Montana Cowboy Family

by Linda Ford

  Sammy and Beth looked at each other. Little Jeannie watched them both, trying to assess what the news meant.

  “He’ll be back,” Beth said, a tremble in her voice.

  “And he’ll make us go with him,” Sammy added.

  Logan retained one of Sadie’s hands as he crossed to where the children huddled. “I trust Jesse. He won’t let the man take you if he doesn’t have a safe place.” His words fell into an empty pit of silence.

  Sadie eased away and went to stare out the window as if seeing Jesse and Mr. Perrin still there. Logan glanced past her. The alley was empty except for the horses and wagon.

  With a weary sigh, she turned and faced him. “Who will make sure he treats them right?”

  “I will,” Logan said. He looked from Sadie to the children and saw nothing but doubt.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Sadie moved to the cupboard, pulled out a bowl and stared into its emptiness, unable to think what she meant to do with it. How could he promise something when he didn’t even know what he promised? And he didn’t know because no one had told him the whole truth. And she couldn’t tell him without hurting Beth even more than the poor girl had already been hurt.

  She ran her finger along the rim of the bowl, wishing her world felt as smooth, but it was rough and fractured like broken pottery.

  They had a reprieve of a day while Jesse went to Wolf Hollow to inspect Mr. Perrin’s house. If it was anything like the last house he’d provided for the children, would Jesse refuse to let him take the children? Or would Mr. Perrin have rights that didn’t allow anyone to interfere?

  Lord, help me help these children be safe. Was there anything she could do? One thing came to mind.

  She knew what she must do, and her hands flew as she prepared the dough for biscuits.

  Seeing her intent, Beth joined her in preparing the evening meal.

  “I have to take care of the wagon,” Logan said.

  Sadie nodded. The children didn’t say anything. Jeannie didn’t protest at him leaving. Sammy didn’t beg to go with him. Sadie would have looked at Logan to see if he noticed and, if so, what did he think of it? But her mind was awhirl with her own plans.

  Logan left. The tension in the room mounted, if that were possible. Sammy parked himself at the window. Nothing was said, but Sadie understood they watched for the stepfather, fearing he would return and not knowing what they could do to avoid him. They must surely have considered running away and hiding, and dismissed the idea as futile and provided an excuse for their stepfather’s harsh punishment. She wiped her hands on the towel and went over and dropped the bar in place to lock the door. Logan had given them this added security after the first night when Sammy had been so afraid. She did the same to the door adjoining the classroom.

  Beth waited until Sadie was back at her side. “Are you afraid?”

  Sadie considered her words. If she said no, she would not be telling the truth, but would it increase the children’s worry? Perhaps if she said yes, it might encourage Beth to speak of what happened. But she was reluctant to increase the fear in the girl’s eyes.

  “Let’s just say I don’t trust that man. I know he’s whipped Sammy enough to hurt him and I think he’s capable of a whole lot more evil.” She watched Beth out of the corner of her eyes.

  Beth shuddered. “I think so, too,” she whispered.

  Sadie stilled any reaction. This was the most Beth had said. Would she say more with some gentle prodding? “Has he ever hurt you or Jeannie?”

  Beth looked ready to shatter into a thousand pieces. “No.” The whisper barely reached Sadie’s ears. Sadie wished she could be certain it was the truth. But how was she to know? More importantly, how was she to find out?

  The door rattled and everyone froze.

  Sammy’s eyes widened. “I only looked away for a minute.” But the object he held made Sadie think otherwise. It was a simple toy Logan had made for him with parts that could be taken apart and fitted together again. He had been distracted.

  “Sadie, it’s me. Open the door.”

  A collective release of pent-up air came at the familiar voice and she hurried to lift the bar and let Logan in.

  “Was someone here?” He closed the door but didn’t put the bar back in place.

  “Just being cautious.” She edged past him and placed the bar over the door.

  He watched her, his eyes asking questions.

