by Linda Ford
“I started reading.” She lifted the book without breaking eye contact.
“A good story?” He sounded a little distracted.
“So-so.” Silence descended upon them, which neither seemed inclined to break, and yet Missy wasn’t uncomfortable because of it. In fact, her cheeks grew warm and she squeezed the book, determined to ignore an urge to go to his arms and thank him for caring enough to stand guard in the dark, cold night.
Nate strode into the room. “Anything suspicious out there?”
Wade jerked his attention to the other man. “It’s all quiet.”
Nate pulled on his outer wear. “I’ll have a look around. Get some sleep. Both of you.” And he stepped out into the night.
Missy got to her feet. What was she thinking to be sitting in the dim room, alone with Wade?
“Good night.” His softly spoken words stopped her.
She slowly turned. There were so many things she wanted to say. A thousand things. She settled for one. “Thank you for watching for Vic.” With that she hurried to her room.
She had but two tasks while here—take care of the children and get Wade to see he should provide them with a home. How had her thoughts and actions gotten so far off course?
Chapter Seven
Wade hurried up the stairs and into his assigned bedroom. He lit the lamp and went to the doorway to the children’s room. They slept peacefully. Annie had her two dolls tucked in her arms. Joey lay with his arms tossed to his sides as if on the defensive.
Wade understood why the boy would feel that way. Life had pulled the rug out from under his feet, though, if Wade were to be true to his beliefs, he’d have to say God had done it. But that made God sound unkind and petty. Better to blame life.
Satisfied the children were settled, he turned back to his own bed and in a few minutes crawled under the covers. During the long dark hours of patrolling the perimeter of the ranch yard, he’d had plenty of time to talk sense into himself.
He understandably felt protective of Missy. To know there was danger lurking out there and do nothing to prevent it from descending upon her would be irresponsible. If he could help another person avoid disaster, even in some small way, it would make up for failing Tomasina. There was no more to it than that.
He’d about reasoned himself back to common sense when he’d stepped into the house and saw Missy sitting in the big armchair waiting for him. At least that had been his first thought.
Someone to welcome him home. Would he ever put that dream to rest and accept that it would never be?
She’d smiled up at him in a way that made his heart lose its moorings and his head forget all the things he’d just told himself.
Thankfully Nate had appeared before Wade could say or do anything that would take him beyond the boundaries he’d laid out for his life.
* * *
The next morning he was as anxious as the bouncing children to go downstairs. They could hardly wait for tomorrow so they could have their party.
“What will we do today?” Annie asked.
“Do we have to do something?” He thought of the pleasure of sitting quietly with Missy at his side, talking and sharing. Learning about each other. Whoa! His thoughts were running away from what his life allowed.
“But Missy said we could have twelve days of Christmas,” Annie insisted, while Joey sat back, a doubtful look on his face.
Seeing their different expectations—Annie hopeful, Joey awaiting the worst—Wade shifted his own wishes for the day. “I’m sure we can think of something.” Hadn’t Missy said something about a play? He’d like to see her create such a thing. He’d even like to help her do so.
No. It was an activity for the children’s pleasure. Not for his.
He heard the clatter of the stove lids and knew the household was astir. “Go get dressed. We’ll have breakfast, then discuss what we want to do today.”
Annie scampered away, while Joey dragged his feet across the floor.
Wade stared after him, troubled by his nephew’s attitude. If only the adoption hadn’t been delayed. The sooner the boy was settled, the better. For Joey, at least. For Wade, every extra day with the children was a gift. He drew to his heart the thoughts of forgetfulness that he had practiced and perfected over the years.
Though he knew all his practice would be in vain when he said goodbye to the children and Missy.
He tried to tell himself there was no reason he should include Missy. No reason but the truth. He had grown exceptionally fond of the young lady in a matter of days. It would be difficult—if not impossible—to push her memory from his thoughts.
He dressed and accompanied the children downstairs to the kitchen. He ground to a halt in the doorway at the sight of Missy at the stove, three pots before her. She was singing “The Twelve Days of Christmas” as she worked.
His heart beat faster in eager response despite his efforts to keep his thoughts focused on the reality of his life and decisions.
She turned, a smile lighting her eyes like the sun filling the sky. “Good morning. I trust you all slept well.”
“You haven’t forgotten,” Annie said.
Her gaze slowly went to the child. “What haven’t I forgotten?”
“The twelve days of Christmas you promised us.”
Missy chuckled. “I haven’t forgotten.” Her gaze returned to Wade’s, full of welcome and invitation.
He swallowed hard. Surely he mistook her look.
“How did you sleep?” she asked, likely intending to include them all, though her eyes never left Wade.
“With my eyes closed,” he replied, almost choking from a tight throat.
She laughed. “Good to know.” She shifted her attention to Joey. “You ready to help me make breakfast?”
At first the boy hung back, determined to remain sullen, but Missy held out her hand to him. “Come along. I need someone with a strong arm to stir the porridge.”
Joey could no more resist her than he could fly. There was something about her eagerness for life that attracted them all.
