by Linda Ford
She finally nodded. “Thank you. I’ll be right out there.” She tipped her head toward the attached quarters. “You all can see me from the kitchen.”
He understood what she really meant. She could see him and meant to keep him in view.
She took a basin, a towel, and a jug of water and left the house.
He sat at the table with the little ones. Five pairs of eyes, all with slightly different expressions, studied him. Jake was the youngest and gave him the most solemn look.
Sensing that the children didn’t care for being watched, he glanced around the room. A big kitchen with evidence of meal preparation. The table was large enough to seat a crowd. He considered what he knew. It appeared Adele Roberts was the only one well among at least five adults—six, if the preacher was around. There were five children to care for. All told, it seemed like more than one woman could manage. Unless she had help that wasn’t apparent at the moment.
He hadn’t planned on staying, yet offering to assist her would provide the perfect way to get close to her and find out her secrets.
He ignored the sting of his conscience. It was one thing to hang around and observe—he ignored the word spy—and another to pretend he was being kind and considerate in lending a hand.
But it must be God’s plan. Ethan had prayed for divine help in locating the stolen money.
How could he turn away from something that appeared to be so God-orchestrated?
2
Adele kept the door open as she went to the addition. She hesitated to leave the children with a stranger…especially one she recognized. What was he doing here? She didn’t recall seeing him before the funeral, but that didn’t mean much. She’d purposely gone out of her way to avoid contact with Floyd’s associates. But now, a dozen reasons for his appearance raced through her mind, each more frightening than the last.
Could he be one of Floyd’s partners? And if so, did he think she had the money, as that other man had?
Could he have some other purpose in being here? Revenge? Her heart galloped at the thought. Her son was alone with the man. What was to stop him from taking the boy as payback?
Oh Lord, send someone to help.
If only Pa would come home.
She stood outside the sick room, reluctant to go inside where she couldn’t keep an eye on the house.
“Mrs. Roberts,” Cal called, his voice quivering. “I’m out of water. And my head hurts.”
Adele propped the door ajar and took the young man water. She quickly washed his face to cool him and rubbed his chest with the herbal liniment Ma used to loosen the cough.
Then she turned to do the same to Rocky.
“Did I hear someone ride up?” Rocky asked.
“You did. A man rode in with two children he found.” She explained about the death of the parents. At least she could see Mr. Sandburg’s horse. It comforted her a smidgen to think he wouldn’t leave on foot.
Unless he had a partner waiting somewhere.
A pain shafted across her temples. If only Pa would come back. Or one of her brothers-in-law would come to visit. Even better, if they came and brought one of her married sisters to help.
“Those poor kiddies. To lose their parents.” Rocky coughed, his body wrenched with the effort. He fell back on his pillow and swiped at his tear-filled eyes.
Adele put his tears down to the strain of his cough. She gave him a spoonful of the cough syrup Ma mixed up.
“If I die, you will let my parents know?” Rocky asked.
Cal’s gaze was as anxious as Rocky’s.
She wanted so badly to rush back to the house, but she couldn’t leave Rocky and Cal without reassurances. “You aren’t likely going to die. At least not soon. But yes, if you do, I’ll be certain your folks know.” Pa had already written down the addresses.
“I miss my Ma.” Rocky’s voice broke, and he turned away.
Adele backed up enough she could see the kitchen. Assured that no one had left…at least by the back door, she went to Rocky’s side and patted his shoulder. “Do you want me to pray for you?”
He nodded.
Adele only half closed her eyes, not willing to take a chance that Mr. Sandburg could slip by in an unguarded moment. “Dear heavenly Father, would you see fit to heal these young men and restore them to health? Please give them comfort as they rest. Amen.”
She didn’t wait for either of them to say anything, but gathered up the basin of water and rushed back to the house. The water splashed to her feet as she ground to a halt.
Jake was safe and sound, his eyes round as he stared at Mr. Sandburg, who had his back to the door.
