Page 61 of Cloaked in Beauty

A tightness banded his arm. He glanced down and found the bandage she’d fastened around his bicep. Her hand lingered on his arm, sending an awareness shooting through him that dared him to believe they could overcome whatever obstacles stood in the way of their being together.

Philip’s gut hardened. He was an investigator. One who sought facts, not a lackey who jumped to conclusions. He couldn’t know for sure how well he’d fit with Scarlett until she emerged. Only a coward would fail to follow the trail just because the chances of getting hurt outnumbered the chances of finding what he sought.

Feeling as quaky on the inside as he’d been on the outside for the last several hours, Philip steeled himself to embark on what could be the most important case of his career. He lifted his gaze to peer into her face and made a silent vow. He’d not be a coward. He’d see where the trail led and gather the evidence he needed to make an informed decision. It would take time, patience, and more self-control than any case he’d worked before, but his gut told him she was worth the effort.

“Thank you, Letty.” He raised his left hand and ran the backs of his fingers over her cheek in a soft caress.

Her lashes curtained her eyes, but she didn’t move away from his touch.

“I haven’t been thinking too clearly of late,” he admitted, “but now that my wits are returning, there are a few things that have become clear.”

Slowly her lashes lifted to reveal the prettiest pair of hazel eyes he’d likely ever see.

“You are a remarkable woman.” He ran his palm over her shoulder and down her arm until he covered her hand with his. He twined his fingers through hers, and her breath hitched. His chest tightened in response. “You’re selfless and brave, putting the needs of others ahead of your own, even when ordered not to.” He smiled to let her know he was teasing and not scolding, just in case she had any doubts. “You’re strong and intelligent and as tenderhearted as you are stubborn.”

Her eyes had widened with each compliment, and Philip worried he’d said too much too soon. His gaze slid to her mouth, and the urge to close the distance between them and press his lips to hers grew so intense, he nearly surrendered. But he was still on duty, and he’d not do anything to dishonor her or himself. Reeling in his emotions, he slid his fingers away from hers and lowered himself back onto the chair.

“I don’t think I would have survived the day without you.”

Her gaze followed him, seizing his attention and making it impossible to look away. “I’m glad you did,” she said, her voice slightly husky. “I care about you, Philip. I don’t want any harm to come to you, especially on my account.”

“I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you, Letty. Without hesitation or regret.”

“I know.” She dipped her chin, and his chest immediately ached at the loss of her gaze. “That’s what worries me.”

28

The rain stopped by early evening, making it easier for Letty to fetch wood and check on the horses. Philip and Rusty had both napped for the past two hours after she’d dragged one of the thin ticks from a bunk and laid it close to the stove. Philip hadn’t wanted to lie down, mumbling some nonsense about being on duty, but when she caught him nodding off in his chair for the third time, she’d insisted.

Letty grinned as she pulled a log from the woodpile to join the growing stack in her arms. Rusty had snuggled up beside Philip as he slept, and Philip had welcomed her pet, even scooting over on the mattress to give the wolf a share of the padding. Her two brave protectors. Friends at last.

She probably should have taken some time to rest herself, but her mind was too full to sleep. The well-being of their little group rested on her shoulders now, and she intended to ensure they not only survived but thrived. The responsibility weighed heavily on her, but she didn’t regret taking it on for even a moment. In a way, it actually invigorated her. Gave her a sense of purpose she’d never really experienced before. She knew the weight of duty and expectations and the dread they brought, but this was different. This felt more like an honor. A calling.

Letty’s hand stilled a few inches short of the next log in the pile. Was this how her mother felt toward her employees? Like they depended on her to protect them from harm and enable them to flourish? The weight of one man and a wolf tugged heavily on Letty’s heart. How much greater must that weight be with the welfare of dozens or even hundreds of lives hanging in the balance?

Her outstretched fingers trembled. I didn’t understand, Mama. How could she when she’d never been responsible for anyone but herself?

