by Karen Kirst
“Don’t you two look spiffy. I hardly recognize you.” He placed two bulging flour sacks on the desk and started unloading items. “Lily, these are for you.”
Her eyes widened at the growing pile of dresses and undergarments. “For me?”
“I’m afraid they aren’t new.”
She tested the texture of a navy blue dress. “I don’t mind,” she said shyly.
Switching to the second bag, he said, “Deborah is going to take care of your clothes, Liam. But I was able to locate something I thought you’d like.”
He gave the young man a set of marbles and jacks. Liam reverently held the square tin to his chest. His voice gruff, he thanked Adam.
“I didn’t forget about you, little lady.” As he pulled a new porcelain doll from the sack, Lily gasped aloud and reached with hesitant fingers to caress its brown curls.
“She has the same color hair as me,” she said, the wonder evident in her face. “And same color eyes.”
When she burst into tears, Adam’s smile vanished. He turned a troubled gaze to Deborah.
With a helpless shrug, she bent to the girl’s level. “Sweetheart, what’s the matter?”
Lily’s hands covered her face. Instead of answering, she cried harder.
“I don’t understand,” Adam murmured. “I thought she’d like it.”
“She probably wants Sally,” Liam explained, “the doll our ma and pa gave her last Christmas.”
“Does Sally have blond hair?” Deborah asked.
“How’d you know?” Liam said.
“I saw it in the Gardners’ yard one day,” Deborah explained. “I thought you’d recovered it, because the next time I looked, it was gone.”
Lily dropped her hands, revealing tearstained cheeks and a pink nose. Her eyes were awash in despondency. “Sally’s lost!”
Adam laid the doll on the desk. “I can’t promise we’ll find her, Lily, but we can certainly try.”
“Truly?”
Adam handed the girl a fresh handkerchief and awkwardly patted her head. “I’ll search the woods in that area.”
Deborah’s heart felt full. He’d been beyond understanding about this whole situation. Purchasing the toys was a sweet, thoughtful gesture. He couldn’t have guessed the doll would touch on a sore spot.
Liam picked it up and made a show of inspecting the frilly dress and painted face. “I’m sure Sally wouldn’t mind if you cared for this one while Mr. Draper conducted his search.”
Lily considered that for a long moment. “Can I see her?”
Liam handed it over and waited. Adam seemed to be holding his breath.
Finally, she hugged the doll to her chest. “I’m going to call her Sarah. She and Sally can be sisters.”
“That’s a fine idea,” Deborah declared.
Adam’s breath left him in a relieved whoosh. The little girl’s happiness mattered to him.
Deborah was certain she wouldn’t mind staying in this room for at least a week. There’d be no reason to leave. Watching Adam navigate their interactions was a delight. The orphans had given her a sense of purpose, a validation that her hasty, ill-thought-out retreat from St. Louis hadn’t been futile, after all.
* * *
Adam hadn’t been in charge of kids before. This pair didn’t need diapers changed or milk heated, but they acted as if he might toss them from the window at any moment. The fact that he was completely out of his element probably didn’t help. He dealt with unsavory types. People who had secrets to hide. Not kids missing their parents and childhood home, kids who were very aware of their vulnerability.
He’d masked his nervousness during Deborah’s absence by keeping them busy. They were on their fifth checkers game, and he was losing. If his fellow agents could see him now, they’d never let him live it down.
“You won,” he announced with an exaggerated sigh. “Play again?”
The checkerboard between them, he and Liam sat on the bed. Lily sat near the footboard with her doll.
Liam’s mouth quivered. For a second, Adam thought he might be awarded a genuine smile. But distrustful blue eyes met his and the chance was lost.
“No, thank you.”
“I’m not a worthy opponent. Is that what you’re trying to say?” he teased.
His head jerked back. “I didn’t mean to imply... That is—”
Adam lifted a hand. “I was only joking. Besides, I’m perfectly aware of my poor skills. My army comrades liked to torment me about it.”
“You weren’t letting me win?” Liam hesitantly inquired.
Laughing, he replaced the board and disks in the cloth bag. He’d borrowed the game from the parlor and would have to return it. “You won fair and square, young man.”
“Papa used to let him win,” Lily said. “Mama scolded Papa, but he didn’t stop.”
“Did Deborah mention she lost her mother?”
The siblings regarded him with serious expressions. “Yes, sir.”
“I lost my father when I was eighteen.”
Lily frowned. “Did he get sick, too?”
“No, he wasn’t sick.”
He probably shouldn’t have mentioned it, but he’d wanted to form a connection with them. Earn their trust. Standing to his feet, he dragged the desk chair to the middle of the floor.
“Have you made a fort out of furniture before?” he asked them.
They weren’t familiar with the game. Since they didn’t express disgust for his idea, he enlisted their aid using blankets and other items. By the time Deborah returned half an hour later, both brother and sister were caught up in the pretense.
On his hands and knees, his hair falling in his eyes, he lifted the blanket serving as an entrance and greeted her with a sheepish smile.
“I hope you don’t mind we’ve made a mess of your room.”
Lily pushed into the space beside him. “Come into our fort, Miss Deborah.”
