He braced the shovel against the stall with the sudden intense hankering to hug her. Even as he took a step forward, he hesitated. “If you ain’t mad about the uh—kisses”—his voice cracked, and he cleared his throat—“then why are you avoiding me?”

She wound the strand around her finger higher before unraveling and starting again. She opened her mouth and started but then stopped. Finally, she dropped her hand. “Astrid and I are only going to be a burden to you once your family comes. And I don’t want that, Wyatt. I really don’t.” The anguish in her tone spoke of past hurts that had yet to find healing.

This time he crossed to her, praying she wouldn’t bolt. As he reached her, he lifted a hand and touched the same silky pieces she’d just been fiddling with. “Listen, you and Astrid are my family now too.”

“But you didn’t have to take us in.” Her voice was still raw. “You did it because you’re a good and kindhearted man who was trying to help out and do the right thing.”

Her words pricked at the guilt he’d tucked far away. He’d gotten good at stashing it into the back corners of his mind and telling himself that his deal with Steele didn’t really matter. That if he’d known then what he knew about Greta now, he’d have dropped to his knees and proposed to her on the spot that first night he saw her.

“You’re already working so hard to make ends meet, and you’ll have to work harder when you start to support your brothers and sister.”

He stroked her hair back. “We’ll make do—”

“Even with the addition on the cabin, there won’t be enough room. We’ll be short on plates and cups, and we’ll have to stretch the food—”

“We’ll figure it all out. Might not be easy, but together we’ll make it work.”

Her brows furrowed.

He stroked at the worry lines on her forehead. “If anyone can make it work, you can. You’re one of the smartest people I know.”

Her features softened. “You think so?”

“Yep. You’ve got a real good sense for business, better than anyone I know.”

“Now you’re just flattering me.”

“No way. Wouldn’t say it if I didn’t mean it.” He reached to pull her into his arms, but she took a step back and braced a hand against his chest.

“There’s one more thing.” Her brow wrinkled again.

He slipped his arms around her anyway, fitting his hands at the small of her back and drawing her closer, intending to break down her resistance and prove that nothing else mattered except her.

At his touch, her hand dropped away from his chest, and she relaxed into him.