Montana Cowboy Family

by Linda Ford

  His night had been restless, filled with fleeting images of dark eyes filled with fright, screams that jerked him fully awake, his heart pounding.

  He didn’t like being so far away from the school. What if they needed him? Partners shared responsibilities—yet he’d ridden away, leaving her to deal with the situation on her own.

  The presence of a lumbering wagon on the street ahead made him slow his horse to a walk as he reached town. Never had the street seemed so long and so busy. What were all these people doing out and about so early in the day? His jaw muscles bunched. Because it wasn’t early.

  He rode into the school yard.

  Sammy perched on the stack of lumber looking like all was right with the world.

  A bit of tension drained from Logan’s body. “Howdy,” he called. He led the horse to the corner of the yard, tossed out some hay and oats he’d brought along. He’d fill a bucket with water once he had checked on Sadie and the girls.

  Sammy sauntered over. “You leaving the horse here?”

  “Yup.”

  “Can I ride him?”

  “How’d it be if I let you ride after school so long as you do all your lessons?”

  “Maybe I don’t want to ride that bad.”

  Logan chuckled. “Sure you do. You just don’t want to do your schoolwork.”

  Sammy scuffed the toe of his well-worn boots in the dirt. “What good is book learnin’?’

  “I find it comes in pretty handy when I want to read the newspaper or fill out papers at the bank or figure out how much it will cost to buy a handful of candy.”

  “Yeah, I suppose.”

  Logan looked toward the back door. Was everything okay?

  As if called by his silent question, Sadie stepped out.

  His insides twisted at the dark shadows under her eyes, signs of a restless night. For a half a second he let himself think it was because she wished he’d stayed and helped, but then common sense reared its head and he acknowledged things might not have gone well with the children.

  He went to her side. “You look like you could use a little walk.” He offered his elbow.

  “I don’t have time.” She tucked her hand about his arm. “But I do need to let you know about last night.”

  They left the school yard and went to one of the benches in the town square. They were far enough away the children couldn’t hear them yet close enough they could see them.

  He waited for her to sit and arrange her skirts about her. The same dark gray skirt, the same neck-choking shirtwaist. Her hair seemed a mite untidy, as if she hadn’t had time to brush it into submission. He kind of liked what he saw though wisely he kept his opinion to himself. “You have a rough night?”

  “We all did. Jeannie called out for her mama and papa every hour or so. Mostly Beth soothed and got her back to sleep, but twice she squirmed away from Beth and went out to the kitchen calling for her papa.” Sadie looked at Logan, her mouth working and her eyes about to run over with tears. “I think she was looking for you. That poor child. How confusing it is for her.”

  With his fingertips, Logan captured the one silvery tear that escaped and pressed it between his finger and thumb. “I’ll be here all day. I’ll spend time with her if she’ll let me. Last night when she came to me, it was dark and she was half-asleep. I hope she isn’t upset when she realizes I’m not her father.”

  Sadie watched his fingers as he circled the tips round and round on her tear until it disappeared into his skin. Then, with a slight shiver, she brought her sorrow-filled gaze back to his.

  It was all he could do to stop himself from pulling her to his chest and comforting her. But he knew she’d object even if they hadn’t been in public where a schoolteacher’s behavior would be open to scrutiny. He felt her wariness. Knew the fact she’d allowed him to touch her signaled how weary she was.

  “Sammy had a bad night, too. He woke up yelling and flailing around as if he fought someone off. Both Beth and I tried to wake him. Eventually he turned over and went back to sleep. I asked Beth if he did that often. She said only sometimes and he never remembers in the morning. Logan, if you could have seen him, you would know he’s deathly afraid of something or someone. I know you would.”

  “Dawson told me of the nightmares Mattie had after her mother died. Perhaps it’s normal considering their loss.”

  She stiffened. He knew she would present her argument about a missing and violent father. He didn’t know what she expected him to do about it, so he spoke before she could voice her concerns.

  “Sadie, I regret leaving you alone to deal with all this.”

  Her smile trembled. “You can hardly move in with us.”

  He wanted to say he could. But he knew it wasn’t possible. He had no desire to ruin her reputation. “I know, but I’ll stay around all day and do what I can to help.”

  She smacked her hands on her knees. “Good. I’ll find it easier to go to work knowing you’re with the girls. And I better get over there before my students arrive.”

  They returned to her rooms and she gathered up her lesson material and the bell. She studied Beth and Jeannie, who stood hand in hand against the wall, then brought her gaze to Logan.

  He understood how difficult it was for her to leave the girls.

  “They’ll be fine with me,” he assured her.

  She nodded. “Sammy, make sure you’re there on time.” She left the room.

  Beth crowded to the window and watched until she was out of sight. Then she withdrew into the farthest corner of the room, Jeannie held fast at her side.

  Logan flinched before her fearful, accusing stare. He could not miss the fact that she was uncomfortable in his presence. “I’ll be outside working if you need anything.” He strode from the room. The sooner he got this family sorted out, the better for the children, but his promise to stay nearby while Sadie was at school meant he couldn’t begin searching for the father.

