Dreamwalker's Bride - Chapter 284

Chapter 284: Dinner invitation
Sweat slid down between Ford’s shoulder blades. He was ready to disappear at any second, but Seth’s eyes were trained on him like a wolf.

“I invited Ford to dinner,” Grandpa said cheerfully just as another person pushed through the grass into the sheltered camp.

“You– Oh! Hello!” Anaisa’s voice held far more friendliness than anyone besides Grandpa’s so far.

“Won’t it be great to have someone that can turn invisible with us on the journey?” Grandpa encouraged.

“Is that why he’s here?” Seth’s eyes slid to Mia, demanding answers.

“How should I know?” She shot back at him. “He just appeared with Grandpa a few minutes ago. You know about as much as I do.”

“Why do I find that hard to believe?” He murmured, and Ford gulped.

It had been a terrible slip up on his part letting Mia see him in the barn. He’d fully intended to stay entirely hidden. If only his powers hadn’t run out while he slept!

Mia hiding the fact that he’d been there—for some reason he was very confident she’d kept it to herself–shouldn’t affect the way her family treated her.

“She didn’t know anything about me following you,” Ford interrupted. “I came on my own, and figured you all would want to know about the kid trailing you, so I–”

“Were you the one making noises? To catch our attention so we would find Daniel?” Anaisa’s eyebrows rose, and Ford colored.

“I meant no offense to him. He seemed surprisingly competent for his age, I just didn’t think you would want him out alone,” Ford explained with a slight flinch. Had he made a mistake mentioning it?

Before he could say anything further, a hand rested gently on his arm.

“Thank you,” Anaisa said thickly. “I won’t forget it.”

He nodded with a half smile that fell from his face when he met Seth’s eyes. The man was not going to be as easily pleased as the red headed mother.

“There’s a lot of things to do with you we won’t be forgetting,” Mia’s father said ominously.

“I don’t expect you to,” Ford tried to hold the older man’s gaze, but the meat he was holding was getting a little heavy. He used the excuse of putting it down to break the intense eye contact. Mia took the meat and moved it to a clean board where she began cutting it into thin strips rather than engaging in the conversation.

Fine. She could abandon him now, when he was dealing with her father. It didn’t bother Ford at all!

He’d only saved her life once or twice on their journey. It’s not like she owed him anything for accompanying her when she ran away from home. She could do as she pleased!

“I suppose you promised him some kind of protection, or he wouldn’t have finally shown himself,” Seth grumbled at his father.

“Even if he didn’t, I did,” Anaisa put in. “Days ago, when I found Daniel.”

“You couldn’t have known I was actually listening,” Ford told her.

“But now I know you were,” She smiled.

Ford blinked. Had he really fallen prey to the same trick from two different people in such rapid succession?

For someone with the power to mask himself, he was apparently incredibly conspicuous about it. He would have to think of a way to improve his skills if he had any hope of being useful later.

Seth’s face was dark.

“I’m going to move the horses to graze. Don’t let him anywhere near Mia.”

“Papa.” Mia turned to glare at her father.

He grunted and turned back towards the river. “Call me when food’s ready.”

As the man disappeared through the tall grass, Grandpa grinned.

“That went a lot better than I expected.”

“I’m afraid to ask what you expected,” Ford glanced at Mia, who seemed to be intently concentrating on preparing the meal. Much moreso than usual from how often he’d observed her cooking.

“That’s better left unsaid,” Grandpa patted him on the shoulder. “As soon as the meal’s over, you could do with a good wash and a shave by the river.”

Ford didn’t want to think about how he looked or smelled right now. No wonder Mia didn’t want to interact with him.

“Sorry,” He said, standing and moving away. “I’ll… go wash up beforehand, instead. As long as you don’t think Seth will shove me in the river and drown me.”

“He wouldn’t dare,” Anaisa’s eyes narrowed.

“Let me lend you my shaving kit,” Grandpa offered. “You’ll look and feel like a new man.”

Ford gratefully accepted the offer, and retrieved his–Denholm’s–horse to graze with the others while he made himself more presentable.

He made himself invisible while he bathed in the river. Even though Anaisa seemed fairly certain Seth wouldn’t do anything rash, Ford did not share her confidence.

Carefully making sure he was alone, he briefly turned visible and used what reflection there was of his face in the water to shave before it began getting dark, and then headed back to the camp to set up his tent.

Daniel was sitting next to Mia by the fire when he returned, and looked at Ford with interest.

“You’re the invisible one,” Daniel said decidedly. “With the horse I kept seeing that first day.”

“Did you tell on me?” Ford asked curiously. No wonder they had been suspicious of his presence, if the boy had talked of a disappearing horse.

“No, I thought I was seeing things. Besides, if Mama thought I went sun-crazy, she definitely would have marched me home!” The boy declared, prompting a few chuckles.

“Well, I told on you, but I’m not sorry,” Ford admitted.

“I knew those rocks must be coming from somewhere. I’m good and quiet,” Daniel acted like he’d been vindicated by the admission, and the man smiled.

“You are. I didn’t even notice you until you started your campfire the first night.”

“I got cold,” Daniel looked down. “I knew it was a risk.”

Mia handed out plates of roasted meat and veggies, not looking at Ford when she gave him his, and holding it in a way that seemed designed to make sure their fingers didn’t touch.

The little gesture hurt him more than he thought it would.