He frowned. Thinking of it now didn't seem as pleasant as he thought it would.
He glanced to his right, seeing Keri shiver in the blanket she'd pulled around herself, and for an insane moment, the thought of pulling her close to keep her warm filled his head. He dismissed the notion as quick as it came and scowled instead.
A look over his shoulder at the kids in the back of the wagon showed they too were shivering in the cold. It wasn't much of a surprise. As thin as they were, and as ragged as their clothes were, they should have frozen to death long before he found them. He guessed, all things considered, he'd done his good deed where they were concerned. He'd given them shelter and fed them until all three of them lost that sunken look to their faces. The dark circles under Keri's eyes were no longer visible and her cheeks had filled in a bit. She didn't look as gaunt as before. Neither did those scraggly kids. It was no wonder with the amount of food they'd put away since he'd found them. Not that he was complaining. Only a heartless bastard would begrudge a starving woman and her kids the food they needed to survive, especially when he'd stored enough to feed every resident of Willow Creek all winter long.
The town came into view in the distance and Keri shifted at his side. He glanced over at her, noticing her back was stiff, her head held high. The look on her face was unreadable but when she flashed a quick look his way, the despair in her eyes wasn't missed. What did she think was going to happen? That the marshal would lock them in the jail for being homeless?
He cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. "Marshal Avery is a good man. He'll do right by you."
She nodded her head but didn't say anything, smoothing the fabric of her skirt instead. Noah noticed her hands were shaking.
They didn't speak again until they reached town. When he pulled the wagon to a stop in front of the marshal's house, he set the brake with his foot, wrapped the reins around the brake lever, and jumped to the ground. He rounded the back side of the wagon and was making his way toward the front when Keri tried to step down, her foot catching in the torn hem of her skirt. She let out a startled gasp as she fell. Noah's heart crawled into his throat as he ran to grab her, barely getting his arms around her before she hit the ground, the impact of her body colliding with his driving him to his knees.
She sputtered, her eyes wide as she looked up at him. "T-Thank you."
Noah stared down at her, words failing him. Her hands were on his shoulders, her small frame pressed against him, and damn it all if his body didn't react as if she'd burned him, his skin scalding beneath his clothes. He stood and helped her to her feet and let go of her as quick as he dared to, making sure she had a good footing before backing away. He glanced at her face, noticed her curious gaze on him before he turned, grabbing each of those kids and setting them on the ground.
He didn't wait for any of them, turning to the house and opening the gate. The walkway was brushed clean of snow, the steps as well, and he took them two at a time, the door opening before he ever reached it.
The ruckus inside gave him pause. He didn't know much about Marshal Avery but he knew he didn't have a house full of kids. Two girls, last time he'd heard, but when Noah glanced inside the foyer, he counted no less than ten running down the hall, their voices loud and screechy.
"Hello."
Noah focused his attention on the woman at the door. The marshal's wife, if he remembered correctly. He removed his hat and nodded his head toward her. "Ma'am. Is the marshal home?"
She looked past him, her gaze settling on the three at his back before she once again gave him her attention. "Mr. Lloyd," she said, a pretty smile blooming on her face. "It's a pleasure to see you." She opened the door wider and stepped to one side. "Won't you come in?"
A squeal loud enough to cause a shiver to race up Noah's spine echoed off the walls of the house. The last thing he wanted was to be trapped inside that house with a passel of unruly kids. Having two underfoot for a week was enough. "I'd rather just speak to the marshal, if it’s all the same to you, ma'am."
She nodded. "Morgan is over at the jail. He should be along shortly if you want to wait or you can walk over there to speak to him."
"I'll go over to the jail." He turned to leave when Mrs. Avery called him back.
"Mr. Lloyd, you didn't introduce me to your… friends?"
Noah's eyes landed on Keri, then her kids, before he turned back to the door. "This is Keri Hilam and her kids, Aaron and Sophie Ann. I found them as the blizzard hit. I was hoping the marshal would know what to do with them."