Deborah paused on the threshold, surprise lighting her features. “You’ve been busy, haven’t you?”
“We’ll put everything to rights,” Adam promised.
She placed her single parcel on the bed. Indicating her voluminous skirts, she grimaced. “Are you certain there’s room for me?”
“We’ll make room.”
He and Lily retreated into the far edges of the blanket-draped furniture. Deborah had trouble squeezing into the low, cramped space. Her laugh had a self-conscious lilt. “This isn’t very ladylike, I’m afraid.”
Liam sat off to their right, his knees pulled up to his chest and a scowl on his face. “There’s not much difference between this and our tent.”
Lily tossed her head. “This is much better, Liam. There are no bugs. It’s clean except for a few dust balls under the bed.”
Deborah’s brow furrowed. “That reminds me. Aunt Mae will want to clean the rooms first thing tomorrow morning.”
“Why do we have to hide in here, anyway?” Liam charged. “I thought you promised to help us.”
Unable to ignore Deborah’s silent appeal, Adam spoke up. “Before we can tell the townspeople about you, we have to be armed with proof.”
His hands fisted. “You don’t believe us?”
“Of course we do,” Deborah responded. “It’s just that sometimes adults will believe other adults before they will children.”
“It’s unfortunate,” Adam said. “But it’s the way of our society. We’re planning to engage a lawyer’s services. His name is Russell Halloway, and he will gather information about your great-aunt and -uncle.”
“He won’t tell them where we are, will he?”
The boy’s terror was plain. Adam’s doubts evaporated. He decided then and there to do whatever it took to protect these children, no matter the specifics of their case.
“No. Our utmost prior
ity is to keep you safe.” He chose his next words carefully. “Liam, would it be possible to make a list of items you and Lily took from the local shops?”
The boy’s cheeks flamed. “Yes, sir.”
“Are you sending us to jail?” Lily wailed loud enough to attract attention if anyone had been around. Fortunately, it was midmorning and most boarders were either working or tending to errands.
“We don’t put children in jail,” he said. “I simply think it’s a good idea to make a list. You know it’s wrong to take things without paying, right?”
Sucking in her lower lip, she nodded.
“Our parents taught us right from wrong, but I couldn’t let my sister go hungry,” Liam said hotly.
“I understand. Most of the shop owners will, too. Some might expect you to work off what you owe, however.”
He jutted his chin. “I’m stronger than I look.”
Adam smiled. “I’m convinced you’d be a great asset to any business.”
“I’m a good sweeper,” Lily managed in a small voice.
Deborah smoothed the girl’s unbound hair. “Try not to fret over it. We’ll figure everything out.” She angled her face toward Adam. “What about Aunt Mae?”
“We should probably tell her.”
“She won’t like it.”
He dredged up his most charming smile. “Leave the cantankerous proprietress to me.”
Chapter Thirteen
As Adam entered the boardinghouse later that afternoon, he was jerked into the storage room behind the kitchen. He stared at Deborah, who closed and latched the door.
“A little warning would’ve been nice,” he whispered. “You’re fortunate I didn’t mistake the situation and strike out at you.”
She turned to face him. It was then he noticed the narrowness of the room. The floor-to-ceiling shelves wouldn’t allow for two people to stand side by side. Like in their furniture fort, he was close enough to touch her, to explore the promise of her fair skin, glossy tresses and inviting mouth. Only now Liam and Lily weren’t around to mute his attraction.
They were alone in a storage room. Suddenly the many, many reasons he must keep his distance—not to mention professional objectivity—didn’t seem important.
“I apologize,” Deborah said softly. “I had to get you alone. Sadie and Hildie have stationed themselves at the dining table with a very large pot of tea and enough cookies to feed a passel of hungry cowboys.” Grimacing, she reached up to fiddle with her pin. “What did Russell say?”
Adam tugged at his shirt collar. His brother had had plenty to say, none of it easy to hear. Russell insisted this development proved Deborah’s inherent goodness and that she couldn’t be aiding Ogden. He’d demanded to know when Adam planned to inform her that they were related and reveal his true reason for being in Cowboy Creek.
She obviously mistook his silence to mean he bore bad news. “Did he refuse to help us? He won’t involve the sheriff, will he?”
Her clear distress pained him. Adam shifted closer, lifted his hand and cupped her cheek. Her lips parted on a sudden inhale.
“Don’t fret,” he murmured. “He and I are going to work together to fix this.”
Her eyes were wide and trusting. She covered his hand with her own, holding him fast. The dark hair at her temple tickled his fingertips. The sensation of her small, smooth hand and cool, satiny cheek flooded him with longing.
He rested his other hand on her waist. The pale blue cotton of her bodice was stiff and unyielding, whereas the layers of skirts were as filmy as a cloud. This woman confounded and delighted him in equal measures. She made him question his view of the world and made him dread returning to his solitary life. When she didn’t protest the possessive contact, he lowered his head inch by inch, ignoring the warning inside his head telling him that this was his stupidest idea yet.
“Adam.” His name on her tongue vibrated with yearning and caution.
