Montana Cowboy Family. Linda Ford

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СКАЧАТЬ 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 СКАЧАТЬ