  She met his gaze. Let him think what he wanted. She couldn’t tell him anything more than he already knew.

  “I think you can relax as long as I’m here,” he said after long consideration.

  “You won’t always be here.” Beth’s sharp words startled them both. It sounded almost like she wanted him to stay.

  Sadie’s gaze returned to Logan’s. She saw no rejoicing at this change in the girl, only regret that it should be born out of fear.

  Logan stayed for supper even though no one thought to invite him. The meal was a somber affair. Jeannie cried earlier than usual and wailed even after Beth took her to the bedroom.

  The sound grated on Sadie’s already frayed nerves. The peace and security she’d hoped to give these children lay in ruins around her feet.

  Ruin. The word that echoed throughout her head and guarded her secret every bit as much as the heavy piece of wood locked the entrance.

  Beth appeared at the bedroom doorway, looking weary. “She says she won’t stop crying until you go to her.”

  Sadie started for the door.

  “Both of you.”

  Logan fell in at her side. They went to the bed and sat on either side of the crying child.

  She scrambled into Logan’s lap and buried her face in his shirtfront, at the same time reaching out to find Sadie.

  Sadie held her hand and rubbed her back.

  Her gaze locked with Logan’s and they shared the pain and worry of what Mr. Perrin’s presence meant to the children. He brought up a hand and covered hers, and together they provided comfort to Jeannie, who quieted and was asleep within minutes.

  Neither Logan nor Sadie made a move. If only, she thought, things could stay as peaceful as they were at this very moment.

  Beth came to the doorway. “Is she sleeping?” she whispered.

  “Yes.” Logan eased the child to the bed and they all tiptoed from the room.

  Sadie wanted to proceed with her plan. She’d thought to leave the children alone with the doors barred, but wouldn’t it be better to leave them with Logan? She would ask him to stay. She tried to think how to word her request in such a way he wouldn’t wonder what she meant to do.

  Finally, she said simply, “I have an errand to run. Logan, can you stay until I get back?”

  “Certainly. I meant to stay until bedtime.”

  Just to be on the safe side, she finished for him.

  Sadie put on a bonnet and wrapped a shawl about her shoulders. Three pairs of curious eyes watched her, asking where she meant to go.

  “You aren’t going to do anything foolish, are you?” Logan asked as she went to the door.

  She smiled at him and then at Sammy and Beth. “Have you ever known me to do anything remotely foolish?” She didn’t wait for their answer. “After all, I’m the schoolteacher and I always conduct myself wisely.”

  The children seemed to consider her answer adequate, but Logan’s gaze remained wary. “Please be careful.”

  He needn’t have added that. She intended to be very careful. She never put herself at risk. “Thank you.” She meant for staying with the children but wasn’t sure he took it that way. “I won’t be long.” She hurried outside and made her way down the street toward a certain house, where she knocked.

  Mrs. Eugene answered the door and recognized her as the teacher. “Miss Young, how nice of you to visit. Come right in. The children speak highly of you.”

  “Mrs. Eugene, I’m here to speak to your husband. I know it’s after normal business hours, but I thought seeing as he now works at home�
��” She trailed off. It was an imposition to expect the lawyer to answer her questions at this time of day, but he had worked from home since the fire that destroyed his office, as well as the other buildings in the block shared by the school and doctor’s office. “I couldn’t wait until tomorrow.” Mr. Perrin might return before she could come after school.

  “Oh that’s quite all right. Follow me.” Mrs. Eugene led Sadie to a small parlor that had been converted to an office. “Wait here while I get my husband.”

  Sadie perched in a chair and tried to calm her nerves.

  Mr. Eugene appeared in a few minutes. “What can I do for you?” he asked after the introductory preliminaries were out of the way. “My wife said it sounded rather urgent.”

  “You know I have had the three Weiss children staying with me while the sheriff tries to locate their father?” Likely everyone in town knew.

