Second-Chance Bride (Dakota Brides Book 3)(12)

“He’s pretty ferocious looking. Do you want to put him in the basket so he’ll be safe until we get home?”

Kit hesitated then did so.

She turned to the older boy. “What did you find, Milo?”

“What did Papa want?”

“To make sure I wouldn’t let you fall into the creek.”

“That’s silly. We aren’t going to fall in.” He shifted his attention toward the stream.

She spoke before the idea could take root. “How about if we come here one day prepared to play in the water?”

He sighed. “You’ll forget.”

“No, I won’t. And if I did, I would expect you to remind me.”

He twisted a bit of branch in the grass. “Adults don’t like to be reminded.”

She gave a soft chuckle. “Then maybe I’m not good at being an adult, because I don’t mind being reminded.”

“Really?”

“Truly. Tell you what. We’ll take home that twig you have in your hand and I’ll put it on the windowsill in the kitchen and it will remind me. Would you like that?”

He put the twig into the basket.

She smiled at the hope in his eyes and promised herself she would do her best to never disappoint him.

They spent an hour looking for treasures by which time her basket held an assortment of objects—shiny rocks, a bird nest that had fallen to the ground, several odd-shaped bits of tree branches, and an assortment of feathers.

“We need to go home now. Your papa will be wanting some dinner.”

Kit talked all the way back but Milo was quiet. When they reached the house, he found the twig that signified her promise and put it on the windowsill. “So you don’t forget.”

“Thank you.” She wanted to hug him, but the child was still too fearful of her. Her insides clenched. To think of the way that woman had whipped him. How long had it been going on? She couldn’t imagine Ward was aware of it. Certainly he would have sent the woman packing sooner if he’d suspected such a thing.

The boys again helped her prepare the meal and then the three of them went out to inform Ward that it was ready.

He brought the horses in to water and rest while he ate.

The four of them sat down to the table. He asked the blessing and passed around the food. “What treasures did you find?”

She might have thought he mocked her but his attention was on the boys and he listened as they told about their morning.

“She said we can go play in the water one day. That’s what that twig is for.” Milo pointed to the window. “To make her not forget.”

Ward looked at Freyda. She could see the protest in his eyes. Would she keep his boys safe?

She held his gaze, feeling his look go deep. Knowing he had secrets that made him so cautious, so reluctant to trust her. But then, she had her secrets too. And yet they were forced by circumstances to work together.

“Should I have asked your permission first?” she asked.

Milo drew in his breath, as if fearing his father would say they couldn’t go.

She knew by the softening of Ward’s eyes that he heard too and wasn’t willing to disappoint his son.

“I suppose I have to let you do what you think is best. After all, you assure me you are used to dealing with children.”

She laughed from sheer relief. “I have sixteen cousins and even more second cousins. There is always at least three babies. And we are as welcome in each other’s houses as in our own. So yes, I am used to dealing with children.”

Milo and Kit’s eyes had grown wide. “You have lots of family,” Kit said. “I wish we did, and then we would never be lonely.”

Ward’s eyes grew dark. “You have each other and you have me. How can you be lonely?”

Kit’s bottom lip trembled. “I wish we had a gramma and grampa. I wish we had cousins and aunts and uncles. Mostly, I wish we had a mama.” A tear dropped to the back of his hand and he wiped it on his trousers.

“You had a mama.”

“I don’t ’member her. Milo does, don’t you?” He turned to his older brother.

“I don’t remember her playing with us like Mrs. Haevre does.” Milo ducked his head.

“Did she love us lots?” Kit asked.

Ward pushed aside his empty plate and got to his feet. “I need to get the crop in the ground.” He strode from the room, leaving three stunned people behind.

Seeing the shock and confusion in the faces of the two boys, Freyda rose. “Would you boys pile up the dishes, please? You can help me wash them up when I get back.” She headed for the door.

Kit ran after her. “Where are you going?”

“Kit, it’s okay. I’ll be right back. But there is something I need to tell your papa.”

Milo rocked back and forth in his chair. “Is he angry?”

Freyda couldn’t leave Milo looking so worried and afraid. She went to him and cupped his chin in her hand and looked directly into his eyes. “Your papa loves you. Never doubt that.”

He nodded. “I hope he’s not really angry.” He and Kit held hands, looking so worried that Freyda pressed her lips tight to keep back tears.

She left the house and crossed the yard.

Ward watched her approach, his eyes dark and full of warning. She ignored it. Perhaps she should inform him that her brother and sister and even her older cousins had often looked at her in much the same way and she had ignored them too. She was an expert at it.