He ran back upstairs and pulled one of the blankets from the shelf in his room and carried it outside, careful to shield it from the sporadic flakes of snow, the persistency of which, threatened more.
When he reached the covered surrey, he handed the blanket up to a surprised Hannah. She smiled, a view worth every extra wince of pain he’d experienced. She looked beautiful with her damp hair framing her face and her cheeks pink from the cold.
“How could you tell?” she asked, opening the blanket and pulling it up to her chin. “I thought Daddy’s coat would be enough, but this is perfect. Thank you.”
As he contemplated how he was going to get himself up into the carriage, Eli realized just how difficult it would have been to mount a horse with his shoulder in a sling. He stepped up onto the metal rung at the foot of the buggy, then grabbed the cross bar and used it for leverage to swing up onto the leather seat next to Hannah.
His movement rocked the carriage. Heat rose in his neck, but he couldn’t help but smile when a giggle escaped Hannah’s lips.
Brant came out of the stable and climbed in the back seat.
“I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done today, Hannah,” he said. “I don’t know what I would have done had you not come along. I swear, all of you Redbournes have a sixth sense about you.”
“I prefer to call it inspiration,” Hannah said with a smile.
Stone Creek was full of folks loading their wagons with stuffs from the mercantile. Eli guessed that no one had expected such an early winter. Not that one snowfall signified the onset of winter. He’d once spent a month clearing woods in the mountains of the Utah Territory. The first two days had seen a snowfall very similar to this, then for two and half weeks they’d experienced near summer temperatures before finally cooling down enough to storm again.
“Do you think the stage has arrived yet?”
Eli glanced around for any sign of newcomers to the town, but there were too many faces he didn’t recognize to be able to weigh in on the question.
“Let’s go ask Mrs. Day,” Hannah said, nicely folding her blanket and tucking it into the bench under the front seat.
Eli stepped off the carriage and turned back to help her down. The sleeve of her large, brown coat kept falling over her hand until, finally, she shoved both sleeves up to her elbows then placed her hand in his.
“It’s my father’s,” she said, the coloring deepening in her cheeks. “I guess it’s a little too big for me.”
“I think it’s adorable.” He helped her down to the ground, but when her foot slipped on the now frosted street, he threw her hand up to free his own and reached out, his right arm slipping from the sling in an attempt to catch her before she fell.
Ouch.
He clenched his jaw against the pain as he slowly pulled her back up into a standing position, her proximity to him intoxicating.
She bit her lip, which was almost his undoing.
“Thank you,” she swallowed, “Eli.”
There was something about the way she said his name that made him feel quite warm in the cool afternoon air. Once assured that she had gained her footing, he took two steps back, afraid he couldn’t trust himself not to kiss her right here in front of the whole town.
She’s getting married, he reminded himself. Run away. Right now. But as much as his brain warned him, his body just would not respond.
“I don’t think I’m supposed to do that,” he said aloud, holding up the empty sling.
She shook her head and took a step toward him, her hand extended.
He nearly faltered as he slid backward, away from her. He could not allow her to get that close to him again.
“Let me help you,” she said, turning her head slightly and eying him with suspicion.
He took another step back.
“Are you all right?” she asked.
As he was searching for some excuse, he caught glimpse of the sheriff walking toward the jailhouse.
“Sheriff,” he said, pointing at the man.
Hannah looked back.
“I’ve got to go speak with him. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” He strode away, leaving her standing alone in front of the livery.
That certainly was not your best moment, Whittaker.
“Sheriff,” he called out when he was close enough that he thought the man would hear.
Sure enough, he turned to look at him, but did not stop his retreat indoors. He waved Eli to follow him inside the office.
“Now, what can I do for you, son?” he said, squinting at Eli before hanging his hat on a hook and sitting down behind his desk. “You’re that fella staying with the Redbournes, aren’t ya?”
“Yes, sir, I am.”
