Lone Pine Bride (The Brides of Lone Pine #1)(27)

He turned on his side to look at her. “She sounds a nice person too. Do you have many friends?”

Rachel didn’t because she was an orphan living on a restricted income, he knew. She had told him that in her letter. But surely Hannah would be surrounded by friends because her family had money.

“No. A few acquaintance from church but they’re all married so they have their own lives.”

“I would think every man would want to marry you,” Seth said.

“Know me, not marry me. I seem to have the kind of face that attracts that sort of man.”

“You are beautiful,” he said with feeling.

“I wouldn’t go that far but you’re a real gentleman to say so. You’re a gentleman in every way.”

“No man has a right to force his attentions on a lady. That’s why you came here, you said.”

“Yes. I got a bit frightened sometimes because some of the men were married and associated with my father. One man particularly used to pester me. I’m also not getting any younger.”

“Is it impolite to ask a lady’s age?” Seth asked.

Hannah smiled. “I’m not really sure. I’m twenty three.”

Rache was nineteen, Seth thought, and Hannah almost the same age as him. He had thought nineteen a good age because really the man should be older. He had told Rachel he was twenty one in case she thought twenty three old. “I’m also twenty three,” he said. “I turn twenty four in a couple of weeks.”

“Are we getting old?”

“Not to a forty year old, I shouldn’t think. My mum is forty four but please don’t tell her I told you if you ever meet her.”

“I won’t.”

“Did you tell your father that man was annoying you?”

“No. I should have, I guess, but I didn’t want to upset him. I should have told my mother too. I realise now I was stupid.”

“You’re not stupid,” Seth said. “Really they should have noticed what was going on.” He frowned. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to criticise them and I’m sure if you’d told your father he would have done something about the situation. But you’ll be alright now because Seth will look out for you.”

“Yes.” Hannah sat up as the ground shook again and grabbed Seth’s hand. “We’d better move away from the rocks in case they slip and hit us.”

“Yes.” He stood and leant down to take her hand again. “Let’s go over there until it quietens.”

They walked back a few feet hand in hand and neither of them seemed to notice what they were doing as they turned to look at the rocks. But there was no further earth movement and Seth eventually walked back to the rocks.

“We have to go through the gully to get to my farm,” he said. “Maybe we should go back to Lower Pine because I don’t want to put you in danger.”

“I can climb over rocks,” Hannah said.

“Yes, but they might slip.”

“Take me back then,” she said a bit crossly, turning to walk in the direction they had come. She walked a few steps, stopped and put her face in her hands. He tore after her.

“Hannah?”

“I can’t meet him looking like this,” she said.

“You’re beau....” He paused. “No, you definitely can’t. You’re an absolute mess.”

She took her hands from her face and gave a weak smile. “You can’t go looking like that either. You’re dusty. Your hair needs washing and your face is a bit dirty. We washed when we were with Sadie but we’ve got dirty again.” She licked her finger and ran it down his face. “It definitely needs washing.”

“You could wash it with your spit,” he said, moving closer to her.

“Sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.” She held out her hand and cupped it. “Pour a tiny bit of water in my hand but not much because we need fluid.”

He opened the bottle, poured a few drops and she reached forward to jam the water on his face. She wiped round carefully with a handkerchief she took from her pocket. It was a man’s one, she told him, because their size was more practical. She also had a couple of ladies’ ones for when she met Seth.

“He won’t worry about that sort of thing,” Seth said. If he did he wasn’t good enough for Hannah. “Shall I do yours?” he continued.

“Thank you.” She stood quite still while he did it and for a few moments their gazes held. Stepping back, she began to walk towards the rocks.

“Where shall we climb?” she asked.

“About there, I think.” He pointed. “I’ll go first to test it and then I can help you up if you need it.”

“Alright.”

She watched him climb, a frown creasing her forehead. He was a nice shape, she thought, something she had never noticed in men because she wasn’t interested in them. She wasn’t interested in him either but he was a good person to have as a friend. He went up a bit and looked back.

“It seems solid,” he said. “You can come now.”

But as she went to put her foot up the earth shook again and she was terrified. “Jump,” she shouted.

“Run,” he added and jumped. They raced from the rocks and stood watching as a few of them tumbled to the ground. She moved right next to him and he looked down at her.