His Warmth Wasn’t Mine, I Walked Away

Chapter 6

Her words caught the coworkers in the room off guard. William's head turned sharply toward her too, those dark eyes gone cold, nothing in them at all.

Some part of Summer had been hoping he'd look surprised, that he'd try to talk her into staying, but there was nothing.

He just said something to the new interpreter, calm and even, in the local dialect. "Safe travels, and an easy day at the clinic."

The same thing he said to everyone. Nothing behind it.

Disappointment settled over Summer, and she laughed at herself for hoping for anything at all. She climbed onto her horse and followed the new interpreter out to the villages. They worked from sunup to sundown. By the time the sun dropped behind the mountains, there was just one household left in her section.

She pushed open the wooden door and found a handful of villagers sitting around, talking. A single line drifted over, clear as day. It's about time they set a date for Mia and William's wedding.

Summer's mind went completely blank. She couldn't take in another word. So they were already talking marriage. Childhood sweethearts. Of course they were perfect for each other.

She clenched her fists to suppress the ache in her chest, forcing herself to calm down before stepping further inside.

Mia's mother, Martha Ellis, warmly welcomed her inside. The residents waiting in the room had all come specifically for medical consultations. After examining them one by one, she found that their year-round herding and physical labor had kept them in robust health.

Summer looked around the room and asked, "Is Mia not home? Her leg wound still needs its dressing changed."

Martha smiled and replied, "William stopped by this afternoon and took her out to see the wildflowers."

Summer looked down with a bitter smile, realizing her question was entirely unnecessary. After speaking, she rose to take her leave.

Just as she stepped out of the gate, she saw William and Mia riding back on the same horse in the distance. The man's tall frame held the girl securely in his arms, presenting a picture of perfect harmony.

William dismounted and naturally reached out to help Mia down. Unsteady on her feet, the girl stumbled and accidentally pulled down a silver bell hanging from the saddle. She hurriedly handed it back to William, looking extremely embarrassed.

"I'm sorry, William."

William said casually, "Since it fell off, you can keep it."

According to Highland custom, a man only gifted the silver bell from his saddle to the one he loved. In the past, Summer had gathered her courage to ask if he could give her the silver bell, but she was met only with his long silence.

At this moment, she finally understood completely. It wasn't that he didn't know how to express his love; she simply wasn't the one he wanted to give it to.