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Rob touched Sally’s shoulder.
She jumped.
He’d come up behind her so quiet, he’d scared her.
Now he studied her with a strange look in his eyes.
Carolyn started toward the Christmas tree then froze with a squeal. “Did Saint Nicholas bring this dolly for me?”
Sally smiled and glanced at Aunt Doe. “Yes, sunshine, he was especially good to us this year.”
Carolyn cradled the doll, rocking her. “Her name is Bell, Baby Blue Bell.”
“I have somethin’ fer ye too,” Moss said.
Carolyn’s eyes widened. “For me, Uncle Moss?”
“Jus’ you stay there, darlin’.” He put on his coat, went outside then came back in with a cradle for her dolly.
“Uncle Moss, Baby Blue Bell can sleep there!”
“Yes, darlin’, I know.” His eyes twinkled.
Aunt Doe laughed softly and they shared a glance.
Carolyn sat rocking her dolly. Then, as if she’d suddenly remembered something, she ran to the tree and jumped up and down. “The baby bird, Mama, I want to see the baby bird!”
“I told you there isn’t any baby bird, Carolyn.”
Rob picked Carolyn up and lifted her high above his head. “Tell me what’s in there. Can you see anything?”
“Ooh, a baby bird!” Her small hand reached into the nest and drew out a tiny wooden bird.
Sally couldn’t believe her eyes.
So that’s what Rob had been carving. A warm glow filled her heart as she watched him with her little girl.
Carolyn wore a big smile as she sat on Rob’s shoulders and flew the bird around his head.
He laughed. “That little bird won’t fly away like a real one would.”
She set the bird on his head and made it hop. “No, little bird.” She giggled. “You can’t fly away. You are a baby bird.” Sally watched them, amazed at the way Carolyn had taken to Rob. He appeared relaxed with her daughter, as though he enjoyed her playful antics with the wooden bird as she bounced it on his head. Not a shred of irritation showed on his face.
If only Carolyn could have had a father like Rob.
Sally memorized the shape of his back, his shoulders, his stance and the waves of his hair.
He turned and her gaze drifted down his arms. Those strong arms had held her, saved her life. The cuff of his shirtsleeve barely touched his wrist. She longed to trace her finger from his wrist to the veins that ran just under his skin.
If only she could memorize each inch of him, to keep him with her forever.
She had to remember each part of him in detail, imprint him on her memory so he wouldn’t drift into the blur of those she’d cared for and lost.
Soon he’d be gone.
The vengeance that drove him would no longer direct his path and she would never see him again. He had no reason to stay.
Yet her heart cried out to him.
Please love me, stay with me, want me with all your heart and never leave me. Never abandon me.
She closed her eyes and choked back the sob that threatened to make a spectacle of
her in the midst of this happy Christmas celebration. Rob was an honest man. He’d made no promises. The burden of a woman with two children was more than most men would take on. Even if he were to fall in love with her, what man would want to raise the children of
his enemy? She turned away to pull herself together.
Rob noticed the sudden change in Sally’s expression and set Carolyn down. He didn’t know what had made those sparkling blue eyes so sad, but he guessed it had something to do with Luke. Carolyn skipped around the room with the bird in her hand until she reached the
cradle. Then she stopped and knelt down to introduce Baby Blue Bell to the baby bird. Rob studied Sally as she turned away. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever known. Her beauty was in her spirit,
not merely in her outward appearance. Even the time spent with Luke hadn’t turned her away from the goodness within her.
She didn’t even realize how stunning she was. The green in her dress brought out the blue in her eyes and the reddish gold highlights in her hair. Ribbons trailed down her neck, and his gaze followed them to the curve of her shoulder.
Sally would have made a fine lady in other circumstances. He could picture her wearing that dress to a ball or riding in a fancy carriage. Instead, she’d wasted her time on a man like Luke. Rob’s jaw tightened and he clenched his fists. Luke could be smooth when it suited him. Would Sally be taken in by him again?
What pack of lies would Luke tell her? Sally had never voiced her feelings about Luke.
