by Karen Kirst
Adam touched his shoulder. “I’m going to find Seth. Want to stick with me?”
“Yes, sir.”
Evelyn pointed past the house. “He’s in the barn with Tate. They were going to muck out stables.”
“I’m sure they’d appreciate some help,” Adam said. “Enjoy yourselves, ladies.”
Evelyn grinned. “No question about that.”
Adam shot her a warning look that only enhanced her glee. No doubt she would steer the conversation with Deborah toward the topic of romance and suitors. He prayed his name would be left out of it. His and Deborah’s relationship was complicated enough without his mother’s interference.
During the short walk to the barn, he told Liam the story of how Tate, Harper and Little John came to be with his brother and Marigold.
“Tate’s the oldest boy. Maybe you’ll discover common interests.”
“I’ll be eleven soon,” he said quietly.
“Oh? When’s your birthday?”
“July 18.”
“That’s next month.”
Liam didn’t comment. Squinting into the sun, he kept his gaze on the horizon and the wooden fences surrounding lush fields. They passed a grouping of apple trees, and the large barn came into view.
“Thanks for saving the bird,” he said, striving for nonchalance. “Lily would’ve been upset if we’d left it to fend for itself.”
Lily wouldn’t have been the only one, Adam guessed. “I happen to like animals. It’s important to respect God’s creation.”
“Our uncle would’ve sooner squashed it beneath his boot than waste his time rescuing it. And he would’ve railed at Lily for crying.”
Adam’s hands fisted. He’d like a one-on-one encounter with the monsters who’d accepted responsibility for the siblings when they clearly weren’t qualified to parent children.
“Your parents would be proud of you.”
Liam stumbled, although there were no obstacles in the grass. “Sir?”
“Absolutely. It took a lot of courage to endure such mistreatment and to ultimately make the decision to get your sister out of there.”
Liam’s lips quivered, and his cheeks bunched. “I was scared. Didn’t know whether to stay or leave.”
Adam nodded. “I would’ve been, too.” Stopping, he turned and put his arm around the boy. “You did the right thing. I believe God was watching over you, and that He led you to the right person.”
“Miss Deborah?”
“She cares about you. She’ll do whatever is necessary to help.”
Liam blinked and stared at the ground.
“I want you to know you can count on me, as well.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Adam hadn’t taken the time to envision what it might be like to be a father. Standing here with Liam, a kid who’d borne more burdens than the average adult, a kid who hid his fear and uncertainty for the sake of his little sister, he understood finally the drive to protect and nurture. He understood what had inspired his oldest brother to take on three orphans and Russell to love an unborn child that he hadn’t sired.
The desire to be a father, to have a family to provide for, struck him out of the blue. It was fierce and demanding and specific.
Adam didn’t want just any family, he realized.
He wanted Deborah, Lily and Liam.
He wanted the impossible.
Chapter Fifteen
“Making bread is fun!” Lily pounded the dough with her tiny fist. Flour dusted her nose and chin and much of the apron she’d borrowed from Evelyn. “I want to do this every day forever.”
Assembled in the Halloway kitchen, Deborah, Marigold and Evelyn laughed. Then, as she placed her stack of shallow bowls on the kitchen table, the elder Halloway shook her head. “You say that now, young lady. Wait until you have a hungry bear of a man to feed and a passel of youngsters whose bellies are always grumbling.”
Marigold gave a hearty nod, her pretty hair catching the sun’s rays brightening the farmhouse’s central room. “Isn’t that the truth? I’ve learned to adjust the amount of food I prepare. Violet and I didn’t require nearly as much.” She gave the fragrant stew another stir and, as was her habit, did a visual inventory of the room for Violet.
During those initial weeks in Cowboy Creek, Deborah had heard the sad tale of Marigold’s young niece. After having helped raise Violet nearly all her life, Marigold had believed she’d be Violet’s permanent guardian following her sister’s death. That changed when her brother-in-law returned out of the blue to claim the child.
