Читать книгу Montana Cowboy Family - Linda Ford - Страница 13
ОглавлениеSadie stood in the doorway and faced three forlorn children huddled together in the middle of the floor. Her quarters had seemed roomy until now. As Logan had said, they would be crowded here. But they would be safe.
Without appearing to do so, she studied Beth. Was there a reason she’d chosen to come with Sadie? Was it because there were no men at the teacher’s house?
With a shake of her head, she warned herself she too easily equated the children’s situation with her own and she had no reason to do so. They wouldn’t know the truth about things until they located the father. Perhaps he had been injured. But providing an excuse did not erase the way her nerves tingled with certainty there was more involved than a missing father and a deceased mother.
“Children, I will get beds arranged after Logan comes back.” She’d ask him to help her bring cots she would purchase from his uncle’s store. “In the meantime, let’s put your things in the bedroom.”
She led the way to the second room.
Beth looked around. “Where are we going to sleep?”
“We’ll figure out something. After all, I’m the teacher.” She wasn’t sure why that should make the children trust her, but she smiled as Beth relaxed enough to set her squirming little sister down.
Jeannie hurried over to the bed and touched the bright quilt that Aunt Sarah had helped her make, insisting handwork was relaxing. If only her aunt knew how much pain had gone into every stitch as Sadie had made the quilt. She’d told herself that she would start a new life, she would be independent, she would help those in dire circumstances, she would be a teacher and find what she needed in that profession.
Jeannie patted the quilt. “Pretty, pretty.”
“Don’t touch,” Beth warned.
“It’s okay. You can certainly touch it. This is your home now.” At least until the situation could be sorted out, though, if her intuition was correct, she’d make sure the children were never returned to a man who not only neglected the children but hurt them. “I made that quilt when I was eighteen. My aunt helped me.”
“Where was your mother? Had she passed on?” Beth asked, her eyes full of sympathy.
“No, both my parents are alive, but I lived with my aunt for a few years. That’s where I took my teacher’s training.”
“Oh,” both Sammy and Beth said.
She cleared out a drawer in her dresser. “Beth, you can put the girls’ things in here.”
By shoving her books together on one shelf, she made room on another for Sammy’s things. They had so little, but soon she hoped she could provide them with clothes and jackets that fit properly.
The enormity of the task she’d taken on weighed on her shoulders. A teacher’s salary would not extend to feeding and clothing three children. Dear Father God, please provide for us. “I’m sure you’re all hungry. Would you like a snack? Afterward you can help me prepare supper.”
“Yes, please,” Jeannie said. “I hungry.”
“Me, too,” Sammy said. “That cake was really good.”
Beth hung back, not ready to admit she couldn’t manage on her own.
“There’s some cake left. Let’s save it for dessert. But how does bread and jam sound?” Logan’s aunt Mary baked bread and sold it through the store.
“Yes, please.” Jeannie hurried into the kitchen and parked herself at the table. Her brother and sister followed.
Thankfully, those who had furnished Sadie’s rooms had provided four chairs, so there was room for all of them. And no more. She wouldn’t think that it meant she couldn’t invite Logan to share their meals. Or simply come for tea. It was not like she longed for his company. But he had offered to help. Insisted on it.
She sliced bread, spread butter and jam, and placed some before each child. They thanked her and ate neatly. Almost too neatly, as if concerned she would scold them—or worse?—if they dropped a crumb.
Again she was overreacting. She had no reason to think they were being anything but polite, and if she cared to acknowledge what it really meant she would have to say the parents had trained them well. But her gut insisted there was more to the situation than either she or Logan understood.
The children finished and carried their dishes to the dishpan. “I’ll clean up,” Beth said, handing Sammy a tea towel so he could dry.
“I appreciate that.” She would not take away their independence. While the children did dishes, she got out vegetables and the leftover meat to make into stew.
“We can help with that, too,” Beth said.