  “Yes, I know.”

  “Mr. Weiss is dead, but their stepfather has arrived wanting to take them.” She told him of Sammy’s back, the state of the house where they’d found the children and…she hesitated. How much should she tell him?

  “There’s more, isn’t there?” he prodded gently.

  “Only my suspicions. But Beth is very afraid.”

  Mr. Eugene nodded. “Has she said anything?”

  “No.”

  “Do you think she would talk to me?”

  “I can ask her.” She could hardly imagine Beth would confide in a strange man, but perhaps she would recognize that Mr. Eugene had the power to help her.

  “See if she will. We need more than suspicions.”

  “What about Sammy’s back?”

  “Again, no one has ever accused Mr. Perrin of being the one responsible. Yes, the evidence is clear enough, but to take children away from a parent, even a stepparent, will require the judge to order it, and he will want good hard proof. If the children, especially Beth, would speak out, it would help.”

  She had one last question. “If the judge says the children don’t go back to the stepfather, would I be able to keep them?”

  He drummed his fingertips on the desktop, deep in thought. The sound battered the inside of her head as she waited for his opinion.

  He slapped the desk, practically jolting Sadie from her chair. “The judge is a reasonable man. Unless someone else wants to take in three children, he’ll likely say they might as well stay with you.” Mr. Eugene’s gaze bored into hers. “How will you care for them and teach at the same time?”

  Before he could answer, he continued. “And if you don’t teach, how will you be able to provide for them?” He nodded briskly. “Those are the sort of questions the judge will ask. In the meantime, see if you can get Beth to tell you more.”

  “I’ll do my best.”

  He patted Sadie’s hands. “See what you can do.”

  “Thank you.” Mr. Eugene escorted her to the door and Sadie hurried back to the school, feeling rather exhausted by the visit.

  She had thought to keep her errand secret, but Logan deserved to know the truth…at least about her visit to the lawyer. Even more than that, she yearned to share her thoughts and feelings with him.

  And her secrets?

  Her heart spasmed. Yes, she would love to think she could tell him and he wouldn’t be dismayed, wouldn’t turn from her as a soiled woman. That he wouldn’t walk away never to return because of the shame her presence would bring to him. And his family. He’d made it abundantly clear that he would do nothing to hurt his family.

  She drew in a shaky breath. Her own situation had no bearing on what she would say and do. All that mattered was the children and their safety.

  She reached her living quarters, knocked and waited for Logan to open the door to her.

  “Everything okay?” he asked.

  She glanced around to assure herself that the children were safe and no stranger had entered the room. Seeing that all was normal, she spoke to Logan. “We need to talk.”

  He joined her. “We’ll be right outside,” he said to the children.

  They closed the door behind them and moved to the swing, where they could talk without the children overhearing them and where they could also watch the door and the children could see them through the window.

  Logan leaned against a swing pole and waited, understanding she needed a few minutes to collect her thoughts.

  She faced him, wanting to be able to see his eyes, read his expression as she talked to him. “I suppose you’re wondering where I went.”

  He showed no sign of judgment and she continued.

  “I went to see the lawyer.”

  His eyebrows went up. “Mr. Eugene?”

  “I wanted to find out if I could do anything to keep the children.”

  Logan touched her shoulders and she leaned into his hands. He seemed to know her visit had not yielded the easy answers she wished for.

  “What did he say?”

  “That we needed more than our suspicions to convince the judge not to order the children to go to their stepfather and that I would need a better plan if I hope to keep the children.” She gave him a few more details.

  His hands tightened on her shoulders. “It doesn’t sound good, does it?”

  “We need something to convince the judge.”

  “I’m not sure what we can do. Perhaps Jesse will learn something that will help the judge decide they can’t go to the stepfather.”

  “I hope so.” She knew she sounded as uncertain as she felt.

  He lowered his hands to hers and squeezed. “Do you want to pray about it?”

