Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Jace pulled Eddie to his feet, brushed the gray ashes off his face, and cheeked him for injuries.
Eddie’s bottom lip quivered. Would he run back to his mama for comfort? After all, he was a young child.
“You took quite a tumble. Are you hurt?”
The boy squared his shoulders. “I’s fine.” He retrieved his shovel and returned to work.
Had Dianne seen her son fall? With a pat on the boy’s shoulder, Jace faced the house.
She watched from the window. He hoped his wave reassured her Eddie was fine.
Jace would never let anything harm the boy.
Not if he could help it, he added, realizing the world was full of dangers he couldn’t always protect the boy from.
Dianne lifted her hand, flattened it against the glass, then ducked out of sight.
An urge to run to the house and make sure she was all right pressed at Jace’s breastbone. He ignored it and turned back to the work before him.
He sent Lee to hunt meat and Cal to bring the wagon. This handcart was too slow, although it was fine for him and Eddie to use.
Cal stopped the wagon near a huge pile of debris and attacked the rubble. He paused to wipe his brow and catch his breath, then returned to the task with a surprising vigor. The brothers gave the work their everything. Chet always admired their enthusiasm for whatever task was set before them.
At noon, Dianne called them for dinner.
The aroma of something savory greeted them as they made their way to the house.
“Nice to have someone to cook for us.” Cal’s voice was soft, always keeping his opinions to himself.
“Couldn’t agree more.” Jace again supervised Eddie washing his face and hands. Then the three of them trooped to the table where Dianne set a big pot of stew and a plate of golden biscuits.
Jace’s prayer might have been hurried and accompanied by several loud swallows as saliva flooded his mouth. The food tasted every bit as good as it smelled, and the only sound was of utensils against the plates.
After two helpings, Cal and Jace both slowed down. Eddie had run out of steam with half a biscuit clutched in his hand.
“That was delicious.” Jace swiped crumbs from his plate. “Thank you.”
“There’s more.” She refilled the coffee cups and served huge portions of cake.
“Sure is good to have a cook,” Cal murmured.
“I’m happy to make your meals. I enjoy doing so.”
Jace was tempted to linger, but Cal pushed his chair back. Eddie scrambled to his feet and prepared to follow.
With a quirk of his eyebrows, Jace asked Dianne if she minded.
She studied her son. “Aren’t you tired?”
“I not.” He scowled, clearly offended she asked in front of Jace and Cal.
Chuckling, Jace followed Eddie back to the remains of the barn.
Midafternoon, Lee returned with a deer. While Eddie played with Skip under Dianne’s care, Jace and Cal followed Lee to the springhouse to hang the carcass and let it age before they cut it up.
Mae had preferred canning it to any other method of preservation.
Dianne had talked like she’d do the same.
That done, they returned to cleaning up the barn site.
“Saw signs of someone camping over the ridge to the west.” Lee worked as he talked. “Maybe two days ago.”
“Al?”
Lee paused to consider his answer. “He didn’t leave his name in the ashes.”
Cal chuckled, and Jace grinned. “Guess it was a foolish question.”
“Wouldn’t be if he left a sign.”
Jace’s grin lingered as they returned to work, but it fled as he thought about that campfire.
Was Al nearby? It wasn’t likely that the man would walk away from the insult he perceived Jace had dished out, but he was more concerned with his attack on Dianne.
Would Al leave her alone? The answer pierced his heart.
“I’ll be staying near the house until Al is dealt with. So we might as well be cleaning this up while I’m here.”
“You gonna rebuild?” Lee asked.
“Haven’t decided.” Jace’s gaze went to the house.
Lee paused to lean on his shovel. “Chet would want you to.”
“Maybe.” Lee and Cal didn’t know of Jace’s stubbornness or how he’d tossed the pitchfork in anger. Nor was he going to tell them. Bad enough he had to live with the guilt, let alone having anyone else know—besides Dianne.
When she called for supper, they were all weary. Eddie had taken to sitting on nearby grass playing with Skip.
“We won’t be returning to this after supper.”
Neither of the cowboys uttered a word, but they grinned as they tossed their shovels into the wagon.
After another great meal, Jace and the cowboys left to tend to the horses.
“I come?” Eddie asked.
“Aren’t you tired? Don’t you want to stay at the house?”
The boy shook his head. “I come.”
“What does your mama say?” Was Dianne happy to let her son follow Jace around all day?
She shrugged. “Can’t see what harm there is in it.”
Whooping, Eddie was off the steps and urging Jace to hurry.