So she parked the children in a row beside her. Beth diced meat, Sammy peeled the carrots, and Sadie gave Jeannie a basin of water and let her wash the potatoes. Satisfaction filled her insides. This could be her family for a few days.
She stiffened at the pain that grabbed her insides. This might well be the only family she would ever have, and knowing it would be temporary filled her with stinging regret.
Once the vegetables and meat were prepared, she tossed it all into the biggest pot she had and set it to stew. In minutes a succulent aroma filled the room.
They cleaned up. Jeannie played happily with a handful of peelings she’d rescued. Beth and Sammy stood by the cupboard, looking about as if searching for something to do.
Sadie would have no trouble keeping them busy in the classroom, but what would she have them do in their new home?
Before she could come up with an answer, the rattle of a wagon pulling up to the door drew them to the window.
“It’s Logan,” Sammy announced.
“Indeed, it is.”
“He’s got stuff with him.”
Logan jumped down, hurried around the back and lifted out a wooden box.
Sammy rushed to open the door.
Logan entered and looked about, giving each of them a smile. “Sure smells good in here.”
“What’s in the box?” Sammy asked.
“Sammy.” Beth sounded horrified at her brother’s question.
“Why don’t you look and see.” Logan set it down and waved them all forward.
Beth hesitated, which was enough impetus for Sadie to move closer and have a look.
Sammy lifted out a jar of canned meat. And then another of peaches. “It’s food.”
“Yup.” Logan looked pleased with himself. “When I told my family about you children coming to live with Miss Young, they said they would help.” He brought his gaze to Sadie, his eyes bright with pleasure.
She wasn’t about to refuse the offering. “Thank you to you and your family.” There were potatoes, carrots and turnips, canned goods and—she lifted out a cloth-wrapped bundle—two loaves of fresh bread.
“I have a few more things in the wagon. Sammy, give me a hand.” He trotted back outside.
Grinning at being asked, Sammy joined Logan and they brought in a small cot. “There are two of them. Where do you want them set up?”
Her relief was palpable. “This will solve the sleeping situation. Put this one in the bedroom.” They shuffled the furniture around to make room for the cot. “I’ll sleep here and the girls can have the bigger bed.”
“Oh no, miss.” Beth blinked and fluttered her hands. “We wouldn’t think of putting you out. Me and Jeannie can sleep on the cot.”
“Nonsense.” She draped an arm across the girl’s shoulders, feeling them tense. Did the father beat her, too? She would certainly be keeping an eye out for any evidence. “It only makes sense for the two of you to take the bigger bed.”
“What about me?” Sammy demanded. “Where am I sleeping?”
“Ma always said you could sleep standing up, so we’ll just prop you in a corner somewhere.” The room silenced at Beth’s comment.
Logan was the first to realize she was teasing her brother and chuckled. “Looks like that problem is solved.”
Beth’s pleased smile was fleeting but beautiful. Sadie and Logan glanced at each other. Seems he was as relieved as she to see this lighter side of the girl.
Sammy shuffled his feet. “Aw, I can’t really sleep standing.”
“No?” Logan grinned at the boy. “Then maybe you can help me bring in the other cot while Miss Sadie decides where she wants it.”
Sammy followed Logan, trying his best to match the man’s longer strides.
Beth watched with a thoughtful, guarded expression. She turned, caught Sadie watching her and blinked away any telltale emotion.
Logan and Sammy returned and stood in the room, holding the cot. “Where do you want it?” Logan asked.
Sadie sprang into action. “I’ll shove this armchair to the side and the cot can go along this wall.”
Logan and Sammy set it up and stood back to study it. “How does that look to you?” Logan asked Sammy.
“Looks better’n standing in the corner.”
The boy earned a chuckle from both adults and a fleeting smile from Beth. Jeannie climbed to the cot and sat down on the metal slats. “Sammy sleep here?”
“Seems he thinks it will do.” Logan patted Sammy’s back.
