Lone Pine Bride (The Brides of Lone Pine #1)(17)

“You’re a beautiful woman,” he replied.

“Thank you.”

She really wanted to tell him all the reasons she wasn’t beautiful but her mother had taught her not to do that. If he was just being polite it really didn’t matter and she didn’t feel self conscious with him the way she knew she probably would with the other Seth. But this Seth still looked alright, despite being a bit grubby from their activities.

“You look alright yourself,” she said.

“I’m no great beauty,” he replied.

“You’re very good looking. Is Seth good looking?”

“Far better looking than me.” And maybe to a woman he would be, Seth thought, so he wasn’t lying. But definitely not good looking enough for this lady because she was outstanding. Except that he mustn’t be thinking that because it wasn’t seemly and particularly in view of his bride to be. It hadn’t been seemly to hug her and he still didn’t know why he did it.

But he and Hannah had been together for about eighteen hours and he felt they had some affinity. She wouldn’t feel that, of course, because she didn’t like the way they wanted her to return to Lower Pine. But she hadn’t returned and somehow he was glad she hadn’t.

“Was the journey a good one?” he asked.

“The scenery was very pretty. It changes as you cross America so it never gets boring.”

Hannah frowned as the earth began to shake. “Are we going to have another earthquake? That’s happened a few times.”

“It’s what they call aftershocks, I think.” He grabbed her as the shaking became more violent and they both ran a few feet. Putting his arm round her he held her tightly. She put her arm round him and clutched onto him.

The movement only lasted for a few seconds but neither noticed when it ceased as they stood holding each other. It seemed as if time had stopped for them and everything was going in slow motion. It seemed as if the moment would last forever. But eventually Seth took his arm away and tried to make his tone sound casual as Hannah moved from him. “That was quite a movement, wasn’t it?”

She started to walk on. “Yes, it was. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hang on so hard. It makes a person feel a bit disoriented when the earth is moving under you. It usually feels so solid. Thank you for holding me up.”

His tone was a bit gruff. “That’s alright. I wasn’t trying to be familiar. I just didn’t want you to fall.”

“I know that. We’re both engaged, anyway. Seth said he would buy me a ring when I got here but that will have to wait until everything is settled. Maybe our marriage will have to wait too. I do hope none of his family is hurt.”

“So do I,” Seth said, thinking of his mother. Hopefully she was too far away in Los Angeles to be affected but the quake had been terrible and probably spread a few miles at least.

“Do you think he would like a ring?” Hannah continued. “I wasn’t sure if men would want one. You’re a man. What do you think?”

He smiled widely as he looked at her. What she said sounded so good though he didn’t quite know why. “Yes, I am a man.”

She looked back at him, giggled then began to laugh. The most musical laugh he had ever heard, he felt. “Sorry.” She straightened her face, he chuckled and she giggled again.

“As a man I would definitely like a ring,” he said. “If you show it to me I’ll give you my opinion.”

She dug into a large pocket in her skirt, one he had not seen because it was hidden under a fold but from where she had got a few things. Taking out a little box she opened it. “It was expensive but I’m quite well off. Well, my father is though I have some of my own money which my great grandparents left me. Try it on and see if it fits you.”

“Put it on my finger,” he said, holding out his hand.

She slipped it on and he looked at it. “It fits perfectly,” he said. “Shall I show you mine so you can also give your opinion? It’s not at all expensive because I don’t have a lot of money but I got the best I could afford. Tell me if you think it looks too cheap and I’ll see what I can do about getting another one.”

“I’d love to see it.”

He dug into his pocket, took out a box similar to the one she had and the ring stood majestically on the box’s velvet base. He took it out and Hannah stroked the velvet.

“That feels nice,” she said.

“Nicer than the ring?”

She laughed, the kind of laugh that was infectious, he thought, and the kind it would be nice to hear. How he hoped Rachel had a laugh like that.

“Can I put it on your finger?” he asked.

“Will she mind if you do?”

“Do I have to tell her?”

“Maybe you’d better not.”

Hannah held out her right hand. “Your left,” he said. “I want to see the full effect.”

“You definitely mustn’t tell her. Well, not near me in case she claws my eyes out though I don’t think any of the ladies who came here would do that. They all seemed nice and we got on very well.”

Seth slid on the ring. “Hold out your hand,” he said. She did so and he surveyed it carefully. It was not as small as Rachel said hers was but it was smooth, the fingers were long and it was definitely not dainty though very nice. It was a strong hand, he knew, by the work she had been doing.