Her limited view allowed her to see Georgie perched on the man’s knees, his head tipped to the man’s chest.
The two older children chattered to Mr. Sandburg. Seemed they were telling him a story that involved comparing the cat Donny had dragged home with one that Susie said she’d owned before they moved. Blossom, ever the quiet one, watched them.
“She let me dress her in Georgie’s old baby clothes,” Susie said. “She was my baby.” Her voice quavered. “We brought her with us, but she got losted.”
Adele hung back, wondering how this stranger would deal with a sad little girl. So far, no one had noticed her hurried entry.
He shifted Georgie to one side and patted his knee. “Come here, Susie Q, and I’ll tell you about my most favorite cat.”
Susie climbed up on his knee. Jake’s eyes grew wider as he looked from the pair Mr. Sandburg held to the man.
“There might be room for one more,” Mr. Sandburg said.
Jake let the stranger put him beside Georgie. Jake leaned against Georgie and sighed.
Adele blinked rapidly to see her son so willing to trust. And to witness such tenderness in a man caught her off guard. Not that Floyd had been cruel. Simply indifferent. All he required was for her to tend the house and stay out of his business. How could she have thought him to be more than he was?
Never again would she trust first impressions. And certainly not her own faulty perceptions.
She widened her eyes and stilled her breath.
Donny and Blossom crowded to Mr. Sandburg’s side.
He smiled at each of them. “My cat was named Spot because he had a spot right on his nose. A white spot on a black cat. He played games with me. Hide-and-seek. Chased a ball and brought it back to me. He liked to hide a piece of rope under a stool and then attack it. He was a good cat. Maybe the best there was.”
“Not as good as mine,” Susie said. “Her name was Baby.” She shifted to look at Donny. “What’s your cat’s name?”
“Cat.”
Susie giggled. “That’s what he is. Not his name.”
Donny stuck out his chin. “I can call her that if I want.”
“Then I’ll call you Boy.”
Adele could see trouble brewing between the pair and cleared her throat. “Why don’t we go outside and play?” She dumped the water from her basin, wiped it clean, and set it aside as the older children raced for the door.
“Good thing you got out of the road,” Mr. Sandburg said as he followed, a little boy holding each of his hands. “Or you might have gotten run over.”
She kept her gaze on Jake. He was warming up to this stranger far too quickly. That spelled danger. “Come here, Jake.” She squatted and pretended she needed to tuck in Jake’s shirt. Not until Mr. Sandburg stepped ahead with Georgie did she follow.
Susie looked around. “Where’s your cat?”
Donny gave her a look full of scorn. “She won’t come when she sees you.”
Adele clapped her hands. “Donny, why don’t you show Susie and Georgie your barn and animals?” Her brothers-in-law had built him a barn out of scraps from the construction of the addition. His deceased father had carved him a set of animals. She knew he would be reluctant to share those, especially with Susie, whom he seemed to see as a rival. But he had other animals the men had made for him.
Donny sc
owled. “Do I have to?”
“I don’t wanna see them.” Susie tossed her head and marched away.
But not before Adele caught the glimpse of tears. Her heart went out to this orphaned child. She spoke to Mr. Sandburg. “Did you find any toys in their wagon?”
“I did.” He returned to his horse and lifted off two carpet bags. “I brought some clothes too.” He opened one of the bags. “I thought these might be important.” He pulled out a beautifully made rag doll that showed signs of being loved.
Susie gasped. “That’s Dolly.”
“Huh,” Donny said. “You can’t call her that. That’s what she is.”
“Dolly is a name too.” Susie took her doll and rocked it back and forth. “Poor baby, did you think I had left you? I would never leave you. I love you too much.”
The words were familiar to Adele. How many times had she thought that if her birth mother had loved her, she wouldn’t have abandoned her on the Kinsley’s doorstep? Susie had not been abandoned, but to a child, that was how death felt. Adele would make certain to spend some time with Susie and help her understand that love didn’t die when people died.
