10

The rooster’s early morning serenade grated Joseph’s nerves. Or maybe it was knowing he’d overslept. With a yawn, he stretched out his bare arms and settled onto his back. The emptiness of the bed beside him remained a cold reminder of everything he had lost. He looked over at the flattened blankets. The room was dark, the window blocked up with a blanket, the only light a glow through the open doorway.

Hannah.

Where had she gone?

Rolling out of bed, Joseph hit his knees hard on the floor, and flopped his forehead into the mattress. Since he was down here… “Dear Lord, bless this day, bless the planting, bless my family, and…” Hannah’s face infiltrated his thoughts, but he wasn’t sure what more to say, so he ended the prayer and pushed to his feet.

Boots on and shirt in hand, he walked into the large room. The air still held the night’s chill. He’d light the fire before heading out to do chores. But first, what to do with his new wife?

Hannah sat in the same chair she had the evening before, her arms and head draped over the table, eyes closed. The large shawl had slipped from her arm, bearing a shoulder and the bandage.

He tried to focus on the latter. It appeared not to have bled much in the night, but she would never get the rest she needed hunched in a hard chair.

Draping his shirt over the back of the neighboring chair, Joseph moved his hand over her shoulder, skin so smooth.

She groaned, but remained asleep.

He crouched and slid his other arm under her knees. Then lifted.

A sigh lengthened as she leaned her head on his chest and sagged against him. Her long eyelashes fluttered open. A jumble of Mohawk words rolled from her tongue as she jerked upright, almost causing him to drop her. She wriggled. “Let me go. Don’t touch me.”

“I only meant to take you to bed.” He set her down on her feet.

“I don’t want to go to your bed. I won’t do it.”

Do what? Joseph opened his mouth to ask, but shook the thought from his head. “You need more sleep.”

She swayed.

Waiting for her to listen was ridiculous. He scooped her up and hauled her into the bedroom.

“Let me down!”

Joseph tightened his grip to keep her from falling. Just as he loosened his hold, a sharp elbow plowed into his ribs and he doubled over, dropping her onto the mattress. His shins met the frame, and his momentum sent him on top of her. He caught himself before he squished her, his arms braced on either side.

Hannah stared up at him.

He shoved away. “Stop fighting me.”

“Stop touching me.”

Her words stung more than expected, but he gave a smug smile. “You don’t have to worry about that.” He turned on his heel and strode out of the room—out of the cabin. Goosebumps scurried up his arms and across his torso. He hugged his bare chest. He’d forgotten his shirt.

Just what he needed—something to make him go back inside. Joseph filled his lungs and let the fire in his gut dissipate. He reached near the door and snatched his coat and hat from the peg, but there was no way he was going back inside and chance another tussle. He’d finish the chores first.

~*~

Hannah sat on the edge of the bed, Joseph’s last words pricking like hornet stings. Festering. Swelling. Hurting.

You don’t have to worry about that.

Because he didn’t want to come anywhere near her. Not like a husband or a man in love. She had been the price of his family’s safety, and he’d paid, but that was all she’d ever be worth to him. Nothing had changed since she was a girl. No attraction. No feelings. Just as well.

Hannah found her leggings and oversized shirt she’d washed the day before. They were dry enough now. She changed, braided her hair, and put thoughts of marriage—real marriage—from her mind. What did it matter that Joseph didn’t want her? She didn’t want him, either. She only needed his help to find her brothers. His rejection was merely to her pride.

In the main room, the fireplace coals were banked. She found kindling on the hearth and encouraged a flame to life. Perhaps she would fix one of Pa’s favorites and prove to Joseph that she would not be a burden on him.

There was no sign of Joseph when she sneaked out to the barn and found eight eggs and cut a thin slab of meat. The fire was hot enough by the time she returned to start cooking.

The browned meat graced a plate, and she was spooning some of the eggs on beside it when footsteps announced Joseph’s arrival. Hannah set the skillet on the table and swept her braids over her shoulders. But she couldn’t simply stand there waiting when he walked in. She had to be busy with something. As the door latch dipped, she spun to the fireplace and grabbed the poker to thrust into the coals.

“Joseph?”

The man entered the cabin, his cane swinging with his steps. Benjamin Reid swiped the hat from his dark hair. Questioning marked his brow only momentarily. “You’re the bit of difficulty that sent Joseph and Andrew running home with hardly an explanation, aren’t you?”

Hannah chose not to answer. Not that she feared Benjamin Reid. It was his son with the temper and reckless behavior who had always concerned her.

“You’re one of Henry Cunningham’s girls, aren’t you?”

A shadow appeared behind him. One of his own daughters—the one her age.

“Pa, are the…” Nora gaped at Hannah for a full minute before wiping her hands across her gown and stepping fully into the cabin. “You look familiar.”

“I should.” She set the fire poker back in its place. “I lived not a mile from here.”

“Hannah Cunningham.” Nora smiled—looking far too much like Fannie. All the Reids carried similar traits, dark brown waves and equally dark eyes.

Hannah gave a nod, not sure if she should correct them. Perhaps the Reids would not think kindly of their sister and daughter so quickly replaced. Joseph and Fannie’s baby girl looked well under a year.

“What are you doing here?” Nora asked, but not in an unkind way.

“Joseph has agreed to—”

The deep guttural sound of Joseph clearing his throat in the doorway behind them stopped her words. He excused himself to go past the Reids, two eggs in hand. “Morning, Benjamin. Nora.”

“Good morning, Joseph.” Benjamin followed him to the table. “Our planting is almost finished so Nora thought she could help mind the children. We wanted to check with you first to make sure they aren’t here before heading down to the Wyndhams.”

“Rachel has them now. But any help I’m sure will be appreciated.” Joseph took a bowl from the shelves running along the wall next to the fireplace and set the eggs inside. “Hannah will be staying for the last of the planting as well, but she has an injury she needs to let heal.”

Hannah’s gaze sank to the floor. No mention of their marriage. Only that she would be here while they sowed the fields. And then what? They would find her brothers, and Joseph would be rid of her.

And she would be rid of him.

“If you want to wait here, Nora,” Joseph smiled, “Rachel and Andrew will be along later with the children. You’ve probably had breakfast already, but you are both welcome to sit down with us.”

Nora circled nearer. “We’ve eaten, but I don’t mind lending Hannah a hand.” Her lips curved up as her dark eyes gazed innocently at Joseph. Though her features were softer, not as striking as Fannie’s had been, Nora was still what men would consider handsome. “Does the cow still need milking?”

Joseph’s smile fell. “That’s been taken care of.”

By me. It was her fault the cow was dead. Hannah started to the door, bypassing Joseph and his guests. “I’ll go find more eggs.”

A breeze met her outside, but she had no desire to return for the shawl. She lengthened her stride toward the barn, no long skirts to tangle her feet.

“Hannah.” Joseph’s sandy locks flapped with each step, not yet fastened at the nape of his neck. “I need to talk to you.”

“Then talk.”

The corner of his lip twitched downward. “I think it best we keep our…”

“Our marriage?”

“I think it best no one know. Not yet, anyway.”

Hannah was stoic. “No one? Or just Nora and her father?”

Joseph’s brow wrinkled. “Them included. But the whole settlement, really. If they knew I had made such a bargain for the safety of my farm…well, it might not be very safe anymore.”

“You have my silence. Is there anything else you want?” Hannah compelled her smile to make an appearance.

He shook his head.

She choked back a bitter laugh.

Joseph Garnet really hadn’t changed one bit.