Though Rob knew she was angry at having her son stolen, what would she do once she had Matthew back?
He wasn’t sure how to handle this situation.
It would be easy to shoot Luke dead if not for Sally and Carolyn and the boy.
He didn’t want to cause them heartache but he could see no way to avoid it.
They’d leave tomorrow now that Carolyn was well. Soon they’d catch up to Luke.
Around noon, Aunt Doe served a huge Christmas dinner.
Moss ate as if it were his last meal.
But even he couldn’t put away all the pies, meats and breads Aunt Doe and Sally had made.
Aunt Doe poured hard cider all round, and they raised their glasses in a toast.
“To those we love, those we’ve lost and joys yet to come,” Aunt Doe said.
As evening arrived, a sense of sadness settled over Sally. This was the most peaceful time she’d spent since she’d met Luke.
She’d miss Aunt Doe. It was hard not having any female relatives or close friends to share her troubles with. A burden had been lifted telling Aunt Doe about her marriage to Luke. She’d named the unspeakable things and now she could move on with her life. They would no longer have power over her.
“Do you mind if I tuck her in tonight and do the storytelling?” Aunt Doe asked. “I’m going to miss this little girl.”
“I’m sure she’d love that,” Sally said.
Aunt Doe treated her daughter like her own grandchild. And Moss hovered over them both, doting. He’d replaced his mumblings with real conversations between himself and Doe. He was downright jovial and hardly ever grumbled.
“Sally, why don’t you come with me to bed down the animals?” Rob hinted with a wink, “Give the old folks some time alone.”
Sally collected her coat and joined him.
A coyote far off in the distance howled a mournful sound as Rob opened the door to the barn. Once inside, he shed his coat, rolled up his sleeves and grabbed a pitchfork to give hay to each of the horses.
Sally sat on a bale of hay and watched the muscles of his back strain against the fabric of his shirt. Her gaze followed the curve of his belt and the way his pants fit his body. The muscles in his legs flexed as he walked past her.
She sensed the barely controlled power coiled in his body.
Unable to turn her gaze away, she remembered the way he’d held her by the river. She longed for the protection of his arms. How could a man be so strong and yet so gentle? He was also gentle with Carolyn.
He turned and caught her looking.
Sally’s cheeks flushed. Her gaze had dropped to the seat of his pants and he knew exactly where she’d been looking.
She needed to quiet her thoughts. She moved into the stall furthest from him and picked up a comb to curry his horse. The barn was quiet, all the animals settling into their beds. Chickens dozed on their nests, and the goats slept in their stall.
Sally daydreamed, stroking the horse, unaware of the passage of time. The horse huffed softly, enjoying her gentle handling.
Rob spoke to her from where he worked. “I think Carolyn enjoyed the bird.”
“She loves it.” Sally smiled, picturing her little girl’s face.
Rob moved into her stall. His gray-blue eyes stared into hers with concern. “I didn’t mean to startle you this morning.”
“That’s all right. I just don’t like people coming up behind me all quiet like.”
“I’m sorry. I was trying to keep the secret until it was time.”
“You’re good at keeping secrets.”
“I won’t keep secrets from you, Sally. Anything you want to know, you just ask.”
He’d given her the opening to ask the hundreds of questions that had filled her head.
“Have you ever been married?”
“No. Though I came close once.”
Sally mulled that over.
“Now it’s my turn. What do you plan to do once you find Matthew, will you go back to Luke?” he asked, his voice velvet-edged and strong.
“Never.” She spat the word out. “I want nothing more to do with him.” She looked up at Rob. “But I want my boy.”
The horse shifted under the pressure of her brush.
“I’ll do everything in my power to see that it happens.” He reached across and placed his hand over hers, his gaze soft as a caress. “Careful now, you don’t want to brush so hard. And you shouldn’t be working in the barn wearing that fancy dress.” He took the brush from her and laid it aside.
The small window in the barn suddenly blew open, and Sally jumped. The horse snorted and moved beside her.
Rob walked around past her to close the window, pulling the latch across. Turning back, he noticed her shiver. He stepped up behind her and ran his hands up and down her arms.
