The Fire in Ember - DiAnn Mills [30]
She nodded. “I never meant to bring trouble on your family.”
He studied her, and she longed to press him for his thoughts. “I don’t imagine you’d ever want to see anyone hurt.”
His words warmed her, as though she might be a good person. “Thank you. I’ve never been happier since I came here.”
“Even with all the work?” His eyes sparkled.
“It’s not work at all when you’re with folks you care about. But John, I can leave anytime if you’re fretting about your family.”
His face etched with something she couldn’t read. “I don’t want you to leave.” He paused. “I don’t know why.”
Silence filled the air, and she wasn’t sure how to respond.
“I think you’ve got enough peas there,” he said. “Let me take the basket.”
She held it out to him, and their fingers brushed ever so lightly, and for the first time in her life, she didn’t flinch at the touch of a man.
CHAPTER 13
Storms blew across the 5T Ranch Saturday night. Each time Bert considered sneaking out of bed and taking out into the darkness, a flash of lightning and a roar of thunder shook the house, and another storm stampeded in. The streaks and crashes grew closer together until they followed each other without giving her a moment to breathe. Bert remembered the times her brothers had locked her outside their crude cabin during a storm. They’d laughed while she tried to be brave.
The old emptiness crept unbidden into her, a narrowing dark hole that seemed to suffocate her. Here she’d felt safe with a real family until reality nipped at her heels. The idea of running had persisted with her all day and night, refusing to let her go. She longed to disappear into the night, not for herself, but for those who lived within these four walls. The storm’s insistent raging sounded like demons daring her to flee so they could throw bolts of lightning her way. The viciousness of nature gripped her attention. Oh, to not be afraid of so many things.
Bert didn’t want to leave the 5T for all the reasons that gave her comfort and a sense of belonging, but wanting and needing were two different sides of the coin. A part of her believed Simon would be glad she was gone, and another part believed he’d come after her simply because he could. She lay beside Leah in the early dawn trying to figure out if she should simply get up and take her chances or wait for it all to end.
“This will have to let up before we head to church,” Leah whispered.
Bert had waited too long to leave. Now she must live with her decision one more day. “Maybe it will end soon.”
“You and I both know that Colorado storms can last hours. We’ll have church here this morning.”
Bert had seen the result of storms too many times not to understand. Man and animals often fell prey to a death-bolt. “How will we do that?”
Leah turned over onto her side just as lightning lit up the room, followed by thunder so loud it pierced Bert’s eardrums. Rain splashed against the window and pummeled the roof. “We’ll pray, read God’s Word, talk about what He’s done for us, and have a little singing.” She laughed softly. “If you would consider playing the fiddle, we could sing hymns. Would you mind?”
Music, the gentle poultice of her heart. “Not at all—”
Davis burst into the room.
Leah rose up on one elbow. “I wondered how long it would take before you scrambled this way.”
He crawled into bed on Leah’s side. “John said I needed to grow up some, so I waited as long as I could.”
Leah combed her fingers through his corn-silk hair just as lightning made the room as clear as day. “I’ve noticed you’ve been spending more time with your brothers. I’m proud of you.”
“Yes ma’am. I’m going to be helping them bring in the cattle from the higher pastures in the fall.”
“You are?”
Bert heard the catch in Leah’s words.
“Yes, and I’ll spend the nights away from you. Will you be all right?”
Leah sighed. “I’ll try my best.”
The sound of voices from the kitchen made their way into the bedroom. Leah threw back the thin coverlet and stood. “John Parker Timmons, don’t you dare go out in this weather until the storm calms down.”
“Mama, Evan