“Don’t tell me you hurt your arm with those competitions at the jubilee. I thought you were doing quite well.”
“No, sir. There was a bit of a mishap this morning with a little girl falling out of a tree, and...”
The sheriff picked something out of his teeth, then leaned back against his chair.
“Doesn’t really matter, sir. I’m fine. However, not everyone has been so lucky.”
Within just a few minutes Eli had explained everything.
The portly man shook his head.
“It’s hard to see bad things happening in a good town,” he said, standing up to retrieve his hat. “I was hoping to stay out of the weather, but it appears that we’ve got some work to do.”
The sheriff strode from the office and headed across the street toward the saloon.
A melodic drumming of horses’ hooves against the ground drew Eli’s attention to the stage coming in from the far end of town.
Hannah and Brant both rushed from the mercantile and stood on the boardwalk waiting for Mrs. Stillwell to arrive.
He leaned against the wooden column, crossing his feet, folding his arms, and smiling as he watched the way Hannah fiddled with the too-long sleeves of her father’s jacket, rocking back and forth with obvious anticipation.
The snow finally stopped falling, but the clouds looked a little too ominous to believe they’d seen the last of the poor weather.
As soon as the coach stopped, Brant threw open the door and held out a hand for his wife as she gingerly climbed out. He pulled her into his arms and Eli looked over at Hannah, who’d spotted him watching them. She smiled and raised a hand in greeting.
How could one woman stir such a reaction in him?
He pushed away from the post and quickly crossed the street to join the others and arrived just in time for Hannah to throw her arms around her friend.
“Maeve,” she said when they pulled apart, “this is Eli Whittaker. He’s visiting my family for the week along with my cousin, Jonah.”
Eli shook the woman’s hand. “Welcome home. I know Hannah’s missed you.” He looked over at her and winked.
“He’s not wrong,” she said, squeezing Maeve gently once more. “I have so much to tell you.”
Eli chuckled at the way Hannah’s excitement gave a glow-like sheen to her cheeks. Though, he did notice that her friend seemed a little tired from her trip and, while she tried to share in Hannah’s enthusiasm, didn’t appear to have the same amount of energy and he wondered if maybe she wasn’t feeling quite well.
“I will also be your driver on this fine, snowy afternoon.” Eli bent forward in a half bow. “I’ll just go collect the surrey while you all gather Mrs. Stillwell’s things.” He nodded curtly, then strode over to the livery where the hitched carriage awaited.
By the time they had loaded the travelling cases, and everyone was situated, the sky had turned even darker than before, and small droplets of rain began to fall. Eli slipped his arm out of his sling and pulled it over his head with his good hand, then took hold of the reins. As long as he didn’t raise his arm too high, the pain seemed to stay at a minimum.
As they traversed the newly muddied road, the tapping sound on the carriage rooftop above them grew with intensity as the wind began to swirl
around them, making it difficult for Eli to keep his eyes open. He raised the collar on his jacket and pulled his hat down lower on his head. Hannah slid closer to him on the seat, entwining her arm in his.
Eli glanced to the backseat where Brant had wrapped his wife in a blanket as they huddled together against the growing cold of the storm. Not long after they passed the gate leading them to Redbourne Ranch, Hannah raised her head and drew closer to him.
“Their house is...bridge...mile or so,” she spoke in broken sentences as the wind stole her words.
He figured she’d let him know when it was time to turn, so he just continued to drive forward.
Slowly.
As they approached the river, two posts were the only markers left of what had likely been the bridge Hannah had mentioned. Eli pulled the carriage to a stop.
“What happened to it?” she asked, more to herself than to him.
Eli got down out of the carriage, pulled his jacket up around him and walked to the edge. Splintered wood, along with several precise cuts, indicated that someone had purposely destroyed the bridge that would continue the road over the now rushing river and to the Stillwell’s home. He held up his hand and shrugged his shoulders, glancing down both directions of the creek before returning to the carriage to let her know they wouldn’t be able to pass. He pulled himself back up next to her, out of the rain.
