steps as fast as her little legs would take her. Mrs. Hammond was right on her heels, still holding onto a towel she’d obviously been using inside the kitchen when they’d pulled up.
As if her humiliation wasn’t already bad enough, of course the entire family had witnessed her predicament. Now, if she refused his outstretched hand, she would look rude.
He was still grinning widely, obviously aware of her discomfort. As soon as his fingers closed over hers, heat went through her entire body, and by now she was sure her cheeks would soon ignite. He gave her a gentle tug and helped her stand up, holding onto her hand for a few seconds longer to make sure she was steady.
“I’ve been accused of many things in my life, but being a gentleman isn’t one of them, I’m afraid.” His voice was low enough just for her to hear, and she had to ignore the tingle it sent through her.
“I’ll help you pick your things back up to put in your basket.” Delia was down on the ground quickly rounding everything up.
“Oh, my dear. Are you all right?” By now, Mrs. Hammond was standing beside them, and she reached out to take Kathryn’s hand. She patted it into the crook of her arm and turned to lead her into the house.
“I’m fine, Mrs. Hammond. I just got a little off balance. I think my pride is hurt worse than anything else.”
The kind older woman stopped to send a stern look in her son’s direction. “Colt Hammond. What kind of man are you to let a woman step out of a wagon on her own?”
Colt rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Mother, I know you would be watching out the window the minute you heard the wagon come up the road. So, don’t pretend you didn’t notice Miss Reeves standing up before I stopped. I assure you; I would have offered my assistance if she’d waited.”
Mrs. Hammond wasn’t paying any attention to her now exasperated son as she continued to pull Kathryn up the steps, with Delia right behind them carrying her basket.
It took everything Kathryn had not to laugh out loud at the look on his face when she dared to peek back at him one last time. Even though it didn’t take the sting of her embarrassment completely away, seeing him chastised by his mother for something even Kathryn was willing to admit wasn’t his fault, did make her feel somewhat better.
Now, she just needed to get through supper with the family, and she could make her way back to her cabin and try to forget everything that happened in the past ten minutes.
But somehow, with the fact that her hand still tingled from where he’d held it, Kathryn knew forgetting it all was going to take a lot longer than it should.
Chapter 9
“Please, can I go and stay the night with Miss Reeves? I can help to show her everything and then she wouldn’t be all alone out there.”
Colt looked down at his daughter who was pleading with him. They had finished supper, and he had offered to walk Kathryn back to her cabin. Delia had immediately started begging to spend the night with her new teacher.
His daughter had always been good at picking up on people’s feelings, and Colt suspected she’d sensed Kathryn’s nervousness about being at the cabin on her own. During supper, she’d asked a lot of questions about how to do certain things, and he realized they hadn’t really given her much instruction for a woman coming from a life of luxury in the city before leaving her to fend for herself down there.
“No, Delia, Miss Reeves needs her privacy. You can’t be inviting yourself to stay with her.”
Delia’s face fell in disappointment at his words and she timidly looked toward Miss Reeves who was standing by the door holding the basket she’d brought back from town.
“Oh, it really wouldn’t be any trouble for her to stay, if you’ll allow it. Truthfully, I would welcome someone to keep me company and give me some help. I’m afraid my upbringing didn’t involve the use of outside pumps for water or having to use a wood stove or anything like that on my own. I’m a bit embarrassed to admit it but having Delia with me for a night or two would actually be quite helpful to me.”
Colt sensed that she might even be more nervous on her own than she was admitting to. His eyes