The boy flinched so sharply that Logan’s hand fell away.
The boy’s pain was obvious. Sadie’s jaw tightened. Her nostrils flared as she fought back tears. Had Logan seen it? She widened her eyes to stop the threatening tears and looked at Logan.
His eyes had grown stormy. His expression had hardened. He’d noticed. Would he begin to share her suspicions regarding the father or would he blame it on the falls of an active boy?
He turned back to Sammy. “Shall we get the rest of the things?”
The pair went back out and returned with a mattress for each cot.
Then he brought in a box of clothing. “Annie thought you could use this. It’s mostly stuff either she or Mattie have outgrown.”
* * *
Logan couldn’t miss the way Sammy had flinched when he’d touched his back. It was on the tip of his tongue to ask the boy how he got hurt, but he didn’t want to make the children more defensive and guarded than they were already.
Annie had sent a stack of bedding, and he handed some to Sammy to carry in while he filled his arms with the rest.
“I’ll make the beds.” Beth hurried to do so. “Come on, Sammy. You can help.”
“Aw, that’s girls work.”
“We do our share.” Beth waited at the bedroom doorway. “I’m not doing it without you.”
Sammy followed, taking his time.
Jeannie trotted after them. “I help, too.”
Sadie let them handle the job on their own. She stood by Logan’s side. “I appreciate all this, though I fully expected to buy what I need at the store.”
“I’m prepared to help in any way I can.” So was the rest of his family, but he wanted her to acknowledge his support.
“That’s very generous, especially considering...”
Although she didn’t finish her thought, he could feel a wave of resistance from her. He guessed she had already judged and condemned the children’s father. Not that he could blame her. “I’m trying not to jump to conclusions about the missing Mr. Weiss. I know some fathers believe in spare the rod, spoil the child.” He shook his head. “It’s got to be difficult to lose one’s wife and have three children to take care of. Might even drive a man to do things he shouldn’t...to make mistakes in his judgment.” Sadie continued to study him with a stubborn, unbelieving look on her face. He wanted her to understand that sometimes a man needed a second chance. He was grateful he’d been given a couple of them. “I know I’ve made enough mistakes in my life.”
Her eyebrows rose at that confession. He hoped she wouldn’t demand an explanation, because he didn’t intend to tell her how faulty his judgment was concerning women.
“Every man deserves a chance to start over. I’m willing to give Mr. Weiss that much leeway.”
She crossed her arms, a look of defiance on her face. “Just because your family is perfect doesn’t mean these children don’t need someone to defend them.”
He leaned closer and spoke firmly. “And I’m not suggesting they don’t. I’d be hard-pressed to stand back and allow the children to be mistreated.” He sat back on his heels. “Though the law is on the father’s side.”
The children finished in the bedroom, went to the cot in the living room and proceeded to work together to prepare it for Sammy. Any more conversation between Sadie and Logan would have to wait for another time and place.
The bed done, the three children sat on it, watching the adults.
He told himself he did not see wariness in every pair of eyes. Except he did, and it seemed out of proportion for young ones who had been offered a place of shelter and a warm, nourishing meal.
He sniffed. “Sure smells good in here.”
“We made stew,” Jeannie said, a shy smile brightening her brown eyes.
“You’re welcome to join us,” Sadie said. “After all, you’ve been busy taking care of our needs.”
She managed to say thank you at the same time as she pushed him out of the picture, making him feel he had no part in this plan. He wasn’t about to accept that. He faced her. “Miss Sadie Young, let’s get something straight. The children have chosen to stay here, but, in essence, we are partners in this venture. Understand?”
Her eyes went from surprise to shock, and then she put up a barrier so he couldn’t tell what she thought.
“Understand?” he repeated, wanting her to agree.
“If you insist.”
