Savannah slaps her good hand over his mouth, “Dayton!” she stutters. He laughs and steps back to sit down. Her eyes follow him, and a blush rushes over her body, and he laughs even harder.
“That was the last count,” he teases.
“Well, you better never let Glenn, or my Father hear that, or you won’t ever count again,” she stammers.
“You will have more faith in my abilities,” he declares.
“I will?” She stares at him, memorizing the way he looks in the darkening room. His eyes promise things she never dared to wish for. She glances away, uncomfortable with all the emotions he’s bringing up.
“Yes. I want you to rest in peace knowing that Fred’s in custody and you are safe,” he emphasizes.
Savannah touches her head where she struck the track and remembers, falling, screaming for him, and then darkness. She covers her eyes with her good hand, “Safe? I used to know what that was.”
Dayton leans over and tugs her hand down away from her face. “Look at me, Angel.”
She turns to look at him, ignoring the tear that tracks its way down her cheek. “Rest now, Savannah.”
“You’ll stay?” she wraps her hand around his and squeezes it.
“I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”
Savannah smiles a wobbly smile, “I don’t know why you’re here, Dayton, but I’m glad you came.”
“Me too,” he squeezes her hand and watches her eyes drift shut. “Thank you,” she whispers and welcomes sleep.
He leans his head back and sleeps.
Eli closes the door, leaving it slightly cracked. Answers can come later, they need to rest, and he needs to hold Kristin. Watching Savannah almost die at the hands of a crazy man drove home how close he was to losing Kristin.
Chapter 29
Savannah wakes with a start in the early hours the next morning, she glances at the empty chair and sighs. What did you expect, Savannah? She rolls to her side and tosses the covers aside. Her hip is throbbing, needing to move she unslings her arm and drops it on the bed. Immediately her shoulder rebels against the weight on it.
She hisses in pain and decides to ignore it. “Hot,” she mutters. The medicine makes her sweat she thinks, and removes her robe dropping it on the bed. Someone gave her another dose of morphine in the middle of the night. Dayton? She can’t remember. Savannah walks to the end table to get a glass of water and jumps when a noise sounds behind her.
“Do you ever stay where you are put?” Dayton yawns from the corner of the room. He moved to the couch after she fell asleep.
“Dayton, what are you doing in here?” she whispers.
“I made a promise, and I always keep my word.” He swings his legs down and stands up, walking towards her, backing her to the bed. “Savannah, your stars are showing again,” he murmurs.
“What?” she presses a hand to his chest, unable to think with him so close to her.
“Thirty-three,” he points touching her shoulder, causing her to jump. Dark eyes trace her heart-shaped face and drop to her peach lips. “Thirty-four,” he touches her bottom lip and moves closer.
Savannah grabs his hand and glares at him, “I don’t know what kind of game you,” she starts to say, but he stops her with a look. His eyes glance down at her in the firelight of the room. Standing in her white spaghetti strap chemise, she gasps realizing how little she’s wearing.
Dayton grins and grabs her robe, offering it to her. “I wanted to be near you, in case you need help.” She lets him help her and shudders when he lifts her thick braid and glances at the wound on her head. “It’s stopped bleeding.”
“Doc said I was lucky. I’m sure I will be fine, Dayton. You can go now.” She struggles to lower her arm and tighten the belt on her robe. A whisper of frustration sounds, and he turns her slowly to him.
He ties the belt with a quick twist and smiles, offering her the sling. “Back on.”
“I don’t need it,” she mutters but lets him slip it over her head and supports the arm while she settles it around. The relief is instant, and she sighs.
“Thank you, again.”
Dayton grins, and she smiles in response to the white of his teeth flashing at her. “I need a favor, Savannah,” he asks.
“Of course,” she replies instantly.
“I need to see your bag of tintypes.”
Savannah’s eyes fly open wide. “Why?”
“Do you trust me?” Dayton asks suddenly.
She stares into his dark eyes for only a second, before she nods. “Yes, I do.”
“Good. I promise to explain, but first I need to see them,” Dayton says.
“My bags and trunk were loaded on the train,” she explains.
“Right. I guess I’ll go ask Eli where they put your things.” He walks to the door and turns back, “Is he always so...”
“Annoying, irritating, pushy, insulting,” she replies without thinking. “Yes, he is.”
His dark eyes flash, “How insulting, exactly,” he demands.
Savannah looks at him with surprise and smiles, “Dayton, despite how this past day appears, I can take care of myself. I don’t need a hero,” she teases.
“Maybe, but I’m finding I like taking care of you. Go back to sleep, you need your rest.” He leaves as quietly as he came, and she sits heavily on the side of the bed.
“Thirty-four?” she stammers and wonders what he’d say if she told him her body was starred with hundreds of freckles.
She can still feel the warmth of his touch, and she smiles behind her hand. At that moment she feels hope flame to life. Hope for the