“Guaranteed he’ll sleep like a log tonight.” Jace grinned at Dianne, tucking her answering smile into his thoughts to hold forever. Laughing at Eddie but even more so at himself for his foolish thoughts, he went to the horse pasture.
Cal and Lee had driven the wagon to the hill and dumped it, and then unhitched the horses to lead them to the pasture.
Sam trotted to the fence to greet Jace.
Eddie tugged on Jace’s elbow. “I ride him?”
“You liked that, did you?” Dianne had allowed him to sit in the saddle as they left the cabin.
It seemed a lifetime ago. He followed Cal and Lee into the pasture, whistled for Sam to come, and then lifted the boy to the horse’s back.
Sam was docile and obedient and followed Jace as they walked along the fence line.
Dianne crossed the yard toward the chicken house, and Jace lowered Eddie to the ground. “It’s time to help your mama with the chores.”
They joined Dianne. She waited until Eddie ran ahead. “He was on the horse?” Her bland question did not disguise her concern.
“Dianne.” Jace touched her arm and waited for her to turn toward him. “I would never put the boy in a dangerous situation. I’ve grown very fond of him.” He would protect the boy each and every day he could. He would do the same for Dianne.
She blinked once as if letting his words reach her worries and concerns. Then, her expression softened. “I trust you.”
Trust! Why had she used that word? “I hope I can be worthy of that, but I’ve failed in the past.” He rubbed the back of his neck, his nervous habit surfacing.
She ran her hand up his arm to his cheek. “I don’t believe you’ve failed, and I know you won’t this time.”
Her faith both bolstered him and frightened him. “It’s a heavy load.” It wouldn’t be easy, but he was determined to succeed.
A chicken squawking drew their attention. Eddie had opened the pen. The chickens gathered around his feet, clucking until he tried to pick one up. Then they ran away, protesting loudly.
“Mama, I want to hold one.”
Taking Dianne’s hand, Jace went to the gate. “Maybe they don’t want to be picked up.”
“But I want to pet them.” Eddie reached for another feathery hen who squawked a protest and scurried away.
Containing his laughter, Jace signaled to Eddie. “Come and help me get feed.”
Scuffling his feet and slumping his shoulders, the boy abandoned his quest and followed Jace.
The chickens and cow tended, the horses taken care of, Jace went to the house with Dianne and Eddie.
“Time for bed, son.”
A silent protest darkened the boy’s face. “Jace put me to bed.”
Jace waited for Dianne to give her decision.
“He can tuck you in.”
“I’d be pleased to do so.” He grinned as the boy dragged his feet up the steps. Again, he waited at the bottom of the stairs and listened to the gentle murmur of their conversation. Then, like the night before, he hurried up to say good night to the boy and plant a kiss on his forehead.
Eddie wrapped his arms around Jace’s neck. “I likes you.”
“I like you too. Now go to sleep.”
The boy lay back on his pillow.
Jace paused at the doorway, smiling when Eddie’s breathing deepened.
Downstairs, he announced. “He’s already asleep.”
“Tea is ready. And there are cookies.”
“You’ve been busy.” They carried cups and a plate of cookies into the other room.
The checker game was already laid out.
Laughter bubbled up inside him. “Are you gloating?” Not that he minded. Playing the game provided him an excuse for lingering. “This time, I’m going to beat you.”
Two games later, she was still the winner, but he’d studied her moves. She alternated between two of them, and he saw what she did. He could beat her. But he didn’t even try.
After a fourth game, she sat back and squinted at him. “You aren’t playing your best.”
Uh-oh. She’d observed his careless moves. “What do you mean?”
“I gave you plenty of chances to jump me, and you didn’t do it.” Her lips pursed, she leaned across the game board until all he had to do was edge toward her.
He did so and surprised her with a quick kiss.
She sat back, her eyes wide. Then she smiled. Her gaze lowered to his mouth.
Rather pleased with himself, he got to his feet. “I best be heading for bed. Bar the door behind me.” He waited outside the door to hear her drop the wood into place, then went to the bunkhouse, grateful the lamp had been turned down so the boys couldn’t see the smile he was unable to stop.
Dianne rested her head against the door, smiling as she recalled the evening.
Jace could have won a game of checkers easily.
He was either distracted or wanting the excuse of needing to win in order to spend another evening or two with her.
And then another kiss. It had crossed her mind to tell him not to do that anymore.
But she hadn’t done so, preferring to believe his fondness for her was growing strong enough to persuade him to stay and make their arrangement permanent by marrying her.
The wood pressed into her forehead, no doubt leaving a mark on her skin. She stepped back to rub it. If only she could rub at her troubles and hope to erase them.