Soon she had the children busy with chores. Wade sat at the table, content to watch. She filled a cup with steaming coffee and set it before him.
“Thanks,” he said. “You’re good with the children.” He could picture her with a dozen of her own.
“You think so?” She waited for his affirmative answer, then rushed on. “I enjoy them.” Annie pressed to her side and Missy planted a kiss on the top of her head. “They are both very special.” She reached out and brushed her hand over Joey’s hair.
The boy ducked his head to hide his pleasure.
Wade envied Joey.
Now where had such a strange thought come from? But it was true. He wished Missy would run her hand over his head. He shifted his gaze and stared off into nothing. Nothing but the memory of long, lonesome nights following even longer days of regrets and disgust at how he’d failed to take care of Tomasina. What would Missy think if she knew the truth? Would she brush her hand along his arm in sympathy, or jerk back in shock and silent accusation?
He didn’t care to find out the truth.
The others joined them then and Missy served breakfast.
“You don’t know how much I appreciate your help,” Linette said. “But I feel a little guilty at leaving you to do so much of the work.”
“I don’t mind in the least,” Missy assured her.
Louise added her thanks and Missy reassured her, as well. “I haven’t forgotten how much Chloe cries in the night.”
“She’s getting better.” Louise quickly defended her daughter.
Missy laughed. “I wasn’t criticizing her.” She caught Wade’s gaze and raised her eyebrows. “Remind me to never do so.”
At her teasing, wa
rm look, he felt his face freeze, his mouth half-open and his eyes wide. He couldn’t blink. Couldn’t move his lips. Could not think.
“Uncle Wade, you look funny,” Annie observed, and he jerked his mouth shut and managed to shift his gaze from Missy. Of course she didn’t mean for the glance to be so personal, so...
He couldn’t think of a word to describe how it felt, but throughout the rest of the meal his thoughts hopped about like a man standing barefoot on ice. He had lost his mind. That was the only explanation for it. And he needed to find it again real quick. He could not do it here when his eyes kept seeking Missy, following her every move. When his thoughts were stuck on her words and expressions as if they were sustenance to a starving man.
The table was cleared, coffee finished. Missy supervised the children doing dishes, though he suspected she could have done the task in half the time without their help.
Wade had to get out of this room. “My horse needs some tending. I need to grease the wagon axle. And I might as well chop some wood to add to your store.” Yes, he had things to do outside, none of which he’d thought urgent until this very moment.
“That’s not necessary.” Eddie protested. “I’ve got cowboys to chop wood.”
“I’ll do my share.”
Joey and Missy stared at him. Missy was surprised, shocked, perhaps a little disappointed. Or was he only wishing she was? But he was certain Joey scowled at him.
“I’ll be back,” Wade assured the boy.
Joey shrugged and gave him a good view of his back. His message was clear—he didn’t want Wade to leave and didn’t want to admit it. But the boy couldn’t cling to him forever.
The thought did little to ease the tension pulling Wade’s own shoulders forward.
He shifted his gaze back to Missy, who dropped a hand to Joey’s shoulder. “We’ll be busy getting ready for the party. Don’t worry about us.”
“He won’t,” Joey mumbled.
How wrong the boy was. Wade would miss the children every day. He’d miss this time spent with Missy. He’d be the loneliest man on the face of the earth.
He hurried from the house before he blurted out his regret. Before he allowed any of them—himself included—to believe things could be different.
* * *
Missy told herself she wasn’t disappointed. She had no cause to think Wade might want to spend the morning with them helping prepare for the party, but she was and she did.
Annie, thankfully, played in the soapy dishwater and paid little attention to her uncle’s departure. Not so Joey. He saw every goodbye as a reminder that there would soon be a final one.
Missy must focus on the children’s needs. That was not only her job, but her desire. She wanted to make their stay as enjoyable as possible.
She rubbed her temples at the realization of how she had fallen down in pursuing her goal of persuading Wade that the children belonged with him.
She’d had opportunities to discuss the matter with him but had gotten sidetracked by her own weakness. Such as a few minutes ago, when she’d felt as if the two of them had shared something special that isolated them from the others. And the day before, when they’d been entirely alone, but her thoughts had selfishly clung to the moment, enjoying the sweetness it held.
But from now on she would focus on keeping the children busy and happy. And she’d confront Wade at each and every opportunity in an attempt to get him to see that they needed him.
She knew just the thing to occupy the children. She went to Linette and whispered her request.
The woman nodded. “Excellent idea.”
Annie and Grady watched with curious, eager eyes. If Joey felt either he hid it rather well.
“Who would like to make candy to give out at the party?”
Grady grinned and nodded.
Annie bounced up and down. “I would. I would.”
“Joey, how about you?” More than anything Missy wanted to stir a little enthusiasm in the boy. But Joey only shrugged. Her heart went out to him. He couldn’t see past the rejection he felt from his uncle.
No matter how much it hurt Joey to feel rejected, she wished for a way to help him understand those negative feelings needn’t ruin his life. He had so much to live for.
