Heart of Integrity (Hearts of the West, #2)

Chapter 31

The closer they got to the mill, the weaker Susan realized she was. Her head was still throbbing, and all the upset and sleeplessness was starting to catch up to her.

Her ankle and knee hurt, too. Quite a lot.

The ground upon which they walked had been rendered uneven, and as she stepped across a particularly rocky patch, her ankle buckled. “Ah!” The pain she already felt intensified as she struggled to stay standing.

Firm but gentle hands closed around her waist, steadying her.

“Whoa, now. Are you all right?”

Ifor’s voice and proximity made her want to weep. He was all she had left here, and she didn’t even have him. He’d told her to her facehe couldn’t trust her.

She tried to hold back the tears, but it was no use.

“Hey, don’t cry. It’s all right.” Ifor pulled her into an embrace.

As she buried her face in his shoulder, she realized just how much she cared about him—how deeply her affections for him truly ran. She held him tighter, her tears soaking into his shirt.

His strong arms held her—one across her back, one across her shoulders.

Here, right here, was the closest thing she’d ever felt to belonging. To home. She could gladly stay in his arms and never let go.

“There, now... It’s all right... It’ll all be all right.” His voice was every bit as soothing as his words.

He was stroking her hair now. And to her utter surprise, he kissed her head.

She clung even more tightly to him, afraid that if she let go, she’d never be permitted to embrace him again. She’d broken his trust, after all. He was being kind now, but it would never be like the past few days had, would it? Could it?

“Don’t worry, cariad... The Lord has it all in hand. It’ll be all right.”

She sniffed. “What...what does cariad mean?” Her voice was weak, like the rest of her.

He stopped stroking her hair and pulled back, resting his hands on her upper arms as his gaze met hers. Never had she seen such beautiful eyes.Vulnerability flickered deep within them.

“It means darling. Or, love.”

Her heart stuttered, her breath catching in her throat. “Oh?”

He held her gaze, deep sincerity in his eyes. “Susan... I?—”

“Is that him?” Timothy’s voice cut through the intense atmosphere.

She turned. Squinted. And instantly recognized the figure up ahead in the distance. “Yes.”

A wave of trepidation washed over her. She knew that whatshe was about to do wasthe right thing, but she was exhausted not only in body but in heart.

Please, Lord, give me the strength Ineed to do this, and to do it well.

“Let’s go.” Ifor’s voice—though decisive—was gentle.

She glanced up at him. He reached for her hand, then looked at her with an expression that encouraged her to be strong.

Drawing a shaky breath, she squeezed his hand and started walking, expecting their hands to fall away from one another after a step or two.

But he grasped her hand and held it as they walked, only letting go when they neared her father and she called out his name.

“Da!”

Her father turned, swaying a little.

“Ah, my wee Susan! Did ye change your mind, pet?”

“No, Da.” She didn’tstop walking until she was right in front of him. An all too familiar odor met her nostrils.“Have you been drinking?”

“Would you believe I found a wee bottle of whiskey amongst some of the rubble?” He laughed. “The house was broken, but the bottle wasn’t!”

“Hello again, Mr. Kelly.”

Susan glanced at Ifor. He gave her an encouraging nod.

Her father turned to him. “Hello there, uh...Evan?”

“Ifor.And this is my friend, Timothy—he works in the mine with me.”

“Nice to meet you, Timothy,” her father said.

“Da, come with us a minute.” She’d tried to keep her voice light, but all within her she was trembling.

“Where’s that, now?”

“Back into town. Wait ’til you see it, Da. It’s wild.”

“Right-i-o, then.”

He stuck his bent arm out toward her and she hesitated before linking her arm through his. He was cooperating, at least, so the best she could do was play along.

As they set off, she exchanged a glance with Ifor. Again, he nodded his encouragement to her, then gave her a tender, closed-lipped smile, which she returned.

They were almost in town when her father stopped walking.

“Come on, Da. Nearly there, now.”

“Where is it we’re going again?”

“Just into town, Da. You have to see it after everything that happened.”

He coughed, and resumed walking. “Does this mean you’ve forgiven me, wee Susan?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you seem to have changed your tune since the last time I saw you.”

“Well, I’m just glad you’re all right.I couldn’t find you anywhere.”

“You were looking for me?”

“Of course.”

He stopped again, turning to glance at Ifor and Timothy. He motioned with his hand. “What are these two doing with us, again?”

“They’re just friends, Da. I ran into Ifor in town and then he ran into Timothy. So we all just...started walking together.”

Her father nodded amiably, but she could tell by the look in his eyes that the second part of their plan might not run as smoothly as the first had.