"I see." Mrs. Avery smiled again, then stepped out onto the porch. "Mrs. Hilam? Would you and your children like to come inside for a bit? I've just put on a pot of tea."
Keri glanced at him, catching his eye before she motioned her kids forward. When they passed him on the porch, Keri paused by his side. He thought she was going to say something but she walked into the house without a word. Mrs. Avery gave him one final look before following Keri inside and shutting the door.
And just like that, Keri Hilam and her children were out of his life. Things could go back to normal now.
He descended the steps, walked to the gate and headed into town to find the marshal. A glance back at the house caused his steps to falter. Aaron and Sophie Ann were at the window staring at him. For some unexplainable reason, the sight of them caused his pulse to race. He didn't dare dwell on the why of it and turned his head, putting them out of his mind.
* * * *
Keri reluctantly left Aaron and Sophie with the other children and followed Mrs. Avery, Abigail, she'd said as she introduced herself, into the kitchen. Another woman stood by the stove, a tea pot in one hand. When she turned and saw them, she smiled. "Well, who do we have here, Abigail?"
"This is Keri Hilam," Abigail said. "Keri, this is Laurel Avery, my sister-in-law. She's the school teacher here in Willow Creek."
"It's very nice to meet you." Keri took a look around the kitchen. It was the fanciest thing she'd ever seen. The fixtures sparkled, the stove gleaming white. The table was large enough to seat six people and was covered in a cloth of closely knitted lace. It was all very feminine looking. The tea service painted with small pink flowers that Laurel was setting out made it seem more so. Keri had only seen other tea sets like it in the catalogue she and John used to look through at the mercantile back home but those pictures were black and white drawings. She'd never seen one in color.
Abigail drew back a chair and smiled at her. "Would you like to join us?"
Keri hesitated. She'd never taken tea with proper ladies before. By the looks of these two women, they were probably every bit as refined and sophisticated as she was backwards and odd.
She glanced down at her dress. It was shabby, the skirt torn in a few places and her shirtwaist was dingy. She smoothed a hand over the fabric as humiliation raced through her veins.
Abigail still held her chair, an expectant look on her face. Keri gave her a nervous smile before taking the seat, watching as Laurel and Abigail sat, poured the tea and turned to her when they were settled.
"So," Abigail said, "You've been staying with Noah since the storm hit?"
Keri looked at both women in turn, noticing their curious gazes. What did they think she had to tell? "He found us in the shack we'd been staying in."
Laurel picked up her tea cup, took a small sip and set it back down. "You're alone?" she asked. "You and your children, I mean?"
"Yes." Keri wrapped her hands around the dainty cup, the warmth from the porcelain warming her to the bone. "We found the shack a few weeks back. It was abandoned and in bad shape but the fireplace was solid, the floor sturdy." She stared at her cooling tea. "I didn't know it belonged to anyone." She glanced back up and gave them a tiny smile. "Mr. Lloyd meant to throw us out but changed his mind and told me we could stay until the storm broke. He came back the next morning though, and took us home with him."
Abigail raised an eyebrow at her. "I'm surprised he even spoke to you," she said. "He'
s a man of few words. Why, what he said to me on the porch is the most I've ever heard him say and he's lived in Willow Creek nearly two years now."
"He's a bit reclusive," Laurel said. "Only comes to town once every few months and doesn't linger. He gets what supplies he needs, then leaves again, not pausing to speak to anyone."
Keri could see Noah doing that. He'd not spoken to her much in the past week and she'd been in the same room with him on many occasions. "He's quite reserved," she said. "Keeps to himself."
Both ladies nodded. Minutes ticked by in silence as they sipped their tea. A loud crash echoed through the house, Abigail shook her head before standing. "I hope whatever that was can be replaced."