Mr. Sandburg pulled out a stuffed dog, as beautifully made as the doll, and offered it to Georgie. “Is this yours?”
Georgie nodded and clutched it in one hand as he went to join Jake in admiring Donny’s barn.
“There’s more things in their wagon. I need to inform the sheriff as to its whereabouts. He’ll arrange a proper burial.”
The sheriff? Another jolt of fear. She’d never be able to think of the man and his role without her heart racing. Not that she’d done anything wrong except be married to a thief. But her conscience seared her to acknowledge that some of the things she enjoyed as his wife—the new settee, the pretty bonnet, to name but two—were purchased with ill-gotten gains. Adele brought her attention back to Mr. Sandburg. His gaze was watchful. What did he see? What did he want to see when he looked at her?
Of course he must report the dead couple to the sheriff. She swallowed back her fear and her reluctance to be civil. However, her caution remained firmly in place. “The sheriff has an office on Main Street.” She pointed out how to get there. “You go ahead and speak to him. The children will be all right here.” Though how she’d supervise five of them, two at odds with each other, take care of Ma, Stella, and two sick young men and prepare supper was more than she could get her thoughts around.
Mr. Sandburg adjusted his hat. “I’ll go speak to him.” He swung to the back of his horse.
But as he turned to ride from the yard, little Georgie ran toward him, screaming. “Not leave me. Not leave me.”
Adele’s heart was in her mouth as the child darted in front of the horse. She could see those sharp hooves ready to trample little Georgie. She raced forward, praying she could snatch him away before the rearing horse came down on all four hooves. Lord, give my feet wings.
“Whoa.” Ethan yelled at Bolt as the animal snorted and reared. His buckskin horse was well-muscled and had lots of stamina, but he tended to overreact to the slightest thing. Though a child running in front of him was a good reason for any horse to buck.
Ethan struggled to keep his seat as Bolt lived out his fear.
Finally he got the horse under control, rode him to the corral fence, dismounted, and tied him there.
He rushed back to Mrs. Roberts, who sat on the ground holding Georgie, her eyes wide, her face white. “Is he all right?”
She nodded. Swallowed loudly. “Just scared.”
Georgie twisted from her arms and threw himself at Ethan. “You not go.” He sobbed the words.
Ethan held Georgie and made soothing sounds such as he would make to a frightened colt. “You’re okay. You’ll see.”
The other children crowded around as Ethan and Mrs. Roberts got to their feet.
From the nearby building came a gut-wrenching cough. “Mrs. Roberts,” a male voice called. “I’m feeling mighty poorly.”
“I’ll be there shortly,” she called, her attention on the children.
“He almost got runned over,” Donny said. He gave Georgie a stern look. “Didn’t your mama tell you not to run in front of a horse? You could get hurt.”
Susie bristled. “My mama told him. He just forgot.” She pushed Donny aside and patted her little brother’s back.
Ethan looked at Mrs. Roberts. Wasn’t sure if he should smile at Susie’s attitude or be concerned at the friction between her and Donny. He decided to follow Adele’s lead.
She arched her eyebrows.
That didn’t tell him what she thought of the situation.
Donny reached back for Blossom’s hand. “I take care of my sister.”
It was so clearly a challenge that Ethan had to choke back a chuckle.
Susie pressed hard to his side. He felt her shaking as if about to cry, and he sent a silent appeal to Mrs. Roberts.
Her smile was tight. “I can see that Susie is a good big sister.”
The child nodded.
“And I know Donny is a good big brother.”
Donny stood taller.
Georgie’s sobs stopped, but he showed no sign of easing his grip on Ethan’s shirt front. Ethan squatted down and tried to put Georgie on the ground. The boy would have none of it.
“Georgie, I have to go, but I’ll come back. You’ll be safe here with Mrs. Roberts while I’m gone. And Susie will take care of you.”
Georgie still clung like a burr.
