The puppy yipped again, earning more of Astrid’s laughter, ending in a fit of coughing that left her breathless.

As Astrid lay back, weak and pale, Greta smoothed her sister’s hair off her face and pressed a cool rag on her forehead. Astrid pushed Greta’s hand away and struggled to sit back up.

“Don’t overdo it.”

Clearly sensing her worry, Wyatt scooped up the pup. “I’ll take Chase out to do his business and let him run around.”

Greta smiled her thanks, but Astrid protested. “No. Please don’t take him from me.”

“Don’t you worry none.” Wyatt repositioned the squirming pup. “He’ll get tuckered out and be ready for some shut-eye in no time.”

While Wyatt was gone with the new puppy, Greta tried to feed Astrid a little supper and made her drink some tea. But Astrid was distracted and wouldn’t rest until the puppy was back on the bed snuggled up against her. When the two were asleep, Greta crept from the room, hoping to see Wyatt one last time before he retired to the barn.

Her heartbeat sped at the sight of him sitting at the table, whittling with his pocketknife. At her appearance, he looked up at her and let his knife grow idle. For the first time since he’d returned, she let herself get a good look at him.

He was oh-so-handsome. With his hat off, she could see his dark hair was cropped short after a recent cut Judd had given him. His face was bronzed and in need of a shave. And his dark brows furrowed over his rich brown eyes. “She’s getting worse, ain’t she?” he asked softly.

Greta didn’t want to burden him with Astrid’s health, especially first thing after getting home from a long trip, but she had to say something. “She’s having another flare-up.”

Wyatt studied her face as though seeing past her answer to the truth. “What more can we do for her?”

She hesitated and then sighed. “I don’t know.” To avoid his probing gaze, she headed to the stove, where she’d left a pot of soup simmering. She ladled out a bowl and brought it to him along with biscuits and a jar of plum jam.

She spun away to pour him a mug of coffee, but he snagged her hand and prevented her from going. “Wait.”

For a second, she didn’t want to face him, too afraid he’d ask her more questions and discover just how bad Astrid’s consumption was. But when he laced his fingers through hers, his solid hold seemed to reassure her that everything would be alright, that he would be here to support and help her, that she wasn’t alone.

Slowly, she turned to face him.

He focused on their intertwined hands. “I brought something back for you.”