Caroline sang in harmony for the chorus. Even his mother joined in, making his breath catch in his throat. He hadn’t heard her sing or play the piano since his father had died. Unwilling to risk interrupting the moment, David stood by the front door singing along too softly for them to hear.
“I’m half-crazy all for the love of you.”
And that was about all David could take of not being with his three favorite ladies during such a joyous moment. He quietly slipped inside, then stalled in the parlor’s doorway. No one seemed to notice him at first. That gave him a second to work through the shock of seeing Maggie dancing around the parlor in the fanciest dress she owned.
Ida watched her granddaughter with pure delight in her eyes. Caroline could hardly sing for smiling. The triplets watched from their play area in fascination as the colorful skirt twirled and swung with Maggie’s dance. Duke followed after her with his ears perked forward in confusion. David commiserated with the pup, who finally sat with the triplets to watch.
Of all the sights David may have expected to return home to, this was not one of them. He couldn’t help grinning as his daughter twirled around the parlor as though it were a grand ballroom. Even more astounding, she looked perfectly content to have the skirt swirling about her—not at all the grimace her face usually bore when she was forced to wear one for church. She caught sight of him. A little gasp escaped her as she stopped in her tracks.
She looked so much like her ma with her hair swept back like that. He’d met Laura at a dance all those years ago. She’d been the prettiest girl in the room. For once David didn’t push away the memory. Those early days with his wife had been good ones. He should remember them for Maggie’s sake—even share them with her. One day, but not now. He didn’t want to miss this moment with his precious little girl.
The music faltered a moment as he stepped into the room. He knew Caroline was sitting at the piano but didn’t let himself look in her direction. He extended his hand to Maggie. She grinned. He twirled her under his arm, then deftly led her into the waltz steps he’d shown her at his brother Edmund’s wedding.
As the music began to wind down, he swept her into his arms and turned in as graceful a spin as he could manage before setting her down again. Ida and Caroline clapped for them while he kissed her hand as though he were a grand duke and Maggie a lady of the court. “Thank you for the dance, Maggie. You sure look pretty in that dress.”
Her blue eyes sparkled. Her cheeks, already flushed from the dance, turned pinker. She fiddled with the seams of the skirt and ducked her head. “Thank you, Pa.”
He tweaked her nose. He was dying to know how this little scene had come about, why she’d chosen to wear a dress and if this had happened before. He didn’t want to embarrass her by making too much of it. He did, however, intend to get a full account of it later from the other ladies in the room.
He stole a quick glance at Caroline. The affection in her eyes made his heart skip a beat. He’d gladly yield most of that affection to Maggie, but surely at least some of it was for him. Perhaps he’d even be so bold as to claim the full portion of the admiration he saw there, as well.
A week with her as something more than just his family’s latest nanny had left him longing for even more. More time. More conversation. More long walks after the house had gone quiet.
She hadn’t said a word about the prospect of leaving. He was hoping that if he ignored that possibility long enough, it would go away—not unlike the letter from the mail-order bride that he’d tucked into the recesses of his nightstand. He had no intention of marrying that woman. So why hadn’t he written to tell her so? Perhaps she was a last resort should Caroline decide there were other offers more desirable than his.
“Pa, can you help us solve a mystery?”
He trained his eyes back on his daughter. He sat on the nearby settee and lifted her onto his knee. “What mystery is that, Magpie?”
“The case of the lost marbles.”
For some reason, that made Ida and Caroline burst out laughing. David exchanged a confused look with Maggie. “What’s so funny?”
“I don’t know.”
Giving Ida and Caroline time to compose themselves, he asked Maggie. “You lost your marbles?”
“No. Grandma did.”
He paused, glanced at his mother and grinned. There had to be a story behind this. “Ma, have you lost your marbles?”
“I surely hope not.” Ida wiped away a tear of laughter. “Although I was starting to suspect I might have. Maggie must have overheard what I said to Caroline and misunderstood. Maggie dear, I didn’t lose actual marbles. It’s an expression that means...well, that someone has lost their wits.”
Maggie frowned. “Wits?”
“Mind,” David supplied. “I’m sure it isn’t true. What’s going on, Ma?”
“I thought Caroline had folded the triplets’ diapers and clothes on laundry day twice now. I was grateful but wanted to let her know that it was unnecessary. Come to find out, she hasn’t been folding the clothes at all. Maggie hasn’t, either. I don’t suppose you have?”
“I’m afraid I can’t take credit for that.”
“That’s what Caroline said. I was afraid that somehow I’d folded the laundry, then forgotten all about it. That’s when I mentioned the bit about losing my marbles.”
David shook his head. “There has to be another explanation.”
“By all means, offer one.”
“Well, a couple of weeks ago, the ranch hands and I ran across a heifer and her calf with some scratches on them.”
Caroline snapped her fingers. “I knew it had to be the cows.”
That set Maggie giggling. Ida nodded seriously. “I should have thought of them first.”
David rolled his eyes. “It wasn’t the cattle. They were too busy breaking into the hay field to fold laundry. The scratches were from the barbed wire fence that was supposed to keep them out. Someone shooed them out of the field, then laid a tree branch across the opening to keep them out.”