He closed his eyes. Agreement, yes, but not the way he wanted it. But what was he to do? He looked at the children. Jeannie had climbed onto Beth’s lap and clung to her. Both Beth and Sammy had a tight, closed look about them. Of course they didn’t know what to expect when the two adults who had whisked them away from their home seemed to be angry with each other. From now on, he would be careful to confine any sign of disagreement between himself and Sadie to private moments. “Thank you for inviting me to share supper with you. I accept.”
Sammy looked toward the table. “Where you gonna sit? There’s only four chairs.”
Logan chuckled. “I’ll be right back. Don’t eat without me.” He jogged out the door and across the street to Marshall’s Mercantile. “Uncle George, can I borrow a stool?”
His uncle stared at him like he’d fallen through the roof and landed in the middle of the store. He recovered from his surprise. “Help yourself, but may I ask what you need it for?”
He told about the children moving in with Sadie. “I’m joining them for supper but we’re shy one chair.” He grabbed a stool from the corner. Normally, men gathered around the stove to visit, but none were present at the moment. “Say, have you heard anything more about Mr. Weiss?”
“Nothing. I’ve not seen hide nor hair of the man since he stopped by to inquire about the house, if you care to call it that. I thought he’d be in to stock up, but nope. Maybe he’s got all the supplies he needs.”
“No, they were out of food.” He didn’t say how little the children had. Somehow, he felt he needed to keep private the details of their situation.
“You could ask at the post office.”
“I’ll do that in the morning.” He’d be asking at every business in town until he found the man or learned of his whereabouts. “Thanks for the stool.”
“Keep it as long as you need.”
He hurried back to the school. He sure wasn’t getting much work done on the building. Grandfather would have something to say about that.
Sammy waited at the door and held it open for Logan. The table was set for five, a pot of stew in the middle and a pile of sliced bread on a plate beside it. Logan’s mouth watered. He had left home with the wagon loaded for Sadie and the children just as Annie was serving supper. He could help himself to leftovers when he got back, but it wasn’t the same as a warm meal.
He parked the stool by the table. “This is just like a real family.” He meant for the children to feel at home and glanced about at the four people waiting for him. Their expressions varied from curious, on Sammy’s part, to Jeannie’s innocence, to guarded wariness in both Sadie and Beth. Sadie had made her jaded opinion of family clear. Someday he’d find out what had happened to cause that, but to see a similar expression on Beth’s face, a sweet thirteen-year-old, twisted his gut.
He made up his mind at that moment to show them they could trust him and, by doing so, learn to believe in the goodness of family.
“Please, everyone sit down.” Sadie motioned toward the chairs.
He perched on the stool. Sadie ended up kitty-corner to his right. Beth sat across from him, sliding her chair as far to his left as possible, likely so she could be close to Jeannie, who sat at the other end. That left Sammy to sit next to him.
Logan was relieved when the boy grinned at him as he took his place. “Us men got to stick together,” Sammy said with a great show of expanding of his chest.
Beth ducked her head but not before Logan caught the smile on her face.
He only wished she’d looked at him long enough to see his answering smile. He turned to Sammy. “We sure do.” He was about to pat the boy on the back when he remembered how he’d flinched and settled for squeezing his arm.
“’Course, I am the man of the family now,” Sammy boasted.
Beth’s head came up, her eyes wide with shock. The same sense of shock raced through Logan and he looked to Sadie. Her eyes narrowed, her lips tightened. She’d heard the boy and, like Logan, wondered what he meant. It was surely a slip of the tongue.
“While your father’s away?” Logan prompted.
“Yeah. That’s right.” Sammy studied his plate, then gave the pot of stew a longing look. “Sure smells good. Makes my taste buds work really hard.”
Sadie blinked away her shock and curiosity. “Shall we eat before it gets cold? Logan, would you say grace?”
Logan nodded and looked about the table for the children to bow their heads.
Sammy and Jeannie did so quickly. Beth, however, held his gaze for a moment. He couldn’t read her expression. She was far too good at hiding her feelings. But he sensed something challenging in her look before she clasped her hands and bowed her head.
