put distance between her and his embrace. His hold relaxed, but he didn’t release her. He held onto her just below the shoulders until it forced her to look up at him. He seemed to have no intention of releasing her otherwise.
