Читать книгу: «The Proper Wife»

“Truly, it’s just a little cut.”

“Best to be safe.” Eli carefully extended Sadie’s hand over the sink, filled a dipper with water, then looked up. “Ready?”

Seeing reassurance instead of disapproval in those cool gray eyes of his was a new experience for Sadie, one she found she rather enjoyed. “Ready,” she answered.

He slowly poured the water over the cut. It was strange to feel him holding her hand like this. His own hand was smoother than those of the ranch hands she was used to. She sensed strength there and an unexpected protectiveness.

“Looks like there’s a sliver embedded in your palm. This might hurt a bit.”

She nodded. His expression shifted and she saw the flicker of concern as he caught hold of the offending sliver, then the small spurt of triumph mixed with relief as he pulled it free.

“Sorry.”

“I hardly felt a thing.” Which was the absolute truth as far as the cut was concerned.

WINNIE GRIGGS

is a city girl born and raised in southeast Louisiana’s Cajun Country who grew up to marry a country boy from the hills of northwest Louisiana. Though her Prince Charming (who often wears the guise of a cattle rancher) is more comfortable riding a tractor than a white steed, the two of them have been living their own happily-ever-after for more than thirty years. During that time they raised four proud-to-call-them-mine children and a too-numerous-to-count assortment of dogs, cats, fish, hamsters, turtles and 4-H sheep.

Winnie has held a job at a utility company since she graduated from college, and saw her first novel hit bookstores in 2001. In addition to her day job and writing career, Winnie serves on committees within her church, on the executive boards and committees of several writing organizations and is active in local civic organizations—she truly believes the adage that you reap in proportion to what you sow.

In addition to writing and reading, Winnie enjoys spending time with her family, cooking and exploring flea markets. Readers can contact Winnie at P.O. Box 14, Plain Dealing, LA 71064, or email her at winnie@winniegriggs.com.

Winnie Griggs
The Proper Wife

www.millsandboon.co.uk

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

—Hebrews 10:24

To my dear friends Connie Cox and Amy Talley who helped me brainstorm, provided critiques and generally listened to me moan when I got stuck or needed to talk through the sticky parts.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Letter to Reader

Questions for Discussion

Chapter One

May 1893

Knotty Pine, Texas

He needed a wife and he needed one soon.

Eli Reynolds strode through town, ignoring the intermittent drizzle as he pondered his current situation. According to the workmen he’d hired, the renovations to his newly acquired home would be ready by the end of next week. Once that was done he and Penny would no longer have a legitimate reason to remain at the boardinghouse.

Which meant his time was running out.

Because no matter what the cost, he was determined to be married, or at least have wedding plans, before he moved himself and his nine-year-old half sister into that house. Mrs. Collins, the widow who ran the boardinghouse where he and Penny were staying, was doing a good job of watching over his sister for the time being. But leaving an impressionable young girl like Penny in the care of a housekeeper or governess every day while he went to his office at the bank was an unacceptable option for the long-term.

Trusting a servant with such a precious duty had already resulted in one tragedy. He wouldn’t make such a costly mistake twice.

This business of finding a proper wife should have already been settled, would have already been settled, if he hadn’t so badly misjudged his field of candidates. He thought he’d found the right woman in Myra Willows. She appeared intelligent, mature, of good character, competent in the domestic arts—all the characteristics he was looking for. He’d actually been on the point of declaring his intentions yesterday when he’d been pulled up short by a bit of gossip.

He’d overheard a couple of bank clerks speculating that Miss Willows might possibly be the person behind that ridiculous pseudonym of Temperance Trulove, the very woman who penned the ridiculous and highly melodramatic bit of drivel titled The Amazing Adventures of Annabel Adams for The Weekly Gazette.

Eli didn’t quite credit that the rumor could be true— Miss Willows seemed much too reserved and sensible a female to indulge in such nonsense. But at this point he wasn’t willing to risk being wrong, not with his sister’s upbringing hanging in the balance.

So he’d been forced to regroup, to review the remaining names on his list and chose another bride.

Eli turned his collar up against the weather as a spurt of water fell on him from the eaves of the nearby store-front. What a day! He wasn’t just damp, he was beat. Bone-deep, soul-achingly beat.

