The Cowboy's Surprise Bride. Linda Ford

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      Now that she’d finished the clean-up, Linette called Grady to her and washed him in preparation for the night. “Cassie, do you want to put Grady to bed?”

      Cassie jerked her gaze away from studying Eddie, relief filling her eyes. “I’ll lie down with him.” Linette understood she was grateful for escape from the close quarters.

      Linette soon had the shelf neatly organized with their kitchen supplies. Cassie and Grady were only a few steps away in the bedroom, but suddenly she was alone with Eddie. Neither of them spoke and the quietness crowded every corner of the room.

      “Tell me about Grady.”

      His question shattered the stillness and made her nerves twitch. Then she drew in a deep breath, grateful he had initiated conversation. “You mean besides the fact he is an orphan?”

      “He has a father, so technically he is not an orphan. No other relatives?”

      Was he hoping he could send the child away? “Apparently not.”

      “And what if the father changes his mind and wants him back?”

      “It would be wonderful if he did. I pray he will.”

      “In the meantime, you have his care, but who is his legal guardian?”

      “I am.”

      “By whose authority?”

      “His father signed the papers naming me such.”

      Eddie quirked an eyebrow, perhaps in disbelief. “It surprises me he cared enough to do so.”

      “He didn’t. I asked him to do it.”

      Both his eyebrows rose and Linette allowed herself a little smugness at having surprised him.

      “You seem to have thought this through.”

      “You might be surprised at how carefully I consider my choices.”

      His pause filled the air with quivering tension. “And yet you still do them.”

      She ignored the slight sarcasm.

      “Cassie has no family she could appeal to?”

      “What is this? Trying to find alternate arrangements for your guests?”

      He looked at her with annoyance. “No need to be rude. I’m only trying to learn as much as I can.”

      For a moment she silently challenged him. But he was right. The man deserved to be treated better. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude. To answer your question, Cassie has no family she’s willing to admit to. I know she complains a lot and Grady is still afraid of everything, but I promise I will do my best to—”

      “I’m not trying to get rid of you. I said you’re welcome until spring. Rest assured, I won’t withdraw my word.”

      She wondered when the deadline had shifted from improved weather to spring but wasn’t about to question God’s good favor. “It’s good to know I can count on it.” There was so much more she wanted to say. How much she’d enjoyed seeing the vast plains of the Northwest. How she’d felt free for the first time in her life. How she didn’t mind the crowded conditions of the cabin because it felt cozy. How she couldn’t keep from wanting to help those in distress. Instead, she turned the conversation to less controversial topics. “You said you met Kootenai Brown. He sounds like an interesting man. Tell me about him.”

      Eddie relaxed, stretching his legs out and angling back in the chair. “Kootenai Brown has been in the western territories for twenty years or more. In that time, he has established quite a reputation, if one were to believe all the stories told about him. Soldier, gold miner, police constable, wolfer, whiskey trader. Tales say that he was captured by Sitting Bull and escaped. Another says he murdered a man in Fort Benton. Still another claims he was shot in the back by a Blackfoot arrow, pulled it out himself and treated the wound with turpentine.”

      Linette watched Eddie as he spun tale after tale of a man larger than life. Some of the stories were undoubtedly exaggerated. Eddie’s eyes flashed with humor as he talked. His mouth gentled and his voice carried a rich timbre. And as she listened, she came to a firm conviction. “I can’t go back.”

      Eddie blinked and seemed to pull his thoughts toward her words. “Are you really Linette Edwards?”

      Her chin came up and her eyes stung with defiant challenge. “Of course I am Linette Edwards. Why would you doubt it? Who do you think I am?”

      He took his time answering. “You aren’t dressed like the daughter of wealthy man.”

      She laughed. She’d managed to confound him and it pleased her to no end. “I traded my fine dresses for practical ones at Fort Benton.”

      He didn’t seem to care that his eyes revealed doubt.

      She smiled. “I’m grateful for the few months I’ll be able to enjoy this vast country.”

      The door rattled as if a person sought entrance.

      She turned. “Is someone there?”

      Eddie chuckled. “You might have cause to hate the country before the winter is out. That, Miss Edwards, is the wind knocking at the door.”

      He looked a totally different man when he relaxed and smiled. Handsome, kindly and appealing. She caught her thoughts and pushed them into submission. Yet one lingered long enough to be heard. Sharing his company throughout the winter might be pleasant enough.

      His smile deepened and his eyes darkened.

      She ducked away, pretending to examine an imaginary spot on her skirt.

      “Hear the snow against the window?” he asked.

      Glad to leave the awkward moment, she turned toward the window. Wet white flakes plopped against the glass with a definite platt sound.

      “Come have a look.” Eddie pulled himself into action with the grace of a young kitten.

      She followed him to the door. When he slipped a coat over his shoulders, she did the same. As they stepped out into the night air, she was glad she’d traded her gold locket for the heavy coat even though it was too large. She pulled it tight around her neck and waited for her eyes to adjust to the darkness. Large flakes of snow, driven by the wind, stuck to the side of the cabin. She lifted her face and let flakes land on her cheeks. Cold and refreshing. She put out her tongue and laughed at how the snow tasted.

      Eddie chuckled.

      She closed her mouth and swallowed. “It’s so clean and fresh.”

      “If it keeps up all night, it will be deep and dangerous.”

      “But we are safe and warm.”

      “My cattle aren’t.”

      “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be selfish. What will happen to them?”

      “The СКАЧАТЬ