“No.” Greta rushed to the stove, mortification pummeling her. “I have soup and biscuits ready.” As she stood in front of the stove, she pressed her hands against her cheeks, feeling the warmth radiating from her skin.

Behind her, Judd’s boots thumped in an uneven gait across the floor. He paused halfway in.

She reached for a bowl from the shelf next to the stove, then scooped soup inside. His steps resumed until he reached the table and pulled out the bench with a scrape.

At the oomph he made sitting down, she released a shaky breath. Once the bowl was full and the plate piled with biscuits, she twirled the ladle in the pot. Wyatt’s slurp filled the silence.

Why was she so embarrassed? She hadn’t done anything wrong by kissing Wyatt. And it didn’t matter that Judd had seen them. They had every right to be kissing if that’s what they wanted to do. Didn’t they?

Straightening her shoulders, she breathed in and then turned, walked across the room, and placed the bowl and plate in front of Judd, all the while avoiding looking either of the men in the face.

Wyatt didn’t pause in his eating, and Judd mumbled his thanks as she scurried back to the stove. She picked up the mug but then almost dropped it.

“Fixin’ to head out tomorrow and cut more timber.”

“Good idea,” Wyatt said through a bite of biscuit. “We’ll be needing the fuel come winter.”

“Not for fuel. For another room.”

Greta started to pour the coffee but then halted. Wyatt grew abruptly silent. And, of course, Judd didn’t elaborate.

What was he implying? That she and Wyatt needed their own room now?

Oh my. Her hand shook and coffee sloshed over the rim. She set the mug down and wiped her hand on her apron, a flush rising into her face once more.

Wyatt cleared his throat. “Reckon we’ll need the space come summer when Flynn and the kids get here.”

His words sent an icy splash against Greta, causing a chill to skitter over her skin. Wyatt’s family was coming.

“You’ll be needin’ a room long before that.”

Greta had no doubt now what Judd was referring to, but the warmth from moments ago had dissipated, leaving confusion in its place. She couldn’t allow these feelings for Wyatt to deepen, not when he had his family to think about. She wouldn’t add to his worries and responsibilities, not when he needed to be there for his siblings in their time of greatest need.

Besides, she had to keep Astrid her priority. Greta had come west to save her little sister, and she couldn’t forget that. No matter the personal sacrifice, she had to do whatever she could to save the child’s life. And what other option did she have but to take Astrid to Denver and seek additional help?

Chapter 18