Already Deborah would miss Liam and Lily if they were no longer in her care. She could only imagine the depth of grief and loss Marigold must’ve endured after years of being Violet’s substitute mother.
In a surprise turn of events, the child was returned to her when her dying father could no longer offer her care. Now, with the four adopted children, Marigold’s family was off to a booming start. There was no question in Deborah’s mind that she and Seth would eventually add to their brood.
Marigold’s body relaxed the moment she saw that Violet was content with her miniature tea set laid out on the rough-hewn table by the sofa. The girl ignored Harper and Little John’s rowdier play with toy ponies and hand-carved farm buildings.
“Speaking of families, Deborah, the man who claims your heart is going to reap sweet rewards.” Evelyn circled the table laying out silverware. Her eyes sparkled with mischief.
Deborah stood beside Lily to oversee her progress. Sensing that Adam’s mother wasn’t actually talking about her baking skills, she searched for an appropriate response. “I appreciate the sentiment.”
“Do you have any prospects on the horizon?” the Halloway matriarch asked.
Marigold wagged her spoon at her mother-in-law. “Evelyn.”
“Can’t I be curious?” She adopted an innocent air. “Were you aware that Preston and Hildie have been seen about town?”
“I wasn’t.” Hildie no longer spoke to her. “Hildie is eager to get hitched. For her sake, I hope she doesn’t rush into a commitment without thinking it through.”
Evelyn’s gaze turned speculative. “It does pay to be cautious, especially in matters of the heart.” Something outside the window snagged her attention. Her features softened with familial affection. Pressing her hand to her heart, she sighed. “It’s wonderful to have Adam with us again after years of separation. I’m grateful God saw fit to bring him home to us.”
His confession still fresh in her mind, she entertained a dozen questions. She didn’t pose a single one. No way could she interrogate his mother about his character.
Instead, she prayed for God’s wisdom and discernment in the matter. Adam had given her the benefit of the doubt. She couldn’t forget that.
When he entered the house half an hour later, laughing with his brother and including Liam and Tate in their good-natured teasing, her intuition said he was a trustworthy man who wouldn’t disrespect or mistreat her.
He lied about so many things, though.
He wasn’t a cattleman. He wasn’t in Cowboy Creek in search of land.
He was a man of pretense.
Adam’s intent gaze searched the room, bouncing over the occupants until landing on her. Emotions kicked up inside her like a mile-wide twister—disappointment, apology, longing—before being snuffed out.
He’s on the side of justice, though.
He puts lawless men behind bars, preventing them from enacting their evil on others.
If there ever was a reason for deception, that was it.
Evelyn ushered everyone to the table. Despite being manipulated into the chair beside Adam, Deborah found it easy to relax and enjoy the meal. The Halloways enjoyed each other. They liked each other. The pleasant atmosphere was in direct contrast to that of the Frazier household.
Afterward, the kids went outside to play beneath the elm trees. Evelyn placed a cup of coffee in Deborah’s hand and ordered her onto the porch where Adam and Seth had retreated to a pair of rocking chairs. Adam immediately gave his up for her, going to the porch railing and propping a hip against it. She hid her consternation by focusing on the children. The younger boys and the girls were involved in a game of tag, while Tate and Liam sat off to themselves in the grass with the family cat, Peony. It appeared they were comfortable in each other’s company, for which she was grateful.
“Did Adam ever tell you about the time he rescued our neighbor’s young son from drowning?”
“No, he didn’t.”
Seth relayed the details. Throughout the story, Adam fiddled with his cup or watched the kids. When Seth was finished, Adam aimed an arch look at his brother. “You think she doesn’t know what you’re trying to do?”
Seth’s innocent air mimicked Evelyn’s. “You’d rather I tell her the embarrassing stuff about you? Because I can. I have a lot to choose from.”
