He didn’t motion for Dinah to follow but didn't tell her to stay put either. She strode after him.
When she'd descended the single log step to the barren ground in front of the cabin, he spun and braced his hands at his waist. "Well?"
This was their privacy? She glanced toward the barn. She'd left one of the brothers—Gilead—to keep watch by Jonah's bed. That meant three more must be out here somewhere, as well as the boy. If they were with the animals, could they hear the conversation taking place twenty strides away?
She squared her shoulders. It was Jericho's business whether he wanted his kin to overhear. An audience wouldn't change what she had to say.
She met his gaze squarely. "I find it interesting you didn't give your name when we met you by the creek."
He didn't answer, nor did the guarded expression on his face change. His only acknowledgement of her words was the way he tipped his head the smallest bit.
It seemed she would have to ask a direct question if she wanted a direct answer.
"Perhaps we weren't clear in our questions there. My sister and I have come from Virginia in response to the advertisement you placed. Mysisteris responding to the advertisement, that is." She motioned toward the cabin. "You'll find she has all the qualifications you required, including the babe she'll give birth to in about three months." She worked for a smile. "We both prayed extensively and felt the Almighty's prompting that she was to make this journey. That her future lies here on the Coulter ranch."
Didn't it, Lord?Had they gotten things mixed up? Naomi's future certainly didn't lie back in Wayneston, that was for sure. Not after that one poor choice left her with a shame she'd never be able to overcome.
His defensive posture had turned even warier, if that were possible. "I know nothing of an advertisement." His words and tone asked what he didn't speak.What in the wide open sky are you talking about?
But they raised even more questions in her. Could he be telling the truth? Had someone else placed the advertisement on his behalf? Or…could there be another Jericho Coulter in this area? The ranch had been exactly where the advertisement said.
She eyed him. "You don't, by chance, have another family member named Jericho? An uncle or cousin?" There were certainly enough men with the surname Coulter around here.
He shook his head.
She sighed and reached into her pocket for the advertisement and held it out to him. As he took it, she wanted to grab the paper back. What if he became angry and ripped it to shreds? They would have no way to force him to honor his agreement.
But really, if he would ask a woman to come all this distance—a journey of three months from Virginia—then pretend he'd never placed the advertisement, she didn't want Naomi tied to him anyway.
As the man stared at the paper, it occurred to her to wonder if he could read. If he'd grown up in this remote mountain wilderness, he might not have had access to schooling.
But his gaze shifted from that wary look to something a bit more like shock. His eyes stayed on the paper long enough to read it through twice.
Finally, he raised his eyes to her. "I didn't place this advertisement."
She had to fight to keep from stepping backward in frustration. He sounded sincere. But someone had created that notice. "Who did then, sir? TheRichmond Gazettedidn't fabricate your name and location from the early morning fog."
He lowered his brows in a scowl. "I don't know." Then he swung around to the barn and bellowed, "Boys, get out here. Jude, Sampson, Miles. You too, Sean. Gilead and Lillian. I want everyone."
The explosion of words from the man who'd barely strung a half dozen into a sentence before made her want to shrink back. His anger couldn't be missed, but at least he was turning it on his family. For now.
She'd not thought to tuck her derringer into her skirt pocket when she came out here. She should have remembered it.
In truth, after she’d worked so hard on his brother's leg, she'd not expected to need protection from him.
At the barn, the three brothers and nephew charged out as though the house were on fire. A moment later, the door opened and Gilead stepped out. "What's wrong?" He held the door, giving Jericho a worried look.
Jericho Coulter only motioned him forward.
Gilead glanced back into the house and frowned. "Come on."
A reluctant Lillian shuffled out, her chin tipped down. Her frown made her look every bit the child she was. Poor thing, alone here with all these men. Where were the children's mother and father?
Once all had gathered except the injured brother and her own sleeping sister, Jericho held up the advertisement. "Who's responsible for this?"
The tense silence that followed made Dinah's middle clench into a knot.
"What is it, Jer?" Jude, the one who'd been with Jonah when he was injured, shuffled a step closer.