Moving closer, he put his arms around her. “You’re chilled,” he whispered into her ear.
She shivered against him.
He glanced over her shoulder at her white alabaster breasts in the low-cut velvet gown. “Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?”
“No.”
He flicked his tongue against her ear lightly, and her breathing quickened.
“Your gown is beautiful, just like you.” He whispered in her ear. His lips grazed her earlobe then moved back up to whisper again. “This velvet fabric calls out to be touched.”
He slid his arms around her waist slowly as if feeling the fabric, then turned her around to face him. He gazed into her eyes and drew her nearer, rubbing his hands across the bottom of her rib cage. “This dress is as soft as it looks.”
Her goose bumps had nothing to do with the chill in the air and her breathing quickened.
His lips brushed hers as he spoke. “But it’s not the dress that makes you beautiful. It’s what you bring to the dress—what hides inside.”
He kissed her, feeling the softness of her lips and waiting for her mouth to part.
His hands explored the hollows of her back, moving slowly across the muscles beside her spine. He kissed her until he felt her relaxing under his fingertips. Then with slow careful movements, he eased her back toward the hay piled in the corner. He moved slightly around beside her, and still layering kisses down her neck, laid her down slowly.
Under sensually lowered lids, she gazed upon him.
Yes, there were hidden depths of passion inside her.
Still keeping his arms around her, he kissed her ear, her neck, and finally again her mouth.
She parted her lips, her tongue tentatively meeting his.
He kissed her slowly and thoughtfully, drawing out her response with each breath, and she relaxed into each movement as if sinking slowly.
Sally soaked in each kiss as they moved ever so slowly, and with each kiss she relaxed deeper and deeper into his arms.
His lips were more persuasive than she remembered.
She’d dreamed of this but the reality was more intense than her dreams had ever been.
The heady sensation of his lips against her neck turned her knees to jelly. She longed to sink deeper into his arms, so safe, so warm and so loving.
As he finally touched his lips to hers she wanted to melt. He continued showering her with kisses.
She relaxed more deeply into the warm hay. His lips left hers to nibble at her earlobe again and moved back to her neck. Slowly he kissed her there.
Oh yes, there, and then here again.
She let herself relax completely, thinking only of how glorious it felt.
His hand moved around back up her ribcage and stroked her breast through the velvet dress, his finger making circles that warmed her. He edged the shoulder of her dress down, his fingers lightly moving over her skin. He deepened his kiss and moved his hand again but she no longer noticed their moves, and soon he had moved her dress until her breasts spilled out.
Sally no longer cared.
His lips and hands moved across her body, making her think of nothing else. Slowly his tongue trailed down toward her neck, across her collarbone, and to the swell of her breasts where her dress had slipped.
Her skin craved his touch.
His lips caressed hers again and she abandoned herself to the whirl of sensation.
Her breast surged at the intimacy of his touch as he rubbed across the peak with his warm thumb.
Instinctively, her body arched toward him as his thumb moved in a circular motion, teasing.
His lips soothed hers. He kissed her chin, her neck, down to the hollow in her throat and on to the valley between her breasts. He slid the dress further to her waist.
She yielded to the searing need that had been building in her. She would have this night of passion. She wouldn’t think about tomorrow, only here and now. Every word he’d spoken to her, every touch of his hand had been leading up to this moment. She was his, and he was hers, their bodies meant for each other. No awkwardness existed. No fumbling. Only a coming together of what had to be.
His tongue traced a hot trail across her breasts and she longed for release. His hands settled on her hips, grasped the dress to pull it away.
A coyote howled.
The animals in the barn came awake. The quiet broken by chickens squawking, goats bleating and horses moving nervously in their stalls.
Sally pushed Rob away.
The coyote was close. Very close.
Rob sat up. “Damn.” He ran a hand through his hair.
Sally watched him with flushed cheeks.
“Stay here. I’ll be back.”
He picked up his rifle and went out the door.
Damn coyote.
Everything had been going well. He would have to start over again, if she’d let him.
