Page 50 of More Than Meets the Eye

He glanced into the cellar as he folded the trap door shut. Or maybe she’d figured out who he really was.

The twinge in his chest intensified into a full-on throb.

20

“Are you sure you’re all right? You gave us quite a scare.” Christie paused in applying salve to the torn places on Evangeline’s right palm in order to watch her new friend’s face.

Evangeline smiled and nodded. “Yes. I’m fine. Nothing but a few scrapes and some wounded pride.” She rolled her eyes. “It was my own fault for sticking my nose where it didn’t belong.” She touched Christie’s knee with her left hand. “I’m sorry I worried everyone.”

The two girls had secreted themselves in their room, Evangeline having declared that she needed to wash up and change after her ordeal, and Christie insisting she could handle the minor doctoring required without male oversight.

Christie dabbed a final bit of salve on the padded area beneath Evangeline’s thumb. The touch stung, even with her careful ministrations. Evangeline winced but forced her hand to remain still until Christie had finished.

“I’ve never seen Seth so worked up,” Christie said as she wrapped a linen bandage around Evangeline’s hand. “I feared his lungs would seize.”

Evangeline’s heart warmed at the young woman’s concern for her brother. Maybe in time, she and Christie would be sisters in truth. Wouldn’t that be marvelous? Christie and Seth living here, she and Logan living across the way. She just needed to find a lady for Zach in order to complete the perfect fairy tale.

After Christie tied off the bandage and glanced up, Evangeline smiled and sidled closer to her on the edge of the bed. “I’m glad you’re looking out for him. He doesn’t like to be mothered, but it doesn’t hurt to have someone ready to fight on his behalf should the need arise.”

Red colored Christie’s cheeks. “You’re right about the mothering. He got mulish when I suggested he leave the searching to Zach.” She nibbled her bottom lip as if debating whether or not to speak further, then bravely met Evangeline’s eyes. “I might have said something about him not doing you any good if he fell ill along the way,” she confessed. “He didn’t take too kindly to that.”

Evangeline chuckled. “No, I don’t suppose he did.” She leaned close and nudged Christie’s shoulder, careful to keep her lips in full view. “A man’s pride does tend to be a mite touchy. I’ve learned never to cast doubt on their abilities. Haranguing them over their pigheadedness, however, is perfectly acceptable.”

Christie laughed, and Evangeline joined in. Mercy, but she loved having a sister. Another woman to confide in was such a blessing. And speaking of confidences . . .

Evangeline darted a glance toward the door, ensuring it was closed.

Christie’s brow furrowed. “What is it?”

Evangeline felt her own cheeks warm as she struggled to meet Christie’s gaze. Keeping her voice so low it would be impossible for anyone to hear—and thanking the Lord for a friend who didn’t require any volume at all—Evangeline let the secret she’d been carrying inside all evening finally burst free.

“Logan kissed me,” she mouthed, barely more than a whisper giving life to the words.

Christie’s green eyes widened before crinkling joyfully as her gaping mouth curved into an excited smile. She bounced the mattress with her enthusiasm as she clasped Evangeline’s unbandaged hand. “Was it wonderful?”

Evangeline grinned and nodded. “I’ve never been kissed before,” she admitted, “so I don’t have anything to compare it to, but I don’t know how it could have been any better.” Once again she felt Logan’s strong arms circle her waist, the light touch of his fingers in her hair, the way her whole body hummed with excitement as his lips pressed against hers.

Oh, dear. It occurred to her that she might have actually hummed out loud. So much for impressing him with her sophistication.

Though, if memory served, Logan hadn’t seemed particularly distracted by her random noises. His focus had been quite extraordinary, under the circumstances.

Evangeline grabbed a small book off her bedside table and fanned her face. Goodness. Was Seth warming dinner with a bonfire out there? She swore the temperature in this room had just increased ten degrees.

“I’ve never been kissed, either,” Christie confided, leaning her head close. Evangeline set the book aside. “Never wanted to be. Not by any of the men who came around the house looking for Earl.”

She glanced toward the door. She didn’t say anything, but she didn’t really have to. Evangeline could read the longing on her face. The new men in her life were nothing like the old ones. Especially a particular fellow with blond hair, blue eyes, and a penchant for cooking. Not to mention reading. Evangeline had lost count of how many times she’d come home in the afternoon to find Christie and Seth sitting quietly together in the parlor, each with a book in hand. Lately, they’d even been spotted sharing the settee.

Evangeline squeezed Christie’s hand to regain her attention. “If it’s the right man, a kiss can make your heart sing.”

“Is that what happened with you and Logan?” Christie grinned shyly. “Did your heart sing?”

“Oh, yes.” Evangeline turned sheepish. “So much so that I fear I sang aloud, too. I’m praying he didn’t notice.”

Christie giggled. “I’ve seen the way Logan looks at you. You could sing the contents of an entire hymnal, and I don’t think he would care.”

Evangeline ducked her head, but she couldn’t stop the pleased smile stretching wide across her face. Was Christie right? Had Logan come to care for her enough over the last few weeks to overlook her idiosyncrasies?

Or more importantly, her snooping?