Truth to tell, the turn his life had taken two months ago, and the nonstop effort he’d put into building a new life for himself and Penny since then, was beginning to wear on him. But soon it would be done and he could relax a bit. Until then, he would continue pressing on toward his goal.

“Looks like you could use yourself a rain slicker.” Sheriff Hammond lounged against the doorpost of his office, whittling on a stick.

Eli moved closer to the building to take advantage of the meager shelter from the shower. “A bit of rain never hurt anyone.” He winced as he felt a trickle of water make its way down his back. “Then again, I may have to look into getting myself one of those slickers if this weather continues.”

The sheriff grinned in sympathy. “Spring showers tend to be unpredictable in these parts.” Then he went back to whittling. “How’s Mrs. Collins’s arm doing?”

The boardinghouse proprietress had fallen and hurt her arm about a week ago. She seemed to be bearing her injury well, but having her out of commission had put the entire boardinghouse in disarray. And the arrival of her friend, purportedly to ‘help out’, had only served to add to the problem rather than alleviate it. Sadie Lassiter had breezed in from whatever distant cattle ranch she called home with all the grace and finesse of a brown-eyed, auburn-haired dust devil.

He pulled his thoughts back to the sheriff’s question. “The doctor says she should refrain from using it for another week or so. But she seems impatient to be back at work.”

Sheriff Hammond nodded. “That’s Cora Beth for you. The woman can’t stand to sit idle.” He tipped his hat back with the point of his blade. “How’s Miss Lassiter working out?”

It would be ungentlemanly of him to speak his true feelings on the matter. “She is trying,” he temporized. “And I’m sure she’s good company for Mrs. Collins.”

Sheriff Hammond grinned. “As bad as all that, is she?”

Eli merely spread his hands.

“Ah well, Cora Beth’s shoes would be hard for anyone to fill.” He shaved another curl of wood from his stick. “By the way, mind giving Mrs. Collins a message for me?”

“Be glad to.”

“Tell her I’m heading out to the Martins’ place in the morning and I’ll be happy to carry a food basket for the Ladies’ Auxiliary if she still wants me to.”

“Will do.” Apparently part of the sheriff’s duty in these parts was to periodically look in on the various families on the outlying farms and ranches.

With a wave, Eli moved along the wet sidewalk again, eager to reach the boardinghouse where he could dry out and get something filling to eat. Too bad it wouldn’t be one of Mrs. Collins’s always excellent meals. If he was lucky it would be more edible than the scorched roast Miss Lassiter had served last night.

Eli had barely taken a half dozen steps, however, when he found himself hailed again. One of the benefits—and hazards—of small town life he supposed.

Mrs. Danvers, who ran the mercantile with her husband, stood in the doorway of her store. Swallowing the urge to keep walking, he tipped his hat. “Good day, ma’am. Is there something I can help you with?”

“It’s such a dreary day that I thought you might want to come in out of the weather for a bit.” She gave him an ingratiating smile. “I’m sure Imogene would be happy to fix you a hot cup of tea while you dry off by the stove.”

The woman would be better served to focus her matchmaking schemes elsewhere. Eli had scratched Imogene Danvers off his potential-bride-list early on. She was too timid, too much under her mother’s thumb to provide the kind of oversight he wanted for his sister. And having an overbearing, meddlesome woman for a mother-in-law was not something he was inclined to look favorably on either. “That’s very kind of you, but the weather doesn’t show signs of letting up any time soon and I need to see to my sister.”

A flicker of disappointment flashed in her eyes and then she rallied. “Such a thoughtful brother you are. Perhaps another time.”

“Perhaps.” He tipped his hat again and moved on.

And yet another reason for him to find a wife soon. He was well aware that his wealth and newcomer-to-the-area status had made him the target of every matchmaking momma and marriage-minded female in the area. Time to take himself off the market.

Which brought him back to making his selection. He’d given the matter careful consideration most of the day and had decided that the widow Collins was now the obvious choice. The only reason she hadn’t been his first choice was the fact that she had three children of her own and a younger brother to raise. But while this meant Penny wouldn’t have her undivided attention, perhaps it would be offset by the fact that Penny would have other children in the house to play with.

As for appearance, she wasn’t an eye-catching beauty, but with her light brown hair, bright green eyes and ready smile there was a sweetness to her appearance that was quite pleasant.

