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“TITUS,” SARAH JANE said stepping closer. “I know you’re worried about what I said yesterday but don’t be.” Her deep brown eyes pleaded with him to obey. “You have a good heart.”
“I’ll try,” he agreed giving in to her plea. “Your pa reminded me of some things and I’ll try.”
Sarah Jane smiled up at him. “That’s all any of us can do in the end,” she said.
Something warm and soft seemed to well up in Titus as he gazed into Sarah Jane’s face. He didn’t know what it was, but there was something about this girl that got to him
Sarah Jane Bentley wasn’t one of these simpering girls whose world revolved around pretty dresses, or fancy parties.
She was different: thoughtful, friendly, and witty. Even now he could see a flicker of humor dancing in her eyes and felt the urge to brush his thumb against her cheek.
“Do you want to know who’s carrying the message for you?” she asked a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
“Who?” Titus asked tucking his hand in his pocket to keep it from betraying him.
“Laughing Dog, he’s the one I pointed out to you the other day.”
“You don’t think he’ll be in any real danger do you?” Titus asked thinking of the young squaw who Sarah Jane was convinced was in love with the brave.”
“It won’t be easy, but these men have done this trip before. They’re very skilled at surviving off of the land.”
“I wouldn’t want anything to happen to him on my account.”
Sarah Jane smiled again. “I think he’s doing it to impress Morning Star.”
“You mean the girl?” Titus asked seeing her point.
Sarah Jane nodded, giggling at the thought. “I think it’s sweet, but of course he doesn’t need to impress her at all.”
“I suppose every man wants to impress the woman he’s drawn to.”
“I suppose, but as long as they don’t get silly and do something stupid.”
“Like fall of a mountain,” Titus laughed.
“That probably wouldn’t be very impressive, no,” Sarah Jane said her eyes shining with mirth as she watched Titus ears go red.
“Tell Pa not to forget to come in for lunch,” Sarah Jane finally said turning to leave. “Sometimes when he gets busy with something he forgets.”
Titus watched Sarah Jane walk away, the black and white intricately patterned shawl cocooning her.
Shaking his head, he tried to convince himself that it wasn’t true, but in just a matter of days that woman was getting to him.
His eyes followed her along the dusty path toward a pinto pony standing next to a rail corral and a moment later he saw her speaking with the brave she’d said was Laughing Dog.
Scratching his ear he wondered what she could be talking to him about. Was she perhaps asking him to convey a message to her family further north?
As Laughing Dog swung up onto his pinto Sarah Jane turned her eyes toward Titus, and he hurriedly returned to his task, even as he watched the young Indian woman’s eyes follow the brave out of the tiny village.
Hurrying to finish his task Titus pulled the double tree apart, lifted it to his shoulder and headed for the wood shop.
