“There’s no need, Dr. Lawson. The walk downstairs has already tired me out.” She felt a meal would be too intimate, and a mistake, which perhaps might lead to even bigger mistakes.
“Brian, please. Call me Brian.”
Eppie shifted from foot to foot. “Thank you, but no, I’m going to back to bed.”
The mention of bed reminded her of just whose bed she’d been in and whose arms had cradled her. As much as the good-looking doctor tempted her to explore things she hadn’t, Eppie backed out of the room. If she had nothing of her memory, she still had honor and integrity.
And she intended to keep it.
“Are you sure?” He smiled then, a slow, lazy smile that likely had made many a woman’s pulse flutter.
“I’m very sure.”
As she turned to leave the kitchen, he touched her arm. The heat from his skin felt as warm as the fire in the stove. When she looked up into his face, she realized just how tall the doctor was, and the patch of skin exposed by his unbuttoned shirt made her wonder exactly what he looked like without the shirt entirely. And she stood there in nothing more than a too-large nightdress. Then wanted to kick her own fanny for thinking about it.
“You are a very unique and beautiful woman. I’m excited to be here to help you and I’d like you to think of me as your friend.” Those blue eyes of his were soft and honest.
“Thank you. Good night, Dr. Lawson,” she answered, before she succumbed to the appeal of the shadows and the man. Not that she didn’t trust herself, but she didn’t know herself.
“Good night, Elizabeth.”
This time when Eppie went upstairs, she didn’t bother climbing into bed. Instead she curled up in the chair by her bed and stared out the window until God painted the horizon with pinks and oranges. That’s when she’d made the decision to find Micah.
The good thing about being a hermit was there were no people around talking to him.
The bad thing about being a hermit was Micah only had himself for company.
When he woke in the morning, after a nearly sleepless night spent trying to find a remotely comfortable spot on the wool blankets spread on the floor, Micah grumbled to himself for an hour. It was barely dawn and he was already in a foul mood.
His back screamed for mercy when he rose to his feet. Served him right for running off without anything but his pride in his hands. It didn’t make him feel better to know it was his fault that he was stuck in the cabin with nothing but dust, scat, two smelly blankets and, of course, his regrets.
His first impulse was to get back on the horse and ride back to Plum Creek, although he’d look like a fool for leaving and returning so quickly.
“You are a fool.”
He snorted at his own stupidity and set off to get fresh water to wash up. The smell of the pines was again comforting, but the absence of the two people he loved was glaringly obvious. He missed Eppie and Miracle enough to make his heart ache. He rubbed at his chest to chase away the pain, but it didn’t help. Micah’s special talent was to run away when things became too much to bear. He’d done it so many times, he’d lost count. This time it might cost him his daughter and the love of his life.
Feeling sorry for himself wasn’t going to make the day get any easier, so he tried his best to clear his mind and focus on putting one foot in front of the other. The sky was gray off to the west, which told him a storm was coming in. Since it was two hours down the mountain, it would be a bad idea to leave until the weather had passed.
“Punishing me again, eh?” he snarled at the sky. “You know I will just wait it out.”
If the summer storm was strong enough, it might keep him in the cabin until the next day. He needed to get more food than raspberries to last him. Too bad he didn’t have anything to shoot a rabbit with, dammit. He had to do everything the hard way.
With a dramatic sigh that would have embarrassed him had anyone heard it, Micah started looking for sticks to build a snare.
“You’re not going up there.” Teague crossed his arms over his chest and scowled. “I won’t allow it.”
Eppie didn’t want to disrespect her friend’s husband, but there was no way she’d accept his pronouncement. “You don’t have to allow me to do anything. I’ve got a brain and a will and therefore, I am going to Micah’s cabin whether you like it or not.” She crossed her arms and mimicked his stance.
Madeline burst out laughing and it took all of Eppie’s concentration not to crack a smile. Teague’s eyebrows seemed to draw closer together the harder Madeline laughed.
“It’s not funny, Maddie,” he snapped.
