His eyebrows went up. “Are they?” He shook his head. “I don’t think so. Are you doing what’s best for them or fighting a battle between you and your father?”

“Blue, what’s the matter with you? Why can’t you see one is the same as the other?”

He shook his head hard. “No, it isn’t. You are being ridiculously stubborn.”

“And you think you must protect me.” She leaned closer. “I am not your wife. My girls are not your daughters. I’ll look after them.” She turned and stormed down the hill, not caring if he followed or not. She called over her shoulder, “And I will go back to town whether you take me or I get someone else to.”

She paused before she reached the pens and turned around to confront him, but he remained where she’d left him. At the look of anguish on his face and the way his hands curled into fists at his sides, she forgot what she meant to say.

The words she spoken to him had been cruel. Oh, Blue. She marched back to his side. “Blue, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. Can you forgive me?” She pressed her hand to his arm, but he shied away.

“There’s nothing to forgive.” There was a shrug in his voice.

Regret burned through her veins and seared every corner of her heart. How could they have gone from a tender kiss yesterday to this hard, unforgiving place today?

“I’ll take you back to town.” His words couldn’t convey withdrawal any clearer.

“Thank you.” If only she could take back the hurt she’d caused. But words, once spoken, were impossible to unspeak.

Chapter Fifteen

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Blue brought the wagon to the house, lifted the girls to the back, helped Clara to the seat, said goodbye and thanked Eddie and Linette, but every action, every word seemed to come from a cold, distant spot.

Linette gave him a questioning look as she patted his arm. “Nice of you to come. I’m looking forward to next time you bring Clara and the girls.”

There’d be no next time, but he didn’t bother to tell her that. Instead, he perched beside Clara, careful not to touch her, and headed for town.

He should never have let himself grow fond of her and the girls. He’d warned himself against it numerous times. He should likely thank Clara for reminding him of the need to keep to himself. From now on, he’d keep it firmly in mind.

For the most part, the trip to town was taken in silence.

Twice Clara turned to him. “Blue, I—”

Both times, he’d held up his hand to stop her. “Enough has been said.”

She’d glanced back at the girls and thankfully decided not to pursue the subject.

When they reached the church, he turned the wagon past it and pulled up at the Mortons’. He lifted the girls down, then helped Clara to the ground. Recognizing how fragile his determination was, he avoided meeting her eyes. She tried to catch his hand, but he pulled away.

He climbed back to the wagon seat. “Tell Bonnie I won’t be back for supper.”

Clara reached for him. “Blue, please.”

He drove away. Told himself he didn’t hear Libby demanding to know why he was leaving.

They’d soon enough forget they’d ever met him.

He returned the wagon to the livery barn and tromped back to the church to saddle his horse. He swung to the back of the animal, keeping his gaze away from the shack. He couldn’t help hearing a thin sound coming from that direction. Was Clara explaining to the girls why he’d left so suddenly? He imagined Libby and Eleanor might protest.

He urged the horse to the street. Where was he going? What was he going to do?

Part of him wanted to ride west and disappear into the mountains. He could find a trapper’s shack and spend the winter hunting for food.

But he couldn’t leave as long as that man was hanging about. Perhaps he was already gone.

One way to find out.

He rode out of town to the west, then turned on the north fork. He rode slowly. Anyone observing him would think he was a man with no purpose, no destination, but he was alert to any sign of the mysterious stranger.

After a bit, he glimpsed a horse in the shelter of some trees, almost hidden from view. Same place where he’d seen the man a couple of nights ago. Same horse. He needed no further proof the man was still around.




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