For years, she’d felt betrayed by her mother’s choice, despite Grandmother’s explanations that her mother hadn’t just stayed for her employees, she’d stayed to protect Letty. To frustrate Uncle Drake’s schemes and stay apprised of any progress he might make in his hunt for her. Letty had only understood the hurt of being sent away.

A small part of her had believed her mother valued her employees and her desire for social reform above having a relationship with her daughter. Only now could Letty see the impossibility of the choice her mother had been forced to make. No matter what she decided, someone depending on her would suffer. She could leave her daughter in the care of a loving grandmother who would cherish and protect her, or she could leave dozens of employees in the hands of a man who would abuse their loyalty and steal bread from their tables. And what of her husband’s legacy? He and Mama had stood for something important, had built something that could impact labor policies across the state or even across the nation. Policies that could reach into the future and protect thousands of children. That wasn’t something to be taken lightly.

Her mother had made the best choice she could in an untenable situation. It was time to let go of a child’s hurt and make room for a woman’s understanding.

As her mind settled, so did her hand. She grabbed the last piece of wood and headed back to the bunkhouse, dodging as many puddles as she could manage. Her shoes were still damp, and she didn’t want to restart the drying process from the beginning.

Letty opened the door as quietly as she could so as not to disturb the nappers, but when her gaze skimmed over the mattress, she found Philip’s sleep-heavy eyes staring at her. Her breath caught, and for a heartbeat, she forgot what she was doing. Then his lids drooped shut again, and reality returned. Goodness. She really should be used to his gaze by now. Only, his gaze had changed. The guardedness had dissolved in the rain, it seemed. When he looked at her now, she saw things that had been hidden before. Vulnerabilities. Emotions. Desires.

She nibbled her lower lip as she clicked the door shut and crossed to the stove, recalling the way he’d looked at her after she’d bandaged his arm. He’d wanted to kiss her. She’d recognized the truth the moment his gaze caressed her mouth. She hadn’t known what to do, so she’d done nothing. Just waited, her nerves tingling. The air between them had crackled with possibilities, and a longing built in her belly. She’d wanted him to kiss her. To prove that he saw her not as a duty but as a woman. A woman he could love. For that’s how she saw him. As a man she could love. A man she did love.

Letty quirked a grin as she quietly placed the wood into the box next to the stove. She really should have admired Philip’s restraint when he’d pulled back without touching his lips to hers, but what she’d felt instead had been a mixture of disappointment and embarrassment. So she’d busied herself with tending Rusty’s scrapes while doing her best not to look Philip in the eye. She’d thought she’d regained her equilibrium while he’d been napping, but the moment his gaze met hers, all those feelings came rushing right back to the surface.

Ordering herself to put her mind back where it belonged, like listing the ingredients she needed to cook up some fry bread to go with their second helping of chicken soup, she pulled off her damp shoes and left them close to the stove next to Philip’s boots. Hopefully they would finish drying overnight. She lingered by the stove a few minutes, wiggling her toes and holding her hands out to absorb as much heat as possible before she hunted up a lantern. The bunkhouse had warmed considerably over the last few hours, but the building had sat vacant long enough to fall into disrepair. Wind and cold seeped through numerous cracks, making the floorboards rather chilly against her bare feet. What she wouldn’t give for a dry pair of stockings.

“Come over here.” Philip’s sleep-roughened voice brought her head around. He adjusted his blanket to keep his chest covered and pushed into a sitting position. “The bedding’s warm. It’ll take the chill off your toes.” He patted the mattress, and she couldn’t help but notice the impression of his sleeping form that had been left behind in the tick.

“I’m sorry I woke you.”

“Don’t be,” he grumbled as he waved her over. “If I’d slept any longer, I woulda been up all night. Now get those feet over here before all the heat Rusty and I worked so hard to generate escapes.” He aimed a scowl in her direction that got her feet moving.