Yes, this might work out for the best after all.

Eli finally reached the boardinghouse and sprinted up the steps, pausing under the shelter of the front porch roof to shed his wet hat and brush the drops of water from his coat.

After stomping his boots on the porch, he stepped inside and hung his hat on the hat tree in the entry. His attention was almost immediately caught by the sound of unruly giggles coming from the dining room.

Apparently the weather-confined children had found some sort of amusement indoors. There were five other youngsters besides Penny currently in residence here. Mrs. Collins’s three girls, Audrey, Pippa and Lottie, and her young brother Danny were, of course, permanent residents.

The other child, Mrs. Collins’s niece Viola, had moved in just last week. The child’s parents were currently on a trip out of the country. Viola, it turns out, was also Miss Lassiter’s niece since Miss Lassiter’s brother Ry was married to Mrs. Collins’s sister Josie. From what he could tell, that nebulous relationship was the only thing the two women had in common.

It seemed odd that a woman who professed to have grown up on a cattle ranch would be so inept at cooking and housework. Since Miss Lassiter’s arrival, routines had gone out the window, the meals had been barely palatable and housework seemed to be handled with a less-than-impressive ‘lick and a promise’ approach.

About the best one could say for her in the way of domestic skills was that she had a way with children. In fact, his normally reticent sister had taken a keen liking to the flibbertigibbet of a woman. Then again, Miss Lassiter acted as if she were little more than an overgrown child herself. It was probably just as well he’d be moving Penny away from her unfortunate influence soon.

Speaking of which, was that Miss Lassiter’s voice mingled in with the children’s laughter?

Sadie, blinded by the cloth wrapped around her head, felt a half dozen hands turning her this way and that, leaving her completely disoriented. The sound of laughter blended with that of the rain pattering against the windows.

“Enough, enough,” she protested, “I’m getting dizzy.” Please, Heavenly Father, help me get through this without showing signs of panic.

“One more turn,” replied one of her tormenters. It sounded like Audrey, who, though only seven, was often the ringleader of any mischief the group got into.

Finally the hands fell away and Sadie was left standing with no point of reference to tell her which direction she faced. She took a deep breath, keeping the smile planted firmly on her face. “All right, you little imps, look out ’cause here I come.”

Because of her fear of small, dark spaces, blindman’s bluff had never been one of her favorite games. She’d promised Cora Beth to keep the restless children occupied for an hour or two, though, and she’d made the mistake of letting the children pick the activity.

Really, this wasn’t so bad. Even though she was blindfolded, there was lots of room to move around. It wasn’t like her nightmare of being trapped in a closet or chest.

Muffled giggles, from Pippa and Lottie this time, cued her that the five-year-old twins were located to her left. She already felt a touch of anxiety thudding in her chest at the prolonged darkness, but she resisted the urge to go after the two youngest and instead turned to her right.

Holding her hands out in front of her at chest level reassured her that there was lots of room to move around and Sadie took a couple of tentative steps before she made contact with the sideboard. Ah-ha! A point of reference. The sound of footsteps scampering away to her left brought a smile to her face.

“Remember, you can’t leave the dining room,” she warned with mock sternness.

Something brushed against her ankle, startling a squeak from her. A moment later her heart returned to normal rhythm as she realized who the culprit was. “Does it count if I catch Daffy?” she called out.

“Cats can’t play.”

So, Viola was straight ahead. Her eight-year-old niece hadn’t been ‘it’ yet. Sadie took a couple of confident steps, straining to catch any sound that might indicate her target was on the move.

Then she caught the sound of a heavier footstep, coming from the direction of what she judged to be the hallway. It wasn’t Cora Beth. Uncle Grover, then. Thank you, Father.

All she had to do was tempt the good-humored older gentleman to enter the room and she’d have an easy capture. And the sooner she could remove this blindfold, the easier she’d breathe.

Moving as quickly as she dared under the circumstances, Sadie headed in the direction of the hallway. “Would you step in the dining room for a moment,” she called out in her sweetest tone.

Sadie’s hand connected with a sleeve and she latched onto her quarry’s arm with an iron grip. “Gotcha!” She smiled in relief. “Sorry, Uncle Grover, but I caught you fair and square.”

Why was his sleeve wet?

“Not exactly.”