Rob peered out into the darkness, watching for movement.
He saw the coyote and fired a shot, then waited to see if the animal moved.
Aunt Doe and Moss came running out of the house.
“What happened?” she asked.
“Coyote.”
Sally heard a shot.
The goats bleated and the horses shifted in their stalls nervously, making her afraid.
She tugged the sleeves up over her cold shoulders and holding the dress to herself, ran to the door, the back gaping because she couldn’t do the back buttons up.
Rob stood over the coyote he’d killed.
Aunt Doe and Moss approached the middle of the yard and stopped suddenly. Both stared at her with wide-eyed concern as though she were standing there naked.
Her face flamed.
Moss stood with his mouth hanging open in astonishment.
Aunt Doe elbowed him before he could speak. “Hush, you old fool. Remember when we were young?”
With tears of embarrassment filling her eyes, Sally clutched her bodice tighter and ran into the house.
In her room, she closed the door and leaned against it, breathing heavily as tears rolled down her face.
The evening had been so wonderful. Now it was all ruined.
What had she been thinking? Nearly making love with a man who’d said nothing of marriage.
A man who would ride away. Another man who would abandon her.
She slipped on her nightgown and climbed into bed, curled herself into a ball and wept tears of frustration.
It had felt so good. She’d been willing to forget everything. But how could she forget about her son?
She couldn’t let this happen again.
Getting Matthew back was all that mattered.
Morning came early for Sally as she’d slept hardly a wink last night. With effort she forced herself to enter the kitchen for breakfast, acting as if nothing had happened.
Every time Rob looked at her, she blushed and she couldn’t look at him.
Her hand shook as she ate her eggs.
Aunt Doe eased the situation by keeping everyone busy packing the gifts she kept pressing on them. She gave them food and insisted on paying Rob and Moss for their work.
“You go on now. The sooner you go, the sooner you can come back to visit.” Aunt Doe hugged Carolyn. “Be good for your Mama, you hear?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Moss stood twisting his hat and looking pained.
Aunt Doe placed a hand on his arm. “You make sure to let me know how you are, old friend. I don’t expect a visit, though I’d welcome one.”
“I surely will.”
She embraced him and stood back to look at him. “I don’t expect you to settle down, but if you ever feel the urge to come and rest a spell, you come and see me.”
“I’ll do that.”
Aunt Doe stood on the porch waving until they could no longer see her.
Moss looked back only once, but Carolyn waved until they were out of sight.
The brisk clear air nipped at Sally. She was anxious to move on now that they’d said goodbye. Gripping the reins tight, she forced her gaze ahead.
Rob watched her as she rode without speaking, lost in her thoughts.
As Sally replayed the events of the previous evening, heat filled her face. She snuck glances at Rob under her eyelashes. The seductive thoughts she was having about him should be reserved for his wife.
If she wasn’t careful she’d be acting the wanton woman.
She had to think of Matthew and Carolyn.
When they reached Austin, Rob learned Luke and his gang had robbed the noon stage.
The sheriff said they’d headed southeast, but he thought Luke might lay low in Houston.
Rob decided to set up camp outside the Austin city limits.
In a few days, it would be New Year’s Eve. The saloons were full of early revelers. There were no rooms to be had in respectable establishments. Rob thought they’d be better off away from town, so they pressed on.
A few miles outside town, they came upon an abandoned shack near the Colorado River. It held no furniture, only an old cook stove in one corner.
Moss started a fire for Sally and Rob led the horses to the river where grass grew just under the snow.
Sally started a pot of beans, bacon and onion. So far she’d avoided speaking to Rob, but she was aware of how he watched her.
It was late by the time supper was ready. As they ate Sally listened to the wind howl around the shack.
Rob and Moss had stuffed twigs and debris into the cracks in an attempt to stop the onslaught of cold brittle air, but they could hardly seal every crack.
Sally washed the dishes then tucked Carolyn into her bedroll and sang her to sleep.
The horses in the lean-to behind the shed were out of the wind. Neither Rob nor Moss felt the need to watch over them. They’d hear anyone who came near to steal them.
