The tent flapped open, and Slade entered.
“I didn’t know this was your tent.”
Slade eyed him, then shrugged. “I stay here when I’m at camp. Collin’s boys stayed up the mountain tonight, so it’s just the two of us.”
Even though he had no problem with the other man and would be working with him to find his pa’s silver, something about the way Slade looked at him didn’t sit right.
“I’m just finishing my Bible reading, so if you’ll give me a minute to put the books away, I can turn the lamp out.”
Slade gave another shrug. “Doesn’t make any difference to me. I’ve learned to sleep where I can.”
He laid out his bedroll and made motions of getting ready for bed, but Joseph could feel the other man watching him.
Joseph turned down the lamp and settled in to sleep.
“What’s your plan for tomorrow?” Slade’s voice broke into the darkness.
“I’m at your mercy. I think going to the site we were talking about earlier today makes a lot of sense.”
Slade grunted. “Be ready to ride at first light.”
The man’s snores soon filled the tent, and Joseph wished he could have the same ease. But every time he closed his eyes, he remembered the look in Annabelle’s eyes as she talked about the heartbreak she’d endured. He understood that pain. If it weren’t for their already awkward situation, they could have comforted each other. But they’d crossed too many lines, and Joseph couldn’t afford to get any more emotionally involved with Annabelle.
He tucked the blanket tighter around him. He wasn’t supposed to care. Didn’t care. Fine, did. Now he was getting to be as bad as Annabelle. Only in this instance, the worst of his lies were the ones he told himself. No, they weren’t lies. Just the uncomfortable results of the reality he found himself in. Here, in the dark of night, in the presence of the Lord, he could admit that he might be falling for Annabelle.
Please, Lord, if it’s not too much to ask, could You also help me get over my feelings for Annabelle? They’re entirely inappropriate, and I want to behave honorably toward her.
Chapter Sixteen
When Annabelle woke, her foot wasn’t throbbing as badly. The swelling had gone down. At least she’d be able to do some work today and not be a burden. She shifted the two little girls sleeping almost on top of her, curled together like kittens, noting that Polly was nowhere to be seen. She sighed and struggled to put on her boots. Thankfully Gertie had lent her a more practical pair of shoes. If Polly was already up and working, Annabelle would be scolded for remaining abed.
Her ankle was tender as she stepped on it, but she’d manage. The fire hadn’t yet been stirred up. Annabelle grabbed a poker and began stirring the ashes, exposing the red-hot coals. She then added a few pieces of the wood. The fire sprang to life almost immediately.
Remembering where Gertie kept the coffeepot, she pulled it out and began taking the steps to prepare the coffee.
The calm, quiet air felt more peaceful than what Annabelle had ever felt inside the mining camp. Mixed in with the smoky fire, she caught a hint of the pine from the remaining trees. They would soon be taken for the mining operations, she was sure. For now, though, she could watch the soft pink stripes of dawn crest the mountain, highlighting the majestic pines around them. Absolutely amazing.
In such a moment, it was almost easy to believe in God. No, that was not right. She had never stopped believing. God was still there. Still painting the sky as He directed the sun over the mountain like He did every morning. Her mother used to quote the Bible at these times—“This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice in it.”
Annabelle’s heart gave a flutter. In this moment, in the perfectly wonderful sunrise, her heart could rejoice at the magnificence of the Lord’s creation.
It didn’t mean that anything changed in their relationship, and certainly offered no proof of any affection the Lord might hold for her. But still she could enjoy the work of His hands.
She brushed off her skirts and looked for a bucket to get some water from the creek. As she stood, she realized that in that memory of her mother, the pang in her heart wasn’t the crippling grief it had been all these months.
“Good morning!” Gertie’s greeting made her jump. “I see you’ve already begun making the breakfast preparations.”
“Just the fire. I was going to start the coffee, but I realized that there’s no water, so I need to go to the creek.”
Gertie held up a bucket. “No need. But we are low on wood. If your ankle is feeling up to it, you could gather some.”
“Of course.” Annabelle gave a small smile. “It doesn’t appear to be troubling me overmuch.”
She started for the woodpile, grateful that Gertie had given her something to do other than remain idle. As she got closer, her ankle began to throb. She’d tough it out.
“Annabelle!”
She spied Joseph coming from the other direction and sighed. Everyone else would accept her “I’m fine,” but Joseph would probably see through it.
“Good morning.” She didn’t bother trying to smile, since with him it was a wasted effort.
“What are you doing? Your foot—”
“Is feeling much better, thanks. Gertie needed more wood.”
He let out a long sigh, the kind that meant she had yet again managed to exasperate him. Well, that was fine by her, since he’d made his feelings for her clear last night. It didn’t matter to her one bit what he thought of her.
“Why don’t I help?”
“If you like.” She shrugged. “Aren’t you supposed to be heading out to look at your father’s other properties?”
“Slade was gone when I woke.”
“I’m sure he’ll be back soon. Someone probably needed his help, and being Slade, he went to do it.”
He looked at her solemnly. Studying her. “You know
