“No,” she answered as she met Lewt’s stare. “I’m the reason he got hurt. I’ll do it.”
When she pushed the needle through his skin, she expected Lewt to yell or swear. She’d patched up her share of cowhands and learned to turn a deaf ear to their language when they were hurting, but Lewt didn’t say a word. He jerked a bit, then seemed to set his jaw against the pain.
Em finished as fast as she could, pulling the flesh together and lathering it with ointment. As she wrapped the wound, she said the first words she’d said to him for over an hour. “It’ll heal fine.” Her fingers slid over the tight muscle of his leg as she wrapped the bandage.
He nodded as she tied the knot. “Thanks.”
She stood. “Sumner will help pull you a clean set of clothes from the store. There’s boots behind you on the shelf. Most are well used, but they’ll do better than those.” She glanced at his ruined half boots. “Pull a pair that fit. They’re good clothes for this part of the country and far more durable than that suit you had on. If you go out riding again, they’ll serve you far better.”
“I can pay . . .”
“It’s not necessary. Despite all the questions, you put in a good day’s work. I figure you earned them.” She turned her back and waited on the other side of the tack room while he dressed. She told herself she’d just touched a man where no proper lady ever would, but it had been necessary. He needed doctoring. He didn’t belong out here. Though not invited by her, he was a guest. She should have taken better care of him. Some of the things they’d done today could have waited, but she’d pushed.
When he stepped up beside her, she was shocked at the change in him. If she didn’t know better she’d think he usually wore western clothes and never a suit. The heavy wool trousers fit his long legs well, and the shirt made his shoulders look broader than the black suit jacket had.
“Thanks for all you taught me today,” he said. “I’ll see you at dawn tomorrow morning.”
“You want to go again?”
“Of course. Unless you’ve changed your mind about letting me tag along.”
“I haven’t,” she said, then added, “I can use the fifty dollars.”
He turned and placed the worn coat on the nail beside the door. Though his back was to her and his voice low, she had no trouble hearing his words.
“I really am sorry about touching your shoulder. I meant you no harm.”
“I know,” she whispered back. She wouldn’t . . . couldn’t talk about what had happened between them. It would mean explaining something that had happened many years ago, and she never planned to talk about that with anyone. Not ever. She forced her thoughts to the present. “If the cut bleeds, have Sumner look at it in the morning.”
Without a word, they walked toward the house. Em could see the lamps being lit.
“Despite everything, M,” he said softly, without looking at her, “I liked riding with you today. I think I felt more alive today then I have in years.”
“Fresh air,” she said.
“And honest company,” he added.
Em swallowed. How could he think she’d been honest? Didn’t he know she’d just taken him alone to show him up?
She waited on the porch as he stepped inside. She didn’t want to go in. It was almost time for supper, but she wouldn’t be joining her sisters tonight. She’d wash up, then go back to the barn until Rose put a light in the mudroom, and then she’d circle the house so that no one would see her entering the sewing room.
Em had a feeling when she finally closed her eyes tonight she’d have trouble sleeping. Her head seemed too full.
CHAPTER 9
LEWT WASHED UP ON WHAT LOOKED LIKE A CLOSED-IN porch, then joined the others for dinner. The meal was excellent, the conversation lively, but he found himself holding back. Part of him wasn’t ready to share with strangers all that had happened to him today. Rose seemed pleased that he’d wanted to take a look at the ranch, but Bethie said she missed him terrible. Lewt didn’t know that he believed either one of them.
He hadn’t lied to M. In a strange way he’d felt more alive today than he could ever remember feeling. He liked breathing