Chapter 18

Laurie leaned against Daniel’s shoulder, willing away the doubts coursing through her mind. For the moment, everything in the world felt perfect.

The lake, the forest, and the skies—the ideal world with no drunk father, no bootlegging brother, no menacing federal agents. She could even imagine the man beside her was a good-looking pharmacist and nothing more. She took a deep breath and let Daniel’s shoulder support her. The sunshine tickled her skin and she rubbed one warm toe along the arch of her other foot. If only life could always be like this.

Daniel shifted his weight, jarring her out of her daydream for the third time in the past few minutes.

“Is something wrong?” She hated breaking the easy silence that surrounded this moment.

“No.” He fidgeted again, bumping her shoulder.

She sat up, the tips of her ears burning. “If I am getting too heavy for you, you could just say something.”

“It’s not that . . . ” He grimaced.

She frowned. “What, then?”

“I can’t feel my feet.”

She glanced down at his feet, still dangling in the water, the skin all red and blotchy. She scrambled up. “Daniel, get them out of there!”

His face contorted. “I’d like nothing better, but I’m not so sure I can.” He reached his hands under his knees. Swiveling on the log, he hoisted his dripping legs over the side of the log and onto the rocky shore with a slow groan.

Laurie dropped to her knees. “Why didn’t you say something?” She dried them with her skirt and began rubbing them with her warm hands.

He shook his head. “I didn’t—ow—I didn’t want to—ow!” His face twisted. “I’m so stupid.”

The color of his skin looked better already. She kept rubbing them at a slower pace, but let her eyes wander up to meet his. “That was pretty foolish.” But romantic.

“Please stop.” He grabbed her arm. “It hurts too much.” A wry smile touched his mouth. “I’m sure I’d like it under better circumstances.”

She laughed and scooted backward, releasing his feet. “At least you’re getting some feeling back.” She glanced up at the sky. “We should go. Johnny and Amelia will be wondering what happened to us. I take a long time on pictures, but not usually this long.” She reached for her stockings. “Assuming you can walk, that is. I’m not going to carry you.”

Daniel wriggled his toes and made a face. “I think I can manage.”

Laurie slipped on her stockings, but left them rolled down at her knees rather than ask Daniel to turn his back again. Her brother might think the worst, but why should she care? He had his secrets; she could have hers.

She retrieved Daniel’s shoes and socks and handed them to him. “Do you need help?”

“No.” His brows clenched as he forced his feet into the shoes.

She stepped back as he pushed up to a standing position. She clucked her tongue as he managed a few limping steps. “You really should have said something.”

“I know,” he grunted. “Next time, you soak your feet and I’ll soak up sun.”

A tiny spark grew in her chest. Maybe there could be a next time. She slipped her shoulder under his arm. “Here, lean on me.”

“Gladly.”

The pair stumbled, laughing, back to the picnic table twenty minutes later. Amelia jumped up from her seat next to Johnny. “What happened to you? We were getting worried.”

Johnny shrugged one shoulder. “You were worried. I said Laurie was probably just working on a masterpiece. Plus, she had Daniel to look out for her.”

Laurie glanced up at Daniel, tickled by his smile. She was glad that he didn’t seem sensitive over the turn of events. She tucked a wisp of hair behind her ear and turned to her brother and Amelia. “Yes, it’s always nice to have a strong shoulder to lean on.”

Amelia’s brows rose, a thousand questions dancing behind her eyes.

She’s going to have to wait for answers, because right now I don’t have any. Laurie followed in Daniel’s wake as he and Johnny hauled the baskets back to the automobile.

Amelia grabbed Laurie’s hand and pulled her to the side. “You look happy. Your walk went well, I take it?”

Laurie smiled, squeezing Amelia’s hand. “Very well.”

“Better than Samuel Brown?” Amelia giggled. “Here I thought Mr. Brown was the answer to my prayer. I guess God had other ideas.”

Laurie’s throat tightened. “Stop it. They’ll hear you.” She shook her head as Amelia dissolved into peals of laughter. Anyone would think they were thirteen instead of twenty.

Amelia lowered her voice. “So, what does this mean for Mr. Brown?”

What did it mean? Daniel was still a rumrunner. Just because he could act like a gentleman when he wanted to, didn’t change who he was at heart. “I don’t know.”

Amelia touched her arm and smiled. “Well, they’re both good prospects, anyway.”

Laurie turned her eyes skyward as she walked. God, you know my heart’s desire. Please, help me know what to do.

As they reached the end of the trail, the two men were still strapping the picnic baskets to the rear fender. Daniel looked over at her and smiled. He walked stiff-legged to the far side of the car, opening the door for her.

A sweet sadness crept into her heart. God, why couldn’t he be the one?