Captured by Love (Michigan Brides #3)(25)
She turned toward the edge of the woods and the shadows made by the balsam fir trees. As much as she liked the heat of the May sunshine on her bare head, she was safer within the confines of her bonnet and hidden among the undergrowth of the woods.
Maybe she didn’t love Jean or even feel anything for him beyond simple brotherly affection, but Jean was safe. And that was all that really mattered. He would protect her and provide a good home for her.
After Pierre had left, Jean had sought her out every day. At the time she’d been lonely and needed him. They’d spent countless hours together, working, hiking, talking. Jean had been so kind. He’d been more than willing to help her put her friendship with Pierre into the grave.
“You’re right,” she said through a tight chest. “You’re in no place to question my decision. You haven’t been here in five years, and you’ll be gone again in five days’ time. So please don’t say anything more about Jean and me.”
With that, she pulled away from his grip and resumed her stride across the open field. When he didn’t follow, her footsteps faltered.
“You’re angry with me about something else too, aren’t you?” he called after a moment.
She took several more steps before finally stopping and spinning to face him across the span of long yellowed grass left from the previous summer, with the shoots of fresh green beginning to break through to take their place.
His shoulders had slumped, and he’d stuck his thumbs into the waistband of his trousers.
She didn’t know what to say. Yes, if she was honest with herself, she had to admit that she was angry with him. Angry with him for leaving five years ago. Angry that he’d leave again soon. Angry that he could come home and make her care so much again in such a short time.
“What are you mad about?” he asked.
Should she tell him the truth? What good would come of letting him know that when he’d left he’d broken her heart? And that when he left again, he’d break her heart all over again.
“Please tell me what I did, Angelique. I can’t stand the thought of you being angry with me.” His eyes pleaded with her.
“Why didn’t you stop to see Miriam that morning you were on the island?”
“Oh, so that’s all?” The wrinkles smoothed from his forehead. “You’re mad because I didn’t visit Maman?”
If only that were all. She gave a soft sigh. “Don’t you think you could have made an effort to see her? If it were me, I wouldn’t have been able to wait a single minute longer.”
“Believe me, I wanted to see her more than anything. I stopped and watched her through the window, even though I was running late getting off the island.” He gave her a pointed look. “Which as it turns out was a good thing.”
“Why were you on the island in the first place?”
He hesitated, glancing around to the cabin behind them, then to the scraggly weed-filled garden, to the deserted barn and overgrown fields, and finally to the woods beyond her. He shook his head and lowered his voice. “It would be safer for both our sakes if we pretended I was never here that morning.”
She wanted to probe further, to find out his troubles. But she was running out of time. If she didn’t leave enough time to clean up before her tea with Miss McDouall, Ebenezer would discipline her. “Just promise me one thing, Pierre.”
“Anything.”
“Promise me you won’t stay away from home for so long next time and hurt Miriam again.”
His lips curved into a gentle smile, one that reminded her of Miriam’s. “I promise.”
The anger swirling through her chest disappeared like a mist chased away by sunshine.
“I was a fool to stay away from my family. I can see that now. But I’ve changed, Angelique. I’m a different man, and I’m trying to please God with how I live. I’ll prove to you that I’m not the same foolish boy anymore.”
She wanted to believe him, wanted to believe that maybe he really had grown up in the time he’d been gone. “And just how are you going to prove that you’re not a foolish boy anymore?” she teased. “Are you going to stop splashing unsuspecting swimmers and scaring them half to death?”
He grinned. “Of course not. That would require way too much change, and you can’t expect miracles.”
“Then how are you going to prove you’ve given up your wild ways?” She’d never tire of bantering with him. She could only pray that the little of him she’d seen and the fun they’d had that morning would be enough to carry her through until he came back to the island again.
His face grew serious, and he peered back at the cabin. His dark eyes filled with something that made her shiver in spite of the sunshine pouring over her.
“I’ve decided . . .” he started, but then stopped.
Her body tensed, and she wasn’t sure that she wanted him to say anything more.
He turned to face her, steeled his shoulders, and seemed to dig deep within himself. “I’ve decided I’m going to stay for a few more weeks, fix things up around here, and get the fields and garden planted.”
For a long moment her heart stopped beating. His words were too good to be true. And she didn’t dare move, not even to breathe, for fear that he’d follow up with a jest and she’d discover he was only teasing her again.