His chin dipped. “You’re trying to paint a flattering picture that isn’t reality.”
Deborah sipped her coffee, intrigued by the exchange.
Seth fixed his brown gaze on her. “Adam’s got his faults, okay? He’s stubborn and bullheaded. But he’s also loyal to a fault and one of the most selfless people I know.”
She risked a glance at the man in question. His cheeks were flushed a dull pink. His discomfiture was obvious.
“You’re trying to convince me to trust him,” she said to Seth.
“You may not understand his process,” Seth continued, “but he devotes his life doing what few people are willing to do. He scours the nation for the worst examples of humanity at the cost of his own happiness.”
Adam held up his hands. “Who said I wasn’t happy?”
“You’re alone, aren’t you?”
He pushed off the railing and stood to his full height. “Seth.”
The tall, well-built man popped out of the rocker and edged to the door. He flashed a boyish grin. “I think I heard my wife calling for me. Better go see what she wants.”
The door hinges whined and creaked, the wood slapping against the frame.
Adam huffed his irritation. “My family doesn’t know the meaning of tact or subtlety.”
“I’m not offended.” Standing, she smoothed her voluminous skirts and crossed to the railing. “You’re fortunate you have a good relationship with them.”
After a minute, he nodded. “You’re right, especially considering how I went off to fight and rarely made time to pen letters.”
“Do they know the details of your current case?”
He looked wary. “Yes.”
What type of person was he searching for? A bank robber? A horse thief? A murderer?
“Your work is dangerous.”
“You sound surprised.”
“I was more focused on the deception aspect of your revelation than anything else.” She was thinking about it now. Most criminals wouldn’t willingly submit to their punishment, would they? Oh, no, they’d be desperate to avoid capture. Desperation made men reckless. “Have you been shot at before?”
“I’ve dodged everything from knives and rocks to broken bottles. One man knocked me unconscious with a carpetbag full of bricks.” At Deborah’s gasp, he shrugged. “I hate to say I’m used to the violence, but it’s what I’ve known for too many years. First in the war, then in my occupation.”
“Aren’t you tired?”
His eyes narrowed. Shifting his gaze to the distant prairie, he said, “Putting outlaws behind bars is fulfilling work.”
“Lonely, too, I imagine.”
“Sometimes.”
“But you’re still planning on leaving Cowboy Creek once you’re finished here.”
“My agency is counting on me,” he said with a slight wince. “There are too many criminals and not enough of us.”
“You’re never going to settle in one place and build a life?” Didn’t he want a wife? Children? Stability? A familiar place to lay his head at night? Adam’s previous excuses marched through her head. “Expanding your empire isn’t the challenge. It’s each new case.”
“This one’s my biggest yet. I can’t afford to fail.”
She didn’t point out that he hadn’t answered her question. She would’ve fished for answers if not for Lily, who scrambled up the porch steps and begged to be shown Peony’s litter of kittens.
He agreed with an indulgent smile that made Deborah’s heart skip. Taking the girl’s tiny hand in his large, suntanned one, he led the way across the porch, listening intently to her chatter. Once they reached the yard, the other children rushed to join them.
He shot Deborah a beseeching glance. “I’m outnumbered. Won’t you have mercy on me?”
“Come on, Miss Deborah!” Still latched on to Adam’s hand, Lily bounced on her toes. “You can’t miss kittens. They’re the best!”
“After cookies and pie, of course,” Adam added.
“Of course!”
Deborah couldn’t hold back a smile.
Adam would make a fine father. A shame he didn’t realize it.
But that was none of her business. His future didn’t include her.
* * *
“When can we go back to the Halloways’ ranch?”
Liam was snug in his pallet on the floor. His query surprised her, as did the unabashed excitement in his blue eyes. His tousled hair spilled across his forehead, making him appear younger than his ten years.
Smiling, Deborah smoothed the coverlet. “Perhaps next week.”
