Page 37

Steps approached the kitchen and Kate put the bucket on the floor and returned to the table. She found the cloth and wiped the table without really knowing what she was doing. Her heart was like a raging wound. The pressure in her stomach increased.

Manning came into the kitchen, and without another word, proceeded into his attached room.

Kate exhaled. She didn’t think she could deal with him right now, knowing how much her presence was disturbing him. Ian came in, and something lightened in her heart.

“I—” he said.

She picked up the bucket again and went to the door. “I need to fetch water,” she said.

“Allow me.”

Ian moved to take the bucket from her hands. Their fingers touched briefly, sending a jolt of electricity through Kate. She jerked her hand back.

“Don’t worry, I’ll manage,” she said. “I’m perfectly capable.”

Ian glanced at her, puzzled. “Aye,” he said. “I am certain, ye are.”

She marched out of the house. Steps followed her, surprisingly.

She put the bucket on the stone wall of the well and turned to him.

“Listen, Ian, I really don’t want to inconvenience anyone, least of all you. You’ve been kind to me, and I don’t want to take any more of your patience. Just, please, tell me if you want me to go.”

He frowned. “What?”

“I don’t want to be a burden.”

His jaw tightened.

“Ye are nae a burden,” he said, his voice hard.

He definitely looked annoyed.

“Right,” she said and put the bucket onto the hook. “Manning doesn’t agree with you.”

He sighed. “Dinna fash yerself about Manning.”

“Easy for you to say.”

Ian rubbed his temples and closed his eyes.

“Look, lass, stop thinking about this over and over. I ken ye’re struggling, but I told ye I’m nae yer friend, and I canna always be making peace between ye and Manning.”

Kate lowered the bucket. It flopped into the water and she waited until it filled. She pulled it up. Everything he was saying—or rather, how he was saying it—confirmed her fears. He didn’t really want her here. He just pitied her. And now he was annoyed that she’d raised the subject over and over.

Lesson learned.

She wouldn’t raise it again.

In fact, she should leave as soon as possible and relieve them all of her company.

“Won’t happen again,” she said. “I promise.”

She pulled the bucket out and walked back to the kitchen. She didn’t yet know when or how she would leave, but she’d rather poke herself in the eye with a sharp stick than have him look at or talk to her with that tone again.

She cared about him too much to burden him even more with her problems.

Chapter 13