Chapter 29

She stepped to the side of the rock where she was sheltered from the wind. That helped settle her nerves as she tried to think. She had gone downhill, but somewhere she must have strayed off the right path. Even so, if she continued walking down, she would eventually come out of the trees and find her way to warmth. To Gordon.

If only she had a dog like Bo to lead her home. She almost smiled. At least she'd thought it home instead of Gordon's house.

No sooner had the thought of a dog entered her mind than one bounded around the rock, barking ferociously. Not Bo. The black dog was twice as big as Bo and might have been nearly invisible in the dim light except for the snow collecting on its fur. It hunched down and bared its teeth, ready to spring at her. It stopped barking, but the growl deep in its throat sounded worse.

Mira froze against the rock. Her fiercest teacher stare would be of no use. She took a steadying breath. Dogs could sense fear.

"Get away." She spoke firmly.

The growling rumble stopped, but the animal stayed crouched in front of her. She scooted a small step to the side. The dog jumped up with a loud bark. Mira shrank back, but the rock blocked her escape.

"Down, Reb." A man's voice came from the trees.

The dog dropped to the ground.

Mira waited for the man to come into view and hoped it was someone she'd met at church. Even that Cleo with his fierce eyes would be a welcome sight, but when the man came around the rock, it definitely wasn't Cleo Rayburn.

She couldn't see the man's face below his hat brim, but while he made a broad shape in the dim light, he wasn't much more than a half foot taller than she was. After a long moment, he spoke in a voice that was almost as much a growl as his dog's. "Who are you?"

Mira moistened her lips. "Mira Covington."

"Covington. The woman told me the preacher brung in a fool city girl. What you doing pokin' round here where you ain't got no business?"

"I apologize if I'm trespassing." Mira lifted her chin and kept her voice steady. What gave him the right to call her a fool girl? She saw no reason to explain herself except she was lost and did need his help. "I was visiting Elsinore. After it started snowing, I couldn't see the proper path."

"You could find trouble wanderin' around these parts, missy."

"Yes." She thought she already had.

"Don't know how you found your way to that girl's house if you ain't got no woods' sense."

"Ada June showed me the way."

"Ada June, huh." The man spit on the ground and stepped closer. "Just like her to leave you adrift."

Mira didn't like his tone. "She pointed the way, but she was late to milk her aunt's cow. I thought I could find the way."

"She don't have no aunts in Sourwood that I know of." He blew out a harsh breath.

"Miss Dottie—" Mira started.

The man raised his hand to cut her off. "I knowed who you meant, but that girl lacks good sense. Guess as how it's to be expected with how her ma was. No sense at all there."

"Did you know her mother?"

"I knowed her. Not that it's any of your bother."

"You're right. I don't have to know her mother. I know Ada June and see what a good heart she has."

"You done learned that in one day, have you?"

The man seemed to want to goad her into an argument. She would not let that happen. She decided to start over. "I don't think I met you at church."

"Reckon not. Seeing as how I wasn't there, and don't bother asking why."

She could feel him staring at her, maybe waiting for her to ask anyway, but when she didn't, he went on. "I guess you want to know my name. Folks is always after names, like that will make them friendly like."

Mira could simply walk away. The dog wasn't eyeing her now and instead appeared to be half-asleep. But it would be better if the man would point her in the right direction. She was about to ask his help when he made a sound that might be a laugh.

"I ain't always so ornery, Missus Covington." He stepped closer. "Reckon coming on you unexpected has me forgettin' my manners and actin' worse than Reb there. I'm Riley Callahan." He tipped his hat at her.

"Miss Nicey Jane's husband."

He snorted another laugh but didn't sound amused at all. "I reckon that's how most folks think of ol' Riley Callahan. As the woman's man."

"I'm sorry. I didn't intend to upset you. It's just that I've met your wife and well..." She stopped, not sure what else to say.

"No need in lettin' it fret you. Or me. It's just how things are here in Sourwood with my woman tryin' to run things. Does a fair job of it without no help from me nor nobody else."

"Gordon says she's a big help to him." Mira smiled even though the man wouldn't be able to see her face in the dark. "I'm sure you have been as well."