Uh-oh. She recognized that stern tone at about the same time she realized the arm beneath her grip was much too firm and muscled to be Uncle Grover’s.

Sadie released his arm as if it were a snake, then yanked off her blindfold. She looked up into the disapproving gray eyes of the much too proper Mr. Eli Reynolds. His censuring stare made her feel smaller than her five-foot-three height.

The man disapproved of her—for the life of her she couldn’t figure out why—but this was no doubt going to add another entry to his list of her shortcomings. “I’m so sorry.” The heat climbed in her cheeks. “I thought you were Cora Beth’s Uncle Grover.”

“So I gathered.” He didn’t raise his voice and his tone was conversational. So why did she feel as if she were being scolded?

“You’ve obviously found an enjoyable way to pass the afternoon,” he continued. “Much more enjoyable than, say, chores would be.”

Oh yes, there was definitely a barb buried in that smooth-as-corn silk tone. “Most of the chores are done,” she said. “The kids and I were just having a bit of fun while supper simmers on the stove.”

“How pleasant.” He gave her a pointed look. “I wonder how Mrs. Collins is faring? Perhaps I should send Penny to check on her.”

And to think she’d thought him interesting and in need of a friend when she’d first met him a week ago. “Cora Beth is resting at the moment.” Not that she owed him an explanation.

Then a smile twitched her lips as an impudent idea took root. “But it is time for me to check on things in the kitchen.” She handed the blindfold to Audrey. “Looks like Mr. Reynolds is ‘it’ now. Y’all have fun.”

With that, she swished past the suddenly disconcerted gentleman and headed toward the kitchen.

That should give the too-stuffy-for-his-own-good Eli Reynolds something new to frown over.

Chapter Two

Sadie felt quite pleased with herself—for all of about five seconds. Putting him on the spot that way had been a petty move on her part. No matter what his demeanor, she was convinced his intentions were good and he didn’t deserve such treatment. But the man really did have a way of getting her back up. Did he even know how to have fun?

Poor Penny. What would that little girl’s life be like once she moved out of the boardinghouse and had only her brother for company?

Shaking off that thought, Sadie pushed open the kitchen door and immediately forgot the Reynolds siblings.

“Goodness, Cora Beth, what do you think you’re doing? You’re supposed to be resting.” Sadie had come here a week ago to lend a hand while her brother’s sister-in-law recuperated. Though she’d only met Cora Beth twice before, she’d jumped at the opportunity to do this. Not because she’d felt charitable, but because she’d been feeling restless and purposeless of late. Coming here and pitching in was supposed to make her feel useful, but so far things hadn’t exactly worked out as planned.

Cora Beth was too polite to say anything, but Sadie knew her domestic skills had not lived up to the challenge of running a boardinghouse. Rather than trying to lend a hand herself, she would have done better to have hired some competent help. In fact, Sadie was beginning to wonder if she’d ever find a place where she served a real purpose.

Cora Beth smiled over her shoulder. “I’m tired of resting. Thought I’d check on the stew.”

Sadie pushed her much-too-maudlin thoughts aside and marched across the room, glad Eli Reynolds wasn’t here to see that his fears were well-founded. “Dr. Whitman said you weren’t to use that hand any more than you had to for another week.”

“It only takes one hand to stir a pot.”

“Still, that’s my job for the time being. I may not be able to cook as well as you, but I can make do. And I didn’t travel eighty miles just to watch you defy doctor’s orders.” Sadie held her hand out for the spoon. When Cora Beth hesitated, she added “We may not know each other well, but you should’ve learned enough about me by now to understand I can be downright stubborn when I’ve a mind to have my way.” Having been raised on a cattle ranch in a mainly masculine household, Sadie had spent most of her life surrounded by folks who tended to either underestimate her abilities or treat her as if she were still a child.

One thing this trip had accomplished was to give her an opportunity to show her mettle among these relative strangers and she aimed to take full advantage of that.

Cora Beth held onto the spoon a moment longer but Sadie stood firm.

“Oh, very well.” Cora Beth surrendered the spoon and moved away from the stove. She gave Sadie an exasperated look. “And there’s nothing wrong with your cooking.”

