Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
The days fell into a rhythm. Zach stayed away. Doing what he must. Amelia cooked meals and tended the house. Doing what she’d come to do. Evenings, after Pa and Poppy had retired for the night, were long and lonely.
The men doing the haying came in at dark and left at first light. Hayracks trundled to the barn’s far side, where they tossed off the load and returned to get more.
Gil wandered over every morning with a cup of coffee and sat at the table to drink it.
Amelia detected no sign of him imbibing.
She appreciated that. One less thing to concern her.
Not that things were any different than they had been from the beginning.
Except Pa needed to be watched every minute of the day.
And Zach wasn’t there to talk to, to go over the day’s events with, to share her concerns.
As long as Gil sat beside Pa and discussed the ranch, Pa seemed content, but when Gil left before noon, saying he needed to make one thing or another for the evening meal, Pa grew confused and restless.
On other occasions, he’d fallen asleep in the big chair in the living room. But then he’d waken and ask for Evelyn.
It took all of Amelia’s ingenuity to persuade him not to go looking for her.
Today was no different.
By the time they’d eaten their lunch, Poppy was ready for her nap.
Pa walked to the living room, then headed for the door.
“Kat, can you watch your pa while I set the bread to rise?” The girl stood on the porch where it would be easy for her to keep an eye on her father.
“Sure.” She didn’t look at Amelia or her pa when she answered.
Amelia followed the direction of her gaze but saw nothing to concern her. Was Kat getting restless? What would she do? Where would she go?
Amelia would have to keep a close eye on Pa. If he wandered away, she couldn’t leave Poppy to look for him.
Then Kat jogged from the porch, disappearing around the barn.
With an anxious sigh, Amelia watched Pa. He sat on a chair, twisting a bit of rope.
Hours later, when four loaves of golden bread cooled on the counter, Pa was still there, sleeping.
Meat was cooking for supper. Every night, she’d made enough to feed Zach if he came home. Maybe he’d come tonight.
Boots clattered on the outside step, and she rushed to the window. But it was only Kat returning from wherever she’d been.
Poppy woke up and went outside to join Pa and Kat.
Only one thing was needed to make the scene perfect, and that was Zach riding over the hill.
As if her thoughts had brought him into view, a man rode toward the house. It only took seconds for her to see it wasn’t Zach, but Sobel. So shiny and clean, the sun reflected off him. How did he ride a horse across the dusty trail without a speck of it landing on him?
He rode toward the barn. What sort of mischief did he have in mind? Or was he looking for Zach?
“Kat, watch Pa and Poppy. Don’t take your eyes off them, not even for one minute. I want to check on something.” Not wanting him to come to the house and upset Pa or raise Kat’s ire, Amelia picked up her skirt and hurried to the corrals.
Sobel leaned over the saddle horn, grinning. “This is a nice welcome.”
She glanced over her shoulder. Good. They weren’t visible from the house. “Are you looking for Zach?”
“I know where Zach is. Out with the cows.”
“Then why are you here?” Did crossing her arms across her chest signal he wasn’t welcome? He didn’t seem to notice. Or perhaps he didn’t care.
“He’s been out there a long time. Thought you might be getting lonely.”
“You thought wrong.”
“Girl, you don’t fool me. The old man is lost in his head.
The sister is as prickly as a Russian thistle.
Oh yeah, then there’s the baby. Nothing but work.
” He leered. “Figured you’d be wanting some company by now.
” The way he waggled his eyebrows sent shudders throughout Amelia’s body.
“Guess that baby means you know what it’s like to enjoy the attention of a real man. You know what I mean.”
“Sir, the baby is the orphaned child of a friend.” No way would she let anyone think she’d born a child. Though, she could well be a widow.
“Well, well, well. This just gets better and better.” He swung a leg from the saddle.
“It’s about to get even better.” She slapped the horse hard and hollered. “Hi yi.”
The horse reared and pranced. Sobel fought to keep his balance. The last she saw of him, he’d managed to get back in the saddle but struggled to control the animal.
“And don’t come back,” she yelled. She began to shake. The vile man made her feel unsafe.
No. She would not let him rob her of her sense of security.
Gil was nearby. He would help her. So would Pa or Kat.
Not that she needed help. She lifted her chin.
She’d handled Sobel on her own and would continue to do so.
What was it Grandmother said about coming prepared?
Grandmother had carried a hatpin—a small but deadly weapon.
As Amelia made her way back to the house, she chuckled to think of her grandmother actually using that weapon, but it gave her an idea. She had a large safety pin upstairs. Attaching it to her apron would arm her.
