* * *
Clint cared for the animals before he cooked dinner, allowing Amelia time to rest. Once everything was ready, he kneeled down beside her and touched her forehead. He was pleased that she felt cool. Her eyes fluttered open, and Clint smiled down at her. “Do you think you can eat something now?’
“It smells wonderful.” She made an effort to move to a sitting position, and Clint put his arm behind her back to lend his assistance. Once she was sitting, Clint reached for a blanket and wrapped it around her shoulder.
“How’s that?”
“Perfect. Thank you.”
Amelia’s face was mere inches from his and their eyes locked. He didn’t hesitate or question his next move. His lips found hers and he kissed her, gently at first, then longingly. It had been too long since he’d given and received affection. He felt Amelia lift her arms around his neck, and in the next instant, her fingers were curling through his hair. At that moment, Clint realized he’d found what he had been searching for—Amelia. He wanted her, not for a night, or a few weeks, but forever. He wrapped her in his arms and pulled her close. When he finally pulled his lips from hers, he was still lost in a haze of desire. After a few moments passed, he remembered his promise to her before they’d left Honey Creek. He’d told her she could trust him. He didn’t want her to think he was taking advantage of her tenuous situation. I don’t even know if she loved her dead husband, or if she is still mourning him. She could be interested in Casey. All he knew at that moment was that she was totally dependent on him for her very survival. Though he struggled with his next move, he released her. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”
Amelia’s arms slowly slid down his chest when he pulled away. She looked up at him and blinked, stunned by her reaction to him. Even though he apologized for kissing her, she wasn’t sorry she’d kissed him back.
Clint walked to the fire, where he ladled some food on their plates. “I want you to eat as much as you can.”
Amelia had regained her composure, and even managed to give him a slight smile when he sat beside her. “I will.”
“You’re as weak as a newborn.”
“I’ll get back my strength.” She took a bite of a biscuit as she glanced his way. He was looking off in the distance and seemed to be lost in thought, making her wonder what was on his mind. Her mind was on that kiss. No man had ever kissed her that way. The only kiss she’d ever shared with Richard was a light peck on the cheek when the pastor married them. No matter what happened in the future, she didn’t think she’d ever again experience anything as exciting as that one kiss.
Clint was debating whether to ask her about her husband and her marriage. Since Mrs. Nelson told him about their “convenient” marriage, he’d been wondering if she’d been in love with her sister’s husband before her marriage. He didn’t think kissing her was the best decision he’d ever made, but unless he was imagining things, she’d kissed him back. Of course, she could be suffering from loneliness. Clint knew all about that particular emotion.
They ate in silence for several minutes before Clint turned to face her. “Amelia, Mrs. Nelson told me you hadn’t been married long when you lost your husband.”
She was surprised Mrs. Nelson told him about her marriage. “That’s true. Richard had serious injuries when he came home from the war.”
“Mrs. Nelson also said he was your sister’s husband and the girls are your nieces.”
“That’s true.”
Clint set aside his plate and picked up his coffee. He silently considered his next question. It really wasn’t any of his business, but he wanted to know—he had to know. “Did you love him?”
Amelia didn’t need to think over her answer. She gave him a truthful response. “I loved him like a brother. I was crazy about the girls, and I wanted them to stay with my family. My sister and I discussed the possibility of me marrying Richard before she died. We all wanted to keep the girls with the only family they had ever known.” She hesitated, unsure of what she should reveal, but looking into Clint’s eyes, she wanted him to know how she felt. She had never been in love, but she thought she was in love now. “Of course I was sad that he died, but I didn’t . . . well, I didn’t think I could ever love him as a wife should love a husband.”
Clint was relieved to hear that she wasn’t pining for a lost love. “Your marriage was one of convenience?”
Amelia nodded. “I don’t regret making that decision.”
She tried to recall bits and pieces of a conversation they’d had one night. “Did you tell me you had never been married?”
Clint smiled. He didn’t think she would remember their conversation. “No, I’ve never been married.”
Amelia took a drink of her coffee as she tried to gather the courage to ask her next question. “Have you ever been in love?”
Clint thought about her question. He’d never stayed in one place long enough to develop a meaningful relationship with a woman. Oh, he’d met some nice women, and even shared intimate relationships, but he’d
