Their shoulders nearly touched.
Declan said:
“You should not marry me.”
Penny stared.
“I didn't ask.”
“I know.”
“Then that's arrogant.”
“I’m warning you.”
“About a proposal I haven't made?”
He smiled faintly.
“Maybe I'm warning myself.”
Penny’s breath caught.
There.
Truth.
She turned toward him.
“Why?”
He said nothing.
Penny leaned closer.
“Declan.”
His eyes lowered to her mouth.
Then away.
“I have wanted to kiss you since the day you insulted me while I was freezing to death.”
Penny stared.
“That is an astonishingly poor declaration.”
“I've had no practice.”
“Seven wives.”
His expression collapsed.
Penny regretted it instantly.
“I'm sorry.”
Declan nodded.
“They were marriages.”
“Some affectionate.”
“Some not.”
He looked at her.
“But I never felt…”
He stopped.
Penny whispered:
“What?”
“This frightened.”
Her heartbeat changed.
“Of me?”
“Yes.”
She smiled slightly.
“Good.”
Declan frowned.
“Why good?”
“Because you've been frightening me too.”
His expression softened.
Penny moved closer.
Their knees touched.
Declan did not move away.
He whispered:
“If I kiss you, I’ll want another.”
“That sounds inefficient.”
He laughed softly.
Penny raised one hand.
Touched his beard.
Declan closed his eyes.
No woman had touched him like that in years.
Not with pity.
Not because vows required it.
She leaned forward.
Then stopped.
His eyes opened.
Penny smiled.
“See?”
“What?”
“Consent can be irritating.”
His mouth curved.
“Penny.”
She kissed him.
Slow.
Warm.
Nothing dramatic at first.
Then Declan’s restraint cracked slightly.
His hand settled at her waist.
Penny felt the pressure of his fingers through the thin night shift beneath her shawl.
Not rough.
Strong.
Careful.
She moved closer.
Declan pulled away suddenly.
Breathing hard.
“What?”
She whispered.
He looked terrified.
“Seven graves.”
Penny’s desire cooled into tenderness.
“Declan.”
“I cannot make eight.”
“You're not.”
“You don't know.”
“Neither do you.”
He stood awkwardly with the injured leg.
“Go sleep.”
Penny crossed her arms.
“Coward.”
“Yes.”
At least he admitted it.
Three days later, preliminary tests confirmed lead.
The Denver laboratory later confirmed arsenic too.
The well water itself contained elevated arsenic.
The stove tank added lead.
Together, chronic exposure could produce exactly the symptoms Penny found.
Samuel stared at the results.
“Seven women.”
Penny nodded.
“Maybe.”
“Not all deaths directly.”
“But enough.”
Declan read the findings.