Back at the house, she hurried past the curious Kat. “What did he want?”
Guess it was too much to hope the girl hadn’t noticed.
“I told him Zach was with the herd.”
“He’s a snake.”
“Couldn’t agree more.” Amelia wouldn’t have been surprised to see Kat spit. “I need to check on supper.”
The meat had cooked. She prepared vegetables and jam tarts.
It sure would be great if Zach came home tonight. Not that she was ready to admit Sobel’s visit had unsettled her.
“Rider coming,” Kat called.
Amelia dashed to the door. If Sobel had returned—she palmed a sharp knife.
“It’s Zach.”
“Uncle Zach,” Poppy called. “I go see him.”
“No, Poppy, wait here.” Kat caught the baby’s hand to restrain her.
He had to take care of his horse. Then he stopped at the pump to wash off some of the trail dust. Grinning, he hurried toward the house.
Amelia let herself believe some of the eagerness was for her.
“Welcome home.” Her greeting brought a brightness to Zach’s eyes that echoed in her heart.
Released, Poppy toddled up to him, and he swung her into the air, earning him a throaty giggle.
“More,” she said, and he did it again.
He greeted his pa, tweaked Kat’s braid, and met Amelia’s gaze.
Would he see how glad she was to see him? Because of Sobel, of course.
“Gil’s been feeding the men?”
“They finished up a few days ago. But while they were here, they came to eat and sleep and leave again. No complaints, so I assume he’s feeding them.”
“Good. Good.”
Nothing more? Was that all there was to say after being gone for more days than she cared to count?
“Supper’s ready.” After rushing inside, she set the table, breathless from her hurry.
Not from Zach’s return.
He came indoors, carrying Poppy, with Kat and Pa following him. They gathered around the table.
“Anything new around here?” he asked as the food was passed from hand to hand.
Kat and Pa vied to tell him about the coyote that sat nearby one evening and watched them.
“Poppy thought it was a dog,” Kat said.
“Doggie. Want doggie.”
Amelia met Zach’s amused gaze across the table. Why did it feel like his presence rounded out her world? Especially when her stay here was temporary. Of course, she had yet to hear from the Dakota farmer.
An approaching horse drew their attention. He went to the door.
Amelia’s neck tensed. Could it be Sobel again?
“I sent someone for the mail.”
At Zach’s announcement, her muscles twanged even more.
What news would be in the stack the cowboy carried? Would there be a message from the Dakota farmer? Surprise rippled through her to realize how long she’d been there. Surely it was too soon to expect a letter. Except, it was possible.
She followed Zach out of the house, tension creaking along her neck as a cowboy handed Zach a stack of mail. It appeared to be mostly newspapers. She stifled a snort. Perhaps one of them was the Matrimonial News.
Zach sorted through the stack. Paused to study one item. “It’s for you.”
She took the envelope, knowing it was from the farmer she’d written to.
Her fingers clenched the missive. How could she have already received a reply?
The man must have been standing in the office of Matrimonial News when her letter arrived.
His eagerness should be a good sign. After all, didn’t she want to be that important to someone?
“Aren’t you going to open it?” Zach asked.
They were alone in front of the house, so there seemed no reason not to share the news with him… except her own hesitation. Sighing acceptance, she opened the letter and read aloud, “‘Dear Miss Pressly, you sound exactly like the sort of woman who would make a perfect helpmeet for me.’”
He went on to describe his home and his farm. She couldn’t explain why she read only parts of it aloud to Zach.
She finished reading it. “‘Please send me information about where you live and tell me more about yourself and the little girl. She is more than welcome. A good beginning to our family. Awaiting your reply, Jacob Wells.’”
“It sounds like what you want. A place like where you lived as a child.” Did Zach have to sound so pleased with the letter?
Amelia couldn’t speak. A farm. A man with a strong-sounding name.
Wasn’t it what she wanted? And yet if Zach would offer one hint—no matter how small—that he wished for her to stay, she would write and tell Mr. Wells she’d changed her mind.
But even his favorite cake, made from his ma’s recipe, hadn’t caused Zach to reconsider asking her to stay.
Not even proving she could manage his house, and calm his father, did so.
No amount of effort on her part had brought about a change of mind from him.
“You’ll want to write back immediately.” Zach’s words didn’t offer any hope.
“I’ll write this afternoon. Which reminds me. Tomorrow is Sunday. Will we go to church?” They hadn’t gone since her arrival.