“It looks like someone took an ax to that bridge,” he said. “And I don’t see any other places to cross. Come on, Redbourne,” he nudged her arm, “if I know you, you’ve got a way to get around this river.”
“Who would do that?” Maeve asked, her brows furrowed.
Brant placed his hand over hers and pulled her closer to him with the arm resting around her shoulders. “I don’t know.”
Hannah looked up at Eli, her eyes narrowed.
“We’ll find out after the storm clears,” she assured her friend. “Normally,” she said, nudging him back, “we could go the long way around through the orchard, but I don’t know if the surrey would make the trek on a clear day on the rough terrain, let alone in weather like this.” Hannah turned around in her seat to face her friends.
“Why don’t you both come stay at Redbourne Ranch for the next few days. I’m sure my dad and brothers can rebuild the bridge once the weather clears and you’d have people around to help you. Plus,” Hannah placed both her hands on the back of the seat, “I can introduce you to the most adorable little...” Hannah stopped mid-sentence, her smile faltering slightly, “little, um...” She looked over at him for help, but Eli had no idea why she’d stopped.
He leaned over and whispered. “Orphans,” he said, trying to help finish her sentence. “Children?”
Hannah shook her head at him, her eyes open wide with horror, but she turned back and smiled awkwardly at the Stillwells.
“...to the cutest little pup you ever did see.”
“You got a new puppy?” Maeve asked disbelievingly.
“No, silly. His name is Seamus.”
“Your sheep dog? What’s wrong with you, Hannah? I see that animal every time I come for a visit.”
“I think what she means to say,” Brant said, looking seriously at his wife, “is that there are two young orphans currently staying with the Redbournes.”
Hannah folded her lips together, then looked at Maeve apologetically.
What is wrong with that?
The woman placed a hand on Hannah’s.
“Thank you for trying to protect me, my dear friend, but it’ll be all right,” Maeve said. “God has a plan for us. We just don’t know what it is yet.”
Maeve and her husband looked at each other.
Brant was the first to speak.
“If you don’t think it would be too much trouble, I think we’d like to take you up on your kind offer, Hannah. Maeve needs to rest, and I think it would be good for her...for us...to be with friends right now. Besides, I can still go home and look after our place once the storm clears.”
Hannah nodded, squeezed Maeve’s hand with a little excited shrug, then faced forward with a satisfied, close-mouthed smile on her face.
Eli breathed an amused laugh. He did not understand what exactly had just happened, but he was glad it had all seemed to work out favorably.
“Redbourne Ranch it is,” he said, hoping there was enough room for them to turn around. Driving the carriage had proven to be a little painful, but it wasn’t as bad as he had originally anticipated. Hopefully, with a little movement, it would be back to normal in no time.
As they pulled into the ranch, two riders on horseback approached from the opposite position and neither of them looked very happy. Ethan held the stable door open, water pouring from the brim of his hat, and both Rafe and Raine rode right into the building and out of the weather before their brother closed the doors behind them.
A moment later, the barn doors were pushed open and Jonah stepped outside, hurriedly motioning Eli toward him. With a quick snap of the reins, he drove the horses and buggy right through the doors, amazed there was plenty of room to do so. Marty and Handy, the two ranch hands Eli actually knew, were standing aside, waiting for everyone to get out of the carriage.
He jumped down and held up a hand for Hannah. When she touched him, her fingers were like ice. He wrapped them in the warmth of his own, but as she placed a foot down onto the metal platform, her foot slipped against the rain-slickened step and she fell hard into Eli.
He caught her with his good arm, but couldn’t resist wrapping the other one around her to make sure she didn’t fall. He bit back the jolt of pain that accompanied the action, rationalizing that having her so close to him was worth every twinge.
