Pinecraft Refuge by Lenora Worth

Author:Lenora Worth
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2023-01-03T15:02:21+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Eva tried to keep up with Becky, but the little girl was swift on her feet. They followed the walking trail near the gurgling creek, which looked more like a river, as it meandered through the woods toward the big bay.

Tanner talked to Jasper and Teresa but kept his eyes on his daughter. He hurried toward Eva but called out for Becky to slow down. Eva couldn’t decide if he wanted to walk with her, or if he held back for propriety’s sake. There could be talk, of course. But they were friends, and she did work for him.

Eva studied her surroundings, rather than the man who’d made his way into her life. This was a beautiful place, so peaceful and tropical. But her nerves jingled and purred, just being near Tanner. She had to get herself together. She’d had boys as friends, but Mamm always found something wrong with them and kept her at home. Telling herself she shouldn’t fall for the first real man she’d ever been around, Eva decided being Tanner’s friend was for the best. Just a friend and helper for Becky. She’d pour all her feelings into her work and Becky’s care. Then she’d leave a piece of her heart here when she returned home.

Eva concentrated on her surroundings and waved to several people on kayaks—little boats that reminded her of canoes—but these were very colorful and not made of wood. More of a hard plastic. She wasn’t sure she’d enjoy that kind of ride in such a wild place. The creek beside them grew shadowy at times, thanks to the old oaks covered with gray moss hovering over the water. The area was both beautiful and mysterious, with moments of darkness and light.

Kind of like the man walking beside her, his gaze on his little girl.

“Ospreys,” Tanner pointed out as two hawks flew through the trees and circled, searching for prey.

“Turtles,” Becky said, running toward the bridge. “They like to visit here in the sun.” The child began counting them. “Ten, Daed. I counted ten.”

Eva laughed as she watched a huge turtle slide off an old stump and disappear into the dark water near some interesting trees. “What are those?”

Tanner glanced to where she pointed. “Mangroves. They’re all over Florida, especially in the Everglades.”

Eva studied the strange trees mushrooming out with tiny green buds, their roots jutting out of the water like little hunched legs. “They looked all tangled to me.”

“They are,” Tanner explained. “Mosquitoes love them and so do fish and snakes. They help protect the coastlines when the big storms hit.”

“And the Everglades?” she asked, wanting to learn about this new world. “I’ve never heard of that place.”

Tanner explained about the massive protected wetland farther down the state. “It’s a brutal place, a swampy place, but it’s thousands of acres and holds a lot of interesting creatures.”

“The Everglades has big alligators,” Becky added, her arms stretched wide while she made a mean face. “And they have the biggest teeth ever.”

“I’ve never seen an alligator,” Eva admitted, pretending to be scared.

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