The Unexpected Wife(50)

The boys’ squeals of laughter had her looking up from her churn. Quinn and Tommy were watching a frog peeking out of a hollowed-out stump. They were such good boys. Leaving them would break her heart.

“Abby, come help us catch the frog,” Quinn shouted.

She pushed the plunger into the churn. It seemed all she did was work. For the first time since she’d arrived, she resented her chores. It had been so long since she’d had a bit of fun.

The clear creek waters glistened and beckoned. Abby glanced at her butter churn then back at the water, tempted beyond reason.

Excitement bubbled inside her. She quickly unlaced her shoes and tugged off her stockings. The boys laughed as she hiked up her skirts and stepped into the stream.

“Abby, you are getting wet,” Quinn laughed.

She leaned down and splashed a handful of water onto the boy. “Now you are, too.”

Quinn swiped the water droplets from his face then ran to the water’s edge. “I thought we weren’t supposed to get wet.”

Abby shrugged. “Once in a while it’s okay, Quinn.”

“Pa says the bears stay close to the water.”

Abby searched the tree line. “It’s okay.”

Tommy laughed at his brother as he ran past him into the water. He splashed Abby and then Quinn.

Not to be outdone, Quinn barreled in and started to kick up water. Abby laughed. The three played and time drifted. Soon water dripped from her hair.

Abby suddenly stopped. She felt the hair on the back of her neck rise.

She sensed Mr. Barrington’s presence even before he spoke. Her back stiff, she looked down at her dress. She was drenched and the bodice fabric stuck to her like a second skin.

“Boys, you know better than to play in the creek. With that bear loose, there’s no telling where it’ll turn up.”

Quinn looked up at Abby. “See? I told you.”

She patted him on the shoulder. “It’s my fault. Quinn did warn me.”

Mr. Barrington reached out and hauled the boys out of the water. “It’s time you went inside and changed into dry clothes.”

“But Pa, we’re playing,” Tommy said.

Mr. Barrington nodded as he tried to brush the mud from the seat of Tommy’s pants. “I can see that, but it’s time to go inside.” The steel in his voice left no room for argument. “Quinn, take your brother inside.”

Quinn took his brother’s hand. “Come on, Tommy.”

Breathless, Abby hiked up her damp skirts and followed the barefooted boys out of the water. Dripping wet with muddied bare feet, she felt like a fool standing in front of Mr. Barrington. “There’re sugar cookies on the stove after you’ve changed, boys. I’ll get them for you.”

Mr. Barrington grabbed her arm, halting her escape. “Boys, you go on ahead. Miss Abby will be there presently.”

“Can we have two cookies?” Quinn said.

“Sure,” Mr. Barrington replied.

When the boys were out of earshot, Abby tugged her arm free. “They’ll eat the whole jar if I’m not there.”

“Let ’em,” he said. He held out his hand to her.

She considered ignoring him, and climbing out of the creek without help, and then decided she was being silly. She laid her hand in his. He closed his long callous-tipped fingers over her hand. Heat seeped up her arm as he hauled her out of the creek.

“You’d be smart to pay close attention while you’re by the water,” he said. His voice sounded gruffer. “I found more tracks out on the range yesterday.”

Her stomach soured. “More bear tracks?”

“I didn’t want to tell you, but the other night when we were together—”

She shot him a look of warning, daring him to bring up what had happened between them in the barn.

He shoved out a frustrated breath. “I was talking about the bear tracks.”

“I know,” she said hastily.

He knew she was lying. “I tracked the bear the next morning but lost his trail half a mile from the ranch. There was no sign of the bear until today. I found more tracks.”

“Are we in danger?”

He stood on the bank, his powerful legs braced apart. “We need to be extra careful.”

She swiped a wet lock of hair off her face. The freedom and joy she’d just felt vanished. “We’ll be more careful.”

Abby lifted her damp skirts and tried to sidestep him. He moved, blocking her path. Slowly she lifted her gaze to his. The lines around his eyes and mouth looked deeper. Tension had tightened the muscles in his body. He looked ready for battle.

Suddenly, her whole body ached with sadness. “We made a mistake, Mr. Barrington, that’s all. My leaving is going to correct it.”