“Um … I don’t remember.” Tearing her gaze away, she started counting the potatoes pulled from the fire. There should be five left. Seeing Silas hadn’t come back outside from going to get more candy bars, Alanna moved away from Matthew to grab the long, metal spoon Silas had used to scoop them out with. She was careful as she used the spoon to shift the ashes, unearthing a spot of foil. When she lifted the potato out, it slipped off the spoon. Not thinking, she went to catch it, and a hiss of pain escaped her when two of her fingers came in contact with the hot ashes.

Matthew shoved his hand into the flames to block her hand when she unwittingly jerked her hand upward toward the flames instead of keeping it low to slip underneath, as Silas had done.

Holding her hand to her chest, she tried to take Matthew’s to see how badly he had been burnt.

“The flames didn’t get me. Let me see your hand.” He inexplicably held his hand out to her. It didn’t have a mark on it.

She gingerly extended hers, and Matthew cupped the bottom in his.

“What happened?”

Alanna blinked back tears when Silas walked up next to them.

“I was getting another potato. Before you say anything, I know you told me not to.”

“I wasn’t going to say anything.” Silas’ gentle gaze had her putting on a brave face in front of him, while Matthew’s searching gaze wasn’t buying her calm.

“Jody has some first-aid supplies at his trailer. I’ll walk her home and put some cream on for her.” Removing his hand from under hers, Matthew cupped her elbow. “Let’s go.”

“I can find the supplies. You don’t have to leave.”

“I was getting ready to leave, anyway. I have to be up at six in the morning to be at Al’s.”

“Here, Alanna.” Fynn held out a s’more he had just made, wrapping it in a paper towel. “I’ll make me another one.”

Alanna started to refuse, but didn’t want to hurt the little boy’s feelings. “Thank you.”

She didn’t resist Matthew’s tug on her arm, wanting to be back in the trailer alone so she could finally have the cry she had held back earlier.

Matthew brought them to a stop at his workshop. “Wait here. I want to get a flashlight.”

He carried his cell phone as a flashlight when he disappeared inside the building and came out a minute later.

“Doing okay?” he asked.

“Uh-huh …”

He turned on the flashlight, and they continued on to the trailer without talking. Alanna was thankful he wasn’t making small talk; she didn’t think she could hold it together if she showed one crack in her control.