Sadie gave her an unconcerned smile, deciding to be gracious in victory. “There’s no need for you to sugarcoat things—I know my shortcomings as well as my talents. Out at Hawk’s Creek the kitchen has always been Inez’s domain and I’m happy to leave her to it. About the best you can say for my cooking is that it’s edible. But we’ll all muddle through for the next few days while you take care of yourself.”

Heavenly Father, please let me do well enough not to embarrass Cora Beth in front of her boarders again. I’m asking not for myself, You understand, but for the folks who have to eat my cooking. Sadie struggled with her conscience a moment, then added a postscript to her silent prayer. All right, it would also save me a bit of embarrassment, as well.

“A commendable attitude.”

It took Sadie a moment to realize Cora Beth was responding to her comment—not her silent prayer.

“Did I hear Mr. Reynolds come in?” Cora Beth added.

Sadie tried to keep her tone light. “Yep. Walked smack-dab into the middle of our blindman’s bluff game.” Funny, though, that even when she was irritated with the man she could notice how the rain had darkened his pecan-brown hair a couple of shades and caused it to curl up slightly at the ends.

“Oh dear.” Cora Beth gave a rueful smile. “I take it he didn’t approve.”

An understatement. Sadie sighed. “I don’t know what I did to curdle that man’s cream but it’s plain to see he doesn’t think much of me.” It was a shame, really. Her first impression of him had been positive, and it wasn’t just because she liked the lean, broad-shouldered look of him. He was a bit too somber, perhaps, but he had a certain air of quiet confidence mixed with respect for others that she admired. What had really drawn her to him, though, was the hint of suppressed sadness she thought she’d sensed in him.

Of course, she’d been known to be wrong before.

“I’m sure it’s not as bad as all that.” Cora Beth’s words drew her back to the present. “He just needs to get to know you a little better is all. He’s really a very nice man.”

Nice, yes—he just didn’t approve of her. Which was a new experience for Sadie. She might still be treated as something of a child at home, but folks tended to like her. And as one of the Lassiter siblings and part owner of the Hawk’s Creek Ranch, Sadie was used to her name, at least, commanding a certain degree of respect.

“You have to agree, though,” Cora Beth said, “a man who takes such good care of a younger sister the way Mr. Reynolds does must have a lot to recommend him.”

Sadie refrained from comment. Was Cora Beth forming an interest in the newest resident of the boardinghouse? She wouldn’t blame her if she had—still, for some reason, that thought didn’t sit well.

Best to change the subject. “Now, get yourself on out of here. If you don’t want to lie down, why don’t you find a book to read or something quiet to do with the kids?”

“Don’t you want some company?”

Sadie knew if Cora Beth stayed she’d try to lend a hand. The woman just didn’t know how to take it easy. “That’s not—”

The door eased open just then, and Penny stood there, hesitating as if unsure of her welcome.

Sadie smiled at the young girl. “Hi there, princess, come on in.” Then she arched a brow Cora Beth’s way. “Seems I have someone to keep me company, after all. And since I intend to teach her all my kitchen secrets, you’ll just have to run along.”

Cora Beth looked from one to the other of them, then smiled. “Very well. I think I’ll see what Uncle Grover’s been up to today.”

As soon as she’d left, Penny looked up at Sadie. “Are you really going to teach me secrets?”

Sadie tapped the little girl on the nose. “Actually, my biggest secret is that I’m not very good in the kitchen. But if you’d like to help, maybe between the two of us we can pull off something acceptable. What do you say?”

Penny’s buckskin-colored pigtails danced as she nodded.

“Good. Now, let’s find you an apron.” Sadie hummed as she bustled around the kitchen, glad of the girl’s company. She’d taken a real liking to the quiet nine-year-old this past week. And it really warmed her heart to see that the feeling was returned. With Penny she never felt judged or that she had to prove herself. The little girl just seemed to enjoy being with her.

Once she’d tied the oversized apron on Penny, Sadie put a finger to her chin. “Now, let’s see. The stew is doing fine and the bread is already done.” She’d even managed not to overcook or undercook it this time. “I guess we’re ready to work on dessert.”

Penny smiled, luring forth the rare appearance of her dimple. “I like dessert.”

“So do I. Cora Beth helped me with a pound cake this morning, but I thought we might try to make a sauce to pour over it. Inez, the cook over at our ranch, makes a really scrumptious honey sauce that I think I can duplicate.” At least she hoped she could. “Why don’t you get the honey from the pantry while I get the butter and the cream?”

