Page 60 of A Steadfast Heart
“What is?”
Drew nodded toward the parking area. “David’s talking with Kaitlyn. I’d expect him to be with his friends.”
Ed glanced the same direction. “The Cumminses probably left already. They have even farther to go than we do.”
“Hmm.” Drew watched his son. The boy’s shoulders were tight and his legs were planted wide. Finally, he stomped off.
Ed sighed. “That didn’t look like it went well.”
Drew kept his eyes on Kaitlyn. Her shoulders slumped, and she reached a hand out to the wagon as if she needed help with her balance. David had hurt her. Drew started toward her, but before he could take five steps, she pulled herself up straight and dropped her arms to her sides. Her chin lifted, and he’d bet her mouth was set in a stubborn line.
He smiled. David didn’t stand a chance.
She was wearing the green dress that made her eyes glow. Sunlight caught in her blonde hair, giving it an extra sparkle. Even from here, he could see a tendril that had worked loose. His fingers itched to tuck it back behind her ear. He curled them into a fist, trying to subdue the burning.
Ed’s bumped his shoulder. “See something you like, big brother?”
Drew cleared his throat and tore his gaze from Katie. His eyes scrunched closed. When had he started thinking of her as Katie?
He swallowed hard and tried to mask his expression before he faced Ed. From his younger brother’s grin, he hadn’t been fast enough. “What’s not to like? She’s great with the kids. And what she did yesterday?” Drew shook his head. Jumping in that corral and covering Jo? That took more courage than he’d seen in any woman. Most men too. “I never thought I’d see anything like what she did yesterday.”
“So all you see when you look that direction is that she loves the kids. Right.”
“I could do without the sarcasm.”
“If you’d admit the truth, I’d omit the sarcasm.”
The truth. That the burden on his shoulders felt lighter when she smiled at him? That she seemed to understand what he couldn’t figure out how to say? Or that he had a hard time looking away from her anytime they were in the same room?
Ed bumped his shoulder again. “Come on, brother. You’re not fooling any of us. And I’d have to say your taste in women has improved.” Ed’s mouth tightened at the thought of Amanda. She had hurt the kids, hurt Drew, and Ed had a hard time forgiving that.
“Ranching’s a hard life for a woman. Specially a city girl like Amanda. Or Kaitlyn.”
Ed laughed. “You can’t seriously be comparing the two.” When Drew didn’t respond, Ed’s smile faded. “Can’t you see the difference? Kaitlyn’s been brighter and more cheerful by the day since she’s been here. Amanda never even tried.”
Drew thought back to the day Kaitlyn had arrived. She had seemed sad, uncertain.
Ed smirked. “Seems I gave you something to think about, so let me add to it. Her smiles are warmer when they’re directed at you.”
“She’d have never chosen a two-bit rancher. She just got stuck with me.” Drew’s gaze found Kaitlyn again without his permission.
Ed’s jaw dropped, then his gaze hardened. “I’m gonna pretend I didn’t hear that. If anyone else said that about you, I’d slug them. If I didn’t know it originally came from Amanda, I’d…”
“You’d what?”
“I’d slug you myself.”
“Glad to know where I stand.”
“You can always depend on a brother to knock some sense into you. And enjoy the process.”
“You can try, little brother. You can try.”
Ed’s head tilted to the side, his eyes serious. “If anyone deserves a bit of happiness, it’s you. Kaitlyn isn’t Amanda.” Ed started toward the wagon. “Meanwhile, if we’re going to check on the Tates, we’d better go.”
Drew watched his brother make his way across the yard. Kaitlyn’s smiles had gotten brighter over time, but that didn’t necessarily mean she had feelings for him. In fact, it probably meant she felt safer the longer she was away from Michael.
Safety. He might not have the money her family had, but he could protect her. Would that be enough?