“Next week!” Lily wailed from the bed. “Why can’t we go tomorrow? Adam promised we could ride horses.”
“Tate said he’d show me his bug collection.”
“That was nice of him.” Liam could use a friend. And like him, Tate understood what it meant to lose his parents and move to an unfamiliar place.
Straightening, she dimmed the lamp and crawled beneath the covers beside Lily. “The ranch requires a lot of hours of work each day. That’s why we can’t visit again tomorrow.”
“We could pitch in, couldn’t we?” Lily countered. “Like I helped with the bread and you peeled potatoes and carrots?”
Liam sat up. “Adam and I mucked out some of the stables.”
“I enjoyed our time there as much as you did,” she said. “However, I have to help Aunt Mae with the meals.” At their crestfallen expressions, she said, “We can speak to Adam about it in the morning. But I’m guessing Aunt Mae would appreciate it if you two could weed the vegetable garden.”
They agreed to the idea. Resting against the pillows, Deborah folded her hands in her lap. “It’s my habit to pray before bed. Do either of you have something you’d like to pray about?”
Lily’s lips puckered. “I’d like to have one of Peony’s kittens. The one with orange and white stripes.”
“You can’t,” Liam said. “Not in a boardinghouse.”
She jutted her chin. “Then I’m also gonna ask for a house.”
Her throat constricted. Their future was so uncertain. “There’s nothing wrong with that. Liam? How about you?”
He opened his mouth to speak, then thought better of it. He slowly shook his head. “I don’t have anything.”
She was sure there was many things weighing on his mind. He simply wasn’t ready to share. She’d pray for him in the quiet of her heart. God knew his needs and desires, just as He knew Lily’s and Deborah’s. While she was at it, she’d pray for Adam, too.
His deception yet bothered her, but she understood his reasons.
“Miss Deborah?” Lily bit her lip. “Would you mind if I asked God to make you our new ma?”
“Oh, sweetheart.” Hugging her close, she stroked
the girl’s unbound hair. “You can certainly ask Him anything.”
“Maybe she doesn’t wanna be our ma.” Liam’s head bowed, and he nibbled on his fingernail.
“Come join us on the bed for a minute, Liam.”
He did as she bid, hunkering against the footboard, his knees pulled up to his chest.
“I’ll be honest,” Deborah said, “I have no idea how to be a parent. I traveled here to avoid marrying a man I didn’t love. Until I heard about the possibility of orphans hiding among us, I was focused on my problems and what I’d do if they caught up to me. But that changed as soon as I met you.” Her voice wobbled.
Lily patted her hand. “It’s okay to cry if you feel sad. My ma taught me that.”
Deborah’s heart swelled with tenderness. “She was a wise woman. But I’m not sad. I’m grateful God brought you into my life.” She looked at Liam. “I enjoy having you with me, and I’d like to keep you around for a long while.”
“Truly?” Lily breathed.
Deborah smiled. “Truly.”
She bowed her head and prayed aloud, asking for God’s will to be done in their lives and for the willingness to accept His answer.
Chapter Sixteen
The streets were quiet Monday morning when Adam made his way to Russell’s house. Overhead, a thick layer of clouds masked the sun. His front-door knock wasn’t immediately answered, so he tried again, louder this time.
The door jerked open and a surprised Russ looked out. “Is this an emergency so early in the morning?”
Adam took in his stocking feet, unbuttoned shirt and tie dangling from his fingers. “Nothing’s on fire, if that’s what you mean, but it’s important.”
Russ granted him admittance, grumbling, “Wait until you’re married and you’ve had a long night with an uncomfortable pregnant wife and I show up unannounced before you’ve finished breakfast.”
“You’ll be waiting a long time.” Adam smirked as he trailed his brother down the hallway. “I’d forgotten how grumpy you are in the mornings.”
Russ paused in the dining room entrance, his expression turning smug. “With a certain baker in the picture, the prospect of your nuptials is not that far off.”