A Noble Groom (Michigan Brides #2)(39)

His grin inched higher. “Some?”

“Only a little.” Warmth curled around her heart, as it did whenever she entered into playful banter with him.

The dark brown of his eyes sparkled. “I suppose if I were to feed them corn every time I came into the barn, they’d like me better too.”

“Perhaps.”

“Or maybe it’s not so much the corn they like as the pretty face behind it.”

Ja, she had done the right thing. She should have done it sooner. She smiled, then nodded to the tub nestled among the fresh straw she’d laid in the empty stall. “I’ve brought you hot water for a bath.”

He glanced toward the tin barrel that also served as her laundry tub. Although it was big, a lanky man like him would still be cramped. Steam spiraled from the water, and she could only pray it would stay warm for a few more moments.

“Apparently I’m not the only one who can’t stand the awfulness of my smell.”

“Nein,” she said. “I didn’t mean that . . .”



“I can admit it.” His grin spread. “I stink worse than hydrogen sulfide.”

She had no idea what hydrogen sulfide was, another of his big words that made her wish she were brave enough to ask him more about his past.

“So if I didn’t stink so badly, do you think the horses would like me better?”

“Ja.” Should she play along? What if she said the wrong thing?

He watched her as if waiting for her to say more, as if he wanted her to join in his easy way of relating—a way that was unusual for her, especially with a man.

“Old Red,” she said slowly, “has begged me these past days to do something about your smell.”

He laughed, and the rumble loosened her tense muscles.

But then his smile faded, and his gaze turned somber. “Thank you,” he said. The gratefulness in his eyes reached out to her. And something else lingered there too, the same thing she’d seen last night when they’d knelt beside the bed together. She couldn’t say what it was, except that she’d wanted to be closer to him, to feel his arms around her again.

“You don’t know how many times I’ve wished to shed the grime of these past weeks.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t make a bath for you sooner.”

“Providing me with baths wasn’t part of our bargain.”

Neither was saving the life of a tiny puppy or rescuing her from Ward’s conniving ways. She rubbed her shoulder where the man had nearly torn her arm out of its socket. The pain had been terrible, but even worse had been the fear that Gretchen would have to witness a murder and live with that memory the rest of her life.

If Carl hadn’t walked in when he did, she wasn’t sure what she would have done. She’d resisted signing the document until Ward had finally wrenched her arm behind her back and forced her to sit in the chair. She didn’t want to think what the man would have done next.

“I didn’t thank you yet for what you did last night,” she said.

“I don’t need a thank-you.”

“I wanted to do something . . .” She glanced away from the intensity in his eyes. “You must hurry now, before the water cools.”

He started toward the stall, shedding his coat.

“Make sure you wash your hair with the lye soap.”

“Do you think it will kill the herd of lice that’s made a home on my head?”

“It should if you lather your hair well, rinse, and then apply the salve I’ve left for you.”

He began unbuttoning his shirt. She glanced away and focused on unbridling Bets. But heat spread to her face nevertheless.

“So I put the salve in my hair?”

“Ja. Smear it over all of your hair. Coat it well.”

“Then I’ll be cured?”

“Leave it on for a little while, then wash it out.”

“I’d wear it for a week if I needed to. Anything to be rid of the vermin.”

A smile tugged at her lips. “Just a little while. And then you’ll sleep in peace tonight.”

He was silent for a moment.

And when she chanced another glance in his direction, too late she realized he was in the process of tugging an undervest over his head, exposing the hard, smooth flesh of his back.

Mortified, she sucked in a breath and ducked her head behind Bets. Urgency prodded her to move faster, to take care of the horses, and to return to the house so that she could give Carl the privacy he would want.



When he gave a low, pleasurable groan that was accompanied by the sloshing of water, she forced herself to work quicker and not to peek into the dark stall.

As she finished the chores, she paused at the barn door and rested her forehead against the grainy wood. She didn’t understand the strange desire swelling in her chest. She’d never wanted to be near Hans. She’d always made a point of staying as far away from him as possible. What was it about Carl that made her want to linger?

“Carl?” she said softly.

“Yes?”

There was a hint of longing in his voice. Was he feeling the same pull? She shivered with the new sensation tightening her insides. But even so, she knew she must go. She couldn’t allow herself to think of him anymore.

“There are clean garments for you.”