Second-Chance Bride (Dakota Brides Book 3)(34)

She had brought a pail of cold water and he downed a good portion of it before he spoke. “I could finish tonight if I work until dark.”

“I don’t mind staying until you’re done.”

“You sure? It means walking home after dark again.”

Her smile was half warning. “I’m not about to break because you want to work.”

“That isn’t what I meant.”

She nodded once, rather briskly. “So long as you remember that I am capable of more than people give me credit for.”

He grinned as he nodded toward the horses. “I firmly believe you can do whatever you set your mind to, but that doesn’t mean I want to take advantage of our agreement.”

“When you finish here, you start on my field, correct?”

“Yes.”

“Then it is to my advantage to make it possible for you to finish.”

He nodded again.

“I’ll save you supper.” Milo and Kit were already halfway back to the house and she followed them.

He returned to his work. Was she anxious for him to get her work done so their agreement would end? He tried to convince himself he didn’t care one way or the other.



Freyda knew she had overreacted to his concern about her walking home in the dark and it wasn’t because of what he said. It was because of the way her heart had lurched at the idea of him waiting until he saw her lantern. She liked the idea of him answering with his own lantern. During the night, she had thought of how they could set up a communication system between them using the glow of their lights. Wasn’t that how ships sent messages to each other?

Neither of them was a ship, she reminded herself. And they had no need for communication that couldn’t occur when they saw each other.

But how often would that be once her crop was in the ground?

She dare not admit how much she would miss them.

She ironed shirts, made the beds, and played with the little boys. Keeping busy was the best way to keep her thoughts from wandering down forbidden pathways.

Milo had invented a game with Storm. He watched the kitten, then hid in the grass, though apart from his toes, he was in plain view. When the cat came near, Milo jumped out. The cat leaped in the air and tackled Milo’s leg. Milo laughed every time.

Kit watched, longing clear in his face and posture, but if he tried to join in the game, Storm got confused and quit playing.

“Kit, why don’t you make a ball out of grass and roll it for the kitten?”

She helped Kit make the ball.

Kit threw it at Storm and the kitten ran away.

“You scared him.” Milo clenched his fists and glowered at his brother.

Kit pressed to Freyda’s side.

She put her arm around him as she spoke to Milo. “He was only trying to play.”

Milo scowled at her. “He’s stupid.”

Kit shivered against her. She put him aside and went to Milo. He would have run away, but Freyda caught his arm. He tried to kick her but she avoided his feet. Seeing him about to lose control, she wrapped her arms around him from the back. “No one is stupid. People make mistakes and have accidents.” She continued to talk softly in his ear.

Milo fought her for a few seconds and then calmed. She held him until she thought he was over his upset then slowly released him.

Storm wandered over and meowed.

Milo scooped up the kitten and went to the side of the house where he sat holding the cat and murmuring to it.

Freyda turned her attention back to Kit. He wasn’t where she’d last seen him. She glanced about the yard. Where had he gone? She raced around the barn. The loft door was shut. Her breath whooshed out. No little boy up there.

The creek? Would he go there on his own?

Before she went that direction she would search the house and yards thoroughly. “Kit, where are you?”

She went into the house. She walked around the house and barn and chicken house. There were several smaller outbuildings but a quick glance didn’t reveal the missing boy. She looked toward Ward. No sign of a little boy with him. Milo remained by the house. Ward was almost at the end of the field where he would stop for a moment to rest the horses and take a drink. She gathered up her skirts and ran toward the field.

Ward looked up and smiled at her hurried approach. He glanced behind her as if checking for the boys. When he didn’t see them, his smile flattened. He took a step toward her, caught her arm as she reached him. “Where are the boys? Is something wrong?”

She sucked in air before she could speak. “I can’t find Kit. He was there a moment ago and now he’s gone.” Her words came out in a breathless rush. If something happened to one of the boys, Ward would never forgive her. “I only turned my back to take care of Milo.”

“Gone? Kit?”

“I’m sure he hasn’t gone far. But I thought you would help me look.”

Ward grabbed her arm and they trotted back to the yard. He stopped to look at Milo. “Where’s your brother?”

“I don’t know.” He held the kitten tight to his chest as if thinking his father would demand he turn the kitten over to Kit.

“Where have you looked?” he asked Freyda.

She told him.

He turned full circle, his gaze searching every visible spot. “This is not like Kit.”