Penny nodded and headed off to do just that.

Sadie placed the butter and cream on the table then paused when she spied a neatly folded copy of this week’s Gazette on the counter. At least one thing had gone right since her trip here. Mr. Chalmers had agreed to run her story and it had met with gratifying success. She might not be a good cook, but it seemed she could spin a fine yarn. The thought of accomplishing something like this entirely on her own boosted her spirits again.

“Here’s the honey.”

Sadie glanced at the crock in the girl’s hands and gave her an apologetic smile. “Sorry, princess, that’s the wrong container.” Cora Beth had taken pains to explain to her that that particular jar contained a special honey that she used exclusively for her fruitcakes. Apparently it took on a special flavor because of the flowers that grew near the hard-to-find hive. “There’s a blue crock on the same shelf where you found that one—it has the store-bought honey.”

Penny nodded and turned back. But before she’d taken more than a step, she dropped the crock.

Sadie gazed down in horrified fascination at the sticky shards of crockery and gooey splatters. Cora Beth was not going to be happy.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to—”

Penny’s cracked-voice apology snapped Sadie out of her thoughts and she gave the girl a bright smile. “That’s okay, princess, it was an accident. Don’t you worry any more about it. Goodness knows I’ve had more than my fair share the past few days.”

“Is Mrs. Collins going to be very upset?”

Sadie flipped her hand dismissively. “Oh, not at all. I’ll just get her some fresh honey and she’ll be happy as a hog in a wallow.”

Penny wrinkled her nose as she smiled. “You say the funniest things.”

“That I do.” She gave the girl’s shoulder a pat. “Now, you fetch the mop while I get a pail of water to clean this up. And watch your step.”

Worried that the little girl might cut herself on the shards, Sadie fetched the other crock of honey and placed it on the table with the butter and cream. “Do you mind working on the honey sauce while I clean the floor? It would really be a big help.”

Penny’s shoulders drew back and her chest puffed out a bit, obviously proud of being given such a ‘big girl’ responsibility. “I can do that.”

Hiding a smile, Sadie got her started, pouring the ingredients into a large bowl in what looked to be the correct proportions. “Now you just stir that up until it’s all mixed together and the lumps are gone.” She gave the girl a challenging look. “It may take a while to get it just right. Think you’re up to it?”

“Oh yes. You can count on me.”

Sadie gave her a big smile. “I know I can. You and I make a pretty good team.”

Rolling up her sleeves, Sadie stepped over to the splatter and got down on her knees. At least this chore was one she was confident she could accomplish well.

A few minutes later she dropped the last of the larger shards into the trash pail and wiped the back of her hand across her forehead. “How’s it coming?” she asked Penny.

“There’s still a few lumps, but I’m getting close.”

“Good. Guess I’d better check on the stew before I finish up here.” She certainly didn’t want to scorch supper the way she had last night. Who knew a roast could go from pink to charred so fast?

She put her hands on her thighs, prepared to stand. But her shoe caught on the hem of her skirt and she came down hard, landing on her backside with a jarring thud.

“Oh!” Penny’s exclamation rang with anxiety.

But before Sadie could tell her she was okay, the door pushed open and Eli Reynolds stepped through. Sadie groaned inwardly. Of all times for her biggest critic to show up.

“Have you seen—” Penny’s brother halted midsentence, his expression turning to a mix of surprise and something else she couldn’t quite identify from this distance.

Then he crossed the room, bearing down on her with long, quick strides that took her aback.

“Sadie fell,” Penny proclaimed worriedly. “I don’t know if she’s hurt.”

“I’m fine.” Even if she hadn’t been, Sadie would never have hinted otherwise. She ignored the urge to rub her now-tender backside. If only he would just go away and leave her to recover her wounded dignity in private.

She stared up from her less-than-dignified position as he knelt beside her, waiting for the inevitable censure. Instead, he met her gaze with a concern that took her completely by surprise. “Are you sure you’re not hurt?”

She blinked, not quite certain how to react to this softer side of the man. “Yes, I mean, there’s no need—”

Why in the world was she stammering? She took a deep breath then offered a self-mocking smile. “The only thing smarting at the moment is my pride.”