Page 18 of Beneath the Harvest Moon

“Let us move forward with our lives.”

Her arms swung like a soldier on parade. “I do not deserve to forget.”

They marched on to the chirping of birds.

Eventually, her pace slowed, and she said, “You are too kind for your own good.”

“As you have mentioned before.”

Finally, her gaze met his. “Do you truly think we can be friends again?”

“We can manage for the duration of your visit.”

“What if…?”

A flicker of hope stirred. No! He re-buried it.

Blythe shook her head. “I should not trouble you. You should not waste your time speaking to me after⁠—”

“I thought we had agreed to forget the past.”

“Gabriel,” she said his name on a long sigh, and warmth oozed across his chest.

Don’t be a fool! Perhaps they should maintain a polite distance as nothing more than residents of the same village.

“You make it too easy to talk to you. You always did. I have missed your friendship, but I cannot expect you to fall back into our old habits. It is incredibly selfish of me.”

When they reached the stone gateway of Silverdale, he wrapped a hand around her upper arm before she entered the yard.

“I do not care.” By the devil, he was an idiot, but being at odds with Blythe jumbled his insides. “Confide in me.”

Her deep-blue gaze locked onto his. Let her go! This would only end in pain, but common sense had flown out of the window like a trapped bird.

She blinked, then said, “I have not been happy of late and⁠—”

“Blythe!” John Dixon’s loud call drew their attention.

Damnation! Would he have another opportunity to speak to her again?

Blythe shook off his hold. “What is wrong, John?”

Her brother ran towards them, holding his battered straw hat to his head. “We must make haste! The wheat is ready, and we must harvest the crop while the weather holds.” John’s chest heaved. “Mam is beside herself trying to get things organised, and I must go to Beverley to hire more hands. The spring barley has yet to be brought in, but we cannot wait.”

John nodded at Gabriel. “Doctor Sharpe, I will need you in the fields on the morrow.” Without waiting for a reply, he hurried back to the gig that the stable boy had rolled up outside the farmhouse.

“I apologise. John is distressed due to managing the harvest alone.” She stepped back. “No doubt you have patients who need you.”

“Actually, I have a free day tomorrow. My usual visit to Baron Lipton has been postponed while he attends a funeral.”

Blythe fiddled with her reticule, then said, “Thank you for escorting me home.”

“It was my pleasure.”

Their gazes locked for interminable seconds before Blythe headed across the yard. After a few steps, she turned on her heel. “Thank you, Gabriel, for being you.” She offered a weak smile before entering the farmhouse.

CHAPTER 7

In the kitchen, Mama packed baskets with bread and cheese while Jane watched from the rocking chair in the corner and grimaced.