If he wanted to pay attention to a lady, he should bother Rowena. She wanted a man.

Dusty leaned against Missy.

She scowled at the man, but he paid her no mind.

“Let me out,” Louise said, forcing Nate to stand so she could slip from the bench. She marched to the other side of the table and jammed her fists on her hips. “I’d like to sit beside my sister-in-law,” she announced, not caring that everyone stared at her.

Miss Rolfe nodded.

Louise accepted it as encouragement and tapped her foot.

Dusty ignored her.

Louise poked him on the shoulder. “Would you please move?”

He merely spared her a brief glance full of stubborn denial.

Nate took a step that brought him to Dusty’s side. “The lady asked you to move.” There was no mistaking the challenge in his words.

Slowly Dusty swiveled his head toward Nate. “Don’t seem like it’s any of your business.”

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Nate gave him a feral smile. “Considering she’s my wife, I think it’s completely my business.”

The two men stared at each other, the moment crackling with tension.

Then Dusty jerked to his feet. “Have it your way. After all, you’re guests of the company that pays my wages.” Each word dripped with resentment. He stomped to the stove and began banging pots and pans, making it impossible for the others to carry on a conversation.

Louise settled in beside Missy, and Nate sat back down.

“You don’t have to take care of me,” Missy said.

“I know.” Louise realized she hadn’t been giving Missy much thought for the past couple of days, occupied, as she was with her own concerns. From now on, though, she’d pay her more attention.

She lifted her gaze to Nate’s. He grinned widely. She couldn’t think what he found so amusing. Unless...

Did he think she’d sprung to Missy’s defense too readily?

Well, little he knew.

His smile fled and his eyebrows went up as if he’d read her thoughts. “It’s nice to see your concern for Missy,” he murmured, then got up and returned to the window.

She’d judged him wrongly. He wasn’t mocking her; he was complimenting her. What was the matter with her? He’d been nothing but kind and helpful on this journey. But something about the way he looked out the window put her nerves on edge. Somehow she knew—or thought she did—that he regretted having agreed to marry and accompany her. It had slowed him down.

She went to his side. “You’re worried about the storm, aren’t you?”

“We’re warm and safe for the night.”

“You don’t have to stay with us any longer. Missy and I can make the rest of the trip on our own.” She kept her voice low, though she doubted anyone could overhear her with Dusty’s racket.

“I hope you’re not suggesting I go out in this.” Nate didn’t take his eyes from the darkened window.

“Of course not, but when it’s safe to leave, don’t worry about me...us.”

“We might not be leaving anytime soon if this storm doesn’t let up.” His voice had deepened with what she took as disappointment or worry.

“I’m sorry.”

He shrugged. “You’re not responsible for the weather.”

Maybe not for the weather but the delay.

Short of apologizing again, there seemed nothing more to say and she returned to the bench.

Dusty set a pot in the middle of the table and added a stack of plates and spoons. “Dig in if you’re hungry.”

She was, but the stew had an unpleasant odor. The others ate as if it was okay, but after one mouthful, she couldn’t eat more.

The evening stretched before them. Louise took out her book and started to read, grateful Peace had lent both her and Nate a book. She sat at one side of Missy, Rowena on the other, making it impossible for Dusty to get close to her.

Nate sat at Louise’s other side, also reading, as were the others, except for Dusty, who prowled from one side of the narrow room to the other, muttering under his breath, making it hard to relax. Nate, she noticed, would turn one page and then watch Dusty go back and forth.

Louise inched closer to Nate, though they were already crowded on the narrow bench. If Dusty grew violent or even just belligerent, she wanted to be where she knew she would be protected—next to her husband.




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