Captured by Love (Michigan Brides #3)(34)

She glanced over the dark loam of the freshly plowed field. The weeds were gone and the soil ready for sowing. The far fence along the west side of the field had been repaired. The long grass and weeds around the cabin had been cut, the roof repaired, the barn door fixed. Pierre had even purchased a cow and a dozen hens in St. Ignace.

He’d obviously worked tirelessly for long hours. With his own required labor on the new fort, she wondered when he found time to sleep.

A spot of sweat plastered his shirt to his back, defining his chiseled muscles. The June sun was high and hot, but after the long Michigan winter, she never complained about the warm temperatures of summer. They were too fleeting, and she knew she must enjoy every second.

Just like she knew she must savor every second of Pierre’s time on the island. He too was as fleeting as the summer.

She could sense the urgency within him to complete the farm tasks so that he could be on his way. He didn’t find joy in the farm the way Jean did. He was only pouring out his energy so he could move on to bigger and better things.

With a sigh, Angelique rubbed a fresh handful of sand in the bowl, letting the coarse grains slip between her fingers.

Why must he go?

“I’ve enjoyed this week of having you here at the noon hour,” Miriam said, her hand growing still on the kittens curled in her lap—two fluffy mousers Pierre had brought to his mother only yesterday, more evidence that he was preparing to leave them. “Even though you’re done with your work at the fort, will you find a way to come join us for dinner again tomorrow?”

“I’ll try.” Angelique sat back on her heels. “But you know Ebenezer. He’ll be keeping a close watch on all my activities.”

“Maybe he’ll be too busy with all of his business now.”

Ebenezer was always busier in the summer when the inn was full of customers . . . and the beach overflowing with Indian women.

Angelique gave an involuntary shudder at the thought of him slinking out the back door of the tavern last evening. She’d wished she had a place to hide so that she didn’t have to witness the angry ripple across Betty’s face or listen to her whispered curses. It hadn’t taken Betty long to figure out where Ebenezer went and what he did when he left the tavern in the evenings.

“I might be able to sneak over occasionally.” Angelique wished her days of work at the fort didn’t have to end. After Pierre had asked the officer in charge to give her lighter duties, she’d found her days there almost pleasant. She’d had freedom from Ebenezer’s constant control, along with the precious hours at noon to spend with Miriam and Pierre.

Miriam’s fingers began their gentle caressing again of the kittens. “Be careful, Angel. I don’t want you to get in trouble with Ebenezer.”

“Speaking of getting in trouble, I should probably be heading back to Fort George.” She pushed up from the ground, brushing the sand from her skirt. Even the walk to and from the fort had been something she’d looked forward to all week. The time alone with Pierre for the short hike had filled her hungry heart, even if they’d done nothing more than chatter and joke.

As if he’d been watching her out of the corner of his eye, Pierre rose and tossed his hammer into the grass. “Ready?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“Oui. I could pay for you to have the entire afternoon free,” he offered with a grin.

“See, I told you that you couldn’t hang on to your money.”

“Why have money if you can’t use it for a good cause?” He started toward her, taking off his hat and wiping his sweaty brow.

Her mind returned to the afternoon when they’d perched on the rock and how she’d dared to take off his hat and touch his hair. Her pulse still lurched every time she remembered the way he’d pressed a handful of her hair to his lips—almost as if he’d wanted to kiss her but had settled on her hair instead.

He hadn’t taken her cap off since that day. He’d kept a proper distance between them and had almost seemed to go out of his way to treat her like a friend and nothing more.

She crossed to Miriam and placed a kiss against the woman’s head. In the two weeks that Pierre had been back on the island, Miriam had blossomed like one of the spring flowers. Not only was his work around the farm helpful to her, but his sweetness and his smiles were the sunshine that brought everything to life.

How had they lived without him for five years?

“I could use a cool swim right about now,” he said, scratching his damp hair before replacing his hat. “What do you say we stop by the swimming hole for a dip before heading back to the fort?”

She could only laugh at the impulsiveness of his suggestion. On the one hand, he’d matured. But on the other, he was still the same fun-loving boy he’d always been. “I’m sure the captain would be quite shocked to see me arrive for my afternoon duties soaking wet.”

“You can take off your clothes for swimming like you always have.”

Miriam gave a soft gasp.

Heat rushed to Angelique’s cheeks.

“Now, Pierre,” Miriam said, “remember, times have changed—Angelique has changed—from when she went swimming with you and Jean all those years ago.”

Angelique couldn’t make herself look at Pierre. Was he thinking about the time when he’d found her in the pond and jumped in next to her?