“Yes. He won’t bother us any longer.”
Isaiah sank into her. “Good.” He squeezed her again, then started for Cody.
Ella put a restraining hand on his shoulder. “Be careful, Isaiah. Your papa is hurt.”
Their son paused. “Hurt?”
Cody smiled. “I’ll be fine, buddy. Just need you to hug me on this side for a bit.” He pointed to his left.
Isaiah complied. “Why’re you hurt, Papa?”
He was saved from answering by a shriek from the front door. Tori stood there, hands over her mouth. “You’re back!” She raced down the steps and enveloped Ella in a hug. “I kept imagining the worst.”
Ella threw her arms around her sister. “All’s well now.”
Their embrace lasted a long time. Cody mumbled something about checking on Preston, and he and Isaiah headed for the barn. Tori pulled back first, her eyes following Cody. “Is he all right?”
“He will be.” Ella led her sister to the house. “I want to hear all about medical school.”
“In time.” Tori squeezed her arm. “First, I want to know what happened.”
Ella gave a brief explanation of the events that led to Cody’s injuries. By the time she finished, Tori’s eyes were wide.
“My word, Ella. You’ve been through a lot in a few days.”
She nodded, suddenly exhausted.
Tori slipped an arm around her waist. “Why don’t you say hello to your other two children? Supper will be ready soon.”
Ella blinked. “You cook?”
“Oh, goodness, no. I’m hopeless when it comes to that. Cassie brought over a large pot of stew.” She smiled. “I like her. Travis found himself a wonderful wife.”
“Indeed.” Ella glanced around. “Is Miss Hattie here?”
Tori shook her head. “Her grandson had an emergency, so I told her to go home to help. The children and I have been getting along famously. I felt comfortable taking care of them myself, though Miss Hattie did promise to come back as soon as the situation at home was resolved.”
They entered the kitchen. Addie and Jonah sat on the floor, playing. Jonah saw her first. His eyes grew large. “Mama!” He jumped up and ran to her. She wrapped him in her arms, kissing his forehead. Addie crawled over and tugged her skirt. Ella lowered herself to the floor so she could hold both children. She cuddled them close, basking in their sweet innocence. When her eyes finally opened again, she saw Tori watching her with an intense expression.
“What is it?”
Her sister shook her head. “You, my dear Ella. I wasn’t sure how you’d survive in the wilds of the West. But it’s obvious you’ve found your place. All I heard while you were gone was ‘Mama this’ and ‘Papa that.’ These children love you and your husband.” She wiped a tear from her cheek. “It’s the opposite of what we experienced as children. It…it gives me hope.” She sat on the floor beside Ella. “I do have one question.”
Ella rested her head against Addie’s. “Go ahead.”
“I can tell Cody loves you. His reaction to Howard taking you was telling. But you—how do you feel about him?”
A smile curled up her lips. “I love him too.”
Cody poked his head around the corner. “I’ll never get tired of hearing that. Or of saying it to you.”
Tori jumped, a hand over her heart.
Ella chuckled as Jonah wiggled out of her arms. “Papa, Papa!”
“Careful, Jonah!” Isaiah stood like a guard in front of Cody, pointing to his uninjured side. “You need to hug him here.”
Jonah plunked his hands on his hips. “Why?”