As Sally listened to the wind, she wondered what they’d find when they reached Houston.
Rob had warned her about New Year’s revelers. Would Luke be among them, drinking and shooting off his guns in the middle of town? Would Matthew be with him in that chaos?
Sometimes she thought the trail would never end, Luke would just keep moving and they’d keep on tracking him.
What would happen when she did find him? How would he react when he learned she was there to take Matthew back?
She’d give her children a good home, whatever it took. She could hire herself out to a boarding house or some other decent job for a woman. Everything involved struggle and hard work. But she would not work in a saloon.
No, she wouldn’t be with a man again, unless they were really and truly married.
She might not own property, but now her decisions were hers, for good or for bad. She had to make sure she made good ones. She would find the strength to press on.
The next day they reached Houston by nightfall.
Rob knew Sally was exhausted, but he saw the gleam in her eyes as they neared the end of the trail. He would handle the situation before she became emotional and the tears started.
“Sally, you and Moss and Carolyn will settle in at the boarding house.”
“But where will you stay?”
“Out of sight, so I can keep an eye on you. Tongues wag. There’s no need to rile Luke and tip our hand.”
She didn’t argue. Even if Luke didn’t want her any longer, he’d not like her traveling with Rob. And they said Luke had already killed three men. He’d not hesitate to kill another. She couldn’t bear for Rob to get shot.
“I’ll come if you need me. Send Moss. He’ll know where to find me.” Rob headed for the other end of town.
Sally and Moss approached a large, white two-story house. The sign hanging over the front porch read Jane Steeple Boarding.
Moss knocked on the door. A thin, prim woman opened it.
“Ma’am, I was wonderin’ if’n ye had rooms fer us.” Moss gestured to Sally and Carolyn.
The woman gave them a critical glance. “Come in. Room and board are paid upfront and include breakfast and supper. Men lodge on the first floor, ladies on the second. No exceptions. I’ll have no misbehaving under my roof. Is that clear?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Moss patted his hat on his pant leg.
“Ladies’ baths are extra. Men bathe down the street.”
“Thank ye kindly. I could use me a bath.”
“You’ll not sleep on my sheets until you’ve had one. That goes for all of you.”
Sally glanced down at her dress. She must smell as bad as Rob had when she first met him. Suddenly she felt filthy. She stood in silence, her cheeks burning.
“I’ll not have bugs in the bedding. I keep a clean establishment.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Sally said.
The landlady looked Sally and Carolyn over then tossed her head. “Follow me.”
She led them to the men’s quarters first and pointed out the room to Moss.
“That’ll do jus’ fine,” he said.
“Settle the bill, then I’ll show the lady to her room. And you head on over to the bath house.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He counted out her fee.
Sally and Carolyn followed her up the stairs and down a long hall to a room at the end. Mrs. Steeple opened the door.
“This is fine,” Sally said.
Carolyn started to walk in.
The woman laid a hand on her shoulder. “Just one minute, little missy. You may enter your room once you’ve had a bath.”
Carolyn stared up at Mrs. Steeple in awe.
“Young ladies do not gape with their mouths open. It’s impolite.” Mrs. Steeple looked at Sally. “You are married.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I take it your husband will be joining you.”
“I hope so, ma’am.” Could the woman tell she was lying? Her heart raced.
“I’ll not have men visiting. Your husband may meet you downstairs.”
Sally nodded. After picking Carolyn up, she followed Mrs. Steeple down the stairs.
Carolyn snuggled against her shoulder.
Sally whispered, “It’ll be all right, sunshine.”
Moss waited below. He told Mrs. Steeple he would pay two more days in advance, but he didn’t know how much longer they’d stay. Later that evening, Rob sent a note to Moss.
Luke had been seen at one of the card tables.
Sally paced on the porch after hearing the news. Her sudden energy had no outlet.
Moss noticed the landlady peering out the window. “Sally Mae, set down before you get Mrs. Steeple a goin’.”
Sally sat and wrung her hands. “What should I do, Moss? How should I handle this?”
