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Lee’s eyes met hers in the darkness, another stab of awareness shot through him. “You were wise to run.”
“I know…” she whispered.
“We’ll make camp when we find some shelter for the night, then head for a town in the morning,” Lee said as though he needed them to understand his intentions.
They rode slowly for another five miles ‘til they came to a hull of a shed. There was no homestead left, but the shed would shelter them for the night. Lee pointed for them to go inside while he bedded his horse and looked about.
Satisfied they could at least last out the night here, he went inside. Sam lay close to Hattie asleep, huddled in a corner. Hattie was shivering but not asleep.
Lee took his blanket and wrapped it around her. As she looked at it, her mouth hung open.
“How come you bein’ so nice to us?” she asked, her face full of questions.
Lee dropped down beside her and pulled her gently against him. She was stiff and he knew she was scared; he hadn’t meant to frighten her, but suddenly realized. “I’m not gonna hurt you Hattie. I think you seen enough hurt for one day. There ain’t nothin’ to be scared of. I’ll take care of you as long as I can.”
“Why?” She turned her sad cow eyes up at him. “Why would you do that? You’re a white man.”
“‘Cause you need takin’ care of, that’s why.” He let go of her and almost turned away.
“But we’re black, you’re white, that don’t make no sense. You don’t care about us.” She huffed and blew a tendril of hair from her face.
“Who says?” Lee asked with a smile.
“My Pa, that’s who. Don’t go pretended you do neither. Why, if a white woman walked in here you’d be runnin’ away instead cuddlin’ us. You’d be ashamed for lookin’ at me like you just did.”
“And how did I look at you?” he almost laughed.
“Like a man looks at a woman, that’s how.”
Lee frowned now. Putting to words what he was feelin’ sure didn’t help matters. “I’m not cuddlin’ you. And I wasn’t lookin’ at ya. Just didn’t expect anyone else to come out of those bushes, that’s all. I wouldn’t run away from you. You’re no different than a white woman, ‘cept you aren’t a woman fully grown yet.”
“Don’t you lie.” She shook the blanket from her shoulders and turned, so she was very close to him. “If I was a white woman you would kiss me…or somethin’.”
“So…maybe I would and maybe I wouldn’t.” Lee felt himself heat up and didn’t quite understand why.
He’d never met such a provocative kid in his life and he wasn’t at all sure how he should handle it. On one hand, he wanted to turn her over his knee and spank her, and on the other…he was intrigued.
“You wouldn’t kiss a Negro girl…” she challenged, leaning closer.
“Is that a challenge?” He frowned and came very close to her pretty face.
“No,” she turned away. “It’s the truth…”
He reached and pulled her chin around, studying her face. Damn, she was pretty and feisty as all get out. But he tempered himself and smiled into her face.
“You ever been kissed before?” he asked stirred by the implication.
“Once…by a cousin.”
“Ever been kissed by a white boy before?” he asked, his voice growing husky.
“‘Course not…” she swallowed.
“Then close your eyes, ‘cause I’m gonna kiss you.” Lee pulled her closer, wanting and needing to put his lips to hers.
Her eyes widened. “Is that all you’re gonna do?”
He frowned. “That’s all I’m gonna do.”