  “I’d like that.” She bowed her head and waited for him to pray.

  “Father, in heaven, we ask that You will bring justice to these children.” His gentle voice smoothed the tension that had built since the news of Mr. Perrin’s arrival.

  She added her “amen” to his.

  *

  Logan held Sadie’s hands and studied the top of her head as she stayed bowed. She gripped his hands like she never wanted to let him go.

  Not that he wanted to leave. The children were afraid of their stepfather. Somehow he had to protect them. Just as he had to make sure Sadie was okay. She wanted to keep the children, and they were safe and happy with her. They had become a family. Sadie and the children. There must be something he could do to make sure they stayed with her.

  And him? As he considered it, his answer came quickly.

  He’d like to be part of a family that included Sadie and the children.

  Sadie lifted her head. Her eyes brimmed with despair.

  “Don’t look at me like that. It makes me want to kiss away all your troubles right here in plain view of anyone who cares to look.” He looked over his shoulder to the town square. It was empty. Everyone was home.

  She sighed. “If only that were possible.”

  He leaned closer, planted a kiss on her forehead and drew back to smile at her surprise. “Does it help even a little?”

  She nodded, her eyes smiling even before her mouth did. “A little, perhaps.” Her gaze clung, and if they hadn’t been in such a public place he would have pulled her to his heart and held her there.

  He wanted to kiss her until she forgot all her worries but knew that was impossible, not only because others might see and judge her, but also because he knew any forgetting would be temporary.

  Instead, he settled for brushing his knuckles along her cheeks, then he took her back to the house. “We must trust things will work out. Lock the door. I’ll be back in the morning.”

  She nodded, but her eyes said she didn’t entirely believe his words that everything would work out any more than he did.

  She slipped inside. He waited until he heard the wooden bar fall into place, then hurried to his horse and rode away. There must be something he could do to prevent the stepfather from getting his hands on these children.

  He might return to Wolf Hollow and see if he could uncover any more information, but that meant leaving to
wn and he didn’t care to do that.

  By the next morning he had not come up with any solution, and as he rode into town, he watched Jesse and Mr. Perrin ride out.

  It was going to be a long day waiting for them to return.

  He was earlier than usual and went to the door. Sammy let him in.

  “How are you all?” Logan asked.

  Jeannie was bright eyed and Sammy sober, which was unusual for him. Beth’s eyes were filled with darkness as were Sadie’s.

  “I wish I didn’t have to teach today,” she said.

  “I’ll be here. I will make sure the girls are safe. Sammy will be okay with you.” He hoped his words reassured her, though he really wanted to suggest she cancel school for the day and the five of them stay together.

  “I know.” She looked about at the children as if mentally saying goodbye. Tears glistened in her eyes.

  Logan groaned. If she started to cry, he would take her in his arms no matter who was looking.

  She sniffed and wiped her eyes. “Sammy, it’s time to go.” She took the boy’s hands.

  Logan knew she wouldn’t let Sammy out of her sight the rest of the day.

  The echo of the door as she and Sammy left was the only sound before Jeannie came to Logan. “Beth says we have to go with him. Why don’t you and Sadie keep us?”

  “I wish we could.”

  “Just do it.” She did her best to look imperious, which tickled Logan’s funny bone and, laughing, he swung the little girl into the air.

  “I tell you what. I am going to do everything I can to make sure you can stay.” He set the child on her feet. He had a few things to do on the outside of the building, but it didn’t feel right to leave the girls and go about his work. Instead, he unbarred the door to the classroom. Today he would find something to do in there.

  The girls followed him, leaving the adjoining door open so they could go back and forth.

  He had some shelves to affix, and he set about the task.

  Beth brought a book into the classroom and sat on the floor to read while Jeannie ran about the room. After a bit, she went to the kitchen table to draw on some paper Sadie had left.

  There seemed little Logan could do to change things…except try to persuade Beth to speak out against her stepfather.