He bowed his head and gathered his thoughts. “Lord God, thank You for family to share the plenty You have provided. Thank You for the food to bless our bodies and Your love to bless our souls. Amen.”
He lifted his head and turned toward Sadie to help her serve the meal. His gaze brushed past Beth and then jerked back at the glisten of tears in her eyes. “Beth, is something wrong?”
What a silly question. There were so many things wrong. Her mother dead. Her father missing. And now being shuffled off to live with strangers. “I mean did I say something, do something, to upset you?”
She shook her head, blinking her eyes until all sign of tears disappeared. “No. I just remembered something. Nothing important.”
Sammy handed his plate to Sadie to fill it with stew. “You remembered—ow. Why’d you kick me?”
“Sorry. It was an accident.”
Logan looked from brother to sister and back again. It had been no accident. Beth meant to stop Sammy from saying something. But what? No point in asking. The children weren’t about to tell them anything. He took Beth’s plate and handed it to Sadie to fill, and then Jeannie’s and Sammy’s. Last, he handed his to Sadie.
Their gazes connected and held as a dozen thoughts blazed through his mind that he wished he could share with her. She lowered her eyelids enough for him to know she had the same questions he did. He gave a slight lift of one shoulder and she raised her brows in acknowledgment. They would do their best to discover the truth about this family, but if the way the children withdrew was any indication of how reluctantly they’d give answers, it wasn’t going to be easy.
The children each took a slice of bread and turned their attention to the meal, eating quietly and neatly, their silence such a marked contrast to mealtimes at the ranch that Logan wasn’t comfortable. He much preferred the noisy interaction of people talking.
Jeannie had stopped eating after one mouthful and Beth took Jeannie’s spoon and offered her some stew. Jeannie opened her mouth, leaned forward and cleaned off the spoon.
“Beth?” Jeannie said, as soon as she could speak around the food.
“What?”
Jeannie leaned closer to whisper to Beth. “He’s not like the man.”
“Hush. Eat your supper.”
This time Logan let his gaze roam from one child to another, then to Sadie. When he saw the uncertainty in her eyes, he turned back to Jeannie. “What man is that, little one?”
Beth pressed a restraining hand to Jeannie’s arm. “Don’t talk. Just eat your meal.”
Jeannie studied her sister for a moment, then nodded and concentrated on her food. But every few seconds her gaze would jerk to Logan. As soon as she saw he watched her, she quickly ducked her head.
There were far too many mysteries surrounding this family. Logan would begin looking for their father tomorrow morning and allow the man to answer the questions racing through his mind.
They finished the stew and Sadie cut the remaining cake to give everyone a piece.
Jeannie had two mouthfuls left when she started to whimper.
“What’s wrong, honey?” Sadie asked.
The child’s whimpers turned to wails.
Beth rose. “I’m sorry. She’s tired.”
Logan rose, too. “Do you want me to carry you to the bedroom?” He reached for her. Her wails turned to screams and he backed away. “I’m sorry. I should have thought.” Of course she was frightened. He was a stranger.
Beth scooped her up and took her away, closing the bedroom door behind them. She could be heard murmuring softly to the distraught child.
“She always does this,” Sammy said. “Ma used to say she ran out of sweet before she ran out of day.”
The crying moderated and, after a few minutes, ended. Beth sang a soothing song. Logan couldn’t make out the words.
Sadie rose and began to clean up the kitchen.
Logan looked about. Should he go or should he stay? Was he welcome? Or was he part of the problem? He didn’t know and wasn’t about to ask. Instead, he followed his instincts and carried a stack of dishes to the dishpan and filled it with hot water.
“You don’t have to do that,” Sadie protested.
“I know I don’t, but my ma taught me to do my share.”
She put away the butter. “I can’t see the men doing dishes on a busy ranch. Don’t they rush in to eat and leave again as soon as the food is gone?”
Sammy carried the cups they’d used for water and stopped halfway to the cupboard to watch and listen.
