Page 52 of A Steadfast Heart
“Huh?” The little girl’s eyes showed her confusion.
“You asked me an important question before we came out here. Ask me again.”
Tillie’s gaze cleared. “Are you leaving us?”
“No, Tillie. I’m staying.”
Chapter12
Kaitlyn stepped onto the front porch and took a deep breath of honeysuckle-scented air. In the five days since Danna’s visit, spring had finally arrived in Wyoming. Bees buzzed among the flowering bushes, and the sun finally brought warmth as well as light. They were going to have a great day for moving the bull.
A clatter rose behind her, and she spun to face it, then relaxed. David had piled a stack of breakfast dishes to carry into the kitchen. She should have known. Michael would be a lot quieter in his attack.
She crossed the porch to examine the honeysuckle more closely. It would need pruning next spring. Assuming Michael hadn’t destroyed the ranch by then.
Tillie’s illness had been over in a day, so Kaitlyn and Drew had been able to go to town not long after the marshal stopped by. They had talked to the stationmasters for both the train and the stagecoach line. Both agreed to tell the marshal if anyone asked about Kaitlyn. Finally, Danna had agreed to warn them if any news of Michael reached her. He shouldn’t be able to take them by surprise.
So now they waited. Each day seemed longer than the one before, and it hadn’t even been a week yet.
What would Michael do? Unease sent a chill through her, despite the warm weather. Her lists of his possible actions were likely useless. Michael didn’t think like other people. Whatever move he made wouldn’t be on one of those lists. She could almost guarantee it.
Last night, after the kids were in bed, Drew had taken her hand in his and asked her to come with him to the barn. Her stomach fluttered with the memory of his warm, calloused hand enclosing her own. He’d glanced at her mouth, but Nick had stepped in to ask him a question.
Had he planned to kiss her? Did she want him to?
She shook her head. Not if he chose not to love her. She’d had enough of that in her life.
Jo had refused to go with Tillie to Mrs. Boutwell’s for the day. Kaitlyn sighed. Drew had thought things would go more smoothly with Jo after Kaitlyn had explained about her brother, but it hadn’t been the case. Anytime she could slip away, Jo had hidden either in the barn or in her room. Chores had been finished haphazardly at best, lessons not at all.
Boots thudded on the porch behind her. Drew. The men all wore boots, but she knew his footsteps. He stopped beside her.
She turned to face him. “Any luck?”
He shook his head. “She didn’t even open the door.”
Kaitlyn sighed. Of course she hadn’t. Jo had determined she was staying behind and refused to talk about it, hadn’t even come down for breakfast. “She’ll be safe here?”
Drew was silent for a moment, considering her question. Kaitlyn’s heart warmed. He hadn’t ignored or belittled her worries. He might not understand the threat Michael represented, but he didn’t ignore it.
“She’s stayed here for a morning in the past, so I think she’s safe. And we need to get that bull up front where a buyer can inspect him if we’re ever going to sell him.” He stepped closer and reached for her hand. Their fingers easily interlaced. “Come meet your new mount. I left the horses hitched to the corral fence. Just need to tighten their girths and they’ll be ready to go.”
He crossed to the porch steps, tugging on her hand. She glanced over her shoulder. Should she try to talk to Jo? But what was the point? If she hadn’t opened the door to her father, she wouldn’t to Kaitlyn.
They passed through the yard toward the corral. The horses waited near the barn, tied to the top rail of the fence. “A new mount? Who am I meeting today?”
Drew led her to the end of the line of horses. “This is Goldie. She’s sure-footed and has a bit of speed in case that bull makes a turn we aren’t predicting. Just don’t ask her to jump.”
Kaitlyn ran her fingers over the white diamond between Goldie’s eyes. The buckskin leaned into her caress. “We’re going to be great friends, aren’t we, girl?” The horse huffed an agreement.
The rest of the family clattered onto the porch, good-naturedly shoving each other. Their voices echoed across the yard. Kaitlyn felt happiness and warmth flow through her. They were her family, and she was spending the day with them.
Drew leaned down to tighten the mare’s girth, then made final adjustments for the other mounts. He returned to her and folded his hands to make a step. “Let’s get you on her before the crew gets here. Things might get a bit loud.”
Kaitlyn placed her foot in his hands and pushed off to swing astride the mare, grateful for the full skirt she’d found among Amanda’s things. At least something good had come from Jo locking her in that closet.
Drew checked her stirrups, then looked up at her questioningly. She moved around a bit in the saddle, checking the feel. “One notch lower, I think.”
He nodded, then moved her skirt and petticoat to make the adjustments. Her legs straightened a little further. It didn’t matter now, but after a full day, her knees would be happier with the lower stirrups. “That’s fine.” He lowered her skirt back over her boots, then patted her calf. His touch burned through both layers of fabric.
