Kate hesitated, not wanting to intrude.“You’ve had a hard time.”
Shea smiled wanly.“It wasn’t what I expected when I left Boston.”
“But now that you’re here?”
“The land is beautiful,” Shea said.
Kate had already set the table, and now she dished out two plates of food and filled glasses with water.
Shea sank down gratefully on a chair.She should be starved, but uncertainty curbed her hunger.“Mr.Edwards?”
“Clint, you mean?”Kate said.“He went to check in with Nate, make sure everyone has come in.With all the lawlessness …”
Shea took a bite of food and found it tasty, but her questions were building, and there were so few people she could ask.
“I know so little about … my father.”
Kate smiled.“Everyone likes him.There’s hardly anyone that he hasn’t helped.”
Shea sighed.“Why do you think someone shot him?”
Kate’s smile disappeared.“No one knows.My father has tried to talk to Mr.Randall, but he says he doesn’t know anyone who has a grudge.”
Relief flooded Shea.At least no one knew about Rafe.Not yet.But why hadn’t her father said anything about him?Did her father even realize who was behind the robberies?
Kate looked at her sympathetically.“You must be very tired.Would you like me to stay tonight?”
Shea shook her head.“You’ve done enough.I’m ever so grateful.But I can manage.”
“I’ll bring you some clothes tomorrow.And a ham.”
Shea swallowed.She knew now how Clint felt, being wrapped in the protective warmth of people she couldn’t confide in.“Thank you,” she said simply.
“You’ll like it here,” Kate said impulsively.“It’s usually very peaceful.And Papa will catch the people who shot Mr.… your father.”
“I heard there was a man staying here, that he disappeared when my father was shot.Can you tell me anything about him?”
“Just that he came here several weeks ago.He didn’t say much, or attend the socials.I know Clint didn’t care for him, nor my father.”
“Couldn’t he have shot my father?”
Kate nodded.“But there have been so many other instances lately … That’s why Clint thinks he should stick around here.”
The way Kate said Clint’s name made Shea smile.“You like him, don’t you?”
Kate blushed, the matter-of-fact competence disappearing.“I didn’t know it showed.”
“Just a little,” Shea said.
Kate’s smile faded.“I wish it didn’t,” she said.“He says he has tumbleweeds for feet, that he’ll never settle down.”
Shea reached out with her hand and touched her.“Don’t believe him,” she said.“Fight for him.”
She knew she shouldn’t say that.Clint had his reasons, but she’d also seen how he looked at Kate.With pleasure, then wariness.Like Rafe’s wariness.
Shea wondered whether she had any right to interfere, but something had made her say the words.Fight for him.Because she couldn’t fight for Rafe?
Was he already gone?Had he lied about leaving?
