She looked exhausted, despite the obvious joy on her face. Brandon grinned at her and tucked her back into his side. “Way to go, Lenny. But you need to rest now. You got really cold there, and I don’t want you doing anything.”
Lennie yawned and laid down, her head now resting in his lap. He tucked the blanket around her, glad for the steady warmth of the stove.
“Will you stay with me tonight?” she asked. “Just to make sure the fire doesn’t go out.”
“Of course,” Brandon said, seizing onto the excuse to stay with Lenny. He didn’t want to go back to his cold, dark cabin anyway. “I’ll have to run and get Dumpling, but I want to keep an eye on you too. Make sure you’re okay after passing out.”
“I feel okay,” Lenny said, but she’d closed her eyes and didn’t speak louder than a whisper. “Maybe a little shaky. Thanks for dinner.”
It had been her food, but Brandon didn’t say anything. He sat with her for several minutes, trying to organize his thoughts and categorize his feelings. When none of that worked, he eased away from her and stood.
She didn’t stir at all, and he motioned for Admiral to come sit by her. “Keep an eye on her,” he told the black lab as he and Susie-Q crowded in around Lenny. “I’ll be back in ten minutes.”
He just needed to drive down the lane and get his cat, some food for breakfast, a change of clothes, and his blanket. Oh, and it sure would be nice if he could figure out how he really felt about Lenny, and if he could talk to her again about making the homestead—and her—a permanent part of his life.
“Maybe it’s too soon,” he muttered as he left her cozy, toasty cabin for the bleak, cold darkness outside. He never thought he’d be one to fall so fast, but maybe he’d just needed to meet the right woman.
But how would he know for certain, and how could he get Lenny to see and feel the same things he did?
27
Lenore sensed movement around her, but she couldn’t quite bring herself to full consciousness. She recognized the scent of Brandon’s skin and feather-light touch of his fingers across her forehead. He murmured something, but she still lingered too deep in unconsciousness to hear the words.
Something cool touched her forehead, causing her to wake further.
“You need to drink,” Brandon said, and Lenore’s eyelids fluttered open.
Everything felt too hot. She kicked the blanket off her legs in a desperate attempt to find fresh air. “I don’t feel good.”
“No, you’re not doing too good,” Brandon said, his voice low and tender. “I need you to drink this, though. Zona’s here, putting together a concoction she insists will help.”
Lenore let him slide partially behind her, holding her up. He pressed something gently to her lips, and she drank. The taste was somewhat medicinal but also flavored like orange cream. The coolness of it across her tongue and down her throat made Lenore want more.
“Mm, okay,” she said, and drank and drank until the liquid was all gone. She sighed in relief, sinking back against Brandon’s chest. “How long have I been asleep?”
“A while,” Brandon said, and Lenore detected a tone of caution in his voice.
Arizona said something, but her voice was out of reach, too far away. Lenore couldn’t focus on it. Her neck felt floppy, like she couldn’t hold up her head.
“Don’t go back to sleep, sweetheart,” Brandon said.
Everything hurt—from her head to her shoulders to a massive, quiet ache in her legs. “What’s wrong with me?” she asked.
“Eat this, honey,” Arizona said. “It’s a little spicy. But Brandon, she’s got to eat the whole cracker.”
“I’ll do my best,” he said.
Something that contained the scent of lemons and salt filled Lenore’s nose. A moment later, the rough edge of a cracker touched her lips, and she opened her mouth—because she trusted Brandon.
“I’m gonna put the whole thing in, Lenny. Eat it all, please.”
She closed her mouth around the food, her top lip almost capturing the tip of Brandon’s thumb. She took the first bite, and fire flowed through her whole soul. She yelped as a cough followed and she thrashed, ready to spit this poison out.
“Tilt her head back,” Arizona said. “Brandon, she needs to eat it.”
Brandon placed one strong arm across her chest to hold her in place. “Eat it, Lenny,” he said in the most commanding voice she’d ever heard.
She managed to chew and swallow, the fire flowing down into her stomach as tears ran down her face.
