Noah reached across and held her hand. “For the tenth time – it was not your fault. It wasn’t anyone’s fault. Deer run across roads. They spook horses.” His thumb stroking her palm was very reassuring and comforting. “It was nobody’s fault. Nelly is fine except for a few little cuts, the buggy is already fixed, and you,” He scratched his ear. “You will be fine in a couple of weeks as well.”
She groaned. “I can’t wait a couple of weeks.” She tried to get up, but Noah held her back.
The more she tried, the closer he got, until they were almost face to face. He stared into her eyes. “You have to rest,” he said quietly, and she nodded.
Mary’s heart fluttered. He’d only ever been this close to her once before, and that was when he quickly kissed her for Seth’s benefit. She stared into his eyes – they seemed to speak to her.
She lifted her hand and covered his cheek. Her hand shook and she swallowed back the emotion that surfaced. Noah had saved her life. If it wasn’t for him, she wouldn’t be here right now. Perhaps he did feel something for her. What that was, she had no idea.
He reached up and his hand covered hers, then he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. A shudder went through her. Noah moved closer until their lips almost touched, and the breath caught in her throat.
She breathed in his fragrance, and reveled in his touch. He let go of her hand, and his arms slipped around her. Finally, Noah kissed her.
“Hello!”
“Damn it,” Noah said under his breath. “Great timing,” he said out loud to his brother.
Seth grinned. “Did I interrupt?” He winked at Mary. She felt the heat creep up her face at the embarrassment of it all.
“Mary hasn’t had a chance to do the list yet.”
Seth grinned again. “I can see that.” He slapped Noah on the back. It was like there was some secret bond between them that Mary didn’t understand.
“Can you do it, Noah,” she asked hesitantly, and he studied her. He wrote down her requirements and he handed the list to his brother. “I was going to get some vegetable plants, but they can wait. It’s not like I can do much now anyway.” She stared down into her lap. All her plans had gone awry, and there wasn’t a thing she could do about it.
“Tell me what you want and I’ll see what I can find.”
Mary explained what she wanted and Seth wrote it all down. “It would be nice to have fresh vegetables again,” he said half joking.
Noah walked him out to the door, and if she didn’t know better, Mary would have sworn he whispered something to his brother.
“Thanks Seth,” he called as the buggy pulled away.
Noah snatched up his coffee and sat next to Mary again. He handed her the paper and pencil once more. “If you write down your recipe,” he said, studying her. “I can make supper when Seth gets back.”
Mary’s heart thudded. He’d guessed. The last thing she wanted was for her husband to think she was even more of a fool than he already did.
“You know I can’t,” she said, staring down into her lap.
“Why didn’t you tell me? It’s not a crime. I could have helped you.” He reached out and took her hand, bringing it close to his chest. She could feel his heart beating, and it soothed her.
She lifted her head to stare at him, and tears rolled down her cheeks. He wiped them away.
“Pa wouldn’t let me attend school after Ma died,” she said quietly. “I’d attend so few times before that…” Her voice broke and Mary couldn’t continue. She turned her head, the shame of it eating at her.
“Mary,” he said, his voice full of compassion.
She turned back to face him. “You guessed right,” she said defiantly. “I can’t read or write.”
He gazed into her face for the longest of moments, then leaned in and kissed her gently. “I don’t care about that,” he said, cupping her face. “All I care about is that you are here with me. I can teach you, if that’s what you want.” He pulled her against him, and Mary reveled in their closeness, and in the bond they were finally beginning to share.
Chapter Seven
After handing her the bouquet of flowers he’d asked Seth to get for him, Noah made supper. It was only a small gesture, he’d told her, but to Mary it was huge. No one had ever bought flowers for her before. Never done anything nice for her. He really had no idea what it meant to her.
The gesture warmed her heart.
Supper wasn’t quite the disaster she’d expected but it wasn’t perfect either.
Mary insisted on peeling and dicing potatoes to go with the bacon, sausages, and eggs Noah was cooking. Just as well too as the eggs were rock hard, and the bacon burned to a crisp. Only the sausages survived. There was left over apple pie, which was a good thing as otherwise he would go hungry.
That wasn’t really true. Since Seth had arrived home with all her requirements, there was plenty in the house to eat. As a thank you, she’d invited him and Jacob over for a meal one night, but not until her ankle was healed.
“I like your cooking far better,” Noah told her.
She flashed him a shy smile. “I do too.” He grinned at her and Mary let out the breath she’d been
