Chapter 7
“It still feels like he shouldn’t be leaving.” Cressida looked out the window, biting the inside of her cheek. She blew out a breath, shaking her head.
It was only the third day that Ronan had been with them, not nearly enough time to heal, and yet he was insisting on heading to his own ranch.
She could hardly blame him for wanting to get settled, and it would be better for Etta’s reputation if the men were gone, but she was worried that he was going to hurt himself more.
Etta sighed, folding a towel into a large basket. “I’m going to miss having Tobin around. It’s been nice to have someone to talk to.”
“At least there will only be a few questions in church tomorrow.” Cressida put two sets of linens in the basket for beds, hoping that they would have need of them. She tucked in some loaves of bread and some cheese wrapped in thick paper.
“You know, it wouldn’t be a bad thing for us to spend more time with people.” Etta tucked in some knives and forks.
Cressida smiled, bumping her hip lightly against Etta’s like she used to do when they were both younger and working in the kitchen together. “We see plenty of people. We go to town twice a week, and Mrs. Agatha comes to visit every Thursday. What more could you want?”
“You cannot tell me that you’re happy spending your days out on this ranch.” Etta crossed her arms, leaning back against the counter.
“I like the life we’ve built here.”
“That’s not what I asked, Cressy, and you know it.”
Etta grabbed her and pulled her into a tight hug. “I love you and all that you do for me.”
Cressida hugged her back, dropping a kiss to the top of her head. When Etta was warm and cuddly like this, it was easy to forget that she was twenty-two and not twelve anymore.
There were times when Cressida missed that little girl. When that little girl didn’t know what life was like without both of her parents, when she didn’t have to worry about how a single accident was going to change her life forever.
“I would love to be able to do more, but this is the hand we’ve been dealt,” Cressida said, stepping back and grabbing some dishes to put in the basket as well.
“I’m sorry I’ve become such a burden.” Etta’s voice wavered.
“No!” Cressida turned around, cupping Etta’s face in her hands. “That isn’t what I meant at all, and I’m sorry that it came across that way. You are not a burden.”
“I am though. You used to have a life before the accident, and now you have to watch over me. You don’t get to teach anymore because I can’t be home alone in case I fall.”
“And I would choose to be here a million times over. I love you. Nothing is more important to me than you are, and nothing will ever be as important.”
“I want more for you.” Etta blinked away tears, pulling back slightly. “I want more for myself, too.”
“And one day, you will have it.”
“Unless I lose the ability to walk altogether, and you know that’s a possibility as well as I do.”
“That’s not going to happen because we’re going to make sure it doesn’t happen.” Cressida’s chest hurt just considering the possibility. “And regardless of whether you can ever walk without the crutch or not, we’re going to make sure you have a long and fulfilling life.”
“You promise?”
Cressida nodded, pulling her into another hug. “I promise.”
Etta sniffled for a moment before shuffling out of Cressida’s arms and over to the window. The men were outside and down near the barn again, but it looked like they were repairing what might have been a weak spot in the fence.
“It’s going to be nice having both of them close,” Etta said, leaning against the counter with a dreamy look in her eyes. “We’re vulnerable here, and there are things you and I simply can’t do or don’t know how to do.”
Cressida didn’t miss the way Etta’s gaze drifted to Tobin, the way her smile grew. “Are you sure that’s the only reason you want them around?”
Etta rolled her eyes, but her cheeks took on a dark pink tinge. “You’re teasing me.”
“Of course, I am.” Cressida grinned and put a little sewing kit in the basket as well, topping off all the necessities she and Etta thought the men would need once they reached their new home.
“He’s kind.”
“Tobin?” Cressida smirked, reaching out to tuck a strand of Etta’s dark hair behind her ear. “He’s a very kind man. Handsome too.”
Etta squealed and reached for the tea towel hanging on the golden ring on the wall, snapping it against Cressida’s hip as she dashed away. “Enough with you!”
Cressida laughed so hard her stomach ached, not sure when the last time she laughed that hard was. Etta grinned and snapped the towel at her again, her eyes dancing with a light Cressida hadn’t seen in a long time.
Perhaps having the men as their neighbors would be good for both of them.
Ronan looked up as he worked outside, and it was almost as if he could feel Cressida watching him. Her cheeks warmed as she ducked out of sight, that fluttering feeling back in her chest.
He’s a handsome man, too, even if he is a bit quiet and withdrawn.
Before she could let herself think too much about how handsome Ronan was—though in need of a good haircut—she pushed the thoughts from her mind.
She and Etta hardly knew anything about either of the men. They had to be careful. Though they both seemed like good men, it would be foolish to forget that wolves hid in sheep’s clothing at times.
Etta put the towel back and rearranged the things in the basket one last time. “We need candles!”
Cressida went to the sideboard in the dining room, pulling out a couple of the candles she’d made after collecting honey and wax from the hive in the woods.
She brought the candles back to the basket, nestling them in just as the kitchen door opened. Tobin and Ronan stepped inside, both of them taking off their hats.
“We’ll be going now,” Ronan said, motioning to the two horses outside the window. Tobin had thankfully been able to find Ronan’s horse only the day before. “Thank you for taking care of me and giving us both a place to stay.”
“You’re sure that you want to leave this soon?” Cressida didn’t know why she hoped, just a little, that he would change his mind and stay a day longer.
Maybe she did need to go to town more and start speaking to more people.
She eyed the gun in his holster, thinking that maybe she shouldn’t have gotten it out after breakfast. Maybe then he would have forgotten it, and there would have been a reason for them to visit with each other.
Ronan nodded. “I am.”
“Well,” she shifted her weight from one foot to the other, “goodbye then.”
“Goodbye.”
“This is for you both,” Etta said, pushing the basket toward Tobin. “We want to make sure you get settled into your new home well.”
“Thank you.” Tobin offered her a warm smile before taking the basket.
The men put their hats back on and walked out the door, Etta following along behind them and wishing them a safe ride.
Cressida went to the front door and stepped out in the yard, watching the men ride by, heading down to the road. She couldn’t take her eyes off Ronan as they trotted away.
For reasons she didn’t want to begin to try to understand, she wished he would look back.