Josie turned to look at him, her hands going to her hips after she had dusted them off. The fire crackled merrily behind her. "Pardon me?" she asked, eyebrow raised.

Lennox winced as he tried to move and then gave up. The pain from his wounds made him breathless. He knew he would have scars for the rest of his life; a constant reminder. He panted and squeezed his eyes closed as he breathed through the pain. Josie knelt beside him a few seconds later holding a tin cup in her hands. She lifted it to his lips, her other arm sliding behind his head and lifting gently. He gulped the water gratefully. Josie got to her feet and set the tin cup on her wooden table and then asked, "What were ya gonna say?"

Lennox looked at the petite woman he could probably overpower with his little finger when he was fully functional and sighed. "Do you make a habit of taking strange men into your home?" he said, "You know nothing of me. I could harm you."

Josie folded her arms and said, "I always have a place in my home for wounded things, animal or man. I am well looked after. Wolf doesn't see ya as a threat."

Her eyes twinkled as she said, "And Old Sam wouldn't have let you live if he didn't have confidence in you."

Lennox knew she had a valid point. Old Sam was extremely protective of her; letting men at the Rendezvous know to stay away from her. He had even warned Lennox that he wasn't to mess with Josie. Not that Lennox would have anyway. He had vowed to stay womanless and wifeless all his days.

Josie watched Lennox retreat into his thoughts and moved to heat up some stew for supper. She paused; thinking over bathing arrangements. She normally bathed in front of the fireplace. It was warmer. Things would have to be changed.

She ladled up some soup and took a bowl to Lennox and fed him before eating her own. He didn't seem to like her spoon-feeding him, but he could not move his arms without agonizing pain. "We'll have snow soon," began Josie, after she sat down to eat her own meal.

Lennox frowned tiredly and said, "I know. The snow's coming down the mountains."

He turned to look at her and asked, "How soon before I'm healed?"

Josie said, "You'll be healed enough to leave in two weeks, I'd say."

Josie finished eating, chuckling under her breath at Lennox's unhappy face. She swept the floor, let Wolf in, and completed her other night tasks before hauling water in for a bath. Lennox watched her make trip after trip, a pail of water in her hand. Josie was so tired she didn't even feel like heating up the water. She'd just take a cold bath. She hauled the large tin tub into her small bedroom and filled it with water.

Lennox watched the fire cast patterns on the ceiling and he grew sleepy. When Josie finished with her bath, she left the tub sitting as is and slipped into a nightgown and robe before slipping out of her bedroom. She smiled as she saw Lennox sleeping peacefully in front of the fire. Her poultice was working. Lennox woke when he felt a shadow cast over his frame. He tensed before pretending to be asleep when he felt her place another blanket over him, draping it over him carefully. "Sweet dreams," he heard her whisper, pressing a cool hand to his forehead briefly.

She softly called Wolf to her. Lennox cracked his eyes open, watching as she laid a hand on the animal's head and said firmly, "Watch. Protect. Keep."

The animal cocked his head but obediently trotted to Lennox and lay down by his feet with a huff. Josie blew out the lamps before moving into her bedroom and latching the door closed behind her. A sudden chill pervaded the room. She normally left the door open in the colder months, but she would not risk it with Lennox in the house. Though Wolf would kill him if he tried anything; not that Lennox was in any shape to even move. But it paid to be careful. Shedding her robe, she climbed into bed and burrowed under the quilts with a soft sigh.

In the living area, lying in front of the warm fire, Lennox stared at the different herbs swinging from the heavy rafters and blinked slowly. Sleep came slowly as he contemplated the tiny woman right through the door to his left.

Weeks passed. With the pride a mother takes in her child's first steps, Josie watched Lennox take his first unassisted step in weeks and clapped joyfully. Days were spent readying the small cabin and barn for winter. Lennox watched anxiously as Josie climbed the roof to fix shingles. Evenings were spent around the supper table, talking, or reading after supper. Eventually, they would retire to in front of the fireplace. Josie would knit in her rocking chair while Lennox propped his leg up and read aloud from Gulliver's Travels or Pilgrim's Progress.

Meanwhile the snow came down the mountains. Josie was forced to break ice from the watering troughs every morning before she was able to water the animals. The cold seeped in the small cabin, making a fire in the giant stone fireplace, a necessity.

One night, Josie stood by the table, mixing up biscuits while Lennox lazily lounged in front of the fire, his eyes drooping. Josie smiled. Other than healing, a few other changes had been wrought in the man. His face, once gaunt and stern, was filled out and smooth of worry lines. A few good meals had added a few needed pounds to his lean frame. Josie stopped stirring a moment as she gazed at him lying on the floor. One of his hands was absently stroking Wolf's fur as the animal lay next to him. Lennox looked content.

For one small second, Josie imagined the same scene with a couple of differences. He didn't know that in her thoughts she referred to him as her Lennox. But he was not hers. And never could be unless he had a change of heart. Josie sent up a silent prayer on his behalf and hers. She realized she could fall for the man quickly. She just needed to know if his heart was safe.

She moved to put the biscuits in the pan, humming softly. Lennox opened his eyes as the warm smell of baking bread filled his nostrils. Pushing himself up to rest on his elbows, he tossed his unbound hair over his shoulders and asked, "Josie? What's for supper?"

.......

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Next chapter of Woman of God. Let me know what you guys think? 

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SIncerely,

Scarlett McLeod