Without wasting another moment, he swept her up into his arms, which was easy because she weighed less than a baby bird just out of its nest. She released a startled exclamation but then easily settled against him.
“I’m sorry for wandering off and causing you so much trouble.” With lips quivering and strands of hair plastered to her cheeks, she searched his face as though seeking forgiveness there. “When I saw the horse running off, I thought I could chase it down and bring it back.”
“Figured that’s what you’d done.”
“I just wanted to help since I knew how important leaving early was to you.” Her long lashes framed innocent eyes, eyes that begged him to understand. “Please don’t be mad.”
“I ain’t mad.”
“Are you sure? Not even a little?”
“Nope. Not even a little.” The relief at finding her left little room for any other emotion.
“Thank you, Flynn—”
“But you gotta promise from here on out, you won’t go off by yourself, not for any reason.”
“I promise. In fact, I solemnly promise I won’t step an inch outside of camp unless I’m with someone else.”
Flynn had a notion to make her promise she wouldn’t go anywhere without him, but he reckoned that was taking his job a mite too far.
She smiled up at him sweetly. “I’ll promise you, if you’ll promise me one thing.”
A warning went off inside him.
“All I want you to do is promise you won’t tell Grandfather how cold and wet and lost I was. I don’t want to unnecessarily worry him.”
He bit back his of exasperation. What was it with the two of them needing to hide things from each other?
“The truth is—” she bit her bottom lip—“if he knows how far I wandered off, this time he really will send me back East.”
Was this the kind of foolish wandering Linnea had already done on the trip, leaving Dr. Howell desperate enough to hire a stranger to look after her?
“I realize I’m putting you in an awkward situation. But please, please let me talk to him and explain what happened.” Her lashes fell and fanned out against her pale cheeks before she lifted them again.
How could he say no to her when she batted her eyes like that? How could any man in his right mind deny her whatever she wanted? Apparently her grandfather couldn’t any more than the rest of them.
He blew out a breath. “Alright.”
Her smile widened. “Thank you.”
He shook his head and approached the horse. “Hang on, now. We’ll ride together so we don’t waste any more time.”
Once she was up in the saddle, he hesitated to climb up behind her. When he’d agreed to guard her, he never bargained on having to guard his heart.
Weary and cold, Linnea let herself lean in to Flynn as they rode. More than anything, she was weak with relief. She’d been wet and miserable, trying not to worry too much, knowing she’d have to wait for the mist to lift before she’d be able to take stock of her surroundings and attempt to find her way back to camp.
She’d never expected to hear Flynn’s voice calling to her. But from the moment she had, she’d all but fallen in love with him. Well, not truly. But she admired him more now than ever, which only made his dislike of her all the harder to withstand.
For a man who didn’t like her, Flynn had been more than kind and considerate. Not only had he braved the cold and fog to come after her, but he shed his dry garments to warm her, treated her with respect though she’d been unclothed, and placed her upon his steed as if she were a porcelain teacup.
His chest and arms surrounded her and radiated into her body, lending her even more warmth. “Flynn?”
“Hmmm?”
“I hope you won’t be mad at me for yesterday either—when I wasn’t grieving for my husband properly.”
He stiffened in the saddle behind her.
“I really do want to honor my husband’s memory as best I can.”
He was silent, and the thudding of the horse’s hooves against the wet earth echoed eerily in the fog, as if they were the only two on the entire prairie. With only a lantern to guide them, she wasn’t sure how he could find his way, but somehow he seemed to know where he was going.
“Listen.” The low timber of his voice rumbled in her ear, and his breath tickled her cheek. “I’m the one needing to apologize. What I said wasn’t necessary, wasn’t even nice.”
Her retort fell away, replaced by wonder that this man had humbled himself enough to make amends. Not that he’d needed to. Nevertheless, she’d take it and hold on to it as an offering of friendship.
“I behaved like a donkey. And I’m sorry.”
With the solid pressure of his chest against her back and his arms boxing her in, she pictured his long fingers on her buttons, skimming down her bodice. Her breathing quickened, just as it had before.
She sat forward slightly, needing some distance from the powerful tug that somehow existed with Flynn. “You didn’t behave like a donkey. I need to be more careful in how I conduct myself, and I shall surely try as hard as I can to remain discreet and chaste in all my interactions.”
They had a long journey ahead with possibly weeks, if not months, together. She had to start today and take great care that she didn’t lead this man on in any way. “Besides, I’ve been told by friends I’m too bold, though I don’t mean to be. I suppose I have naturally absorbed some of my mother’s views that women shouldn’t have to be so reticent.”
“Don’t matter how pretty a woman is—” His voice cracked, and he cleared his throat. “And it don’t matter how much a fella might have a hankering for her. Fact is, a man’s got a responsibility to control himself. Plain and simple.”
Hankering? “So does that mean you have a hankering for me, Flynn McQuaid?” She shouldn’t tease him. Hadn’t she just chastised herself to be careful? Even so, she couldn’t let his comment pass by.
He shifted in the saddle. “Nope. I’m not planning on hankering for a woman now or ever.”
Something in his tone told her he was serious. Even so, she kept the mood light. “Very well. Since you have no plans on hankering for me, then perhaps we can settle on friendship. Surely you cannot find fault in developing a friendship, can you?”
He was silent and stiff for a dozen paces before he gave a curt nod. “Suppose friendship won’t hurt.”
“Not with me, it won’t.”
When he didn’t respond, she had the feeling he didn’t quite believe her. She’d just have to show him he had nothing to worry about and that she could be a good friend—maybe even the best he’d ever had.
CHAPTER 6
“Flynn told me he has no interest in developing a relationship with a woman.” Linnea sat back on her heels along the bank of Cottonwood Creek where she and Ivy were attempting to do laundry. Her attention swung to Flynn on the edge of their campsite, where he stood beside one of the horses, replacing a worn shoe. His shirt stretched tight as he worked on the horseshoe, outlining his broad back and shoulders.
“Does that mean he’s still pining away for the woman he left behind?” Linnea asked. “Maybe still in love with her?”