“Oh, yes it is.” Madeline clutched her stomach and wiped at her eyes. “You try to be so forceful and sh-she’s so small.”
Eppie turned to shake her head at her friend. “I’m not that small.”
“And I’m not forceful, I’m being practical. She’s barely out of a coma three weeks ago and she wants to go gallivanting up the mountain to find that stubborn ass.” Teague shook his head. “It’s a stupid idea.”
“It’s not a stupid idea.” Madeline stopped laughing. “She wants to talk to him, even if he is a stubborn ass.”
“I don’t want to talk to him, I need to talk to him.” Eppie had so much she wanted to say, it couldn’t wait.
“May I speak?” Dr. Lawson had stood by watching their exchange, his gaze straying to Eppie’s every few moments.
“Only if you’re going to agree with me.” Teague offered.
“Actually I am going to agree with you. I’m sure Dr. Carmichael would as well if he wasn’t in town.” Dr. Lawson offered her his charming smile, sending a shiver down her spine.
Eppie wasn’t about to budge from her original intent to find Micah. “It doesn’t matter what any of you think. I’m an adult and I make my own decisions.”
“That’s true, Elizabeth, but you have to think of your health. You’re recovering from trauma and a coma. I firmly believe you should stay here.” He put his hand on her shoulder. “At least wait a few more days to give him time to return.”
He honestly looked concerned, which made Eppie hesitate for a moment. She didn’t know whether to listen to him because he was a doctor or because he was worried about her. People weren’t always what they appeared to be, yet she wanted to trust her instincts, which told her Dr. Lawson was genuine.
However, Eppie knew her decision had been the right one. She needed to talk to Micah, the sooner the better. The longer he brewed on what he thought was happening, the harder it would be to convince him he was wrong. Men were stubborn, that much she knew, and it was important to follow her heart.
Her heart was telling her Micah was the right man for her, and she had to find out if her heart was right.
“I appreciate your concern, all of you, but I am not changing my mind.” Eppie turned to head for the kitchen and the carriage house out back. “I’m going whether or not you help me.”
“Teague, take her there. You remember where it is.” Madeline wasn’t laughing anymore—her tone brooked no argument.
“Fine, but I’m not happy about it.”
Eppie smiled and turned to her friends. “Thank you.”
“She’ll have to ride, you know.” Teague sounded as if he was happy about that.
“Riding?” Eppie’s stomach did a flip-flop. She hadn’t thought about riding. “You mean we can’t take the carriage?”
Teague snorted so loud, she thought he might hurt himself. “Eppie, girl, it’s a mountain, there isn’t a road. There’s a trail and trees, that’s about it.”
She hadn’t realized there would be a horse involved. Could she ride? “Can I ride a horse?”
Madeline’s eyes widened. “I don’t know. You haven’t since you lived here, and to be honest, you’ve always shied away from horses.” She turned her gaze to Teague. “Can you ride double?”
“Those nags can barely hold my weight. Even if she’s no bigger than a minute, there’s no way the carriage horses can carry b
oth of us.” He gave Eppie a grim smile. “I guess that means you’re not going.”
Eppie wasn’t about to let something like not being able to ride stop her. Micah told her she was stubborn and sassy. Well, it was about time to find those two qualities and use them.
“Then you’d better teach me really fast.” She tugged on his arm. “I want to be on our way in an hour.”
Teague looked at Madeline. “Is she joking?”
Madeline hugged her quickly. “I understand what it means to love.”
Eppie opened her mouth to protest, but knew it was useless to argue. She might love Micah, but she wasn’t ready to admit to it yet.
“You’ll need to wear something more appropriate for riding. I think we’ve got something in your things that will do.” As Madeline walked toward the stairs, Teague sputtered and protested all the way. “Give us ten minutes and we’ll meet you in the carriage house.”
Madeline ran up the stairs ahead of her and Eppie followed, so amazed she had such a giving best friend. Within a few minutes, Madeline had found a split skirt buried in the armoire in her room. A needle and thread flew and before Eppie knew it, she was heading out to the carriage house with a smile on her face and a split riding skirt swinging on her legs. Madeline walked arm in arm with her across the backyard.
