Page 51 of In Honor’s Defense

“He’s not here.” Damaris took the envelope, her flutters increasing at the sight of her name next to Luke’s on the front.

“Where’d he go?” Nathaniel’s eyes shuttered a bit as uncertainty overrode excitement. “He didn’t say nothin’ about leaving when I headed out for school this mornin’.”

“He’ll be back. Soon, I hope.” How well she understood Nathaniel’s wariness. With all the time he and Luke had been spending together the last few days, she wouldn’t be surprised if he dreaded Luke’s departure as much as she did. She turned her mouth up in a reassuring grin, hoping it looked more convincing than it felt. “He took Titan into town. Said he wanted to see how his injuries held up in the saddle.”

The furrows in Nathaniel’s brow smoothed, and enthusiasm reignited in his gaze. “We don’t have to wait on him, do we? It’s got your name on it. That means we can open it. Right?”

“Why not?” The boy had had enough disappointments in his life of late. She didn’t have the heart to deny him such a small request. Not to mention the fact that she’d never been very good at subduing her own curiosity.

Sharing a conspiratorial wink with her nephew, Damaris flipped the small envelope over and tore open the flap. Her breath caught as she pulled the message out and read the first words.

Baby arrived. Eleanor Louise.

All well. Matt

“The Hangers had their baby!” Joy for her new friend swelled through Damaris’s chest, and her soul reached out to the Lord in silent gratitude. “A little girl.” She handed the telegram to Nathaniel so he could read it for himself.

“Eleanor Louise? That’s an awful big name for a tiny baby.”

“I’m sure they’ll shorten . . .”

The dull sound of approaching hoofbeats distracted her, leaving her sentence to taper away into nothing as she turned her attention to the road. Her heart leapt at the sight of Titan cantering toward them, Luke upright in the saddle.

Nathaniel dashed off to meet him, waving the telegram in the air. Damaris’s feet followed at a respectable pace even as her heart galloped like a racehorse at the derby.

Luke slowed his mount as he entered the yard, his eyes finding hers before his gaze shifted to Nathaniel. Her pulse stuttered, and a flood of warmth unleashed within her midsection at his small display of preference.

“Dr. Jo had her baby!” Nathaniel announced as he came abreast of Titan. “A girl!”

The worry and discomfort lining Luke’s features disappeared in an instant. A broad grin split his face. “Boy, howdy. You don’t say. Cap’s got himself a daughter?” A deep chuckle rolled out of him. “I feel sorry for the boys who hope to court her someday. Riding through a battlefield might be easier on a fella than getting past Matt to his daughter. ’Course, if the girl’s as independent-minded as her mama, she’ll have her own say in the matter.”

“Well, it’s a good thing they have sixteen or seventeen years to prepare,” Damaris said, her smile widening when Luke turned the full effect of his grin in her direction.

Nathaniel chattered about the baby’s name and what nicknames he’d suggest while Luke brought Titan to a halt outside the barn and dismounted. Damaris didn’t miss the stiffness of Luke’s movements nor the tightness around his mouth as he made his way to the ground. He was hurting.

She wanted to help but wasn’t sure how to do so in a way that wouldn’t dent his pride. So she simply positioned herself at his side, ready to offer assistance in any way possible.

“You know,” Luke said, his face growing thoughtful as he took the telegram from Nathaniel without really looking at it, “maybe we ought to go for a visit. See the new baby. What do you think?”

Nathaniel gazed up at him, cautious hope in his eyes. “Me and Aunt Maris, too?”

Luke ruffled his hair. “Yep. You and your aunt, too.” He peered over the boy’s head to meet Damaris’s eyes.

A knot formed in her belly. Something was wrong. The way he looked at her, it was like he was trying to communicate a warning she didn’t understand.

Nathaniel ducked away from Luke’s hand, moved to her side, and clasped her elbow. “Can we, Aunt Maris? Miss Tatum can give me school assignments early. She did that for Johnny Reed last month when his ma took sick and his pa sent him and his sister to stay with their grandparents in Huntsville.”

“I don’t know,” she murmured, unable to look away from Luke’s face as she tried to read him. Finally, she gave up and turned to her nephew. “Why don’t you take care of Titan while Mr. Davenport and I discuss it?”

“All right.” Nathaniel took charge of the reins and started leading Titan away. “But I vote we go.”

“Duly noted.” Damaris made a point to keep her voice light, but the moment Nathaniel disappeared into the barn, she dropped the façade. “What’s going on?”

Luke clasped her hand, his large palm engulfing hers in a way that should have brought comfort and security but, in this instance, only promised the revelation of bad news.

“The people who want your land aren’t going to stop.” His low tone sent a shiver down her spine. “In fact, I’m pretty sure they’re about to intensify their efforts. I need to get you and Nate out of here before that happens. Get you someplace safe. Someplace where you have more than me watching out for you.”

Damaris’s stomach dropped to her knees.