“They jumped the gun.”
“Why?”
“Because they don’t want to be sent away. You heard what Tom said. Sally wanted them raised together. As much as they pretend not to like each other, they don’t want to be separated, and they’ll do what they have to so that doesn’t happen.”
Jarrod looked at her as a thoughtful expression pulled his dark brows together. “They’ve got Sally’s gumption. Sure didn’t get it from that no-good she married.”
“They’ve had a rough time. It’ll take them a while to feel like they belong.”
“Guess I didn’t help any with this talk of boarding school. Then coming in here loaded for bear when I saw they were with you and fine as could be.”
“They’ll understand that you’re not mad. That you acted the way you did because you were worried.”
“How do you know that’s all it was? After all, I can’t find my temper.”
“Call it a hunch.”
One corner of his mouth turned up. Abby knew he wasn’t going to let go of his irritation anytime soon. For good reason. He’d probably been half out of his mind with worry all day. She wished she could have prevented him going through that, and searched for a way to make him relax.
She grinned. “Katie thought boarding school is a place you go to learn about boards.”
“She’s really somethin’.” He laughed. “The kids sure have taken to you.”
The merriment smoothed away the lines of worry and fatigue, transforming his face. Her heart skipped and fluttered. He was looking at her now in a way that made her uncomfortable, as if to say they weren’t the only ones who had taken to her. She tried to think of a safe subject.
“They don’t do what I say. At least not all the time. Tom especially.”
“I noticed that. I wonder why.”
She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. The important thing is that he’s really taken to you.”
“Thanks to your advice. He’s eager to learn. In fact it was because of Tom that we started looking for the kids.”
“What do you mean?”
“We got curious, then suspicious when he didn’t show up this morning to see the new foal.”
“He wasn’t happy about it either.”
“If I’d known for sure they were with you, I wouldn’t have lost my temper,” he said with a grin.
She smiled back as his compliment warmed her all over. So much for a safe subject. “There was no way to get word to you, the ranch being so far out and all. I was going to bring the children back in the morning. Those clever little rascals stayed hidden until they knew it would be too late
for me to take them home and they’d have to spend the night.”
“What did they hope to gain?”
“Time.”
“For what?”
“To talk me into keeping them,” she said.
“Would you have? Taken them in, I mean?”
She sighed. “I have no right to them. Besides, I’m just as busy as you are. How would I watch over them?”
He studied her. “You care about them. Don’t you, Abby?”
She squirmed under his scrutiny, wondering why he was asking this. “Oliver informed me that I love them.”
“Do you?”
“I’m awfully fond of them, Jarrod. Who wouldn’t be?”
Just then the kitchen door swung open and Henrietta Schafer brought a plate piled high with food. “Here ya are, Jarrod. Ain’t seen you in a coon’s age. Where ya been keepin’ yerself?”
She was a small woman, not even five feet tall. Her deep, lisping voice had seemed oddly out of place to Abby when they’d first met. But she’d found that the tiny woman had a heart twice her size. Abby had become terribly fond of her.
Jarrod smiled at the woman, who stood watching him with hands on her hips. “Hello, Hettie.”
“No one but you ever calls me that.”
“Don’t know why. Henrietta’s just too big a mouthful for a little bit of a woman like you.”
She grinned. “Flatterer.”
He nodded toward the kitchen door where Joe had disappeared. “That son of yours sure is getting tall in a hurry. How do you keep him in pants?”
Hettie grinned. “Hasn’t been such a hurry. And I’m gonna forget that it’s been months since you’ve been to Hollister and just say, thank you, sir. Joe takes after his daddy, thank the Lord, and will likely hit six feet.”
“He’s a nice boy, Henrietta,” Abby said. “You should be real proud of him.”
“I am. And speakin’ of young’uns, hear tell you got yerself a houseful, Jarrod. Real sorry to hear about Sally.”
“Thanks, Hettie.” He scooped a pile of mashed potatoes and gravy into his mouth and swallowed. “They’re a handful, that’s for sure.”
“Especially with you bein’ a bachelor ‘n’ all.” Henrietta looked from Abby to Jarrod, then back again, and lifted an eyebrow.
Abby wasn’t quite sure what she was trying to say, nevertheless it made her uncomfortable.
