“That’s for certain, Little Miss.” He gazed at her with a warm expression before slowly standing to meet Torin’s gaze. “Miss Ivy told me your daughter is precious. She misses her something fierce. And she was right. Your girl’s a precious jewel, indeed.”
The man’s certainly passed my first measure. I guess, now, we climb into the surrey. Hopefully, my knees won’t shake too much.“Jewel’s ridden a couple of times from here to Hank’s house. But that’s it.”
“You can call out if she needs to stop.”
The offer reassured him.
“Reverend Joshua told me we could do this in stages. You can turn back at any time. He wanted you to know that just making the effort, no matter how small it seems, is a big accomplishment.”
Torin helped Jewel onto the seat, and she slid over by herself. He kept his arm around her shoulders. “We’re ready,” he said to Sam, not at all sure he spoke the truth—at least not for himself.
Jewel, by her wide-eyed looking around, appeared all too happy to start their journey.
Sam released the brake and flicked the reins. The horse started up.
His daughter bounced in her seat and pointed to the lake. “Sw-ans. Cy-netts.”
“That’s right. Cygnets.”When had she learned that word? Or maybe she’s known the word for a while, but I haven’t heard her say it.
“Han’s hous.”
“Yes, Hank’s house. We’re not stopping. We’re driving down the mountain.”
At first, Sam kept the horse to a walk, until Torin called that he could pick up the pace a bit.
Torin looked about him with alertness. When he’d arrived, he’d been in no position to notice his surroundings, even if they hadn’t changed with the seasons and the years. He pointed out anything Jewel might find engrossing—a flowering bush, a squirrel skittering across their path, a clump of mushrooms at the base of a tree—relieved she seemed comfortable, even as the ride stretched to an hour.
Jewel stared around with wide-eyed interest, a change from the despondent child she’d been for the last week and a half.
When they finally reached the outskirts of town, Sam pulled up and glanced back. “Do you want to stop here?”
He did. But conscious of the time, Torin gestured for the man to keep going. Passing through town, he paid more attention to his daughter than his surroundings. He wanted to deter any fears and explain anything she wanted to know.
The bell started ringing, a resonate gong-gong.
Jewel gasped and looked up at him.
“That’s the church bell.”
“Belllee.” She moved her head back and forth in time to the ringing.
Sam reined in at the front of a white-steepled building and set the brake.
Not at all wanting to climb out, Torin watched a few stragglers hasten up the gray steps and into the building but made no attempt to leave the surrey.We’re going to be late.Shades of parental scoldings budged him from the seat and onto the ground. He reached up for Jewel and swung her down. “Many thanks, Sam.”
The man touched his hat, released the brake, and flicked the reins for the horse to move away.
His legs leaden, Torin clasped Jewel’s hand and climbed the steps, half-grateful, half-anxious that she moved at a snail’s pace, and the service would start before they ventured to join the congregation.
He led her inside and through the back partition, stepping into the aisle and pausing. He’d planned to take refuge in a back pew. But he saw rows of men—cowboys, judging by the Stetsons they held in their laps—who’d obviously had the same idea.
Jewel shyly pressed against his side.
The elderly minister with a long white beard, who—from their similar features, must be Joshua’s father—was in the midst of greeting everyone. He announced the first hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” before pausing and looking directly at them.
Torin braced himself for a frown of disapproval at their tardiness and hurriedly glanced around for a place to sit. But he didn’t see any space to fit two. His heart thumped so hard and loud in his chest, he was sure the drumbeat echoed throughout the church. Paralyzed, he clutched his daughter’s hand, trying not to clench too hard, lest he hurt her.
“Welcome, friends.” Reverend Norton’s smile softened the hard lines of his face.
