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His uncle scowled. "Best if you forget it. You just lost one woman, not wise to allow a needy one to get her claws into you." "She's not like that. Nothing like that."
Big John walked away. "You don't even know her."
His uncle's truth stung. But he was wrong. Matt gazed at the injured woman and her dark hair, soft skin. So pale. "I'll take care of you, Hannah."
Excerpt from Matt's Story
Hannah opened her
eyes.
Two men were talking near her, but she
didn’t hear Gunther’s voice. She lay still and listened. The older one had a
gruff voice. He was a hard man but honest. The younger one, the one she first
saw, he was kind and gentle, but there was a strength and sadness in him.
She relaxed. They weren’t outlaws. In her
spirit, she knew that. Her pain lessened. She pushed down on the straw mattress
and sat up. The cabin spun. She closed her eyes and rested. Thirsty, she
cleared her throat. “Could I have a drink?”
The two men jumped up.
The younger one grabbed a cup and his
canteen before rushing to her. He poured the water and then handed the tin cup
to her. “Here. Take it easy.”
The water cooled her parched throat. With a
nod, she handed the cup back to him. “More, please.”
The second cup helped her strength return.
“Thank you. My husband?” Hannah saw the truth on their faces. He was gone. Poor
Gunther, life had turned so sourly upon him. She prayed he’d seen the savior’s
face at his last breath.
“Sorry ma’am. He was dead.” The younger man
spoke, looking sadder than she felt.
She stared at him, trying to feel, to cry.
“I think I need to lie down.”
He jumped to help support her and eased her
down gently. “Best thing for you. We’ll be here. Call out if you need
anything.”
She looked into his brown eyes and nodded.
Yes, she could trust this one. She was so tired. Gunther was gone. She should
cry, but the tears wouldn’t come. Maybe after she rested she could give Gunther
the sorrow and grief she owed him.
As she closed her eyes, Gunther’s image
didn’t fill her mind. It was the kind face of the strong, gentle man with the
brown eyes. She didn’t even know his name.
***
Matt stared at Big
John and cringed. His uncle had that lecturing look.
Big John stood. “One thing you don’t want
to do is bounce to another woman after losing one. She was married to a man and
lost him. You owe her nothing. You don’t even know her.”
Matt matched the big man’s glare. “I just
want her to have a chance. You’re right, I don’t know her. I just want to get
her to a doctor, not like I asked her to marry me.”
“Yeah, just keep it that way. Females can
be awful needy when they’re on their own. This farm doesn’t look like it’s
worth a thing. She’s likely destitute. You just make sure she doesn’t get her
claws in you.”
“Her name is Hannah. She’s not like that.
You just worry about yourself. Worry about becoming a grumpy, old man.”
Big John guffawed and slapped his knee.
“Well, young Matt, you and me have a lot in common. I’d say we were cut from
the same cloth. You watch out that you don’t become a grumpy, young man.”
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