Forever and Always by Leigh Greenwood Page B

wanted to take care of this old man. They insisted I should see the doctor. Kitty even offered to take me there.”
    Sibyl knew about the meeting because Kitty had told her about it. She had spent all of supper talking about Logan. She knew Logan’s health was none of her business, but she couldn’t let such an opening slip by. “I agree with them. Dr. Kessling is an excellent physician.”
    Logan’s gaze locked on her. “I’ve consulted the best doctor in Chicago. There is no help for my condition. If my looks upset you, I won’t come here again.”
    â€œIt’s not that,” Sibyl hastened to assure him. “It’s just that you’re clearly not well, and I don’t think seeing the doctor would hurt.”
    â€œThere comes a time when the only thing left is to accept what can’t be changed.”
    Sibyl wanted to say more, but she decided against it. “Where are you staying? I’d hate to see you use all your money paying for lodging. I’d be happy to give you a wage. You’ve more than earned it.”
    â€œI have a camp up on the Rim,” Logan said. “It’s all I need.”
    The idea of camping out in the wilderness appalled Sibyl. Memories of the trip by covered wagon from Kentucky still gave her nightmares. A campsite on the Rim was no place for a man as sick as Logan. “You’ve got to move into town. I know of a number of places you can stay inexpensively.”
    â€œI don’t want to move into town. My tent is warm and dry, and I can find plenty of meat by hunting. I like my solitude. It gives me time to think. It also spares people having to look at me and pretend nothing is wrong with my face.” His smile was wintry. “Not like the children. They asked me right off what was wrong.”
    â€œI’m sorry for that.”
    â€œI’m not. I would find it much easier if everyone would acknowledge that I suffer from weak spells and my face looks like it’s about to explode. Despite all this, I can take care of myself and prefer to do so without bothering anyone else.”
    â€œIt wouldn’t be a bother.”
    â€œOf course it would. Let’s not pretend otherwise.”
    Sibyl felt like a child who had been chastised. “All right. It would be a bother, but I’d rather be bothered than have you living in the woods surrounded by wild animals.” She didn’t know how a smile from that face could be endearing, but it was.
    â€œThe only wild animals up there are cows that are too lazy to do anything but graze, and deer that do their best to stay far away from me.”
    â€œJared says there are cougars, wolves, and bears.”
    â€œProbably, but they stay even farther away.”
    â€œYou’re not going to let me talk you into moving into town, are you?”
    â€œYour appeal was presented very charmingly, and your concern does you credit, but I’m going to resist despite your nearly irresistible smile.”
    Sibyl felt herself blush. Norman had never complimented her, and no man who wasn’t related to her had dared. She was disconcerted to realize she found his words very agreeable, even that she wished he would say a few more. She attempted to chastise herself for vanity, but it did no good. It felt absolutely wonderful to be told that a man found her charming and nearly irresistible.
    â€œI wish you would reconsider. It worries me to know that you’re sleeping in the woods. I wouldn’t be able to close my eyes.”
    â€œI sleep better than I ever did when I lived in a house. Who would have expected that?”
    He had never said much about his life before he came to Cactus Corner. “What kind of house was it?”
    â€œIt was large and quite comfortable, but it never felt as welcoming as my tent.”
    Apparently he wasn’t going to tell her anything about his past. “Either you had a very strange house, or you have a very