takin’ your chickens. Found it this morning with a bullet between the eyes.”
“Splendid. Now Juanita won’t be complaining. I’ll let you tell her about it.”
He grinned. “I don’t know who got it, but I heard the shot in the middle of the night. Odd none of the men owned up to it, ’cause that was some fancy shootin’.”
She laughed, and it felt good. “Doesn’t matter. It’s dead, and the chickens are safe.” She walked out onto the back porch with him, both sipping coffee. Juanita brought him a generous plateful. The smile between them told Bonnie her suspicions were correct. Age didn’t matter when it came to love, and Juanita was a good twenty years younger than Thomas. “You’d better eat your breakfast before the other hands find out.”
“Will do,” he said and snatched up a slice of ham.
“I’ve lost track of our horses. I remember we had five foals last spring.”
“Miss Bonnie, are you wanting to learn all about ranchin’ in one week?”
“You forget where I come from.”
“That’s right. You just need remindin’.” He chuckled, then stared up at the sky. “Might rain. You don’t want to get wet.”
“I’ll wear a slicker.” Talking about the ranch—the home she and Ben had shared—made her feel alive. If only she’d found interest before, perhaps her life would not have been so consumed with self-pity. And she’d have been a better mother.
“If it doesn’t rain, I’d like to take Lydia Anne. I want her to start riding.” She paused. “Do we still have the saddle that Zack and Michael Paul learned in?”
“It’s in the tack barn.” Thomas grinned from one scraggly bearded jaw to the other.
“I don’t want my daughter to be afraid of anything.” Not pampered and spoiled like me. “Michael Paul needs to learn how to shoot a bow and arrow. I remember Zack used to have one.”
“I got it too.”
“And I’ll be settling my oldest son before I ask you to help him with anything.”
“Thanks, Miss Bonnie. He’ll be all right.”
She knew he was merely being polite, but the affirmation helped.
Within the half hour, she called the boys for breakfast. A ranch hand always drove them to town for school, and it was nearly time to leave. Michael Paul bounded down the steps.
“Where’s your brother?” Bonnie said.
“Haven’t seen him since last night.” He avoided her eyes.
Gathering up her skirts, she hurried up the steps. They’d argued before he went to bed. But fussin’ between them occurred on a regular basis. He’d been in another fight and had a black eye to prove it.
“One more fight, Zack, and I’m talking to my brothers about finding a good military school back East,” she’d said to him.
“Told you before I’ll run away.”
His final words echoed in her mind. First she knocked and called his name. Nothing. Then she opened the door.
Bonnie gasped. Zack’s bed was empty. It hadn’t been slept in, and his window was open over the back porch.
*****
Since Travis had repaired Bonnie’s roof in just one day, on Tuesday morning he and the reverend joined Frank Kahler to help finish his house a day earlier than planned. They were supposed to sand the floors and cut the inside doors. Maybe on Wednesday they could stain them all before the evening service. Some folks had donated furniture, including a fine desk from Morgan Andrews. Those things would be delivered on Thursday. Then he could move in on Friday or Saturday and hang the doors himself.
“As much as I enjoy Mrs. Rainer’s cooking, I’m looking forward to living here,” Travis said.
“We’re expecting you to show up anytime you’re hungry, but I expect you’ll have plenty of invitations.” He chuckled. “Watch out someone doesn’t try to marry you off to one of their daughters.”
Travis touched his bushy hair and beard. “I believe only a lady who needs glasses would give me a second look.”
“Or one who looks at the heart,” Frank said. “I have the most beautiful wife in these parts, and look at me. I more resemble a bear than a man.”
Travis shook his head. “I imagine I’ll be married to the church instead of a woman.”
“You never know what God has in mind. A good woman is a blessing, and children make a man feel complete.” The reverend nodded to punctuate his words.
Travis knew the truth. The past haunted him like a worried demon.
Before he could form a reply, someone knocked on the open front door and called out for the reverend. “I’m sorry to bother you, but this is important.”