Interest.
He dismounted with fluid grace and took a few steps closer, careful not to crowd her. But his presence filled the clearing anyway, like a shadow cast by something too large to ignore.
“I don’t mean to intrude,” he said. “I was riding the boundary lines and saw your… setup. Wanted to make sure everything’s all right.”
Eleanor’s gaze slid to the chimney.
No smoke.
She hadn’t lit a fire in three days.
“Everything’s fine,” she said calmly. “And as you can see, I’m managing.”
The baby chose that moment to kick hard, as if agreeing with her out of pure stubbornness.
Eleanor winced and steadied herself.
Clayton’s expression tightened, and for the first time she saw genuine worry there, not polite curiosity.
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