  However, he could work on the schoolhouse and get it finished.

  Sammy hovered at Logan’s side, watching Logan measure a board for the front step.

  Across the street, the school bell clanged.

  Logan jerked to his full height. “Sammy, you better not be late or we’ll both hear from the schoolteacher.”

  Sammy took off like a shot, racing across the street without even checking to see if it was safe. He stopped long enough on the step to wave to Logan, then disappeared inside.

  Logan nailed the board in place, then decided to work on the side of the building closest to the door to Sadie’s living quarters so he could better see what went on there.

  Beth came out and filled a pail with water, then dashed back in.

  He knew she watched him without really looking at him.

  From inside came the voices of the girls—Jeannie’s thin, demanding tone and Beth’s softer, calming one.

  The conversation went on and on, Jeannie growing louder, more insistent. He figured they were having an argument and grinned. Would Beth prevail against her little sister?

  And then the sound of voices ended. He heard the clatter of a pot on the stove. His grin deepened as he recalled some of the arguments he’d had with his brothers and with Annie. His ma had said family was the place to learn to give and take, to negotiate and to meet halfway.

  Sadie had told Anne she didn’t have any siblings. How did she learn those skills? Or had she? Maybe living with the Weiss children would help to make up for the unhappy experience of her family life. Again he vowed he would learn what had happened to her.

  Then he informed himself he didn’t care. All that mattered was taking care of the children. He had no intention of letting himself think about the schoolmarm as anything more than someone to help with them.

  He bent to pick up another piece of wood and caught a flash of pale pink out of the corner of his eyes. Straightening, he looked that direction. Whatever—whoever—it was, they had disappeared around the corner of the building.

  Shifti
ng to the right, he watched the corner while he worked.

  His attention was soon rewarded. First, Jeannie peeked around and drew back. She did it a second time and a third. Then she slowly edged into full view and watched him, her hands clasped behind her as she rocked back and forth.

  Logan stopped working, his hands still up at the window and he waited to see what she would do.

  She studied him, her eyes wide and hopeful.

  He didn’t move for fear of sending her into retreat.

  Her hands came to her front. She stopped rocking. Her study of him went on and on.

  He waited. Would she retreat or come closer?

  “You aren’t my papa.” She said it with a good deal of resignation, as if not wanting to admit the truth.

  “No, I’m not. I’m sorry.”

  Another spell of waiting as the child considered him.

  His arms grew weary and he lowered them to his side. Other than that, he did not move.

  “My papa’s not coming back.”

  His gut kicked a protest. “Why do you say that?”

  She glanced over her shoulder and when she saw no one, she leaned toward him and whispered, “I’m not supposed to tell anyone.”

  Logan stilled his reaction and quelled his questions. Had the father abandoned them with instruction not to tell? His teeth creaked as he clamped down on his jaw. He’d track down the man and make him come back and look after his family.

  “Where do you live?” Jeannie asked.

  “On a ranch four miles from town that way.” He pointed in the general direction.

  “You got a mama and papa?”

  “My mama died, but I have my papa.”

  She nodded. “My mama died. My papa—” Again she glanced over her shoulder and didn’t finish, even though Beth did not come into sight.

  He wanted to assure her he would find her father and bring him back, but he didn’t want to get her hopes up too soon. Something awful might have happened to the man. Then what would become of the children?

  He provided his own answer. Sadie would keep them. And he’d help her. Or they could move to the ranch, where they would be surrounded by his large family.

  The door behind Jeannie opened and shut with a bang. “Jeannie, where are you?”

  “Oh-oh. Beth’s mad at me.” Jeannie darted past Logan and out of sight around the front of the school.

  Beth stalked around the corner. “You seen Jeannie?” Each word carried the sharpness of a honed knife blade, as if she blamed him for any mischief Jeannie had gotten into.

  “She went thataway.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “Don’t be too hard on her.”

  Beth skidded to a stop and gave him a look fit to set a forest ablaze. “You got no right to stick your nose into our business. We can manage fine without help from you or anyone else. We only agreed to come because we were out of food.” She stomped away.

  His mouth agape, he stared after her. Was she this rude to Sadie? Or was it only him?

  The door to the living quarters opened and closed and the murmur of the girls’ voices reached him. At least they sounded kind enough, so Beth had only been angry with him and not her little sister.

  He wished she understood that both he and Sadie were simply trying to help them. A little voice in the back of his mind echoed that he wanted to help Sadie, too. But would she let him?

  Chapter Five

  Noon hour rolled around and Sadie forced herself to sit at her desk, eat her lunch and watch the children eat theirs. Then she went out to the back and watched them play. All the while her thoughts were across the street wondering how Beth and Jeannie were managing and, against her better judgment, remembering how Logan had wiped tears from her eyes. Partners, he’d said. But his kindness felt gentler than anything the word partner meant to her. Did she trust him?

  She’d tried to convince Beth she did.

  Trust could only go so far. It sometimes couldn’t stand being tested. If he learned how she’d been ruined by a man, he’d see her for who…what…she really was.