“What am I to do?” he asked Mrs. Roberts.
Why did she look at him as if suggesting he disappear? Did she recognize him? Did she suspect why he was here? He’d have to be careful how he acted and about what he said in order to allay her suspicions.
“You can walk away and leave him. He’ll stop fussing sooner or later.” Her tone implied only a cold-hearted scoundrel would do such a thing. “Or take him with you.”
“I prefer to talk to the sheriff without the children hearing what I say.”
“Then about all I can suggest is you take both of them and leave them on the bench outside the office with Susie watching Georgie.”
“I guess that would work.” It was far from ideal. “Do you mean for us to keep on riding after I say what I have to say to the sheriff?”
She didn’t look at him. He guessed she struggled to extend any sort of invitation.
He pressed his plight. “I can’t take two children with me on horseback. It was hard enough bringing them here. Besides, I have no home.”
Mrs. Roberts slowly brought her gaze to his. “Why is that?”
“I—” He couldn’t tell her the truth. That his boss, Mike Francis, had offered him a generous finder’s fee for recovering the missing money. But he couldn’t bring himself to outright lie either. It went against everything he believed in—truth, honesty, and trustworthiness. Even a half-truth seared his conscience.
“I’m on an errand for my boss.”
“So you have a home?”
“I share a bunkhouse with other cowboys on the ranch.”
“Where might this ranch be?”
“Texas.”
Her eyebrows rose. Disbelief filled her expression.
His mouth dried. Had she seen him at her husband’s funeral? He’d tried to stay back, out of sight. Besides, she’d seemed consumed with grief and unaware of anyone around her.
“Montana Territory is a long ways from Texas.”
“It’s good cattle country.” Likely she didn’t see that as an answer to her unasked question as to what business his boss had in Montana Territory. “I’ve been looking around. Thinking I might like to own a little piece of this land.” That was the truth. There was a time he’d dreamed of owning his own farm. He’d planned to raise and train fine riding horses. He’d even planned to marry a young lady by the name of Belle Steves. He’d shared his dreams with her. Had showed her the money he had saved to buy the farm next to his parents’ place. Only the next day when he went to make t
he purchase, the money was gone. And so was Belle Steves.
As he rode through the Montana countryside, he realized the dream of having his own place was alive and well. The money he’d get from his boss for recovering the missing purse would buy a nice place.
He didn’t intend to let another woman rob him of his dreams.
Mrs. Roberts sucked in a deep breath. “Bring the children back here once you’re done at the sheriff’s. They’ll have a good home with us.”
The male voice came again from the building. “I’m thirsty.” Coughing followed.
Mrs. Roberts rubbed her forehead. “You take those two and go. Donny, I need you to help me.” She led Jake and Blossom to the side of the house. “You watch this pair while I look after Cal and Rocky.”
“Okay.” Donny sat on the ground facing the two younger ones.
Mrs. Roberts paused at the doorway, glancing back at Ethan.
“Come on, Susie. You and Georgie can stay with me.” He cradled Georgie in one arm. Susie took his free hand, and they left the yard, turned right and, following Mrs. Roberts’directions, made their way to the sheriff’s office.
Half an hour later, he had turned over the few things he’d brought from the Oates wagon and told the sheriff the little he knew about the family.
“What’s going to happen to the children?” he asked.
“They’ll need a safe place to stay until I make inquiries.”
“I was told the Kinsleys would take them in.”
The sheriff looked out the window. “Normally I would say that was the ideal arrangement, but there’s been an outbreak of influenza, and the Kinsleys have their hands full dealing with that. I heard Mrs. Kinsley has it as well.”
“Appears so,” Ethan agreed.
“And they already have three children in their care. Seems it’s about all they can handle.”
If he needed affirmation about what his role was to be, this was it. “I’ll stay and help with the children.” He wasn’t being dishonest about his reasons for his offer. “Susie and Georgie are reluctant to let me out of their sight, so it will be the best for everyone.”