Her cloak over her arm, Hannah checked the rooms lining the main hall of the school. All were neat and tidy, ready for the next day’s activities. She stepped back into the hall in time to see several darting forms burst past the front windows. A smile curved Hannah’s lips as she hurried to watch the children running and chasing one another after a long day of study. A muffled giggle punctuated the happy scene.
Across the yard, Travis trotted after eleven-year-old Millie Gordon. Lord, help us all. That boy is hopelessly smitten. He could do far worse. Millie was a sweet girl, and she seemed as taken with Travis as he was with her. Hannah had been expecting the infatuation to wane, but after three months, it hadn’t happened.
Pulling on her cloak, Hannah stepped onto the stoop and watched the children play. After a moment, Millie approached Mr. Crandall, the teacher. Her brow creased with worry, she signed furiously, pointing toward the gate. Hannah caught enough of the statement to understand the girl was speaking about Travis, who’d disappeared.
At her approach, Millie repeated herself.
Travis jumped the fence to talk to a strange man.
The crisp breeze carried the excited sound of Travis’s voice, though she couldn’t distinguish the words.
“Thank you. I’ll get him.” She signed the words, both for Millie’s benefit and Mr. Crandall’s, who was deaf himself. Heart pounding, she hurried toward the gate.
Who on earth was he talking to? Travis had come out of his shell among the students and school staff. He was comfortable talking with the boardinghouse residents if she translated for him. Yet he wasn’t overly confident with strangers. This was someone familiar to him. She raced through the gate, an unfamiliar man’s back coming into view as she neared.
A chill slid down her spine. Could it be his father, come to reclaim him—or some more distant relative she knew nothing about? Seeing how Travis had thrived at the school, she’d fight to keep him.
“Pardon me, sir. Can I help you?”
Leaning on a gnarled wooden cane, the man turned and pushed his hat back. The late-afternoon sun glinted on piercing blue eyes. “Howdy, Hannah.”
Her breath caught, and warmth flooded through her at Finn McCaffrey’s rich voice. Her heart kicked into a thunderous gallop.
Travis bolted toward her, chattering so fast she couldn’t keep up. She silenced him with a sign. At his crestfallen expression, she pulled him to her side and smiled at him. Only then did she look again at Finn, warning herself not to let him see the effect he’d had on her.
“Mr. McCaffrey.” She smiled politely. “What a surprise. You’re looking well.”
“So are you. Real pretty, in fact.”
Heat flooded her cheeks. She could only hope he wouldn’t notice her blush. “I didn’t expect to see you again. What brings you to San Francisco?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “Gave up my job with the stage company and moved out this way about a month ago.”
“You gave up your job?”
Finn nodded. “Some things changed. I needed to change with ’em.”
Her gaze strayed to the cane. “Your leg. Shouldn’t it have healed by now?”
“It’s healed. Still pains me when I’m on it too much.” He shrugged, looking uncomfortable. “I bought a livery stable a few blocks from here. Been trying to work up the gumption to come see you. We never got to finish our conversation.”
Her lungs constricted. “I believe we did. You asked to come calling, and I answered.”
His expression faltered, and she looked away. Lord, I don’t want to hurt him.
“Can I ask why you said no? Is it because of what your intended did to you, or something else?”
Hannah’s jaw went slack, and she glanced heavenward. Didn’t I ask You to make him forget that conversation, Lord? How on earth had he remembered it, as much pain as he was in?
A pair of women walked by, nodding hello as they passed. Finn greeted them, touching his hat brim. Travis mimicked his gesture.
When Finn’s attention returned to her, she motioned toward the gate. “I’d prefer not to have this conversation on the street. We can use one of the schoolrooms, if you’d like.”
At his nod, Hannah herded Travis back into the schoolyard. She explained to Mr. Crandall that Finn was a friend and they needed a moment to talk, then asked Travis to wait outside. She led Finn inside to the main classroom, lit the lamp on the teacher’s desk, and closed the door partway.
“So did you turn me down because of what he did? If so, you need to know that I’m not him. I wouldn’t do that to you.”
The man didn’t waste time. She’d barely regained her bearings from his surprise appearance, and he was pressing the issue.
Hannah folded her arms. “I wish I could believe that, but I don’t.”
“Why?” He hobbled toward her. “Hannah, what am I fighting here? Are you resisting me because of something I did, or have his actions colored all men as traitors in your mind?”
Her eyes stung. Any man interested in her would have to overcome her fears after Andrew’s betrayal, but that should hardly concern Finn McCaffrey. “I overheard the young woman in Virginia City tell you she was with child.”
He considered the statement then cocked his head. “That’s why you left?”
She nodded.
“Because you think the baby’s mine.”
“What should I think? I heard your response. The impression I got was the baby wasn’t expected, nor was the news well received.”
A wry smile broke across his face. “You’re right on both points, but that’s not because I got Sam Foster in the family way. That’s her scoundrel husband’s doing.” He paused. “Hannah, Sam’s my sister. She came to tell me the news of her condition before I rolled outta town.”
His sister? Once the words registered, her legs grew so shaky she leaned heavily on the nearest desk. “Oh.”
He settled his hands on her shoulders. “You all right there?”
Mortified, Hannah buried her face in her hands. “I’m such a fool. I owe you an apology.”
“Well, in your defense, you didn’t know either of us, and I herded her outside when I saw where the conversation was going. Easy mistake to make.”
She risked a look at him. Dancing blue eyes peered back. “You’re too kind. I assumed terrible things about you both. How can you dismiss that?”
“You don’t understand, Hannah Rose.”
Her breath caught at his use of her papa’s pet name, and she hung on his next words.
“You and Travis have been echoing in my mind and heart ever since we left those mountains. There ain’t been a day I haven’t thought about or prayed for you both. I’ve begged God for another chance to get to know you. If dismissing a silly misunderstanding gives me that chance, I’ll take it. I’m asking you again, Hannah Rose. Can I come callin’?”
Her belly fluttered so furiously she pressed her hands to it. She’d lain awake every night praying for him, trying to tell herself the concern was due to his injuries. Such lies. Loneliness for him had nearly suffocated her at times. It had made little sense, given they barely knew each other, but when Travis began begging to take the stagecoach to see him, she’d known there was more to both their feelings than she cared to admit. He’d echoed in their hearts and minds also.
“Well?”
She closed her eyes, swallowed hard, and gave a hesitant nod. “Yes.”
A work-roughened hand cupped her cheek and tipped her head back. Warm lips pressed hers, gently at first then with more intensity. Hannah’s heart pounded as she fought the conflicting urges to pull away and to press in.
Loud footsteps intruded on their moment, and they broke the kiss as Travis slammed into them, wrapping his arms around their waists. She and Finn burst into laughter at his beaming grin.
“Are you two getting married?”
Finn looked at him then shifted his gaze to her. “Tell him…iffen I have my way, the answer’s yes. Real soon.”