He looked to his wife for agreement, or maybe to get her opinion, for he didn’t sound very certain.
Lorelei straightened. “That’s what Idon’twant. I’m trying to draw the danger away from June. She can’t come, and you need to be here with her and the baby.” She would scrap this whole plan if they tried to travel that path.
Juniper reached for her husband’s hand, but neither of them pushed the idea further.
Lorelei turned back to Rosemary. Hers would be the opinion that bore the most weight as the leader of her family. Faith hadn’t spoken up, which was a bit of a surprise for their impulsive sister. Lorelei had expected her to be most open to the idea. In fact, she’d been hoping for a bit of support from that corner.
A glance toward Faith showed she bit her lower lip. Did she think this a bad decision too? Good thing she’d not voiced an opinion then.
“Lorelei.” Juniper’s soft voice turned their focus to her. “What do you plan to do with the calf once he grows bigger?Release him back into a herd? We can’t keep a full-grown buffalo bull here on the ranch.”
The swirl of uncertainty she’d been keeping down tried to rise. This was a question she’d avoided, even in her thoughts. “I...” She finally sent a pleading look around the room. “I don’t know yet. All I know is we have to protect him now.” She took a breath for courage. “I saw God’s hand in this from the very beginning. How I found Curly just at the right time, how I was able to catch him in the wild. Then Tanner showed up exactly when we needed him—with a milk cow, no less. What are the chances he would have brought a milk cow all the way from St. Louis?”
She focused on Juniper, who’d asked the question. “I don’t know what God’s plans are for Curly. All I know is we need to take the next step before us. It’s not safe for him or for us to keep him at the ranch, but the Lord has provided a neighbor who’s willing to provide shelter for him. It’s time we accept that help.”
Juniper nodded, her eyes shining a little, as if she approved of the answer. Then she looked to Rosie, and Lorelei held her breath as their eldest sister met her gaze. If Rosemary said no, should she let the idea go? How could she?
Rosie finally gave a single nod. “Maybe we could try it. As long as Mr. Mason is agreeable and we can find suitable quarters for you in a different building from him.”
Her mind whirled with Rosie’s first statement, so she could barely keep up with the string of words that followed. She forced herself to refocus.
“I’ll be riding over every day to make sure things are in good order and see if you need anything.” Rosie’s voicegrew stern. “If I think for a moment you’re in danger, either from that man or from people coming after the calf, I’ll bring you home then and there. Do you understand? The calf can stay and fend for itself. It’s not nearly as important to me as you are.”
Lorelei fought hard to hold in a grin as she nodded. “This is the best plan. I’m sure of it.”
twelve
Tanner stood in the center of the fort’s courtyard and eyed the darker sky in the direction of the Collins ranch. Was that more than just a cookfire? It certainly seemed like it, but did the sight of smoke warrant riding over there to make sure no buildings had caught flame?
Yes.
Though he was doing his best not to be a nosy neighbor, especially since their brother-in-law had come, he couldn’t stand the thought of those women in peril and him standing here watching the sky.
He strode to the supply building where he kept Domino’s bridle, then snatched the leather from its hook and slipped outside the fort wall. His first whistle made his gelding’s head pull up from the grass, and his second started the horse toward him with a steady stride.
Just as Tanner met the animal at the rope fence, Domino’s attention jerked to the side. Tanner followed his gaze.
Horses appeared through the pass.
He tensed and touched his hand to the butt of the pistoltucked into his waistband. Why had he not thought to bring his rifle?
But as soon as the riders came into view, the knot in his belly relaxed, even as a new pressure weighed his chest.
Lorelei, with the calf draped across her saddle. Rosemary rode on one side of her, and White Horse on the other.
He left his gelding and started toward them. The only thing that kept him to a walk was the fact that no panic marked their features. Why had only these three come? If fire had injured anyone, they wouldn’t be riding at a calm walk.
When he reached Lorelei’s horse, she halted. Her expression looked worried, but also a little ... hesitant?
The weight in his chest pressed harder. “What’s wrong? What happened?”
He glanced at Rosemary, then White Horse, but both were looking at Lorelei to answer.
When she spoke, her voice sounded overly bright. “We’ve had some new visitors. An entire Sioux village has set up camp along the riverbank behind our house.”
The pressure in his chest rose up to his throat, nearly choking the air out of him.
Before he could manage an answer, she continued. “We were hoping if we move Curly away from the ranch, they might decide to stop setting up house and move to a different camp.”
