A Noble Groom (Michigan Brides #2)(43)

His eyes widened, turning them into dark puddles, as if he was thinking the same thing.

A terrified squeal split the silence.

Annalisa jumped and pulled her hand free. Her gaze darted first to the bed, where Gretchen was still tucked under the blankets, eyes closed in peaceful slumber, then to the hearth where Snowdrop was resting.

The pup raised his head and stared at the door. He gave a low growl.

She took a breath, her heart thudding. All that mattered was that Gretchen was safe.

Another shrill squeal sounded, clearly coming from outside.

Carl pushed up from his chair and grabbed his coat.

Snowdrop rose and gave another growl, one more menacing.

Her mind scrambled to make sense of the noise.

The squealing turned vicious and mingled with snarling and snapping. Carl’s brow rose.

“I think it’s the sow.” She crossed to the door and grabbed the rifle from the rack. “Something’s attacking the sow.”

But before she could open the door, Carl had blocked it with his body. “Let me go out and see what it is.”

She shook her head. “I can’t lose her. She’ll soon farrow, and I must have the piglets.”

He held the door closed with the toe of his boot.

“I’m not a weak woman. And I can handle the gun.”

“I know you can. But as you said, you have to think about your children.” He looked pointedly at her swelling abdomen. “And I have no one. It won’t matter if I get hurt.”

She hesitated.

The pig squealed again, this time angrily.

His fingers circled the rifle just above her hold. His gentle gaze pleaded with her. How could she say no to him, not with such tender concern written on his face? She loosened her grip and stepped back.

He tucked the gun under his arm, reached for the lantern, and opened the door.

A whoosh of cold air sent shivers over her skin.

He nodded solemnly and then stepped outside into the darkness.

“Be careful,” she called after him.

He tossed a grin over his shoulder. “If I don’t come back tonight, you can rest assured I saved your pig’s life and became the marauding creature’s supper instead.”

“Nein. I would much rather lose the pig than you.” Even as the words tumbled out, she wished she could pull them back.

He was already halfway across the farmyard, holding the lantern high. Perhaps he hadn’t heard her blatant declaration.

“Stay in the cabin,” he called. “I would much rather lose the pig than you too.”

Chagrin pushed her back inside. She closed the door and leaned against it. “What am I doing?”

She couldn’t understand the gusts of emotions raging through her. All she knew was that she must stop letting such feelings get the best of her.

The bang of the gun echoed in the clear night air, followed by a flurry of squealing and Carl’s shouting. Then silence descended.

She pressed her ear against the planks of the door and listened for him, but the rapid thud of worry drowned out all else.

Had he been hurt? She flung open the door. “Carl?”

The lantern sat on a stump near the barn. The rays cast eerie fragments of broken light. But the dimness didn’t reach the outside pen.

Had the wild animal carried Carl away?

She strained to see through the darkness and for a long moment couldn’t breathe. The chill in the air and the unnatural quietness sent a shiver up her spine.

The sow gave an unhappy snort, letting Annalisa know she had survived but had been displeased with the ordeal.

“Carl?” she called again, louder.

“I thought I told you to stay inside.” He rounded the corner of the barn, and the light illuminated his face, revealing frustration.

“I didn’t hear your voice anymore.” Her shoulders sagged with relief. “I thought maybe you were hurt.”

“That was the biggest bear I’ve ever seen.” He peered into the dark shadows, keeping the rifle pointed and ready to fire.

“You’re unharmed, then?”

“Other than nearly dying of fright, I’m perfectly fine.” He shot her a glance. “Why are you outside? Go back in where you’re safe.”

“We have nothing to fear now. The bear’s gone. You’ve scared it away for tonight.”

He searched the edges of the darkness as if to be sure she was right. “Just when I begin to think America is tolerable, I realize once again how out of place I am here.”

His words reminded her that he wasn’t like the other men, not even like any schoolteacher she’d ever known. “Do you miss your home terribly?”

“Well, let’s just say I’ve never had to scare enormous bears away from pigs where I come from.”

“Then you don’t like the farming life?”

He gave a short laugh that was devoid of his usual humor. “I’m not a farmer, and I never will be.”

At his words, disappointment whispered at her. She didn’t know why she cared if he liked farming or not. He would soon leave to make a life of his own somewhere else. She’d never see him again.



And if he ever decided to stay, there could never be anything between them, not when she was pledged to marry another man, a man who was leaving everything and coming to America specifically to help her save the farm.