Logan grinned at him. “Hey, us men can do dishes as well as we can rope a cow. Right, partner?”
Sammy gave Logan a look of disgust. “Dishes is women’s work. And the sooner they learn that the better for ’em.” He put the cups down and whacked one fist into the other palm.
A chill ran up Logan’s spine. “That what your pa says?” He kept his voice gentle in the hopes of getting some information from the boy.
Sammy shrugged. “Nah. Not my pa. Someone else.”
“Well, let me tell you. That someone else is wrong. Very, very wrong. There is nothing wrong with men helping with dishes or sweeping the floor or anything like that. It’s true what Miss Sadie says. Sometimes the men are too busy to take time for household chores, but when my little sister was born, my pa did all those things for my ma. He said she deserved a rest. And my grandfather took care of my grandmother and did all those things when she was ill. You ever see my pa and grandfather?” He didn’t wait for Sammy to answer. “They are big men.” He flexed his muscles to indicate both size and strength. “No one would call them sissies.” He gave Sammy a mock scowl meant to make the boy realize men could be men and still do dishes.
Sammy looked him up and down twice. “Are they as big as you?”
Logan would not expand his chest as Sammy had earlier, but he couldn’t keep from glancing at Sadie to see her reaction and barely managed not to stare as she grinned at him.
“All the Marshall men are big and blond,” she told Sammy.
“And they do dishes?”
“I’ll tell you a secret.” Logan leaned over and crooked his finger to bring Sammy closer so he could whisper in his ear, though he didn’t speak too softly for Sadie to hear. “My brother Dawson just got married and he said doing dishes with his new wife is the best part of the day.”
“No!” Sammy’s look dared him to say it was the truth.
“Yup. He says it makes his wife so grateful she kisses him right then and there.”
“Yuck. Sure hope nobody’s going to kiss me if I help with dishes.”
Logan and Sadie looked at each other and laughed. He couldn’t help but notice the twinkle in her eyes. Was she thinking doing dishes together would be special?
He slammed a fist into his thoughts. Of course she didn’t, and neither did he.
Again remembering Sammy’s sore back, Logan squeezed the boy’s arm. “I can’t promise someone won’t want to kiss you but probably not until you’re a lot older and then you won’t mind.”
He backed away. “Ain’t no one gonna kiss me.”
Logan grinned, knowing Sammy’s attitude would change soon enough. “Come on. Let’s be brave men. I’ll wash. You dry.” He handed Sammy a towel.
“What’s Miss Sadie going to do?”
“I’ll put things away and wash the table.”
“Okay.”
At the reluctance dragging the word out, Logan glanced again at Sadie and, when their eyes met, he saw a reflection of his amusement and they grinned at each other. Her smile slowly disappeared but their look held. The moment was fragile with possibility. His heart lurched sideways.
She blinked rapidly and spun away to scrub the table until it could well bleed if it had any life in it.
He brought his attention back to the basin of hot water and the dirty dishes, telling himself he had imagined the sensation that she’d seen deep into his soul. But something had happened and he was at a loss to understand what.
Beth tiptoed from the bedroom just as Sammy dried the last pot. “I’m so sorry, but Jeannie wouldn’t let me go until she fell asleep.”
Sadie gave the girl a sideways squeeze. “I’m glad you were there to comfort her. It must be scary to have your father disappear and then be moved.”
Beth didn’t say anything but slipped from under Sadie’s arm.
Logan couldn’t miss the disappointment in Sadie’s face. He’d have to reassure her that it would take time to win their trust.
“Sammy, let’s fill the wood box.” Sammy trotted after him. As Logan chopped wood, Sammy gathered it up and carried it inside.
Logan returned indoors and looked around. Everything was in order. The children fit into these rooms with ease, and Sadie appeared to have everything under control.