Jarrod put his fork down and grabbed a chicken leg. “Abby’s helping me find a housekeeper.”
“That so?” The other woman looked at her again.
Darned if she didn’t feel her cheeks flush warmly. “I’m not having much luck,” Abby replied. “Jarrod needs someone right away. You don’t happen to know of anyone, do you, Henrietta?”
The other woman glanced at Bea Peters, sitting in the corner with Gib. A strange look flashed across her face and was gone before Abby could assess it.
“Nope, can’t say’s I do.” Then she thoughtfully tapped a finger against her lips. “Wait a minute. Might be I just spoke too soon. Could just be someone here in Hollister can help you out.”
“Who?” Abby and Jarrod asked together.
Standing between them, Henrietta placed a hand on each of their shoulders. “Hold your horses, you two. Let me check out the lay of the land first.” She looked at Jarrod. “You gonna stay in town tonight?”
He nodded. “The ranch is too far to try and make it back tonight, after dark. Especially with the kids. You got room for all of us here in the boardinghouse?”
The other woman nodded. “We’ll make do. Not to worry.”
“What are you thinking of, Henrietta?” Abby asked.
“Since you’re in town anyways, you can meet the person I’m thinkin’ of.”
Abby smiled at Jarrod. “That would be wonderful. Don’t you think?”
He nodded. “If the kids approve, I can take her back with me. Save you a trip back out to the ranch.”
Abby nodded, but her smile faded as a vague sense of disappointment stole over her. That’s what she wanted, wasn’t it? To stay as far away from Jarrod Blackstone as she could? Especially after the way he’d kissed her. Had it really been only fourteen hours ago? When she thought about his mouth against her own, her skin felt hot and her breath caught.
A very good reason to be happy that he was saving her a trip out to his ranch. Henrietta Schafer was a good judge of people. If she had someone in mind for his housekeeper, there was a better than even chance that person would work out fine. As hard as she tried to make it otherwise, that thought didn’t make her want to run down the main street of Hollister shouting “Yahoo.”
This time tomorrow, all her problems with Jarrod Blackstone would be over.
“Bea Peters, you want to tell me what in tarnation you got up your sleeve?” Henrietta put down her coffee cup.
The two women sat at the table in the restaurant kitchen. Bea smiled at her friend, then took a sip of the strong black brew. She liked drawing out the suspense. It wasn’t often she knew something Henrietta didn’t, and God help her, she wanted to enjoy this moment as long as she could. “I don’t want to say too much, Hen. You know how hard it is for you to keep secrets.”
The smaller woman slapped her hand on the oak table and snapped, “What makes you say that?”
“Everyone in town knows it’s true. You’re better than the
Hollister Gazette
for spreading news.”
Henrietta sniffed scornfully. “It’s nothing more than idle conversation. What am I supposed to do with my customers? A body’s got to make ‘em feel welcome. Gotta chat some.”
“I’m merely saying you should think before you speak.”
“All right. I promise. Now what are you up to?”
Bea smiled. “Jarrod Blackstone’s children want Abby to be the housekeeper. I’m giving them a helping hand.”
“You know as well as I do that Abby has bigger fish to fry.”
“That’s what she thinks. I think she shouldn’t spit in the eye of fate.”
Henrietta traced the handle on her cup. “Are we talkin’ about something besides a new job for Abby? Somethin’ to take her mind off that foolish notion she’s got about goin’ t’find her pa and live with him?”
“Could be.”
“You shouldn’t meddle in things, Bea. They have a way of comin’ back on a body.”
“People who live in log houses should be careful with fire, Hen. You’re enjoying this as much as I am.”
“That’s not true,” Hen grumbled. “I can’t enjoy it as much as you because you won’t tell me exactly what’s goin’ on.”
Bea knew she looked like the cat licking cream from her whiskers. But she had worked too hard to ruin things now by giving Hen too much information. “You just do as I told you tomorrow, and you’ll see what I’ve got in mind.”
Jarrod stared across the boardinghouse hallway that separated him from Abby. It was dim where they stood. The only light came from lanterns mounted on the walls at either end. Their rooms were in the center of the hall.
“Are you sure you don’t mind having Lily and Katie with you tonight?” he asked.
She shook her head. “The boys wanted to stay with you. And neither room is big enough for all of them. Seems splitting up for the night is best.”
