“Are the kids all right?”
“Depends on what you mean by ‘all right.’” Cody rubbed a hand across his eyes. “We both know I’m struggling with them. But that’s not the reason I searched you out. I came across a young woman crying in an alley. She fainted, so I took her to Cassie. My sister got her changed into some dry clothes, then told me the woman had bad bruising along her arms and sides. Cass thinks she was attacked.”
Travis growled low in his throat. “I’ll never understand how a man can harm a woman.” They nudged their horses into a walk. “Did you recognize her?”
“No. She had a carpet bag. I think she was a passenger on the train, probably passing through. Her clothes looked fancy, and I couldn’t find a purse when I went back for her bag. She must have been robbed.”
“That would explain why she was attacked.”
They rode in silence for a bit. When Travis spoke again, his words were blunt. “You look tired.”
“It’s that obvious?”
“Yeah. How’re you holdin’ up?”
Shaking his head, Cody sighed. “I’m not, Trav. I barely get by each day, and I don’t know the first thing about being a parent. What am I gonna do when I’ve got to work? Hank and the boys have taken on more than they should because I’m trying to figure out fatherhood. Those poor kids need more stability than I can give.”
“You know Cassie and I would be happy to…”
Holding up a hand, Cody cut him off. “You two are as busy as I am. That café is Cassie’s dream. I won’t ask her to give it up because her big brother can’t manage his own problems.”
“Have you considered the orphanage?”
A pit formed in Cody’s stomach. Unhappy memories threatened to surface. “You know I can’t.”
“I figured you’d say as much.” Travis drew in a breath before leveling a look at Cody. “I have another suggestion, but I doubt you’ll like it any more than the others.”
Cody cocked a brow when his friend didn’t continue. “Well?”
“If you plan to keep those kids, you need a wife. I’d recommend a nanny, but you can’t afford one after your losses this winter.”
A lump formed in his throat. “I have no intention of loving again. Not after Liza."
“I know. But you need help, and those kids need a mother. You keep saying you can’t do this by yourself. Logically, that means getting married.”
“You realize I don’t have time to court, right? And even if I did, there’s a shortage of available women in this town.”
“You could advertise for a mail-order bride.”
Cody winced. His stomach knotted into a hard rock. “And invite a stranger into our lives?”
Travis shot him a sympathetic look. “I know it’s not what you want. But you don’t have many options.”
The lump in Cody’s throat grew. “No kidding.”
When they reached the house, they dismounted. Travis clapped a hand on Cody’s shoulder. “Pray through it, my friend. Perhaps a solution will show up where you least expect it.”
“I hope so.” Cody scratched his jaw as he followed Travis up the porch steps. That was something he’d consider later. For now, they had to figure out what happened to the young woman resting in the Doyles’ guest room.
As they stepped inside, Cassie met them with a huge grin. Both men stopped in their tracks. Travis gave his wife a puzzled look. “I thought this was a serious situation.”
Cassie grabbed his hand. Cody could almost see the excitement radiating from her. “You’ll never guess who’s here, Travis!” She dragged her husband into the house and up the stairs to the stranger’s room. Cody followed, confusion burning inside. When he left, Cassie had been hovering over the woman in concern. Now, she bounced with glee.
His eyes landed on the woman he’d carried here. She was awake and sitting up in bed. Her auburn hair had been plaited into a neat braid. Her fair skin was smooth as porcelain, no longer mottled from crying. But what arrested his attention were her eyes. They were a unique shade of green, one he’d never seen before. He stared into them, his mind working to label the color. Only when she fidgeted did he realize his gaze made her uncomfortable. He immediately shifted it to Travis, who also stared at the young woman, mouth gaping open.
“Ella?”
She smiled. It didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Hello, Travis.”
