She glanced back at Eddie, who lay spread eagle in the back, his eyes closed and his mouth open. Then she sat up as straight as a pole. “I’m awake now.”
“We’ll soon come to the next station. If I remember, it’s just around that bend.” He nodded in the direction they were going. “Guess I don’t need to tell you that’s where we’re going. There’s only one trail, and we’re on it.”
“The road to Golden Valley. I was led to believe it was a decent one.”
He grinned. “Let me guess. Someone—likely someone at the stagecoach office said…” He puffed out his chest and lowered his voice in imitation of how he thought they’d sound. “Why it’s the best road west of Fort Macleod. Can’t go wrong taking the coach. Best road, I tell ya. Best road.”
Laughter burst from her—trilling like a happy bird. She wiped her eyes and shook her head. “I take it you’ve heard the spiel because that’s almost exactly what I was told. Not to worry about my safety, he said.” She laughed again. “And I believed him.”
Her amusement ended on a sigh. “Not that I had much choice. How else was I to get to Chet’s place?” With sober dark eyes, she held his gaze. “I only wish I could have gotten here before he passed…or at least to say goodbye as he was laid away.”
When she dashed a tear from her eyes, he ground his teeth. Maybe if she’d arrived sooner, he might have acted differently and been willing to stay at the ranch to keep her company.
You can do that now. Stay at the ranch with her.
It was tempting but impossible. If she learned the truth about Chet’s death, she’d not want anything to do with him. She’d certainly not want him on the ranch. Or even want to be in his company.
Chapter Six
Dianne studied Jace out of the corner of her eyes. Why had he gone from teasing to a set jaw and clenched fists? She knew of course. She wasn’t the only one dealing with Chet’s death and the loss of loved ones. It also explained why he didn’t want to go to the ranch.
“Jace, I’m sorry for being so insensitive. I understand how going back to the ranch would make you face too many memories of the man who’s been your friend and almost a father.” She brushed her hand across his sleeve. For some reason that defied explanation, she found comfort in the brief touch just as she’d almost leaned into his hand when he caught her from falling off the bench in her sleep. “But it will become easier. Soon, you’ll cherish those memories and welcome the reminders.”
“No!” The word exploded like it was driven from his mouth with TNT. “No.” His tone moderated. “You can’t begin to understand.”
His outburst shook her insides.
“I might understand more than you think. Try me.” She well knew the taste and shape of loss, pain, and disappointment. Far better than she wanted.
“No.” Another sharp explosion.
“Mama?” Eddie pressed to her back.
“Nothing’s wrong. Come, climb up beside me.” She indicated a spot away from Jace, but Eddie scrambled between them.
He looked at Jace. “You mad at Mama?”
The breath Jace sucked in went on forever, as if he had to fill in all the craters left by his explosions. “No, Eddie boy, I am not angry at her.”
Her son’s forehead crinkled. “You sounds angry.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to.” Jace’s gaze darted to her. Was he offering an apology?
A shiver niggled her spine. Had Chet been cruel? It didn’t fit with what she understood of him, but she’d never lived with him. Only knew him through his letters, her father’s memories, and one visit. For certain, something had happened to make Jace adamant about not returning when he should’ve been happy to do so. Yes, there was his sorrow at Chet’s passing, but that didn’t seem like enough to trigger the response she just witnessed.
“There’s the way station.”
A low building clung to the side of the trail, the horses in a corral behind it. Dawn and Bart had warned her it was small, but it didn’t appear much larger than the outhouse huddled in the trees.
Jace stopped the wagon, and they all stared at the less-than-welcoming place.
“You could use the outhouse.” Jace didn’t move.
“I could.” Not one muscle twitched.
“I gotta go, Mama.”
“Fine.” Still, no one moved.