Laurel took another sip of her tea and watched Abigail leave the room. "The blizzard caught us all off guard. I didn't even realize it was snowing until late in the day. The snow was too deep and falling too rapidly to send the children home so we've been camped out with Abigail and Morgan ever since. My husband is probably beside himself." She laughed. "Being stuck at home alone with our young son has probably driven him up the wall."
"You've not been home all week?"
Laurel laughed again. "No. We've all been stuck here. Three adults with ten screaming, fighting kids. It's enough to make me gray haired before my time. But, since Noah was able to get into town, I suspect others will too. I'm sure the parents are worried and anxious to see their kids again."
Abigail came back, a grim look on her face. "If we don't see some parents today, I'm going to make Morgan take every one of these wildlings home before dark. I'm not sure my nerves can handle another night of this." She settled back into her seat and refreshed her tea. "So, Keri, will you be staying in Willow Creek?"
Chapter Nine
Noah entered the jail and found Morgan at his desk scribbling something onto a stack of papers. The man looked up, smiled, and laid his pencil down as Noah shut the door.
"Noah. What a surprise." His smile faltered as he stood. "There isn't anything wrong, is there?"
Removing his hat, Noah cleared his throat. "Marshal," he said, nodding his head in greeting. "I found a woman and her kids in an abandoned line shack at the back of my property the day the blizzard hit. I've brought them to town." He twisted the hat in his hand, glancing around the room before meeting Morgan's gaze again. "I'm afraid I don't know what to do with them."
A hint of a smile tugged at the corner of Morgan's mouth but he hid it as quick as it came. He motioned to the vacant seat in front of his desk and waited until Noah had sat before taking his own seat. "So, what can you tell me about them?"
Noah opened his mouth but shut it a moment later. What could he tell him? Nothing much. "The woman's name is Keri Hilam. A widow, she said. Has two little ones with her. The boy is ten and the girl…" He shook his head. "I can't remember. She's younger." He shifted in his seat, propped his hat on his knee. "They were half starved when I found them. I'm not sure how long they've been on their own."
Morgan took in everything he said, kept asking questions Noah couldn't answer, and the longer he sat there, the more Noah wanted to leave. He was uncomfortable in town, always had been. Even though no one was in the room but Morgan, the need to flee was strong.
Now that he was here, trying to get the marshal to take responsibility for Keri and her kids, his thoughts drifted to her. He'd made no secret of his plan to drop her off on the marshal's doorstep once the storm passed and now that he'd done that, he couldn't help but wonder what would become of her. Why he cared, he couldn't say.
That woman and her kids had caused him a week of sleepless nights as he tried to get comfortable in that old rocker by the fire as they slumbered in his bed. He'd spent more time in the barn talking to his animals than any sane man should, and even though Keri Hilam cooked up a tasty array of vittles, having her in his house left him… twitchy. He wasn't used to being around people. Especially those of the female persuasion.
Since the day he left Charleston and headed west, he'd avoided most everyone and until a week ago, he was satisfied with his life. Happiness was something he didn't ever think to have again but things could be worse. His thoughts flashed back to the night his life changed and realized, yes, things could definitely be worse. He could be dead with the rest of the men he'd fought beside.
Morgan tapped a knuckle on his desk, drawing his attention back to the conversation and Noah blinked, watching as the marshal stood and grabbed his hat, placing it on his head before turning to the small pot belly stove in the corner. He banked the fire inside, shut the door and turned back to face him.
"Let's go see if your house guest can answer the questions you couldn't and we'll try to figure out what to do with her."
Noah stood and placed his own hat on his head. He didn't like how Morgan worded that last bit. He didn't want to care what happened to Keri Hilam and the longer he dwelled on the matter, the more involved he became.
They stepped out onto the sidewalk, the wind biting against his skin. He pulled his coat tighter, and waited as Morgan secured the door to the jail.
The walk back to the marshal's house was made in silence until they were stopped by a teenage boy. The youth smiled and tipped his hat. "Marshal," the kid said. "Thank you for letting me ride out the storm with ya but I'm gonna head back home."