Ignoring his lack of response, she clapped her hands. “Great. Let’s get the kitchen clean and then we’ll make candy. Annie, you sweep the floor. Grady, you put the pots away. Joey, you dump out the water.”
The kids hurried to do their assigned chores, with Missy assisting and guiding their efforts.
“What kind of candy are we going to make?” Annie asked as her broom pushed crumbs into a pile.
“Hard rock candy. Have you made that before?” She brought out a large pot for the syrup.
Annie paused to watch her. “I helped Mama make fudge. Papa said fudge was his favorite.”
“Fudge is good. I think it might be my favorite, too.”
“I think I helped my first mama make candy,” Grady said, sounding confused. “Maybe. I’m not sure. Sometimes I can’t quite remember her.”
“Come here.” Linette hugged the boy to her side. “You will never forget her. And if you need to refresh your memory you have the picture I drew for you.”
Cheered by her words, Grady hopped away to look into the big empty pot. “Can I help?”
“You are all going to help. After all, this is your party.”
Both children grinned, pleased to be considered so important in the scheme of things.
Now to draw Joey into the proceedings. “Joey, what do you know about rock candy?” Missy looked about. “Joey?” He wasn’t in the room. “Did he not come back from dumping out the dishwater?” she asked Linette.
“I haven’t seen him.”
“He should have been in before now. I better see what’s keeping him.” She went to the door and called him, but she got no response. And she couldn’t see him anywhere. “That’s odd.”
“Maybe he went to find his uncle,” Linette suggested.
“I’ll check.” Missy grabbed a warm shawl and stepped out into the cold. She called him again, but heard nothing but the squawk of a raven and the crackle of bare branches in the wind. She shivered, and not just from the cold.
What if something bad happened to Joey? She was supposed to be taking care of him and yet he’d disappeared without her even noticing. What if Vic had made it to the ranch and thought taking the boy would serve his evil purposes? Missy shook away the idea. Perhaps Joey had gone after his uncle. She hoped so, though it meant she’d have to confess her failure to Wade.
She skirted the house, intending to make her way downhill. At the corner she heard the sound of someone chopping wood, and stopped. The woodshed was to her right, and Wade was swinging an ax over and over. After splitting a log, he neatly stacked the pieces, then positioned another chunk of wood.
He moved with a rhythm that was almost musical. Missy couldn’t look away. Something about him held her mesmerized. Power. Strength. Determination. A great wave of longing rose within her, making it difficult to breathe. He straightened, wiped his brow, then picked up another piece of wood and put it on the chopping block.
She jerked her attention back to finding Joey. He was obviously not with his uncle. Rather than bother Wade, who certainly bothered her, she turned aside. She’d find Joey on her own. After all, it was her responsibility.
She circled the house. Joey did not answer her calls. Perhaps something like a snowy owl in the woods behind the house had caught his interest. She followed a narrow trail of animal tracks for a distance, but seeing no boot tracks, she turned back.
A sound to one side brought her to a halt and she strained her ears to hear it again. A crashing, as if someone was pushing his way through the bushes.
“Joey?” Sh
e followed the sound.
* * *
“Papa, Papa.”
Wade looked up as Grady trotted down the hill in search of Eddie. Wade watched the boy, letting everything he knew about Grady underscore what he’d been telling himself. His adoptive parents loved him and he loved them. He had a good home with Eddie and Linette. Wade was doing the right thing in getting an adoptive home for Annie and Joey. “Papa.” Grady’s call turned shrill and brought Eddie from the barn. Now it sent a shiver up Wade’s spine. Something had obviously alarmed the boy.
Wade turned his attention back to the house, but could see nothing to explain the way his heart picked up speed. Nevertheless he waited to hear what had brought Grady in search of Eddie. Wade couldn’t hear the words, but something about the boy’s wild gesturing made him rest one foot on the chopping block and watch. Seemed something was amiss.
When Eddie glanced in his direction, Wade’s nerves tingled. He was on his way over before the rancher waved to him.
“What’s up?” he asked, doing his best to sound casual. He glanced around and saw no danger, yet he knew something was wrong. He felt it in the marrow of his bones.
“Grady says Joey and Missy are—” Eddie began.
“They’re gone,” Grady exclaimed. “Missy and Joey.”
“Gone?” Wade must have chopped wood too long for his arms felt spongy. “Where?”
“Don’t know. First Joey went out and didn’t come back, then Missy went to find him. When she didn’t come back, Mama sent me to get Papa.” The boy grabbed Eddie’s hand. “I’m not going to disappear next, am I?”
“No one’s disappeared and you certainly aren’t going to.” Eddie’s expression grew hard. “Let’s see what’s going on.”
Wade was several yards ahead of him.
By the time he reached the house he had a good lead on Eddie and he burst through the door into the kitchen.
Linette sat holding the baby. Louise rocked Chloe. Annie stood beside the table, looking at a book someone had given her. At first glance things appeared as normal as potatoes and gravy, except for the guarded expression in the eyes of both women.