Ida frowned. “That doesn’t sound like something your men would do.”
“Exactly. They would have fixed the fence right away. Between that, the folded laundry and the bag of toys left in my wagon a while back, I’d say someone is looking out for us.”
“And the triplets,” Caroline added as she crossed the room to let them out of the cordoned-off area. Eli headed directly for Duke, much to the puppy’s delight. Theo went to Maggie, who squirmed off David’s lap to join the boy on the floor. Jasper took advantage of his brothers’ absence to gather all the toys they’d left behind to his chest.
Maggie glanced up at him as Theo crawled into her lap. “Who’s helping us?”
“I don’t know.” David shrugged. “I figured it must be one of the Colemans, since the hay field is near their border.”
Caroline narrowed her gaze thoughtfully. “Or it could be Annie. She has a real soft spot for the triplets.”
“That’s a good guess. I suppose, technically, it could be anyone. We’ll have to be on the lookout to see if we can figure out who it is.”
Ida winked. “As long as we don’t find out it’s actually me.”
“It isn’t you,” David and Caroline both assured her at the same time, with equal vehemence.
Ida eyed them suspiciously. “You two have been doing that more and more often.”
“Doing what?” Maggie asked.
“Saying the same things at the same time.”
That was probably because they were spending a lot of time together. He shot a quick glance to Caroline, who gave a casual shrug. “I’ve noticed that, too. Strange, isn’t it? How about another song?”
Just like that she distracted Maggie. Ida appeared more reluctant to give up the line of questioning, but it was hard to conduct an interview
over the sound of a piano, so she gave up. David could barely hold back a laugh of appreciation at Caroline’s skillful maneuvering. Only a few hours more and he could have her all to himself. Let the wait begin.
Chapter Thirteen
Maggie was asleep. His mother had retired to her room. The moment David had been waiting for all day had finally arrived. Caroline spun toward the soft sound of the front door closing behind him. He extended his hand at the same time she reached for his, and they set off down the porch steps into the moonlight. David savored the companionable silence between them until his curiosity could wait no longer. “How on earth did you get Maggie into a skirt?”
Laughter filled her eyes as she turned to look up at him. “That was entirely her decision. She wanted to be able to pretend she was a lady at a ball. It wouldn’t have been the same without a flowing skirt.”
Of its own accord, his gaze took in her dress from its puffy sleeves to the ruffled hem. The color, somewhere between blue and green, set off the richness of her hazel eyes. Only when her cheeks flushed did he realize he’d been surveying her like the heifers he helped judge at the county fair. “I think Maggie’s found someone new to emulate.”
“I think you’re giving me too much credit.”
“Never.” He gave her hand a light squeeze. “What do you think? Any chance the change will stick?”
“Absolutely—when she’s ready for that to happen and not a moment sooner.” She shook her head. “She’s got a mind of her own, your daughter.”
“I’ve noticed.”
“Speaking of noticing, I think your mother is onto us.”
“She probably is. She isn’t the type to miss much.” He stole a sideways glance at her. “What do you think about telling them?”
She sighed. “I’m still afraid I’ll end up disappointing Maggie somehow.”
That could only mean she still wasn’t completely certain they had a future together. Her doubt only increased his own. What would it take to convince her to stay?
Thunder rumbled in the distance. He groaned and glanced up at the sky through the branches overhead. “I wish it would make up its mind. Rain or don’t rain. This endless taunting is unbearable.”
Caroline faltered a step. She glanced up at him with wide eyes. His words suddenly took on new meaning. He swallowed hard. “I didn’t mean... That was poorly timed.”
They stepped out onto the ridge, where the view of the night sky was incredible, but their eyes never left each other’s. She offered a soft smile to say she hadn’t taken his statement in the wrong way. “I don’t mean to be a tease, David. I just need more time. Everything has happened so quickly. A month ago...” She bit her lip, seemingly unwilling to mention Nico or Austin in what had become their spot. “Now I’m here with you. Everything within me wants to tumble headfirst into—”
He kept quiet, hoping she’d say love. That was where his thoughts had been headed of late. His feelings, too. He was certain of that. Instead she skipped it altogether. “I’ve done that before. At least, I thought I had. Now I’m all confused. And why haven’t you kissed me?”
He blinked, gave his head a light shake, then felt his brow furrow. “What did you say?”
Her chin lifted incrementally. “You heard me.”
Honestly, he’d thought his imagination had taken over in some strange protest against the rigid self-control he’d exercised since arriving home from Oakalla. Taking in the flush of her cheeks and the vulnerability in her expression, he realized it had taken quite a bit of courage for her to bring up the subject. He met her honesty with his own. “I’ve wanted to. There’s no denying that. More than that, I wanted to prove to you and myself that this was more than just a flash-in-the-pan attraction.”
She released his hand to hug her arms. “I knew it had to be something like that.”
He caught her locked arms and eased her closer until she rested her forehead on his chest. “Well, don’t leave me in suspense. Did it work?”