  But for now they were together in looking after the children though, even there, they had very different goals. She had very little doubt that the children feared their father. Logan, on the other hand, thought the man only needed to be found and given some help in dealing with the loss of his wife.

  He saw family as the salvation for these children. And why wouldn’t he. His family was strong and supportive.

  She knew family did not always come to the rescue of the children.

  But, for now, she welcomed his help. He was at the school making sure the girls were safe while she taught the town’s children and kept an eye on Sammy.

  She looked around. Sammy was in the far corner surrounded by a group of the boys. She knew immediately that they were teasing him and she headed that direction.

  One of the boys looked over his shoulder and saw her approaching. The circle of boys dispersed.

  Sammy fled before she could stop him.

  She groaned. Not again. Turning, she trudged back to the temporary schoolroom. “Kitty, I’m leaving you in charge while I run across the street.” Kitty was the eldest of the girls but, sadly, not the best of students.

  “Yes, Miss Young. Is it Sammy again?”

  She didn’t answer. Kitty had been called on several times because of Sammy’s habit of running away. “I’ll be right back.” Sadie went out through the store and headed across the street.

  Logan sat with his back against the wall, enjoying the warm sunshine. He sprang to his feet as soon as he saw her. “What’s wrong?”

  “Sammy is gone again.” Her voice thinned with worry.

  Logan stepped away from the building and looked around. He crooked his finger and pointed toward the back of the lot.

  Sadie eased forward until she could see Sammy sitting on the lumber pile. Logan’s horse stood close enough that the boy could rub his hand up and down his head.

  Sadie nodded, but she didn’t go to the boy. “Maybe talking to the horse will calm him.”

  “What happened?” Logan asked softly.

  “Some boys were teasing him.”

  “I suppose they were calling him teacher’s pet. It’s to be expected but not accepted.”

  “I’ve not shown him any special favors, so why should they say that?”

  “Because he lives with you. All you can do is try not to draw attention to the fact. Come on, let’s have a talk with him.”

  Side by side, they walked to the pile of lumber.

  Only Sammy’s darted gaze acknowledged their presence.

  Sadie didn’t say anything. Perhaps he only saw her as the teacher. She’d let Logan handle this if he could.

  Logan propped one booted foot against a board and leaned his elbow on his knee. “I expect the noon break is almost over.”

  Sammy shrugged.

  “Why don’t you and I walk Miss Sadie back to the classroom?”

  Sammy didn’t respond for a moment, then he bowed his head. “You’re gonna make me one way or ’nother, aren’t you?”

  Logan grinned at Sadie, then grew serious as he turned back to Sammy. “It’s easier for everyone if you go agreeably.”

  Sadie’s respect for Logan grew as she witnessed his patience with the child.

  Sighing heavily, Sammy scrambled from the wood and dragged himself toward the street.

  Sadie glanced at her living quarters, hoping for a glimpse of the girls, but there was no sign of them. Kate carried something from the doctor’s house next door, saw Sadie and Logan, and waved. Sadie would have loved to explain about the children, but Sammy was halfway across the street and she followed him.

  Logan unwound from his casual stance and fell into step beside her.

  It crossed her mind to tell him she could manage on her own, but the words never got further than a fleeting thought.

  They entered the store. Logan greeted his uncle and crossed to the schoolroom. He went right out the back door to
the alley where the children played.

  “Thank you, Kitty.” Sadie stood in the doorway, watching Logan.

  He went to the far corner, to the huddle of boys, who stood to attention at his approach.

  She grinned. His size alone earned him respect, and his bearing even more so. He moved with the ease of one who knew who he was, and something about his carriage spoke of authority.

  He stopped before the boys, crossed his arms and leaned back on his heels.

  She couldn’t hear what he said, but the boys all nodded.

  He waved to the boys, returned to the doorway and smiled down at her with such sweet kindness that her heart stalled halfway through a beat. “We have an understanding. If you need anything more, I’m just across the street.” With that he was gone.

  She stood stock-still, staring at the play area without seeing anything though her head flooded with a kaleidoscope of dancing colors.

  A clatter in the store jerked her back to her responsibilities as the teacher. She turned to get her bell from the desk and met the wide-eyed stare of three girls who had seen the whole thing and likely read all sorts of romantic meaning to her reaction.

  “Time to resume classes,” she said with as much aplomb as she could manage, and rang the bell outside to bring the children in.

  The boys were subdued and their glances in Sammy’s direction guarded.

  What had Logan said to them to have such a profound effect? She’d ask as soon as classes ended. She glanced at the clock. Only two more hours to go until she saw him again.

  Only to ask what he’d said, she told herself. Only to inquire as to how the girls had been all day. Nothing more. Certainly not the hope he would look at her again the same way he had in the doorway and trigger again that unfamiliar reaction.

  She ducked her head to hide the smile that tugged at her lips.

  As quickly as it came, the smile fled. She must never let the allure of a few special moments make her forget who she was.

  *

  Logan returned to work. Poor Sammy. It certainly wasn’t ideal to be living with the teacher. Logan needed to locate the missing father as soon as possible, but he’d promised to stay with the girls and would have to wait until Sadie returned before he could leave.