His sense of peace exploded as screams came from the bedroom. He rushed to the door, as did everyone else. They crowded through. He looked around and saw nothing amiss except Jeannie sitting in the middle of the bed, her mouth open as she wailed, tears washing her face.
“Mama. Mama,” she gasped.
Beth sank to the edge of the bed and pulled her little sister onto her lap. “Hush, baby, hush.”
Jeannie clung to Beth’s neck. The high-pitched crying softened to shuddering sobs. Finally, Jeannie sniffed. She wiped her eyes and stared at Logan. “Papa?”
Beth shifted the youngster to her other shoulder. “It’s not Papa.”
Jeannie leaned around Beth to stare at Logan. Even in the dim light of the room darkened by heavy drapes, Logan could see how her eyes widened. His heart went out to this poor child. He lifted a hand, thinking to brush it over her hair, then, remembering how wary the children were of being touched, he lowered his arm to his side, at a loss to know what to say or do.
Jeannie struggled free of Beth’s grasp and made her way around the bed to stand in front of Logan. “Papa.” She said the word with such conviction that Logan knew her sleep-drowsy mind had convinced her that her papa had returned. He could not disappoint the child even though she would soon realize he wasn’t their father.
He picked up Jeannie.
With a deep sigh, Jeannie rested her head against his neck, her comfort rag clutched in one hand. Her warm breath tickled his skin and he breathed in the scent of little girl. Something that he would have denied if asked stirred within him. Would he ever have a child of his own? He pushed aside the question and, following his earlier instincts, brushed his hand over her head, her hair soft as a downy chick. His eyes grew surprisingly hot.
Beth and Sadie stood before him. Beth’s hands curled into fists. Her lips drew into a thin line and her eyes were hard as river rock.
Sadie’s eyes revealed little in the low light, but her lips curved upward.
He met her gaze and felt a jolt in the pit of his stomach that he was at a loss to understand. Except it seemed she approved. Of what? The way Jeannie had come to him thinking he was her pa? Or did she like seeing him hold a little girl?
“She’s asleep again. I’ll take her.” Beth’s tone made it clear she didn’t approve of this contact between Logan and her little sister.
He slipped the child into her sister’s arms and stood by as Beth put her back to bed. He was ready to take Jeannie again, should she want it. But Jeannie curled on her side, her rag pulled to her chest, and slept.
They tiptoed from the room.
In the evening light coming through the windows, Logan could see Sadie’s expression better.
She scrubbed her lips together and looked thoughtful. “Does she waken often like that?” she asked Beth.
Beth shrugged. “She’ll be okay once I’m beside her.”
That didn’t really answer Sadie’s question and Sadie shifted her gaze to Logan, seeking guidance.
He gave what he hoped she’d see as an encouraging smile. “Everything is strange to her right now.”
“I guess that’s so.” Sadie sounded relieved.
“I could stay a little longer if you like.” Would she welcome his offer or see it as interference?
He didn’t have to guess Beth’s feelings. She glowered at him.
“I said she’ll be fine,” she said. “I could go to bed with her right now, if you’re worried.”
Sammy laughed. “I’m not going to bed so early.”
“We’ll be fine,” Sadie’s words were firm, full of conviction.
Logan looked about. He could find no reason to delay his departure. “I best get home.”
Sammy, who had crawled up to sit beside Beth on the cot, jumped to his feet. “You’re leaving? Who will protect us?”
Logan’s insides twisted. Why did the boy think he needed protection? He’d certainly had none out in that awful shack. “You’re safe here. No one will bother you.”
Sammy looked at the windows and the doors, his mouth working. “But what if they do?”
“I’ll ask my uncle to watch out for you. Will that help?”
Sammy gave Logan some serious study. His chest rose and fell more rapidly than normal. “He can’t see us all the time.”
Logan looked at Sadie, saw her surprise and concern...and something more—a slight narrowing of her eyes as if she read something sinister in Sammy’s fears.
He looked at Beth. She watched with an impassive expression, not willing to trust anyone to share Sammy’s concerns.
