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until her daughter was healthy and then she’d make him go away.
    “I’ve got what we need but there was a little more information in the blood work.” He placed what he’d carried in on the coffee table. “I’m going to get these antibiotics started.”
    “Fine.” She held onto the counter, pushing the edge into her hand to ground her and keep her from hitting him.
    “Is something wrong?” He watched her for a moment.
    “It’s fine, just go about your business. I have things I must attend to.” She forced herself away from the counter and out the kitchen door to where she kept the wood stacked for the fireplace. There was no need for more wood yet, but she needed something to busy herself with. Fetching wood was a mundane task and didn’t require her to stay focused on it. She could let her mind work through the rage that boiled within her.
    She tipped her head back, the wind whipping her hair around her face, and tried to let the coolness chill her temper. She couldn’t understand why she was so worked up about this, why she’d let a man she barely knew get under her skin. He wasn’t the first one who disappointed her, and if she left this cabin he wouldn’t be the last. She wasn’t sure how long she stood there but a throat clearing behind her pulled her back to reality.
    “Ella.”
    “Is something wrong with Abbi?”
    He came to stand next to her. “I started the antibiotic and for now she’s resting comfortably. Michael brought the blood work results with him and it turns out Abbi is anemic. She needs to have a bagged iron transfusion but I can’t do that here, we’ll need to take her into town. Tomorrow.”
    “No.”
    “No?” He stepped around to stand in front of her. “What do you mean no? Do you understand what it means for her health? Or the fact this has been an ongoing issue and now it’s bad enough that it’s showing in her behavior? It’s the reason she’s been so tired lately, why she has those dark circles under her eyes, and why she’s so pale.”
    “We’re talking about my daughter and she’s staying here. I don’t need or want your charity!”
    “What are you talking about?”
    The fact he had to ask sparked the return of her anger. Without thinking she brought her arm up and smacked him across the face. The palm of her hand stung, and his cheek reddened. “How dare you deny it! I could hear you through the window with Michael.”
    He took a step back, out of her striking zone. “You heard my brother-in-law being an ass, nothing more. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”
    “Well, I won’t be considered a charity case for anyone. I don’t need it or want it.” She raised her voice several notches.
    “That’s not why I’m here, or why I care.” He shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans. “I want to help you, is that so wrong?”
    “You want to help because you feel sorry for us. Well there’s no reason to. I chose this.”
    “I know the decisions you made, you’ve made it clear to me multiple times since I’ve been here. That isn’t the reason I want to help you.”
    “Then why are you doing it?” She met his gaze.
    “You’ve been wronged in the past, I suspect by more than just Josh, but not everyone is like that. I’m not like that. You need to trust someone and I’m asking that you trust me.” He took a step closer to her. “I’m not doing this because I feel bad for you. Actually, I think you have it pretty well here. You live life on your terms not someone else’s. Yes, I would like to see you and Abbi more socialized, for her to have children her own age to play with. Though there are plenty of children who are homeschooled and don’t have many interactions with others, and they grow up to be fine adults. Ella, I want you to trust me, let me show you Clearwater is a safe place for you and your daughter.”
    “Why should I trust you?”
    “I think the better question is why shouldn’t you? I know you’ve been