Chapter Twenty-Six
Walker was about to start up the stairs with a tray for Sarah the next morning as she stepped off them. He had planned on surprising her with coffee and muffins in bed. The only surprise now was Sarah’s early rising.
“How nice of you!” She stood on tiptoe to kiss him. Her face glistened with soap and water and her smile melted him. “I’m sorry I spoiled your surprise,” she whispered, kissing him again.
“Why don’t we eat upstairs anyway?” he suggested
“What about your morning chores?”
“They can wait.”
Laughing, she turned and sprinted back up the stairs, clutching handfuls of her dress before her.
In the bedroom, he set the tray on the nightstand. Sarah sat on the edge of the mattress and picked up a muffin and pulled a piece off the top, offering it to him. They fed each other bits of the sweet treat and tried unsuccessfully to twine their arms together as they sipped the scalding coffee. Eventually they burst out laughing.
“I’m so happy here, Walker.”
He took her hands in his and began kissing bits of muffin from her fingertips. He had come so far in the last couple of weeks. So far…
“Sarah? Is something bothering you?” he asked.
She struggled to break free of her imposed prison. Now was the time to tell him. Tell him, Sarah! She started to speak but managed only a weak, “Well…” before falling silent again. If she told him he would make her leave. He was starting to trust her, to fall in love with her. He would accuse her of lying, which she had. Of being as bad as Trudy, which she was. She couldn’t leave here. She loved him so desperately!
His gaze softened. “Nothing could be that bad. What is it?”
She searched for delay. “It’s Caleb.”
“Caleb?” He frowned. “What about Caleb?”
“I…I don’t think he likes—no—trusts me.”
Walker laughed. “Caleb? Why would you say that?”
“He seems…uncomfortable around me, Walker. Do you know why?”
Chuckling, he drew her to his chest. “That’s what’s bothering you? Honey, if I hadn’t known him all these years I’d think he didn’t like me, either.”
Sarah pulled away to meet his gaze. “Actually,” she bit her lip again, deep in thought, “I’ve been meaning to ask you something about Caleb.”
“What is it?” He reached for his coffee.
“I know you trust him, but how well? I mean, how much attention do you pay to his accuracy with your ledgers?”
Walker’s hand paused as he brought the cup to his mouth. “What makes you mention the ledgers?”
“Just wondering.”
“I pay little attention to the books. That’s what I pay Caleb for. Why the concern?”
Sarah felt her cheeks color. “No reason, really. It’s just that my father always took care of our business…ledgers and all, so I was wondering how closely you watched them.”
Walker grinned. “Well, you have nothing to worry about. I trust Caleb completely.”
“I’m not worried,” she scoffed. “Finances are the least of my concerns.”
“Good,” he said, “because I don’t want you to have to worry about anything ever again.”
She wished that were possible, but once again her nerve failed her. She couldn’t lose this man. He was her whole life now.