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You might as well come on in and enjoy yourself. Don’t let me deter you. It’s not like this is my place. After all, we are both guests here,
jah?”
    After another moment’s hesitation, he stepped inside. As she half expected, he walked right over and poured a mug of hot coffee. What she didn’t expect was to see him liberally add sugar and cream to it. What had necessitated that? she wondered. To her surprise, she fought off a smile when he sipped, then added still more cream to it. He was obviously a man who liked his sweets. Then she wondered why she even cared.
    Once his coffee was mixed, Levi stood awkwardly once again. Looking terribly ill at ease.
    Because he still stayed silent—and because the continued strain was starting to get on her nerves—she raised her hands to the fire. “The fireplace really does feel comforting.”
    He raised a brow at the word.
    “I mean, the house is warm, but it still contains drafts. I was thankful for the featherbed last night.” She didn’t even bother to say it helped her sleep, because it hadn’t.
    Nothing really helped that.
    “Mr. Brenneman said their home has been in their family for a few generations.”
    Though his statement was spoken awkwardly, she grabbed on to his words like a lifeline. “That’s nice, huh?” When his expression stayed blank, she hastened to explain. “I mean, my parents moved to their house soon after I was born. I imagine it would be nice to live somewhere where there are memories of grandparents in every corner.”
    “I don’t know about that.” He swallowed. “Some memories are too hard to think about.”
    “Yes. You’re right.” There was no way she was going to dispute that statement. Some memories were far too painful to free from the locked box of her mind. If she had her way, she’d wish to never recall some things ever again.
    He held his hands up. “The fire does feel good. I could have used a warm spot like this yesterday. It was a cold day to travel.”
    “Did you come from very far?”
    “A fair amount. Took me most of the day,” he added.
    “It took me most of the day as well.”
    “You traveled some distance, too?”
    Melody didn’t fail to notice that his question was asked grudgingly, like only good manners necessitated that he inquire. He’d also given her a question that could be neatly sidestepped as well.
    All she’d have to do is give him a one-word answer and they could consider the conversation over.
    But for all of his gruffness, she felt safer with him than she had with any man in months. Feeling brave and almost chatty, she said, “I came all the way from Kentucky. From Sonora, which is south of Louisville. Do you know it?”
    “Nee.”
    “Well, it’s a ways away, especially in this weather.” She shivered dramatically. “It was a long journey.”
    “Perhaps it was too long. After all, you collapsed when you arrived.”
    She couldn’t escape his disapproval. She also couldn’t escape what had happened. “I feel better now.”
    But instead of commenting on her health, he stepped closer. “Why, exactly, are you here?”
    “Pardon me?” A tremor flitted inside her. Perhaps this man wasn’t so harmless after all.
    Those dark eyes of his seemed to miss nothing as he stared. Immediately, she noticed the stain on her gray dress. The cracked skin on her finger from the cold. With a sinking sensation, she imagined that he was examining the dark circles under her eyes that seemed to never go away.
    And, of course, her protruding stomach.
    “You look like you could give birth at any moment. Surely this trip you’ve taken was foolhardy. Most likely, it wasn’t safe for the babe. But still you went.”
    She wrapped her arms around herself. “The baby is fine.”
    “As far as you know …” Something dark entered his eyes. “Whyever would you decide to take such a risk withyour baby’s health? And why in the world are you alone?”
    Melody realized then that she’d been hopelessly naive.