“Yes,” she muttered, sounding none too pleased about it. “But I always knew there was more to our relationship than that. I just didn’t want to admit it because then I’d have to take this seriously. Now what am I supposed to do?”
“That’s up to you and God.”
She was quiet for a moment, then finally admitted, “I do care about you, you know.”
He made a low sound of agreement to let her know she’d been heard, but he couldn’t force himself to return the sentiment. Care was such a small word. He cared about the weather. He cared about his livestock. He much more than cared about Caroline. He had a feeling she much more than cared about him, too. Like before, she was simply too afraid to admit it. Maybe he was, too.
However, during the first week of their unofficial courtship, he’d learned that her touch never lied, never equivocated and somehow wasn’t subject to her doubts or insecurities. It was fascinating...outright confounding at first. Now that he understood it and her better, he was unerringly careful about not using that knowledge to his advantage.
Of course, if he was going to be honest with himself, he had to admit that holding back on the kisses was about more than merely proving a point. It was about keeping one last bastion of protection between her and his heart. He wasn’t ready to give up that protection yet. Not with her so unsure of the future.
He wrapped his arms around her, despite her crossed arms, and rubbed a circle on her back to dispel her tension. Unlocking her arms and resting them against his chest, she relaxed into him. Her breathing steadied. See? This was perfect. This was safe. Except he still wanted to kiss her. Idiot that he was. Time to change the subject. “I’ve been thinking about trying to find the triplets a family again.”
She pulled back just enough to look at him as if his words were the most important in her world. She’d been doing that a lot lately. It made him feel about ten feet tall. It also made him want to kiss her. Her lips tilted into a smile. “I think that’s a great idea. Where were you thinking we should look next?”
“Joppa. It’s accessible by train.” He dragged his gaze from her mouth only to find her watching his.
Caught, she glanced away. “When do we leave?”
His arms tightened. “Actually, I think it’s best if I go by myself.”
“What? Why?”
“You got sick last time.” Not to mention all that time alone together. He left that unsaid, since he was pretty sure she wouldn’t appreciate the idea of him avoiding time with her. He didn’t want to slip back into that habit, either. Maybe he should just kiss her now and get it over with. Then he’d stop thinking about it.
“That was easily preventable.”
She was waiting for his response, but he couldn’t think of one. Didn’t care to, either. He lowered his head just as she turned her face away to stare at something in the distance. “David, what is that?”
“What?”
“That glow in the distance.” She eased out of his embrace.
He stared down at his empty arms until his brain caught up. Glow. Distance. Alarm stiffened his body. He turned to follow her gaze. Dread filled his voice. “Fire.”
Her eyes widened. “Fire?”
He was already grasping her hand and urging her down the ridge toward the house at as close to a run as she could manage in her skirts. “It’s on Hill land or maybe the Colemans’. They’ll need help. You need to go back to the house. Awaken Maggie and my mother. Get them and the triplets ready to go.”
“Go where?”
“To town. Take refuge in the church. We have no idea how fast or how far the fire will spread with conditions as dry as they are. Fires can move faster than a horse can trot. I don’t want to take any chances. Have everyone stay calm, but hurry!”
She left his side to run into the house. He went to the bunkhouse to rouse his
men. They were already awake and quickly scrambled to the barn while David called out orders. “Isaiah, I want you to rig up the wagon and take the women and children into town. Sound the alarm there if it hasn’t already been raised. Ephraim, you’re with me. We’re heading to the fire. Joaquin, I want you to ride over to Matthew’s spread and—” He stopped as Matthew drove into the barnyard with Emma clinging to the wagon seat beside him. “Never mind, men. Saddle up and head to the fire. I’ll catch up as soon as I can.”
Matthew set the brake and hopped down to meet him. “I saw the fire a few minutes ago. I sent a man into town to spread the word. The rest of my ranch hands are headed for the fire. I’m taking Emma into town. Figured I’d take the rest of the women and children, too.”
David nodded. “Caroline is getting them ready now.”
Emma called from the wagon. “Let me down. I’ll help them.”
Leaving Matthew to escort Emma inside, David saddled his horse, then met back up with his family at the porch steps. He drew a sleepy yet rather startled-looking Maggie into his arms and kissed her forehead before glancing up at his mother. “Y’all have everything you need in case you need to stay in town overnight?”
Ida nodded. “We’re ready.”
He lifted Maggie into the wagon, then his mother. Between the adults, they somehow managed to get the fussy triplets settled, too. Finally, it was Caroline’s turn. She took a step back when he moved to help her. “David, the other women and I discussed this. I’m going with you.”
“What?”
“No!” Matthew crossed his arms. “You’re coming with me.”
All three women offered their own argument as to why Caroline should attend. Apparently, Emma was going to help Ida look after the triplets in town. Ida insisted that they’d need every able-bodied person at the fire. Lula May was likely going to be there. So would Dorothy Hill. Caroline wanted to be there for Annie and in case the Coleman or Hill children needed looking after.
David sent a look to Matthew that must have clearly said, She’s your sister, so do something. But Matthew did the wrong thing. “I don’t think you’d be much help, Caroline.”
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