“So, I first thought it a curse that I seem to stumble and fall so much when I am around you, but now, Eli Whittaker...,” she stood up on her tiptoes, her face so close to his that he could feel her breath on his cheek.
His eyes unwittingly trailed to her lips, knowing it would take little effort to bend down and claim them with his own.
“...I think it’s a sign...” she whispered with a smile as she looked up at him, her eyes alight from the lantern that now blazed on the work table, “...that I need to get a new pair of boots.” She ducked out of his arms with a giggle, and strode toward her cousin, glancing back over her shoulder.
Eli groaned inwardly and closed his eyes, his jaw clenching.
Why does she have to be so beautiful?
He looked over at her.
And smart. And kind. And...
Brant clapped him on the shoulder with a pity chuckle. “You’ve got your work cut out for you with that one.” He reached into the back of the carriage, picked up his wife, carrying her in his arms, and moved to join Hannah.
Jonah pushed open the barn doors once again to allow her and her friends to navigate the yard into the warmth and protection of the homestead.
“Have you told her?” Jonah asked as they stood beneath the alley door header and watched their retreat.
“She’s getting married, Jonah. What am I supposed to say? What am I supposed to do?”
“Do you love her?” he pressed.
“I don’t think I ever stopped,” Eli admitted, leaning against the frame of the door, his good arm just above his head.
“Then, do something about it.” Jonah placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed gently. “I have never known you to want for something that you didn’t fight for. Don’t stop now when the stakes include your happiness. And hers.”
Eli turned to look at him.
Jonah raised his brows. “Now, come on,” he said with a flick of his head. “Let’s get out of this blasted rain.” Just as he spoke, the slushy droplets turned to snow.
“Go!” Marty called over to them.
Eli looked back just as the man finished unhitching the horses from the carriage.
“I’ll get the doors.”
Handy had a hold of both horses’ reins and quickly led them past Eli and Jonah toward the stabl
es.
Jonah nodded, then pulled his jacket up around his ears as he ran out into the storm.
Eli mimicked the action as best he could and followed.
As they stepped inside of the house, the sweet scent of warm apples, mingled with the aroma of baking bread, wafted through the air to greet them.
Eli brushed his shoulders, stomping his boots on the entry mat to get rid of the mud and snow that had accumulated on the soles. He looked around the cozy, inviting room, his gaze stopping when he saw the woman he could not get out of his thoughts, waking or otherwise.
Hannah, still wrapped up in her father’s coat, sat at Rafe’s feet as the bounty hunter recounted to the family what had happened with the man who’d been lurking in the Stillwell’s home.
Jonah closed the door, and all eyes turned to them. Eli caught Hannah’s gaze and held it for a good long while before she dropped her lashes and looked away. She bit her lip, smiled, then slowly glanced back over her shoulder to look at him again.
“Come in,” Leah said, leaning forward and waving for him and Jonah to join them. “Come in,” she repeated.
With a nod and a smile of his own, Eli removed his soaked hat and placed it on one of the many hooks next to the door, then moved into the living area, the warmth of the fire taking the chill from him as he took a seat on the floor mere inches from Hannah.
Several lanterns, placed strategically around the room, lent an ambiance of togetherness to the room. Mr. and Mrs. Redbourne sat cuddled together on one end of the couch, while Ethan and his wife sat on the other, baby in one arm and his young son on his knee, snuggling back against him. The boy’s eyes slowly drooped, then snapped open again as he fought sleep. Raine leaned back in an overstuffed chair, his feet up and crossed on a low table next to Cole.
Hannah scooted over in front of the settee where a tired looking Maeve smiled softly as she began to braid her friend’s wet hair.
Eli breathed it all in, his insides filling with warmth.
This.
This is what I want.
Chapter 20
“It’s not your fault,” Raine said as he dropped his feet from the table and leaned forward in his chair. “Even the Pawnee would have had a hard time tracking a man in the middle of that storm. Especially, after he took out the bridge.”
The Lumberjack Page 19