Teague had saddled a gray mare with an ancient-looking saddle. The expression on his face hadn’t changed; if anything, he looked more unhappy. “Maddie, what are you doing? You can’t let her go.”
“I have to let her go.” She leaned in and whispered in her husband’s ear. When she finished, Teague nodded tightly.
“Fine then, let’s get started.”
Eppie stared up at the horse. One large brown eye stared back at her. The mare looked gentle enough, but she was a horse and therefore, made Eppie’s hands shake. She had no idea if she knew how to ride, but there was only one way to find out. She didn’t start off well because she couldn’t even get her foot up to the stirrup.
“Get her the mounting step.” Maddie sent Teague in to get a block of wood from the carriage house.
Eppie was able to get much closer to the saddle, yet she still eyed the horse with more than a little trepidation.
“Now what?”
“Put your left foot in the stirrup and swing your right leg up over the saddle.” For all his blustering, Teague gently helped her get herself perched up on the saddle. Way, way up.
“The ground is really far away.” She swallowed hard and held onto the saddle horn with a death grip.
Teague handed her the reins. “Tug on the left one to turn left, the right one to turn right. To stop, pull back on both of them. Squeeze your knees just a bit when you want to start or stop.”
Eppie held the leather in her hands and wondered if she had truly lost her mind. Then the thought of finding Micah bolstered her courage. She squeezed her knees together as instructed and jiggled the reins.
“Go.”
Teague laughed and Madeline smacked his shoulder. “She’s trying. Now help her.”
“Fine, but I still think this is a really bad idea.”
“Duly noted, now teach her, Mr. O’Neal.” Madeline sounded as proper as any society lady.
“Anything for you, Mrs. O’Neal.” He kissed her hard and quick, putting a flush onto her cheeks. Madeline’s eyes sparkled and Eppie knew a moment of envy. The yearning for Micah and the need to find him overwhelmed her. The original impulse she’d had was to make him understand that she’d finally started listening to her heart, and it was whispering his name.
Seeing Madeline with Teague and the love pulsing so strong between them, made Eppie realize what she was feeling was love. Even if her mind didn’t know, her heart did. She had to find him.
Teague spent the next twenty minutes patiently teaching her to ride the horse this way and that, until she felt steadier on the horse’s back. She felt more confident and offered Teague a huge smile.
“Thank you.”
He sighed. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to go, but at least you should be able to sit up on that horse without falling on your head. Maddie would kill me if anything happened to you.”
“You bet I would, and where would that leave your sons?” Madeline laughed and turned to Eppie. “Are you ready?”
Her heart leapt at the thought of seeing Micah soon. “More ready than I can possibly tell you. Can we leave?” Eppie looked toward the mountains. “How far is it?”
“You shouldn’t be up on that horse, Elizabeth.” Dr. Lawson squinted up at her on the horse.
“I’m doing fine, Dr. Lawson. Just refreshing my knowledge of horseback riding.” She wasn’t about to allow him to deter her from the course she’d decided on. He might be a handsome, smart, sexy man, but he wasn’t the man she wanted.
“Don’t worry, Teague will guide her up the mountain. She’ll be fine.” Madeline patted the mare’s neck. “Hilda is a good horse, sturdy and strong.”
“I still must protest the entire activity. Elizabeth is not ready for this. If anything should happen to her out there in the woods…” He shook his head. “She could do irreparable harm to herself.”
Eppie decided she was tired of hearing what was best for her, even if it came from a well-respected physician. She knew what was best for herself, no matter what anybody else said. While she appreciated the concern, she was done listening.
“So what?”
“Excuse me?” Dr. Lawson’s perfect eyebrows rose toward his hairline.
“I said, so what? If I get hurt, then so be it. I’ve spent the last four weeks finding out who I was supposed to be, what I was supposed to do, and how other people thought I should act.” Her voice grew stronger with each word. “I’m going up the mountain to find Micah and there’s nothing anyone can say or do to change my mind.”
