“Come, now, let’s not quarrel. I’ll walk you home.”
“No, thank you. I can find my way just fine without help.” Stalking away, her head high, Maggie fought back tears. You won’t cry over him, she lectured silently. He’s entitled to be as stuffy, narrow-minded and ridiculous as he wishes.
Once out of sight of the partygoers, Maggie slowed, limping along in the darkness. Her hip ached from standing for hours serving food, then sitting on the cold ground, keeping the children occupied while the adults chatted. And dancing. What could be so wrong in giving them fantasies and dreams? “Sometimes life needs pixies and ghosts, you pigheaded preacher.”
“I quite agree.”
Maggie screeched in surprise and spun to face the man behind her, but while her body stopped, the world seemed to keep going, stealing her balance and sending her tumbling to the ground.
“Maggie!” Kris crouched beside her instantly. “Are you hurt?”
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and steadied her while she assessed the damage done. Though nothing hurt, her stomach was none too steady. Maggie gritted her teeth and eased her legs straight in front of her.
“Are you all right? Talk to me. Please.”
Maggie shook her head, afraid if she tried to speak, the sudden nausea in her belly would boil free. She wanted to ask Kris to hold her, just for a few moments, until she gathered her wits, but she couldn’t even manage the words to ask.
“Oh, my Maggie, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.” Kris rubbed a hand up and down her back, soothing and warming her. “Do you want to try and get up?”
“Not yet,” she managed. She flinched when Kris shoved to his feet so fast her head swam again, then sighed in relief as he wrapped her in the warmth of his coat. The wool carried his scent, which soothed her even more.
“We have to get you off this cold ground or you’ll catch your death, sweetheart.” He crouched beside her again. “Tell me where it hurts most.”
“I’m fine, truly. My hip is tired, but it’s been a long day, and—”
“And you stood for hours, then sat on the hard ground with the children, and all I could offer you was criticism.”
Maggie reached for the anger, anything to keep her attention away from the throbbing in her hip, but she couldn’t hold onto it. “You’re entitled to your opinion.”
“Even if it is a pigheaded notion, eh?”
When one corner of his mouth kicked up in a teasing grin, Maggie smiled back. “That’s what you get for sneaking up on me and eavesdropping.”
“Lesson learned,” he laughed. “Now, then, let’s get you off the ground. Ready?”
“Maybe by morning,” Maggie sighed. At least the nausea was subsiding. “Or Tuesday next.”
“You’ll be frozen stiff long before then.”
With no warning, he scooped Maggie into his arms and rose. “Better?” Instead of answering, she concentrated on breathing deeply, trying to keep the sudden return of nausea at bay.
“I think so. You may put me down, now.” She prayed she wouldn’t fall in a heap at his feet when he did.
“And give up the pleasure of holding you close? I’m not that noble.” Kris moved carefully, gliding along the dusty path. Maggie stiffened and held herself away from him for a while, trying to make herself lighter and easier to carry, then gave in to the lure of warmth and laid her head on his shoulder. “Good girl,” he murmured. “I won’t drop you.”
Maggie felt him press a soft kiss to her hair and wanted to snuggle closer.
“I’m sorry I lost my temper, Maggie. You were only being kind to those children and their mother, sharing something special with them—and I overreacted. Growing up, punishment would have been swift and severe had I even listened to stories about such things, let alone repeated them.”
“But, why?” She could hardly believe such a thing.
“Because they are practices that come from the unsaved, from those who would lead the true believer astray.”
He sounded like he was repeating words learned by rote.
“I think you don’t give your believers enough credit. They do have minds of their own.”
“And often use them unwisely.” He climbed the front steps of the Bittner’s house and let her open the door. As soon as they entered, he called out for the doctor.
“Shh. I’m sure they’re asleep, and I’ll be fine. I just need to rest. Now, put me down.”
Instead of complying, Kris headed for the doctor’s examination room and laid Maggie on the table. Huffing with indignation, Maggie tried to sit up, only to be restrained by a hand on her shoulder.
“Please, Maggie.” Kris reached to undo the buttons of her cloak. “I’ll leave you alone if Franz says all you need is rest, but not until then.”
“I am capable of knowing—”