“I hate to impose—”
“Forget it. I love having them. Besides, you paid for dinner. The least I can do is keep the girls.”
She ran her tongue over her full bottom lip, reminding Jarrod how sweet it had felt to kiss her. His heart quickened, sending blood to points south. He’d tried to fight his
involuntary reaction. But try as he might, the sight, sound, smell, and touch of her seemed to bring him alive again. He had thought he was dead inside. He wanted to be; it was easier to feel nothing.
Unfortunately, the steady throbbing between his legs reminded him painfully that parts of him were still living. The undeniable fact was he wanted to kiss her again.
“If you need anything during the night …” he said, letting the sentence hang.
She lifted her gaze to his and her eyes widened as she studied him. She took a step back, pressing herself against her door.
Stupid bastard, Jarrod thought. She saw what he was thinking and didn’t want any part of him. He had to learn to hide his feelings better. He had gotten good at it with Dulcy. Now he was out of practice. Soon it wouldn’t matter. When he had his housekeeper, he wouldn’t see Abby Miller, at least not like this.
He sighed and glanced down the hall at the light, then back to her. “If Katie bothers you and you want me to sit with her, just let me know.”
“I’m sure she won’t. Just get some rest. So you can find your temper,” she said, smiling.
“Yeah. I guess I’ve got to make it up to them.”
“No. Just be honest. You were worried. You got angry. Because you care.”
“You think they’ll understand that?”
She lifted her brows in thought. “Probably. If not, buy them a licorice whip.”
He grinned. “So you
do
think I have something to make up to them.”
“No. I just think the way to their hearts is through candy.”
“What about the way to your heart?”
She looked down and took a big breath. “I already told you I’m not looking for that.”
“I thought every woman was looking for that.”
“Not this one.” She met his gaze then. “I think it’s time we said good night.”
He nodded. “‘Night, Abby. Don’t let the bedbugs bite.”
“Jarrod,” she said, turning the knob. She glanced back at him. “Whatever you do, don’t say that to Oliver.”
He grinned. “I usually only make a mistake once.”
She went into her room and he stared at the closed door.
If he let her, Abby Miller could tempt him to make another mistake. He wouldn’t let her.
The following morning, Abby got the girls ready and Jarrod did the same with the boys. Right after breakfast, Henrietta Schafer herded them into her cramped parlor. A gold brocade sofa and two matching wing-back chairs stood in the center of the room with various oak tables and accent pieces scattered throughout. She had been a good customer to the freight company.
In front of the window that looked out on Main Street, all four of the children stood next to Abby, boys on her right, girls on her left. The two youngest each clung to her legs on their respective side. Jarrod was beside Tom, with his hand on the youngster’s shoulder. They all watched the young woman Henrietta had arranged for them to meet. Abby thought they seemed nervous, which was surprising. They had gone through this procedure enough times that she would expect it to be easy for them.
The small woman made introductions. “Children, Abby, Jarrod, this is Nita Gibson. She’s Annie Shemanski’s cousin, here from Kansas to visit.”
Jarrod nodded politely. “A pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”
“Likewise.”
Abby guessed that Nita Gibson was in her early twenties. She was slim, blond, had big brown eyes, and was strikingly pretty. At least Abby thought so. She glanced at Jarrod and wanted to wipe the appreciative male smile off his face.
She turned her gaze on the newcomer and saw her taking Jarrod’s measure as she batted the longest eyelashes Abby had ever seen on a body, man or woman. Apparently, Kansas ladies were susceptible to the Blackstone charm too.
Nita Gibson was most definitely a lady, with her full dark green linen skirt, crisp white blouse trimmed with lace at neck and wrists, and a fashionable matching hat that dipped low on her smooth forehead, making her eyes look huge. She was a stunner, and Abby felt ill-dressed, plain, and dowdy by comparison.
“So, Mr. Blackstone, I understand you’re looking for a housekeeper?” Nita asked.
“Yes, ma’am. My sister passed away and I have her four youngsters to care for.”
“I find it hard to believe a man like you isn’t married,” she said.
“I was.”
Nita’s gloved hand fluttered between them for a moment, then she place it on her chest, flustered. “Your wife passed away. I’m sorry. No one told me. I didn’t mean to bring up painful memories.”