Madeline clapped and Teague shook his head while Dr. Lawson’s jaw tightened. “I thought you’d want to wish her well. She’s a special woman.”
“She’s a fool.”
Teague growled low in his throat while Madeline gasped.
“You’re entitled to think what you’d like.” Eppie wanted to kick him, but she resisted the urge, barely. “I am finally doing what I want to do.”
“I believe I need to pack my belongings.” Dr. Lawson started to turn away when Madeline touched his arm.
“You don’t need to leave. Dr. Carmichael and you are welcome to stay here.” She was always polite and diplomatic, something Eppie would probably never be. “Everything you’ve done is most appreciated, but please realize that Elizabeth is entitled to make her own choices.”
Dr. Lawson nodded tightly. “I understand and I thank you for your words.”
He didn’t say he’d stay, but rather continued into the house, leaving Eppie wondering if she should have curbed her words more. Dr. Lawson was more than just a physician. She realized he represented the rest of the world that was trying to tell her who to be, how to be, and what to be. He was the unfortunate recipient of her personal declaration of independence. Later, after she found Micah and felt more control over her emotions, she’d talk to Dr. Lawson.
“Mama, whatcha doin’?” Miracle’s little voice startled Eppie.
She smiled down at her daughter and with a little less grace than a cow, dismounted from Hilda the horse. Eppie knelt and opened her arms. Miracle came flying into them and hugged her tight. The infusion of her daughter’s love and strength was exactly what Eppie needed.
“I’m going to go find Daddy, okay? You need to stay here with Miss Madeline and be a good girl.” Eppie kissed both of Miracle’s cheeks, then her forehead.
“’Kay.” Miracle frowned, as if she wanted to say something more, but didn’t.
“I’ll be safe, sweetheart. Mr. Teague is going to help me.” Eppie gave her one last squeeze. “I’ll be back as soon as I can, okay?”
Miracle nodded, then leaned forward to kiss Eppie gently on the cheek. “Careful, Mama.”
Eppie’s throat clogged with emotion yet again. Her daughter was wiser beyond any child her own age. She stood and walked Miracle over to her friend. Without hesitation, Madeline took the girl by the hand. Eppie felt better knowing Miracle was safe with such an amazing woman. She gave Madeline a quick hug, then led the horse to the mounting block. As the others watched, Eppie managed to get herself onto Hilda’s back.
“Teague, please take care of her.” Madeline took her husband’s hand in hers, then kissed it. “She’s still recovering.” Regardless of what her friend had told the doctor, she obviously agreed with him, but supported Eppie. That was what true friendship was all about.
“Thank you, Madeline. I can’t, well, I don’t know how to say this.” Eppie struggled against the tightness in her throat. She had to let Madeline know how much she had changed her short life for the better.
“It’s okay, I understand. Go find your man and when you get back, we’ll go to the sitting room and have a good talk.” Madeline walked over and patted Eppie’s knee, Miracle in tow. “Listen to your daughter and be careful.”
“She won’t even get a splinter, I swear.” Teague didn’t sound happy about it, but he was obviously forging ahead with Eppie’s crazy plan. “Let’s go.”
“Ready when you are.” Eppie was anything but ready, judging by the butterflies dancing in her stomach, the pounding in her head, and the ache in her heart. However, she started out after Teague, on the gray mare, full of hope and determination.
Her life had finally begun in earnest.
Micah gathered up all the nuts, berries, and wood he could find. Rabbits, however, seemed to be in hiding. He had no meat, no sustenance to keep him going. The sad fact was, he hadn’t eaten anything before he’d stormed off, and had eaten only berries the last twenty-four hours. A little lightheaded and weak, he realized there were two choices.
Leave the mountain or go out farther to find game.
He squinted up at the sky and gauged the storm would be hitting within the hour. His horse was surefooted, but heavy rain usually left the trail a muddy mess even the most agile creature would have trouble navigating.
The Redemption of Micah Page 14
