Page 14 of Inventions of the Heart

Michelle kept forgetting she needed to find one.

“We’ll go now if you wish. Otherwise, we can wait until Jilly’s done with the cabins.”

“My men know how to build a cabin.”

Michelle frowned at him. “You know hers will be better. And done faster. You helped build that church with her giving directions.”

Jilly was excited about the two new cabins for the Hogan sisters and two more for Sally Jo and Melinda, all of which Zane had approved. She’d kicked off the building for the Hogans in that distant meadow where Zane wanted a line shack—now he was getting two line shacks. Once that project was running, Jilly had come back and laid out the foundations for the cabins here at the ranch. Now she rode out every day with a group of Zane’s cowhands and the Hogan sisters to build. Sally Jo went along to help with the building and to cook a noon meal. Annie and Melinda, along with Gretel, had taken over running the house. Michelle was mostly tending the babies, though Caroline hardly counted as a baby anymore.

“Jilly’s a top hand as a carpenter,” Zane said, “and even if she weren’t, I’m not letting two women traipse off alone to San Francisco.”

“As if you have any say about what Jilly and I do.”

Zane, sitting behind his desk, shoved to his feet and jabbed his finger at her. “I forbid you to—”

The kitchen door slammed open so hard Michelle jumped to her feet, clutching Hannah too tightly, and Hannah started crying.

Caroline hurtled herself at Michelle’s legs and hit with enough force that Michelle staggered. Willa, standing up beside the couch, plopped onto her well-padded bottom and stared in the direction of the racket.

Then a scream came from the kitchen. “Annie!” The newcomer’s voice broke, and sobs echoed through the house. “I’m so sorry!”

“Beth Ellen is home.” Zane sounded exhausted.

He walked out of the room, forgetting all about scolding her. Or forbidding her. Or whatever else he’d been doing.

Michelle followed much more slowly with a baby in her arms, Caroline clinging to her, and Willa crawling along behind. Michelle didn’t trust the crawler to keep coming, so she took a step, then waited, then took another step.

Michelle eased her way out of the room, glad Zane hadn’t gone on with his forbidding because she might’ve just snapped his jabbing finger off. Apparently, she was a surgeon now, so once she’d made her point, she could sew it back on—if she was in a good mood.

She got to the kitchen in time to see Zane head straight for Annie, who was being hugged by the prettiest little blond woman Michelle had ever seen. And she’d seen a lot of people in San Francisco.

Michelle recognized stylish clothes, too. Beth Ellen had a dark red dress with the proper petticoats and underpinnings. The skirts were draped and gathered in beautiful layers. One of the underskirts was a soft cream color, making the red skirts over and under it stand out. And was she wearing a bustle? Michelle had worn the finest clothes when she lived in San Francisco, but fashions changed like the tide. There had been talk of bustles, and she’d seen a few, but she hadn’t worn one.

Beth Ellen wore a bonnet, too. Michelle subconsciously touched her hair, bedraggled after a long day of chasing children. Beth Ellen’s bonnet was a feminine version of a tophat in the same color as her dress. She wore it well forward on her head with a large bow wrapped around the crown and wide ribbons hanging down to drape among her blond curls.

Annie wore pretty clothes, too. But she was a rancher’s wife and a young mother. Her dresses leaned toward comfort and practicality. Even so, both of them put Michelle to shame. She wasn’t proud of the pang of envy.

Beth Ellen was the youngest Hart sibling. She held Annie as if she could keep her big sister from flying into pieces. And yet Annie, though she was crying and hugging Beth Ellen back, was much calmer, much more mature, and honestly, it looked like she was doing the comforting.

Michelle stuck it in her memory that whenever she saw someone who was grieving, she needed to remember who was supposed to be the saddest.

Zane spread his arms wide and wrapped them around both his sisters. Caroline yelped and let go of Michelle to run for her mother. Willa used Michelle’s skirt to pull herself up to standing.

All Michelle could think was that they needed another bedroom.

And construction was going full steam ahead. Still, Beth Ellen needed a room now, and as a daughter of the house, she should have the room she grew up in. Michelle knew that was the room she and Jilly were sleeping in.

There wasn’t space for everyone.

Michelle thought of a bright side. Beth Ellen would only be here for a few days. She was visiting, but she’d soon be back in San Francisco.

“Who are these women, Zane?” Beth Ellen paused her crying long enough to give Michelle a resentful look. Thenher eyes slid to Melinda and Gretel, who were pressed back against the sink, where they’d finished cleaning up after the meal.

Beth Ellen looked at them like they were intruding.

Michelle couldn’t blame her.

“Melinda, come and get Hannah. Gretel, fetch Willa. I’ll leave Caroline here with you, Annie, but if you wish it, you can bring her in, and we’ll tend her while you have your ... reunion. We’ll go into the office. Give you some privacy.”

Michelle turned and hurried out with Hannah still in her arms. If Melinda wanted her baby, she’d have to catch her.

They’d barely reached the office when Michelle heard Beth Ellen break down in sobs again. Even from this distance, Michelle heard her shout, “He didn’t come with me. I’m through with Loyal Kelton forever.” Her crying grew louder. “He had a mistress the whole time he was courting me. I’m done with San Francisco. Oh, Zane, I want to come home.”

Michelle handed the baby off to Melinda and considered finding Jilly, wherever she was building. Michelle could help with that project. This house was packed to the rafters.

In fact, Michelle thought the roof was about to blow all the way off.

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