Free Autumn Promises by Kate Welsh Page B

someone had put in the trunk of her clothes that I’d smelled over the years when I peeked in there. I was too young to remember that, wasn’t I?”
    Evan grimaced. But for the first time the stinging pain he’d been ready for wasn’t there. “I’m afraid so, Cris. But she loved you very much. Both you and Jackson. I like to think you carry that with you, even if you don’t remember how you know.”
    She smiled sadly. “I do, too, Dad. She must have been something if you still miss her so much after all these years.”
    “Yeah,” he said, his voice sounding wistful but not agonized, even to himself. No, he’d never forget her, but a niggling voice in his head told him she’d have wanted him to go on and live a fuller life than he had been.
    Unfortunately, he just couldn’t leave her behind. His love for her was too comfortable. Too much a part of him.

Chapter Nine
    M eg returned from the hospital just in time to wash up and carry a big soup tureen full of Xandra’s hearty chili to the table. She set it next to a basket of fry bread Crystal had whipped up. Everyone gathered around the table and automatically joined hands to pray as soon as she sat—all but Evan. He missed a beat, then looking terribly self-conscious, finally reached out for her hand and Xandra’s. When Evan remained silent, not taking the lead in prayer as the head of the household, Cole smoothly stepped in and began to pray over the meal, almost covering the awkward moment.
    Unfortunately, Evan’s touch distracted Meg so much she didn’t have a clue what her nephew said. All she could think about was the way Evan’s hand engulfed hers, the feel of his work-roughened palm against her knuckles. Its strength. Its warmth.
    “So how was Beth today?” Jim asked, bringing her out of her thoughts. Meg’s gaze flew to Evan’s. He was still holding her hand. She stared into his eyes, unable to look away for a prolonged moment. When Cole cleared his throat, Evan blinked and let go of her hand, as if coming out of a trance. He looked down at his plate, but she continued to stare at the top of his head.
    “I’d say about the same,” Cole answered Jim, ignoring them. “She spiked another high fever about the time Aunt Meg got there.”
    Hearing her name finally pulled Meg back to the conversation and she managed to add, “Jack was beside himself.”
    But as if drawn by some invisible force, Meg glanced at Evan just as he looked back up, confusion and worry warring in his gaze. “He’d had such high hopes for this new antibiotic,” he said, his voice sounding husky and strained.
    Was he worried about Beth? Or because of that…that moment they might or might not have shared? She prayed her own quick prayer for support, then forced her mind back to the purpose of her visit to Colorado.
    “He did have high hopes. Her doctor hasn’t given up on it, but he did say he had something stronger waiting in the wings. We prayed together and that seemed to settle them both down. Jack always takescomfort in his faith, and it seemed to ease Beth so she could rest.”
    “Has he been letting you spell him, Cole?” Evan asked.
    “He got about six hours’ sleep last night and looked a lot better for it.” Cole grimaced. “At least until Beth’s fever spiked.”
    “I got permission to take the babies in to see her,” Meg told Evan. “We’re hoping seeing them will raise her spirits. Could you make the trip with me tomorrow?”
    Evan frowned and quickly shook his head. “Can’t…I…uh…I have a meeting in Denver first thing Monday. I was going to change my plans but when all these guys flew out I realized I didn’t need to. I’d planned to leave right after church tomorrow and stay overnight at a friend’s house. Maybe Crystal and Jim could help. It’d be good practice for them.”
    “We’d be glad to,” Crystal said. “I’d hoped to go see Beth tomorrow anyway.”
    “Is it safe for the babies to be near her?” Evan wondered, his