Free Hope by Lori Copeland Page B

afraid I don’t.”
    “I’ve spent a month in your company, my life is in your hands at the moment, and I don’t know your name.”
    “It’s Grunt.”
    Her merriment increased, causing her to break into another fit of coughing. Grunt gently lifted her to a sitting position.
    When the spasm subsided, she lay weakly back against his chest. “I’m reasonably sure your name isn’t Grunt. I doubt any mother would do that to her poor, helpless newborn.”
    “No?” He grinned. “You don’t like the name Grunt?”
    She shook her head. “It’s truly inappropriate.”
    He carefully settled her back on the pallet, and she sighed. His blanket smelled of woodsmoke and lye soap. “My name is Dan Sullivan.”
    “Dan.” She closed her eyes, testing the feel of his name on her tongue. “Daniel?”
    “Daniel.”
    It was a good, strong biblical name. And they’d surely both been in the lions’ den.
    “How did you know I wasn’t Anne Ferry?”
    He reached for a stick of wood and laid it on the fire. “I met Anne Ferry at a Christmas soiree a few years back. Thomas Ferry is a personal friend of my commander.” He moved back to the pallet and knelt beside her, gently smoothing hair back from her face with the cloth. “I knew the moment I saw you that you weren’t Thomas’s daughter. You’re prettier than Anne.”
    Prettier than Anne. She felt a pang of envy for Anne, who had probably danced with this handsome man, been held in his arms. She wanted to hold his words close to her heart, but she was so weary she couldn’t think at all. She couldn’t imagine why Dan Sullivan’s flattery meant so much to her. She was betrothed to John Jacobs, and Mr. Jacobs must be worried sick about her whereabouts.
    Dan’s voice was solemn now. “Hope, what were you doing with Anne’s bags and her personal effects?”
    When she heard uneasiness in his voice, she smiled. “Anne and her companion, Della DeMarco, had been traveling with me earlier. Miss DeMarco took ill, and Anne returned home in order for Miss Della to have the proper care. They left so suddenly that Anne forgot to get her things.”
    Hope smiled when she heard him exhale with relief. A moment later, she drifted off, his words tucked neatly inside her heart: “You’re prettier than Anne.”
    She awoke later, aware that she was alone now. Dan? Had he left? Please, Dan . . . no . . . stay with me. If he left her, there would be nothing she could do. She had no idea where she was nor one single way to care for herself. He’d surely take the horse.
    She lay in the light of the flickering fire, waiting, listening, and praying that he wouldn’t abandon her. He was, after all, a government agent . . . now she was part of that job.
    Hot tears slipped from the corners of her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. Her thoughts—about God, about Dan Sullivan—were confused and jumbled. Lord, please help me trust you like Papa did. Help me to believe—
    A sound caught her attention, and she opened her eyes. For one brief, elated moment, she saw Dan standing at the cave’s entrance with two fat rabbits in his hand.
    “You’re back.”
    “Sorry it took so long. Game’s scarce.”
    “It’s okay.” Giving him a smile, she closed her eyes again. Dan hadn’t left her. Perhaps God was still watching out for her after all.
    “Dan?”
    “Yes, Hope?” His voice seemed to come from a long way off.
    “Do you honestly think I’m prettier than Anne?”
    The soft, masculine chuckle made her blush. “Well, Miss Kallahan, if I were to say who’s the prettiest . . .”
    She drifted off without ever hearing him finish the sentence.

Chapter Five
    John Jacobs teetered on a wooden ladder propped against the wall case of the Jacobs Mercantile, straining to reach the top shelves with the feather duster. No one could ever say they’d purchased a single item from Jacobs Mercantile that was the least bit neglected.
    No sir. When one bought from Jacobs, one got quality product,