Dreamwalker's Bride - Chapter 314

Chapter 314: Coming clean
Ford balked for a moment before his eyes narrowed.

Grandpa had caught him out once before by pretending to know more than he did. Speaking to the empty air as if he absolutely knew Ford was there.

“And how would you suggest I alter my course of action?” Ford questioned, neither admitting nor denying anything at all. He would see how grandpa’s response revealed any sort of knowledge–or lack thereof.

He wasn’t stupid. He couldn’t be caught the same way more than… well, twice or so, it seemed.

“Come completely clean or you’ll be found out eventually,” Grandpa’s bushy eyebrows came together in a nearly silent warning as he glanced significantly towards Seth, who was rousing from his sleep.

“Thanks for the advice,” Ford swallowed. Maybe Grandpa did know more than he was saying out loud.

Last night, Ford had kept watch while holding Mia’s hand… invisibly of course, but he had nodded off once or twice. It was possible Grandpa had woken and seen him doing so.

But Mia had slept so much better! She looked more refreshed now than she had in a long time.

He couldn’t absolutely claim credit for the change in her, but he couldn’t say for certain that the difference hadn’t been his presence.

Grandpa raised his bushy eyebrows significantly, and Ford broke off eye contact. The old man was good at pretending he knew more than he did. Ford wouldn’t give anything away if he could help it.

Chances were, he suspected something but knew nothing. The advice about coming clean might very well be a ploy to lure Ford into confessing whatever Grandpa thought Ford was hiding.

The younger man wouldn’t be fooled… again.

He rose to help Seth tend and saddle the horses, while Anaisa packed the bedrolls. Several comments were made about how much better Mia was looking this morning, and each time, Mia glanced at Ford.

Had Grandpa made her suspicious? Ford was too tired for any more mental gymnastics this morning. By the time the group headed out, Conversation had died down considerably. No one knew how many days they had left in this forest, nor how they would fare in the mountain range Mia had seen beyond.

It was nearly midday, or thereabouts, when Mia finally spoke to Ford again.

“You’re quiet today,” She observed with a cursory glance at him.

“I’m trying to let you concentrate,” He responded, though his fatigue had just as much to do with his silence as preserving Mia’s mental energy.

“No need,” She shrugged. “The path never changes, no matter what I try. So, logically, I shouldn’t try as hard, since all it does is wear me out.”

“I’m glad you’re taking Grandpa’s advice on not doing what you can’t.”

“What about you?” Mia tilted her head. “Are you going to take his advice?”

They were speaking quietly, but Ford chanced a look over his shoulder regardless.

Anaisa and Daniel both looked preoccupied with their own thoughts. Daniel appeared to be working out something in his mind as he stared at the trees, while Anaisa had a slightly faraway expression. The two pack horses followed them, tied to their saddles, and Seth and Grandpa brought up the rear of the formation.

There was very little chance of them being overheard so long as they kept their voices low. But did he want to have this conversation right now? In front of everyone?

“Which advice are you referring to?” He swallowed, delaying committing to talking about this or not.

“I suppose him telling you to come clean piqued my interest,” Mia looked straight ahead now, focusing on navigating through the trees.

Ford remained quiet for a few moments, weighing his options. Just tell her everything, letting her know that he’d overheard her confession to her father about the pull she felt toward Ford? That he didn’t exactly know why holding her hand while she slept made it better, but they both had known it did since the cave?

That he didn’t mind that fact at all, and would give up every night’s sleep if it would help her?

“So,” Mia interrupted his thoughts with a glance at him, “What is it?”

He chewed the inside of his cheek for a minute before responding.

“Do you actually want to know, or are you just curious?”

“Those are the same thing,” Mia complained.

“No, I know, but… are you just curious because Grandpa said something about it, or because you actually want to know what I might be keeping to myself?” He frowned. Was this just another way of delaying the conversation? Was it important why she was asking? She deserved to know, didn’t she?

He couldn’t exactly lurk around for the rest of her life holding her hand while she slept without her eventually figuring it out.

Mia shifted in her saddle, facing him a little more fully. He flinched, wondering if the change in posture would elicit curiosity from the other riders.

“I actually want to know what’s going on with you, Ford. Why you look so tired today, for starters, but also whatever Grandpa was hinting at earlier. Because we’re… friends.”

Her voice wavered on the last word, and Ford’s pulse thudded in his ears.

“We’re strange friends,” He replied.

“But ones that tell each other things… right? So tell me,” Mia urged.

“Fine,” Ford relented, searching for the right words. “You seem much better rested after last night. Any idea why?”

Mia’s brow furrowed. The question was clearly not the response she expected.

“Um… because I slept through dinner and then all night?”

“When was the last time you slept that well?” He asked, trying to keep his tone casual.

“Not since Uncle Trace was taken,” Mia’s words grew slower as she thought through them.

“And what was different before that?” He let the thought hang in the air, unwilling to say it straight out unless it became absolutely necessary.

Mia’s mind worked on the cryptic statement as Ford watched her face. Her eyes suddenly widened.

“Ford…” One hand came up to cover her mouth. “You can’t.”