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help.”
    She led the way past the livery to the elm tree. In the gathering twilight, she glanced at Gideon, and a butterfly hiccuped in her stomach. Her nerves stood at attention. He’d already demonstrated kindness, but trust wasn’t given away easily. Vulnerability invited contempt. She drew in a tentative breath. “My things are over there.” She pointed toward the underbrush.
    Gideon stared at her. “You mean to tell me you’ve been staying outside? I thought you were at Mrs. Dunnigan’s.”
    She shrugged and continued toward the elm. “I was for one night, but I couldn’t stay there indefinitely. I have no money.”
    “And you wouldn’t take charity, is that it?”
    She didn’t look at him but sensed he wore the same sympathetic expression he’d worn earlier.
    “You know, Tessa, there’s nothing wrong with accepting help from a friend.”
    She wasn’t sure what that word meant. She had no friends. Everything she loved was buried in the cemetery.
    “Tessa?” His voice coaxed her gaze in his direction. “I thought we were friends. Friends help each other. But you can only have a friend if you be a friend.”
    She hardly knew what to say. He was offering something she’d never had. “Gideon, you don’t know anything about me.”
    He walked back to the livery and picked up a lantern hanging on a post. The glow of the flame sent fingers of light dancing across his face as he returned to where she stood. “I know you loved your mother and your heart is broken. And I know you need a friend.” He shifted the lantern to the other hand. “I’d like the chance to get better acquainted with you. But for now, let’s get your things moved to your new place. I don’t think Cully will mind if we borrow his wheelbarrow.”
    She was too tired to argue.
    Gideon handed her the lantern and pushed the wheelbarrow from the side of the corral close to the elm. He hoisted the trunk first and balanced it over the hand grips. As he loaded the cabinet, he ran his hand over the carving on the front. “This is fine work.”
    “My grandfather carved that cabinet for my grandmother when they were first married. Mama brought it with her when she and Papa left Kentucky to move to Indiana. It’s the only thing Mama had to remind her of her parents.”
    Gideon traced the intricate detail with his finger and gave a low whistle. “Your grandfather was a fine craftsman.” When he turned the cabinet to steady it, the right side door wobbled. “It looks like this hinge is broken. I’d be happy to fix it for you.”
    Tessa shook her head. “I don’t have the money.”
    Gideon turned with an exasperated sigh and put his hands on his hips. “There you go again. Can’t you just let me fix it because I want to?”
    Wariness prodded her. Nobody put themselves out without expecting something in return. She wondered if he expected favors she was unwilling to give. “Why are you being so nice to me?”
    He picked up the lantern, and the light played across the space between them. His eyes studied her, but not the way the hotel clerk’s did. Even in the flickering light, she saw something different about Gideon, but she couldn’t distinguish what it was.
    “The Bible says, ‘A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly.’ I just want to be your friend, Tessa. There aren’t any strings attached.” He handed her the lantern and picked up the handles of the wheelbarrow. “C’mon, let’s go find this place Kilgore was so generous to
give
you.”
    When they reached the corner of the alley bordering the hotel, Tessa halted. “If you’ll please put my things right here, I can manage. Thank you for your help.”
    Gideon frowned. “But—”
    “Please.”

    Gideon chafed at the memory of Tessa setting her jaw and insisting he leave her things at the corner. Her stubborn stance declared there was no use arguing the point. He’d done as she requested, deposited her belongings and left, but he’d fought with his pillow