His lips hung a breath from hers. “Deborah?”
Her hands found their way to his chest. There was no mistaking their message.
She wasn’t ready.
“I have to tell you something.”
Adam released her.
Deborah lowered her hands to her sides. “I can identify with Liam and Lily’s predicament because I ran away from my own problems.”
His throat closed. “Was someone mistreating you?”
“No. Nothing like that.” Her lashes swept down. “I ran away from an arranged marriage.”
“You told me you weren’t married. That first day in the kitchen. Remember the pepper cake and the blindfold?”
Her arrested gaze shot to his face. “I told you the truth. I fled St. Louis a few hours before the wedding.” She pressed her hands to her cheeks. “My father and I have had a tumultuous relationship for as long as I can remember. It got worse after my mother died. He doesn’t understand me.” A harsh laugh devoid of true humor escaped. “He certainly isn’t proud to claim me as his daughter. I’ve done everything in my power to please him, and every time I’ve fallen short. When he promised my hand in marriage to his dearest friend, I couldn’t find it in me to refuse.”
“Do you care for this man?”
“Tobias? I barely know him. He’s my father’s age. Very stern. He was married many years ago. There have been rumors that he mistreated his first wife, who died from consumption.”
Adam would’ve liked to have a few words with Mr. Frazier. The man had to have known Deborah’s desire to earn his approval would influence her to agree to a loveless marriage.
“Your father manipulated you, Deborah.”
Judging by the look in her eyes, she hadn’t considered that angle.
“Why didn’t he approach Lucy?” he pressed. “She can do no wrong in his eyes, right?”
“I’m older.”
“Would Lucy have agreed to the match?”
A furrow dug into the skin between her brows. “She never had trouble opposing him.”
Adam gave her shoulder a light squeeze. “You did the right thing. Marrying someone for the wrong reasons would’ve made you miserable.”
And rendered her untouchable. Out of his reach. If she’d gone through with the wedding, their paths wouldn’t have crossed.
“I let people purchase wedding gifts. I let my father spend an exorbitant amount of money on everything from flowers to food. I was a coward, Adam. I hate to admit that to you, of all people. I didn’t have the courage to stand my ground.”
“Don’t sell yourself short. Look at what you’re doing for those kids.”
“Speaking of Liam and Lily, what exactly did Russell say?”
At the mention of his brother, Adam wrestled with guilt. She’d revealed private information. Trusted him enough to share what she viewed as a humiliating experience. But he could not tell her who he was. Not yet.
“He suggested they stay with Seth, Marigold and the boys.”
The corners of her mouth turned down. “They would have plenty of space to roam, I suppose. And four playmates. And Seth and Marigold have more experience with children.”
“I told him no.”
“You did?”
“They’re happy with you. They trust you.”
Joy brightened her face. “I like spending time with them. Liam is a bit prickly, but he’s a good boy. He loves his sister and watches over her like a loyal guard dog.”
“An apt description.”
“And Lily is a darling. She wouldn’t say it, but she’s aching for someone to love her. To take the place of her ma.”
“You’re going to be good for them.”
She blushed scarlet, as if he’d gifted her a bouquet of flowers and handwritten poetry. “Thank you, Adam.”
He meant it; he realized. Russell was right. Deborah Frazier possessed a hear
t of gold. If she’d gotten lured in by Ogden’s deceitful charm, and he wasn’t convinced she had, it would be due to her desire to help others.
“Oh! I completely forgot!” she exclaimed. “Would you have time to stay with them while I prepare tonight’s dessert?”
“I’d be happy to.”
Adam didn’t want to examine too closely why it didn’t bother him that he was spending his time watching a pair of orphans instead of hunting his nemesis.
They both jerked when the doorknob rattled.
“Who’s in there? Open the door this instant.” The command was muffled but insistent.
Deborah’s eyes went wide. “Aunt Mae.”
Adam shuffled past her and, pasting on a bright smile, opened the door with a flourish. “Aunt Mae, we were just on our way to find you. Did you realize your sugar stores are running low?”
* * *
Having relocated to the rear veranda, Aunt Mae faced them with arms crossed over her bosom and a serious expression on her face. “You ushered me out here to inform me that you’re making this romance official, I hope.” She quirked a brow at Adam. “I’ve seen a lot of things in my time, but the storage room is a new one. I don’t know whether to be impressed or appalled.”
Embarrassment seared Deborah’s skin. She waved a limp hand between them. “It’s not what it appears, Aunt Mae.”
Adam’s dark chocolate gaze cut to her, and the memory of their almost-embrace sent goose bumps along her arms. She’d wanted his kiss with a feverish desperation. Only the fact that she was hiding her greatest humiliation from him prevented her. She’d had no choice but to confess.
To her amazement, Adam hadn’t faulted her. Hadn’t ridiculed her. He’d offered support and encouragement as a devoted friend and confidante. More than his kiss, she yearned for his high opinion.
“Deborah and I weren’t engaging in the sort of clandestine meeting you’re imagining,” he said. “You see, we’ve encountered a delicate situation. We’ve attempted to handle it ourselves but have come to the conclusion that we need your assistance.”