Page 73 of A Steadfast Heart
The kids. Where were the kids?
She spotted David and Tillie at the edge of a swarm of men. She barreled toward them while scanning the area for Jo. She located Drew in the midst of the melee and then Jo trying to wade into the fray. Kaitlyn’s heart leapt to her throat, nearly choking her. Jo wouldn’t think twice about joining the ruckus, and she was short enough most of the men wouldn’t see her. One misplaced punch would knock her down—or worse.
Kaitlyn shoved through the people between her and Jo and caught the little girl’s shoulder. Jo spun around from the force of Kaitlyn’s grip, but she didn’t dare loosen her hold.
She slid her hand down the girl’s arm and grabbed her hand. “You stay with me.”
Jo stomped Kaitlyn’s foot. “Let me go.”
Pain flared, but Kaitlyn didn’t release Jo’s hand. “No. You will stay with me.” Kaitlyn’s jaw tightened enough to make her neck ache. She didn’t know where Michael was. She had to get the children.
Jo tried to fold her arms over her chest, but Kaitlyn dragged her to where David and Tillie stood. She took Tillie’s hand. “David, take Jo’s other hand. We have to stay together.”
“But Pa needs us,” David said.
“Remember when your father protected Jo from Crazy Cow?”
David nodded.
“If you go over there, he’ll want to protect you, and he needs to focus on the men around him.” And on Michael. No telling what he would do next.
David’s shoulders slumped, but he nodded.
Kaitlyn looked back to the brawl. It seemed to have calmed some. She moved to get a better view.
The deputy was restraining Drew.
Ice squeezed around her heart. If the brothers were in jail, who would protect the children from Michael?
Drew’s voice rose above the fray. “Barclay! Take care of Kaitlyn!”
If only she knew where Barclay was.
She spun around, her gaze sorting through the people gathered in front of the church. No one was coming in her direction. The few who looked her way wore grim expressions, then looked away.
She scanned the people around her.She couldn’t let Michael get near the kids. There had been desperation in his eyes. No matter what he did to her, she couldn’t let him touch the children.
Please, God, I’ll do anything. Just protect this family.
“David, where’s the wagon?”
“By the general store. Remember? Pa didn’t want to park at the churchyard so we could get out quicker.”
She stopped, took a deep breath. Then another. That was right. Drew had said they could leave quicker that way, if the ladies didn’t want to talk to Kaitlyn too long. Then he’d winked at her, taking any sting out of the words.
He’d winked. Just this morning. An hour ago? Two?
Was it always going to be this way? Building a life only to have her brother crash it down?
One more deep breath. She didn’t matter. Only Drew and the children did. If she could leave the kids at the wagon, they would be safe. Michael wouldn’t recognize the children, only her.
“That’s right, David. I remember now.” She changed directions and took them toward the general store.
She took Jo’s hand, and the little girl was frightened enough to let her.
A shadow moved, stepped out from the space between two storefronts. Hands shoved her to the side. She stumbled, dropped down to one knee before regaining her balance. Tillie’s hand slipped from her grip.
Kaitlyn surged to her feet. Too late. He’d found them. She slowly turned to face her brother.