“Well, I been thinkin’ on it. I figured I’d go an’ tell Luke yer here an’ lookin’ forward to seein’ ’im. I ken find out what kinda mood he’s in, an’ if’n he’s ready to see ye.”
“Yes, that’s a good plan. How soon can you go?”
“I oughtn’t ter get that woman riled.” He nodded toward the window where a curtain moved. “I’ll slip on over to the saloon later, while folks is in bed.”
“But you’ll come and wake me, when you know?”
“Sally, that ain’t a good idea, me comin’ to wake ye. That woman would as soon toss us out as look at us an’ we done paid a’ready. I’ll tell ye at breakfast.”
“All right.” Sally nodded. But she had no intention of waiting until breakfast. She’d stay up and watch for his return.
After dinner, Moss played checkers with a lodger while Carolyn played in the corner.
Sally chatted with the other woman until it was time to put Carolyn to bed.
As she climbed the stairs carrying Carolyn, Sally wondered about the strange house.
How different it was from Aunt Doe’s. She doubted Aunt Doe would enjoy moving into town if these were the kind of neighbors she’d have.
When it grew dark enough for Moss to go unnoticed, he snuck out the window and headed for the saloon.
Though it’d been several years since he’d seen him, Moss recognized Luke at once.
Moss bellied up to the bar. “Whiskey.”
Luke sat in the back corner eying two soiled doves as they walked past in their red gowns and purple feathers, flirting.
Moss could tell they knew Luke well.
He watched Luke long enough to know he held good cards and was in good spirits tonight.
One of the ladies sat next to Moss. “What’s your pleasure?”
“Ma’am, ye ken tell the tall feller in the corner that I have a present waitin’ fer him. Tell him I knowed him back when he traveled to Kansas.”
Her eyes narrowed. “What kind of present?”
“Don’t worry. I ain’t packin’. It ain’t that kinda present.”
She agreed after he passed her a coin. She stood and walked over to Luke.
Luke’s eyes hovered over her breasts as she bent down to whisper in his ear. Then his gaze lifted and flew directly to Moss.
Moss raised his glass and nodded.
Luke’s eyes narrowed, but he nodded back and lifted his own glass. He returned to his card game while Moss waited.
Finally Luke won, swept his winnings into his hat and stood. His spurs clanked on the wooden floor as he strode over to Moss.
“Ozzie Moss. You’ve come a long way.”
“Not so fer. Trailin’ an’ trackin’s my life I reckon.”
Luke’s eyes narrowed. “You trailing or tracking this time?”
“Little o’ both. But I ain’t here fer the reward.”
“Keep your voice down,” Luke said in a low growl as he glanced at the bartender.
“I ain’t here fer that. A woman asked me to find ye.”
“That so?”
“Yep. Her feller done left her high an’ dry.”
“What was the lady’s name?”
“Sally Mae. She’s here in town an’ wants ter know if’n her feller would pay her a visit.”
Luke appeared stunned. “Sally. Here in town?”
“Yep.”
“Why’d she go and do a damn fool thing like that?”
“Mebbe she didn’t know ye was wanted fer murder.”
“Shut up, you old fool. Let’s go outside where we can talk.”
They left the saloon, and Moss kept to the sidewalk, near the lamplight.
“Don’t think you’ll turn me in.” Luke fingered his pistol.
“If’n I was a gonna turn ye in I’d a done it afore now, an’ I wouldn’t be such a damn fool as t’ come an’ tell ye about it.”
“See that you keep your mouth shut.”
“Ain’t none of my business.”
“And bringing Sally here? That’s your business?”
“I give her my word. Didn’t know ye was turned outlaw.”
“Hell. No point in living a small man’s life. This way I have plenty of money for whiskey and whatever else takes my fancy.” He frowned. “So Sally wants to see me?”
“She’s stayin’ at Mrs. Steeple’s. That woman don’t even let husbands an’ wives share a room but you ken visit in her parlor.”
“I’m no parlor man.”
Moss eyed the gun belt strapped to Luke’s leg. “Ain’t said ye was. Perhaps ye ken suggest a more fittin’ meetin’ place.”
