A Trail So Lonesome by Lacy Williams

Author:Lacy Williams [Williams, Lacy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lacy Williams Books LLC

Thirteen

The next evening, Evangeline sat with her father near the wagon, helping him eat his supper.

She lifted the spoon toward his mouth, saw his frown, saw in his eyes how much he disliked this.

He lifted his arm to intercept her hand, but the movement must’ve pulled his ribs because he hissed in a breath.

He dropped his hand to his side. She tipped the spoonful of broth into his mouth.

She looked away, not really seeing the camp around them but knowing her father well enough to know he wouldn’t want her to see his pain.

She’d been grateful that his fever had gone down sometime during the day, while Leo had been driving the wagon. Father had felt well enough to ask Leo to help him go for a walk.

She’d felt something shift and soften inside her as she’d watched Leo lead her father away with one hand around his back to steady him.

Leo was…

She didn’t know what he was, but he certainly made her feel things she didn’t want to feel. Like yesterday on the banks of that winding creek, when they’d been standing too close together. His eyes had fallen to her lips and she’d felt a visceral pull inside.

She’d wanted his kiss.

What a disaster.

She couldn’t trust herself.

The last person she’d kissed had been Jeremy. And he’d betrayed her. She didn’t want to be drawn to Leo. Didn’t want to want anyone, ever again.

She’d still been so discomfited by the near-kiss from yesterday that when Hollis had called a halt for the day, she’d gone straight to work.

She’d stripped Father’s makeshift bed in the wagon and quickly washed out the sweat-soiled blankets in the creek.

When she’d returned to camp, she’d found that Leo had rigged her father a seat against the side of the wagon using a couple of crates lashed together. Father could rest his back—and his ribs—against the wagon. He’d been quiet, with white lines of pain bracketing his mouth, but he hadn’t asked to lie down as she’d hung the blankets to dry as best she could.

Leo had made all of it possible.

As if her thoughts had conjured him, Leo appeared from around his family’s wagon. Sara trailed him, both of them carrying an armload of wood. Sara’s was noticeably smaller, but she glanced up at the man with pride shining on her face.

He made sure she didn’t get too close to Alice’s cookfire as they stacked the wood. He glanced in Evangeline’s direction. She quickly averted her gaze.

“He’s a good sort,” Father mumbled the words just before she raised the spoon to his lips again.

Evangeline made a non-committal hum.

“Good with Sara,” Father said after he’d swallowed.

There was no denying that. When Evangeline had refused Leo’s help putting up the tent, Sara had followed him around the campsite, chattering the entire time.

He was patient with her. Maybe more patient than Evangeline after a long day of walking.

Father ate another couple of bites in silence while Evangeline ignored Leo completely.

“You don’t like him?” Father finally asked. Thank goodness his words were pitched low enough that Leo wouldn’t overhear.

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