Page 244 of Conveniently Wed
The returned outside. Stella again called them. Her gaze went to the trees along the river.
He narrowed his eyes to better focus on the distance but saw nothing to concern him. “Wait here.” He trotted toward the river.
He passed the corner of the house, a movement caught his eye, and he stopped.
His breath released in a whoosh and then caught again. The children lay flat-out and as still as the earth on which they lay.
He signaled to Stella and trotted over to the children. They slowly turned their heads at his approach.
“Shh.” Donny said, and Blossom pressed her finger to her lips.
Stella rushed up to them. Fell to her knees beside them. “Are you hurt? What happened?”
“Mama, shh,” Donny said then with a disgusted look sat up. “You scared them away.”
Bruce looked the direction they had been looking. Saw nothing.
“Did you not hear me calling?” Stella pulled Blossom to her and held Donny’s hand, looking into his face.
“No, Mama. We were watching a rabbit. Remember how Pa said if we were real still, they would play, and we could watch them?”
“No, son. I don’t remember that. I was worried when I didn’t see you.”
“I’m sorry, Mama.”
“Sorry, Mama,” Blossom echoed.
“No harm done.” She hugged them both and met Bruce’s gaze across their heads. “They’re all right. That’s all that matters.”
He stood and looked toward the river. If he meant to keep them safe, he needed to make sure there was nothing posing a danger.
“I’ll be back in a bit.”
She nodded and led the children to the house.
He waited until they were out of sight to continue on. He still had the bit of beaded leather. It was enough to cause him concern as to who might be dwelling nearby, and he searched along the banks of the river. Remnants of a campfire informed him that people had camped there but it might have been days, weeks, or months ago. He discovered three well-worn animal trails but no evidence that anything other than animals had used them. Though the Indians would not leave behind signs if they didn’t wish to be discovered.
The shadows lengthened, hiding darkness in hollows and behind boulders. But he found nothing of concern in any of the places he searched.
He pulled the bit of leather from his pocket and examined it again. Where could it have come from?
He made his way back to the house.
Stella watched him approach, concern drawing back the corners of her mouth.
“Did you find anything?”
“No.” The children played together under the tree. He smiled at the play farm they had created. “Can you show me where you found this?” He returned the beaded fragment to Stella.
She led the way to the raspberries growing along one side of the garden fence. As she pointed out, they had been picked. He examined the ground even though she said she had already done so.
“I have to check for my own peace of mind. Besides, two sets of eyes are better than one.” He finished examining the length of the bushes, looking at both the ground and the branches. Apart from a few crushed leaves he found nothing to provide any evidence of who or what had been there.
They returned to the house.
Aunt Mary watched them. “What is going on?”
Bruce glanced at Stella, wondering how much she had told his aunt.