Morgan laughed. "I can't believe you're going to leave me in a house full of women and children, Jesse. And here I thought you were on my side."
The boy grinned, the freckles on his face darkening to match his red hair. "I wish I could stay, but I have to get back to Grace. I'm sure Rafe has driven her half crazy by now."
The look in the boy’s eyes changed the instant he mentioned Grace and Rafe. Noah remembered Grace. She was the woman Holden Avery had introduced him to in the mercantile the week before. Apparently, she found a husband after all.
Morgan and Jesse, the marshal had called him, talked for a few more minutes before the boy ran off toward the livery stable. Noah watched him go before they resumed their walk back to the marshal's house.
When they reached the gate, he paused. Morgan kept walking as he stood there and debated what to do. Common sense told him to get back into the wagon, ride away, and not look back.
So why was he still standing there?
Morgan stopped at the door and looked back at him. "You not coming in?"
The word, "no," was on the tip of his tongue but movement near the window drew his attention and stalled the word. The cherub-faced Sophie Ann stood there smiling at him. She raised a hand, waved in his direction, and he looked behind him to see who she was waving at.
No one was there.
She was waving at him? Heat flooded his face, his pulse racing enough to make note of it. When Sophie Ann continued to stand there smiling and waving at him, the tightness in his chest lifted. It felt as if he was able to breathe for the first time in years. All because a pixie-faced girl was smiling at him?
He was getting too soft. Or Keri Hilam had poisoned his food. What else would explain his sudden desire to stay and see how things turned out? He sighed and muttered a soft, "damn it," before pushing the gate open and joining Morgan, who stood on the porch waiting for him.
The noise coming from inside the house was nearly unbearable. Noah glanced at Morgan and gave him a sympathetic look when they entered. He couldn't imagine living with that many kids, all of them trapped inside as a blizzard raged beyond the windows.
Standing in the foyer, Noah caught Aaron's eye, the boy smiling up at him. Noah nodded his head and followed the marshal through the house, stopping when they reached the kitchen. He found Keri there, sitting at the table looking uncomfortable. He saw her shoulders lift in a sigh as she spotted him, her gaze locking with his for a brief moment before she went back to staring at her hands.
Abigail stood, glanced in Keri's direction and smiled. "Mrs. Hilam is trying to find her brother, Morgan. She said he traveled to California but she doesn't know if he's still there. Do you know anyon
e who might be able to find him?"
"Maybe." Morgan sat at the table and looked at Keri. "Do you know where in California your brother was going?"
"San Francisco," she said. "He was going to attend a school there but I don't remember the name of it."
"What's his name?" Morgan asked.
"Peter Davis."
Keri told Morgan everything about her brother he wanted to know, the marshal jotting things down on a small pad of paper. Relief washed over Keri's face in small degrees, the lines of strain easing when Morgan said he'd contact someone to inquire about him.
When the marshal asked, "How did you end up alone in the middle of nowhere in a blizzard?" Keri's face paled more than usual. She glanced his way, then shifted in her seat. "My husband died two years ago."
"You didn't have any family to go to?"
She looked truly uncomfortable now. "No."
Two years ago? Noah remembered the encounter in the woods, of him asking where her man was. She'd told him he'd died but she'd said they'd been alone since spring. That was a hell of a long ways from two years ago. Had she lied to him? Or was she lying now? And if so, why?
He studied her face, watched her fidget as the marshal kept spouting off questions and realized she wasn't telling Morgan everything. The way Morgan lowered his head and peered at her said he knew it, too. He didn't press her though. "Where are you from?"
She hesitated, then said, "Great Falls."
Everyone in the room gaped at her. "You walked here from Great Falls?"
At Keri's nod, Noah shook his head. What was the fool woman thinking walking that damn far, alone? They could have been killed along the way with no one to protect them.
Willow Creek Christmas Page 6