Page 69 of A Steadfast Heart
“Which is why Jo and David need to be told she is here. Go on, now.”
Tillie trudged across the yard, looking back to Kaitlyn as often as she watched where she was going.
Once she was inside, Drew turned Kaitlyn to face him. “What happened? Tell me the rest of it before the kids get back.”
“Like I said, the judge couldn’t see us immediately, but once he did, he was fair. He didn’t accept Michael’s word?—”
“Michael was there?” Drew’s hands fisted, wanting to pummel her worthless half-brother. “I knew I should have gone with you. Did he touch you, hurt you?”
“He took my arm a couple of times.”
And left bruises, he’d guess, by the look on her face. “Are you okay, Katie?”
Her face crumpled at the endearment, and she flung herself into his chest. “I was so scared! But I remembered you and the kids, how much this mattered. I told the truth, and the judge listened. I couldn’t wait to get home.”
Home.
A door slammed and feet pounded across the porch. The kids would be here soon. Kaitlyn pulled back and pushed a few tendrils behind her ears.
Drew took her hand in his, her return filling the empty places Amanda’s desertion had left in his heart. “That’s my girl. Good job.”
“What’d Kaitlyn do good?” Tillie stopped beside him, breathless from her run.
Kaitlyn pulled Tillie up against her. “It’s boring grown-up stuff. Not like the boxes in the wagon. Think we should follow it to find out what’s in there?”
Tillie squirmed down. “Presents? I’ll find mine.” She took off after the wagon.
David and Jo hesitated. Kaitlyn smiled at them. “Go on. I didn’t forget you. Just watch Tillie around the horses.”
David and Jo followed Tillie. Kaitlyn looked at Drew, her expression serious. “Drew, Michael found me after the hearing. He told me he wasn’t finished. I’m still worried he’ll come here. He’ll try something.”
The judge had accepted her marriage and released her inheritance. The money was in Kaitlyn’s bank account. Michael couldn’t do anything now. Could he?
He shook his head. Today’s problem was raising a cabin. He took Kaitlyn’s hand and guided her toward the building site. Too bad the walk couldn’t be longer. He could get used to her small hand in his.
A few minutes later, they reached the site. Ed stood near the back of the wagon, talking to the workers and gesturing toward the foundation. Drew moved toward him, and Kaitlyn followed.
Brady touched Ed’s arm. “I can stand guard tonight, if you want.”
Ed looked puzzled. “Stand guard?”
“It’s no secret Quade wants this land. They never proved how the Fogelsons’ cabin burned down, and he bought the Tates’ homestead right out from under them.”
Ed looked Drew’s way as he stopped beside him. “Thanks for the offer. We may take you up on it.”
Drew glanced around the worksite, mentally cataloging the work remaining. They were so close, but they didn’t have approval yet. First, they had to get the cabin up, then they had to keep it up. Yeah, they might need a watch at night. What if Quade sent men over to burn down Ed’s new house?
Tillie ran toward him, waving the doll she’d no doubt found in the back of the wagon. Drew caught her and rescued the doll. “Careful, sweet pea. You don’t want to break her.”
Kaitlyn winced. “I should have left the gifts at the house.”
Drew placed the doll back in its padded box. “If it survived the trip all the way from St. Louis, it should be fine here for a few more hours.” He turned to Tillie. “You need to leave her there.”
Tillie nodded. “Yes, Pa.”
Jo and David showed him the new bridles Kaitlyn had brought for their horses. Kaitlyn retrieved another box. “This one’s for you.”
He took the box Kaitlyn held out to him and opened it to find a black hat. The label inside proclaimed it a Stetson. He swallowed hard. How had she known he’d been wanting one of those hats? They were rugged and waterproof yet stylish. He removed his beat-up work hat and put on the one she’d brought him. It fit perfectly. How had she known his size? He placed it back in its box. “That’ll be my Sunday hat.”