"I don't know what makes you sure of that, but I did help put up his church."

"Are you helping with the schoolhouse too?"

"I've done some."

"Then I thank you for that. I look forward to teaching the children here in Sourwood."

"Now, do you? A preacher's woman and a schoolmarm. A fine trick your man pulled off whilst he was off in the city." He stepped closer until she could almost feel his breath on her face. The dog got up and came close to her other side.

"I suppose so." Mira's teeth chattered, partly from the cold, but more because of Riley Callahan. His words sounded nicer, but she didn't like being hemmed in between him and the dog, with the rock behind her. "If you would be kind enough to point me in the direction of Gordon's house, I'd be grateful."

"I'm thinkin' your house too if'n you married him."

"Yes." She could see the shine of his eyes and the snow on his hat. She wanted to shove past him and run in any direction just to get away from him.

"Preacher shouldn't have trusted his bride to that oddball girl. It can be dangerous wanderin' around in a strange woods. No tellin' what a body might run into."

She sensed he recognized and was amused by her fear. That he might be laughing at her lit a flame of anger in her that burned away some of that fear. "Sometimes a man and his dog not willing to help a stranger." She pushed away from the rock and stepped past the dog. When it growled, she ignored it and kept going.

The man laughed. "A spitfire, are you? Preacher might be wondering what he's got himself into. Womenfolk can be a trial."

She kept walking, hoping against hope she wouldn't slip and fall in the snow. If that happened, the dog might be at her throat.

"Best move some to your right, Missus."

She didn't look back but was relieved he didn't seem to be following her.

"Mira." Her name came floating on the wind.

The dog let loose another of its ferocious barks.

The man hushed the dog with a word before he said, "Appears Preacher has come lookin' for his bride. Best give a holler so's he'll know where you got lost to."

"Gordon," she yelled, but the snow and wind seemed to swallow the sound of her voice.

"That ain't much louder than a mouse squeak." Callahan made a sound of disgust. "Guess I'll have to help you out." He let out a bellow. "Here, Preacher."

"Thank you, Mr. Callahan." Mira looked back at the man by the rock.

"Naught but my pleasure, ma'am, but if'n I was you, I'd just stand where's you are and wait for Preacher to find you. Just yonder is a big sink. Hard to see in the dark, but wouldn't want you to fall in it and break your pretty head."

With that he made a motion at the dog and they both disappeared into the night.

Gordon yelled her name again. He was closer now, and when she called back, he heard her.

When he ran out from under some pines, he knocked off a flurry of snow. He grabbed her in an embrace. "Mira, are you all right?"

Shivers shook through her as she leaned into him. "I thought I was going the right way, but it started snowing and I couldn't see the path."

"Shh. Let's get you to the house to warm up." He kept one arm around her as he turned her back the way he'd come. "Who yelled? And I heard a dog. Not Bo."

"I ran into Riley Callahan and his dog." She didn't know what she should say about the man. It seemed silly now to think how frightened she'd been without any real reason. "I couldn't yell loud enough to make you hear me at first."

"Oh." His voice sounded a little stiff. "I'll have to make a point of thanking him."

"Don't you like him?"

"Riley is Riley. One of a kind, but then that goes for most of those up here in the hills. They probably say the same about me."

The path through the trees was too narrow for them to walk side by side. With reluctance, she stepped away from him. "You go first and I'll stay on your heels."

The way to the house was just as short as she'd thought and not at all hard. She would have to explore during the daylight hours to get her bearings.

The flickering warmth of the fire was more than welcome when they went inside. He helped her out of her cloak and hung it on a peg by the door. When she took off her hat, snow shook down on the floor. She watched it melt. She was so glad to be back inside Gordon's house. Her house.

"Thank you for coming to find me," she said.

He put his hands on her shoulders. The cabin was only dimly lit, but the feeling in his eyes as he stared down at her was easy to see. "Always, Mira. You never have to fear about that. I will always come for you. You're my wife."

Gently, he pulled her closer to him. She didn't resist. Her house. Her husband. His hug. It all felt right.