Chapter Six
Tossing and turning in bed, Elizabeth studied the small rooms ceiling. How could it be? The man she'd created, envisioned and whose image brought her comfort in the last few years was real. Not only did he exist, but slept in the same house as her, with just a wall separating them. Upon seeing him when she'd arrived, it was all she could do to keep from throwing herself at him. That certainly would have been an awkward way to begin the visit. At the thought of his large body, her temperature rose.
Elizabeth tossed off the blankets, but when the chill of the room hit her, she pulled them back to her waist. Hank Ashley Cole was the walking embodiment of her dreams, the chivalrous handsome knight who in her daydreams saved her many a time from peril and hurt.
Although in reality he was bigger than life and much more handsome than her imagination could have ever conjured. Those eyes, she'd never seen the hue. The deep blue of the ocean with golden specks that lightened when he watched his son. A beautiful delightful little boy.
Thankfully her Aunt Betty informed her of the circumstances that brought her to care for little Ashley. That the child's mother left with a drifter when the child was but six months old, leaving Hank in dire need of a caregiver for the baby.
The way her aunt described the woman, Marjorie and her lack of regard for anything domestic or family oriented, it seemed to be a blessing that she'd not remained to raise the little boy. Elizabeth looked at the child's clothing neatly folded and stacked on a side table, and smiled.
One day she'd have children of her own and they'd be loved just as much as his little boy was.
She sighed and closed her eyes. Perhaps here in Montana she'd find reprieve from the nightmares that haunted her, rarely allowing for a full night's rest since the fire. She took a soothing breath and allowed the song of the crickets to lull her asleep.
Flames rose, deafening crackling noises filled every one of her senses. Red tongues lapped at her feet and she stepped back. "Help us!" her parents screamed.
She could barely make out their forms through the thickness of smoke. Help us! The screams that followed were deafening. Elizabeth stuck her hands through the scorching waves, not caring it would scald her skin.
Mother! She screamed, her throat burning, raw. Nothing.
No! Where were they? Elizabeth began to cough; it was too thick, the smoke made it impossible to breath. To see.
Then they appeared again, her parents rushed towards her clutching to one another. Straining to grab her mother's outstretched hand, Elizabeth flailed as if on the crest of a cliff and came back empty.
They screamed and were gone.
"Elizabeth? Wake up, darling." The words sunk through the fog, but terror gripped her and she fought against it. It was Aunt Betty, why was her aunt in the house?
"Oh God!" Elizabeth screamed, "No!"
"Elizabeth wake up." Her body shook uncontrollably and her eyes flew open to the lighted bedroom. Someone had lit the lantern, her eyes locked onto the flicker. Concerned filled blue eyes took her attention from the flame, until she focused on his face.
"There you are. You're fine. You're Safe." Hank held her by the shoulders while her aunt stood next to him with a glass of water. Mortified that he saw her in her nightdress, Elizabeth grabbed the blanket that had fallen to her lap and pulled it over her chest.
"I'm...I'm so sorry. Did I wake Ashley?"
"No, he's sound asleep." His hands fell from her shoulders and Elizabeth immediately felt the lack of warmth they'd brought. With a shaky hand she reached for the water her aunt proffered.
"This is so embarrassing, I'm so sorry. Perhaps I should return to town first thing in the morning and return to your house Aunt Betty."
Hank moved to the doorway, only then did she notice he was shirtless. Well formed and muscular from the time spent working with cattle and horses, she couldn't keep from allowing her gaze to roam over his form. When she finally found her way to his face, his brows were raised and his lips held a slight upward curve.
"You-you should get back to sleep, I'll be fine." Her face burned from being caught looking at him in such a manner.
Thankfully, her aunt stepped forward and blocked the view of his bare chest. "Thank you, Hank, she gave me quite a scare. Please go rest, everything is fine."
His eyes met hers over her aunt's head and he nodded. "I understand, and, Miss Dawson, you should remain here for the rest of the week as planned."
The room darkened when her aunt blew out the lantern. Elizabeth lay back and sighed. "Why did he come in here? Did I scream that loud?"
"You were crying out and fretting about," her aunt replied. "When I couldn't get you to wake, I got Hank. You gave me quite a scare dear. Do you have nightmares often?"
Perhaps it was best to talk about the dreams with her aunt. If nothing else she could offer advice on what to do. "They started a few days after the fire. I ended the relationship with my intended, Melvin, which left me alone. With nowhere to go in town, and no family other than Uncle Rupert, I sought him out. Even there in his large home, I was alone on the second floor and the nightmares began."
"Rupert, that old grump, it's a wonder you survived several months living with him."
A soft giggle escaped and Elizabeth shook her head. "He's not that horrible, Aunt Betty. Just set in his ways. He allowed me time to grieve, gave me plenty of space and didn't prompt me to attend all those dinners and gatherings planned for my benefit by supposed friends of the family."
