Second-Chance Bride (Dakota Brides Book 3)(20)

“Where is he now?” Kit wanted to know.

“I expect he’s gone to the mountains to hunt.”

“Oh.”

Ward chuckled. “So much disappointment in a little word.”

“Well, I’d like to see him.”

“Me, too,” Milo said. “How’d you meet him?”

“He had a donkey named Betsy Girl. He was very fond of that donkey, but she got sick and needed to rest someplace so I said he could keep her in my barn even though it wasn’t finished. He was here almost a month. He never came indoors.” Dorothy would have complained mightily if he had. “He cooked over a fire outside and slept in the barn right beside his Betsy Girl. But in the daytime, he helped me work on the barn, helped with fences though he said neither man nor beast should be confined by them. And he talked. That man could talk the hind leg off his donkey. I wondered if Betsy Girl hadn’t gotten sick so she could rest her ears for a spell.”

The boys listened wide-eyed. When he finished, Freyda chuckled.

Ward’s gaze met hers and for the space of a heartbeat, he forgot everything but the blue of her eyes and the way she smiled. He felt her gaze dip deep into his heart. It was a pleasant sensation. Much like a warm, sweet drink.

A wagon came alongside them. “Howdy, Ward.”

Ward introduced Freyda. “My neighbor. Mrs. Haevre, meet Klaus and Gerda Hoffmann. They live across the creek and up three miles from my place.”

They, too, were on their way to church and continued down the road at a faster pace than Ward. He slowed even more to avoid their dust.

Milo and Kit sat back against the sides of the wagon, their expressions tight.

Ward glanced at them then at Freyda. “What’s wrong?” He tipped his head toward the pair.

She studied them a moment then turned and slid closer to speak quietly so the boys couldn’t hear her. “Do you take them to church every Sunday?”

“Most every Sunday.”

“Then it isn’t the thought of seeing so many people. I suppose they might be afraid of encountering Mrs. Wright.”

His jaw creaked. “She won’t bother them anymore.”

“I know it’s not my business, but how many women have cared for them since their mother passed?”

“Four. I wouldn’t get anyone if I didn’t have to.”

“Why did you let them go?” Her words were soft.

He knew it was so the boys wouldn’t hear their conversation, but her gentle tone went a long ways to calming his twitching nerves. “One had more interest in me than in the boys.”

Freyda chuckled. “I can see that wouldn’t suit you.”

“Well, she was not much more than a youngster.”

“Really? And how old would that be.”

“She was nineteen. I’m twenty-eight and way too old for her, though I suppose the age difference wouldn’t matter if I was interested. I wasn’t.” From what Baruk had said, he knew Freyda to be twenty-two. Not much older than that first girl, but so much more grown up.

He shook his head to straighten out his thoughts and turned back to the conversation. “The others either neglected the boys or were cruel to them. I suspected Mrs. Wright long before I saw it firsthand.” He groaned. “My poor boys. It’s the one thing I vowed they would never experience.”

She touched the back of his hand. “They are good, happy boys.”

“You think so?” He couldn’t help the hunger in his words and in his eyes.

“I do, indeed.” They were in town and joined others making their way to the church. She withdrew her hand and sat up prim and proper.

They parked and made their way to the steps. They kept the two little boys between them.

“Freyda.” A blond man with a brown-haired young woman at his side hurried toward them. The man held the hand of a small boy with black hair and black eyes. There was no mistaking the native heritage of the youngster.

The couple reached them and both of them hugged Freyda. “You are okay?”

Freyda laughed. “Are you surprised to know I am?” She turned to Ward. “This is my near neighbor, Ward Rollins, and his two boys, Milo and Kit. Ward, this is my brother, Anker, and his wife, Lena. And this little fellow is their son, Charlie.”

Her brother? Well, that was a relief, though why should it matter to him?

Milo and Kit pressed to his sides. He looked around to see what bothered them and saw Mrs. Wright and a couple of her cronies staring at them.

Another man joined them, blocking them from Mrs. Wright’s view.

The others chattered in Norwegian until Freyda stopped them. “We must speak English now.” She moved to Ward’s side. “Ward, this is my cousin, Nels.” She turned back to the second man. “Any news from Elin?”

“Not yet.”

Ward tried to keep up with all the talk but failed.

Anker caught his sister’s attention. “You must come home with us for the afternoon and catch up on all the news.”

“I’d like to, but I have come with the Rollinses.”

“They are invited too.”

Ward looked at his boys. “Would you like to visit Mrs. Haevre’s family?”

Milo looked at Anker. “Are you from Norway too?”