“Tell Sally I’ll meet her tomorrow for a late supper. If she came all this way she must’ve missed me pretty bad. Or she wants Matthew back.”
“All the way down it was Luke this an’ Luke that. She wants to work things out.” Moss nodded. “I ken watch the children fer ye. I ain’t seen that boy in ages. Bet he’s grown fast.”
The plan was for Sally to act as if she wanted to reconcile with Luke. She’d keep Luke busy while Moss spirited the children away. And Rob would keep an eye on Sally to make sure nothing went wrong.
“Matthew’s fine where he is.” Luke’s eyes narrowed again and a clever look crossed his face. “But I wouldn’t disappoint a lady, especially such a pretty redhead. Tell her I’ll meet her by the general store about seven.”
Moss nodded. Luke hadn’t asked once about Carolyn.
Soon after Moss climbed through the window, he heard a tap on it. “What in tarnation?”
Sally lifted her skirts to climb in the window.
Moss held up his hand. “Stay out there. Mrs. Steeple will have a fit if’n she catches ye.”
Sally dropped her skirts and leaned in through the window. “Then tell me,” she whispered. What did he say?”
“He’s meetin’ ye fer supper tomorrow night at seven.”
Her eyes widened. “He was friendly?”
“Yep.”
“And Matthew?”
“He said Matthew’s fine. Now get back in yer room ’fore ye get us throwed out.” Moss shook his head. “I’m getting’ too old fer this.”
Sally couldn’t believe it. Luke wanted to meet her for dinner as if nothing had happened.
The liar. The thief.
She crept barefooted up the stairs. As she rounded the corner, she came upon Mrs. Steeple in a long flannel nightgown holding a lamp.
Sally stopped and her hand went to her throat.
“What is the meaning of this?” Mrs. Steeple eyed Sally’s shoes in her hand and her eyebrows rose.
“I didn’t want to disturb the boarders.”
“The best way to avoid waking them is to stay in your own bed.”
“I was visiting the outhouse.”
“There is a chamber pot in your room.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll think of that next time.”
“See that you do.”
Sally walked to her room and opened the door. She felt Mrs. Steeple’s eyes on her back as she entered. She closed the door, leaned against it and closed her eyes.
After tomorrow night she’d have Matthew.
She blew a breath out.
Soon it would all be over.
But now that it was near, her thoughts raced. She replayed all the things she wanted to say to Luke. All the speeches she’d practiced in silence over the long trail.
He wouldn’t talk his way out of this one.
She’d wear the green dress and do her hair up. She’d show Luke she was a lady and one not to be messed with. He’d be so swept away by how she looked he wouldn’t know his son was gone.
She’d trick the trickster.
Sally was in bed before she realized she didn’t remember climbing into it. She pulled the covers up and lay watching the night sky through the window.
The next morning at breakfast she couldn’t contain her excitement. Soon she’d have Matthew back. She hummed as she ladled gravy over Carolyn’s biscuits.
The chatter at the breakfast table was lively. Mrs. Steeple entered and left the room many times bringing food from the kitchen. Her boarding house was full.
She frowned at Sally each time she passed.
After breakfast Moss said, “Sally Mae, keep away from that woman, she don’t care fer ye none.”
“Don’t worry.”
“I cain’t hep it. There’s plenty that can go wrong.” Moss shook his head. “I been studyin’ on this plan an’ I don’t like it, Sally.”
“Our plan will work. It has to.”
“Luke ain’t agreed to let me watch Matthew. I got to find him an’ steal him away an’ that ken take some time since none of us knows where he is.”
“I’ll keep Luke busy long enough for you to grab Matthew. I’ll do whatever it takes. If he doesn’t let you watch the children then we’ll know we have to go to our second plan. You’ll have to go to his hideout and steal Matthew back.”
“Remember to signal Rob if ye need hep. He’ll be watchin’ out fer ye.”
She’d do anything to see both her children safe. Even have dinner with Luke. It was dangerous. She hoped Rob would pay Luke back in full for everything he’d done and then some.