"Virginia society will find any reason to gather and gossip will they not?" Her aunt's voice was groggy with sleep. "Well, I'm glad he encouraged you to come here and live with me. I'm just sorry that I'm not staying at my home at the moment, and you'll be alone once again. But, you will be fine, we'll spend weekends together and you can help care for my house."
"Yes, I will be. I am thankful for you, Aunt Betty. Very appreciative of your allowing me to stay."
"Hank Ashley is a handsome man isn't he?"
"Hmmm."
The next morning Elizabeth emerged from the house to pour out dirty dishwater from breakfast--a hound at her heels. "His name is Scout". Hank approached, his eyes on the animal. "He seems to be taken by you."
She petted the dog's large head. "He's a sweetheart. Aren't you?" she asked the dog who seemed to smile at her when she scratched behind his ear. She spoke without raising her gaze to him. "I hope you slept well after..."
"Like a log," Hank replied and whistled for the dog. "If you'd like to see my other dog, she's in the barn. Just had a litter and won't venture far from them."
"I'd love that," she replied and met his gaze, only to fight to look away. Why did she find it so hard to stop looking at him?
"By the way, please don't feel obligated to do anything around here. I'm already indebted to your aunt for doing much more than I pay her for." His eyes shifted to the basin in her hands.
Elizabeth could only smile. "I can hardly sit about and do nothing, it's not in my nature. However, I'll attempt to keep my industrious efforts to a minimal."
When his lips curved and two dimples deepened on either side of his mouth, her jaw fell open and she hurried to clamp it shut.
"My pa told me never to argue with women, no chance of winning. So I better just go and do what I can control." He tipped his hat and slapped at his thigh. The dog immediately at his side, they headed toward the barn.
"Oh look." Elizabeth pointed at the night sky, two nights later from where she sat on a chair on the porch, her voice full of awe. "Did you see it?"
They'd fallen into an easy routine. After dinner, her aunt put Ashley to sleep while Elizabeth cleaned up. Afterwards, she'd join Hank on the porch while he strummed his guitar. Very little conversation was needed, just the sound of music mixing with nature's nocturnal rhythms.
"A falling star," Hank replied, following her line of sight. "See plenty of them sometimes. There's another one." He pointed.
Elizabeth stood and descended the stairs to st
and off the porch and look up at the star-filled night sky. He came and stood beside her, while she scanned the blanket of dark blue above them, overcome by the vastness and quantity of stars.
"It's so beautiful here, I could just stare at the sky all night." Her heartbeat quickened at his deep chuckle, but she wouldn't allow his mocking to stop her from enjoying the moment. If anything, she wished him to move closer.
Elizabeth was grateful for the lack of light, so he could not see her blush at the direction of her thoughts. Just in case she turned her face towards the opposite side of where he stood.
"I often forget to appreciate it, it's nice to be reminded of the simple things." The deep huskiness of his voice descended over her like a warm blanket. "It's easy to get wound up with everyday goings on and not notice the good things." He regarded her and she held her breath, not daring to meet his gaze. "You, for instance, have gone through a rough time not too long ago and here you are appreciating the night sky."
This time she did look up, with him so tall she had to crane her neck back. "My parents raised me to be positive and I try my best to enjoy every moment." Her eyes fell to his lips without prompting.
"Your parents were wise people." He did not move away, instead pushed back a strand of hair that blew across her face. At that moment she wanted nothing more than for him to kiss her, to feel his full lips on her mouth and to drink him in. "You'll have to come with me and meet my folks, you'll like them." He stepped away and tilted his face up to the sky. The moment was broken.
Like a fool, she lifted her hand to where his had been, not able to speak.
Thankfully Hank filled in the silence by continuing. "During the daylight, you can see smoke sometimes over there." He pointed toward the east. "My parent’s ranch house is there, my sister Lisa's is next to it, which worked out well since my sister seemed to always be expecting a new addition to her brood." He shook his head and laughed. "She has three children."
She finally recovered her ability to speak. "I'd love to meet them. Can we go tomorrow?"
Hank turned and walked past her, picked up his guitar and motioned for her to enter the house. "Yep, we can do that."
In bed, Elizabeth repeated the scene outside over and again. Had she really wanted him to kiss her? She'd but known the man but a few of days, and for all she knew, he already had a sweetheart in town. Hopefully he'd not noticed her ardor and lack of propriety at locking her eyes on his lips for longer than appropriate. Whatever was the matter with her? She'd never been one to act so forward, to forget herself in the presence of a man.
It was not a proper way for a lady to act and from now on, she'd ensure not to be with him alone, it was best until she could control her emotions around the man.
Hank Ashley Cole was not hers for the taking. Although tall, handsome and curiously comfortable company, surely he wasn't interested in her or any woman so soon after his son's mother's abrupt departure.
Or was he?