Hold Onto Nothing as Fast as You Can Pt.3

The brush in Isabella's hand stutters to a halt as the wagon passes, a dozen different questions racing each other to her lips but they all bunch up behind her clenched teeth. As her gaze locks with Leon's, his eyes seem to search hers for an explanation, but she doesn't have one to give.

She considers saddling up her horse and following after them, but just as quickly as the thought occurs to her, she scratches it. Maybe this was a good thing, she thinks, Jake making an effort to integrate Leon into the little community they had amassed, but a paranoid and nagging little voice in the back of her mind says otherwise.

It makes her wonder if one or both of them will return to camp with a fresh black eye.

Tucking the brush away in the saddlebag draped over the hitching post, she makes her way over to Valerie's open tent and gently raps her knuckles against the wooden frame.

"Val? Can I talk to you for a minute?"

Disarming blue eyes lift from the metal hairpin clutched in her hand, and Valerie welcomes Isabella inside with a smile. "Isn't this pretty?" she says, brandishing the bauble proudly.

Isabella offers her a polite smile and takes a seat on the trunk at the foot of Val's cot. "Sure is. Listen, do you know why--"

"I found it in a cabin near Strawberry," Valerie continues.

Gesturing to the other bangles and coins spread out across the cot, Isabella says, "Seems you've got an eye for these things. Now--"

Putting down the hairpin, Val trades it for a bracelet and then snatches at Isabella's hand, fastening the piece of jewelry around her wrist. "This looks nice on you. But it's mine so you can't have it."

"Valerie!" Isabella clutches the younger woman's hand between her own and looks her in the eye. "Focus, sweetheart. Just for a minute."

Val seems to take the hint, and she articulates her expression into an almost comical picture of concentration.

Isabella can't help it. It makes her chuckle. "Do you know why Jake took your brother into town with him?"

Tapping her index finger against her chin in thought, Valerie tilts her head to one side and studies the roof of her tent. A revelation of some kind slowly bleeds into her eyes, and she beckons Isabella in closer like she's about to share important classified information.

Isabella's mouth goes dry and she fears for the worst. Maybe Jake is still angry about Leon confronting Michael the way he did and wants to finish what they started; maybe he wasn't happy about her being in Leon's tent last night, although he had always wanted what was best for her in the past. What if he was warning Leon to stay away from her? What if Leon listened?

Cupping her hands around Isabella's ear, Valerie takes a deep breath and whispers, "No."

For a beat or two, Isabella doesn't move, and eventually leans back to look Valerie in the eye. She doesn't find smug self-satisfaction reflected back at her, telegraphing that she had been the butt of a joke, but rather the beaming pride of someone who had just helped a close friend in their time of need.

"... no?" Isabella repeats, as if to confirm that she had heard correctly.

Val shakes her head and plucks up a coin to inspect. "Nope. Sorry."

Pinching the bridge of her nose between her fingers, Isabella expels a sigh down at the floor and then rises to her feet. "Thanks anyway, I guess."

Val waves at her as she steps out of the tent. "Bye, Aunt Isabella!"

Isabella opens her mouth to correct Val, but she doesn't have the energy.