“Why can’t you stay?” Sammy asked.
“My family will be worried if I don’t go home. Besides, I promised my grandfather to help him find some books.” No one else was available to take care of the old man’s needs. Besides, Grandfather asked only Logan for such favors. He hated to ask at all, but Logan went out of his way to see that Grandfather had everything he needed. This morning he had bemoaned the fact he couldn’t reach the books on the upper shelves and said he was getting short of reading material.
Logan had promised that as soon as he finished in town, he would arrange the shelves so Grandfather could reach his books.
“I tell you what. I’ll go get Miss Sadie’s school bell. If you need help, you ring it really hard and Uncle George will come running.” He’d alert a few close neighbors, as well. “How’s that?” And first thing tomorrow he would construct a drop bar to secure the door.
Sammy seemed to slip a mask over his feelings. “Yeah, sure. You’re right. We’ll be fine.”
Which, Logan understood, meant Sammy wouldn’t be expecting any help from Logan. “I’ll be back tomorrow and make sure you are all safe and sound.” He was more than half tempted to move into the schoolroom so he could keep an eye on them day and night, but he could just hear all the ladies in town whispering that Logan Marshall was back to his wayward ways, though he failed to see how he was to blame for the actions of the girls he’d courted. No, for both his sake and Sadie’s, he wouldn’t set up quarters in the classroom.
He trotted across the street, retrieved the school bell from the back room of the store and took it to Sadie.
Still, he hesitated about leaving them. Three frightened children were a big responsibility.
“Walk me to the wagon,” he said to Sadie.
Her resistance was so fleeting he might have persuaded himself he hadn’t seen it. Then she nodded and followed him outside.
“Are you going to be okay with them?”
She bristled. “Of course I am.”
“I expect the first night will be the worst.”
“To be honest, I’m more concerned about tomorrow when I have to leave the girls to teach.” She looked back at her living quarters. “They are all so afraid.”
He heard the hard note in her voice and knew she blamed the father for the children’s fears. “They have lots of reasons to be frightened. The death of their mother, their father missing, being alone out there, and now being here with people who are strangers to them.”
“Not to mention the bruises on Sammy’s back.”
It wasn’t something he could deny, given the evidence, but neither was he about to blame a missing father. But then who did he blame? “I’ll be back before you have to leave, so the girls won’t be alone and defenseless.” He didn’t know why he’d added the final word and wished he hadn’t when Sadie spun about to face him. He’d only been thinking of Sammy’s concerns—be they real or the fears of children who had experienced too many losses.
“You think they might have need of protection?”
“Don’t all children?”
Her eyes darkened to the color of old pines. Her lips trembled and then she pressed them together and wrapped her arms across her chest in a move so self-protective that he instinctively reached for her, but at the look on her face, he lowered his arms, instead.
She shuddered.
From the thought of him touching her or because of something she remembered? He couldn’t say, but neither could he leave her without knowing she was okay. Ignoring the idea that she might object to his forwardness, wanting only to make sure she knew he was concerned about her and the children, he cupped one hand to her shoulder. He knew he’d done the right thing when she leaned into his palm. “Sadie, I’ll stay if you need me to. I can sleep in the schoolroom, or over at Uncle George’s. Or even under the stars.”
She glanced past him to the pile of lumber at the back of the yard. For the space of a heartbeat, he thought she’d ask him to stay, then she drew in a long breath.
“We’ll be fine, though I would feel better leaving them in the morning if I knew you were here.”
He squeezed her shoulder. “I’ll be here.” He hesitated, still not wanting to leave.
She stepped away from him, forcing him to lower his arm to his side. “Goodbye, then. And thank you for your help.”
“Don’t forget we’re partners in this.” He waited for her to acknowledge his statement.
“Very well.”
“Goodbye for now. I’ll see you in the morning.” He forced himself to climb into the wagon and flick the reins. He turned for one last look before he rode out of sight.
