took it. But when he held out one toward Belle, she shrank back. Red reached for it but Ward withdrew. He wanted Belle to trust him enough to take it from him. After all, he had provided the food. Besides, he was getting tired of being treated like one of the bad guys.
Belle’s fear was palpable, but so was her hunger. He offered her a towel. “It’s hot. Hold it with this.”
She snatched the towel, took another moment to consider the potato carefully, then, doing her best not to touch his hand, took it.
It was a start. Satisfied, he sat down with his own food. “I’ll say grace.”
He didn’t need to look at Red to feel her resistance. But Belle met his eyes steadily a moment before she bowed her head.
He prayed, and then they ate in silence. When he saw they’d cleaned their plate, he offered them another helping, which they didn’t refuse.
The evening deepened. Despite the warmth of the fire, he felt coolness moving in. “I need to do my chores.” Though likely Slim or Roper had seen to them by now.
Red sprang to her feet. “You go. We’ll be fine.”
Ward picked up his hat from beside him and slammed it on his head. “What’s your hurry?”
“I didn’t mean...”
“Don’t bother backpeddling. But if you don’t mind, I’ll see that you’re settled in the cabin and the fire is dowsed before I leave.” He grabbed the lamp and strode back to the cabin. He set the lamp on the tiny table.
Red slipped into the room. “Guess you can’t blame me for being leery. I want to make it on my own. Owe no man anything.”
“I could carve it in the log by the table so you don’t forget.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Lady, my stepfather made no secret that my presence set his teeth on edge. So I walked away from my family because I figured if I left they’d be better off. But I’ve never known if it was so or not. Instead I wonder. And I regret leaving. My only reason for helping you is to make up for leaving my family. It’s nothing to do with you. So don’t think I plan to take advantage of you. You mention it again and I will carve ‘I want nothing in return’ in that there log.” He slapped the chosen place.
“Well, fine then. Just so long as we understand each other.”
“I’m pretty sure we do. There’s the bedroom.” He pointed toward the door. “There’s the stove. I can light it now if you think it’s too chilly in here, though likely you would then roast like trussed chickens. There’s food in the cupboard. Not much. I’ll be back with more in the morning. The place is yours.”
He headed for the door, which was all of three steps away, and Red bolted out of his way. He stopped to give her a long, steady look.
She lowered her head and mumbled something that sounded vaguely like “thank you.”
He nodded briskly and stepped outside. “Call your sister. I’m going to put out the fire.”
At her call, Belle dashed past him to join Red.
He carried the dishes to the cabin and set them in a pot without any comment, then grabbed a shovel from the corner.
Smacking out the lingering flames and covering the embers with dirt allowed him take care of most of his frustration.
He wondered if rescuing this pair would in any way ease his guilt about having left his own family, or if he had bitten off more than he cared to chew.
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