Jewel took it with a look of awe. “Pwetty.” She hugged it to her chest.
“Tell her thank you,” Jackson prodded gently.
“Tank you, Aunt Cawoline.”
“You’re very welcome.”
She glanced at Jackson long enough to send a silent plea, then looked down at Noah, who was standing next to him. “I have something for you, too.” She reached into the carriage and lifted out his gift.
Noah’s eyes turned to saucers. “My puppy!” He started toward her, then paused and looked up at Jackson.
“You can keep him.”
Noah ran and took the squirming bundle of fur into his arms. He carried it to the porch, giggling as it licked his face and wagged its tail so enthusiastically it nearly fell out of his arms.
Jackson shook his head and chuckled.
“I hope you don’t mind.”
“Nah,” he said turning back to her. “Before you arrived, I was calculating how much wheedling I’d have to do to convince Peggy to take a dog.”
“I wired her and told her not to come. I hope you don’t mind that presumption either.”
His gaze warmed and locked with hers. “No.”
“I came so you could spend Christmas with your children,” Caroline informed him to curb his wrong impression. “And,if you like, I’m willing to accompany them on the train afterwards.”
His smile disappeared, as she’d expected, but what replaced it was an expressionless stare.
“Am I welcome to stay?” she asked, suddenly unsure.
“Of course, you are. I’m glad you came.”
“So am I.” She reached for Jewel. “I’ll take her so you can help Mr. Ames with my trunk.”
The day was mild for mid-December, so Caroline climbed the steps of the porch and sat in one of the chairs with Jewel on her lap.
Jewel spent a few minutes examining her doll, then handed it to her and got down to play with Noah’s puppy.
“Have you decided what his name is going to be?” Caroline asked Noah as the men wagged her trunk past them, into the house.
“I thought about Patch, because of the black fur around his eye, but I think Ranger suits him better.”
“I agree.”
Caroline stood when the men returned. “Thank you for the ride, Mr. Ames.”
He tipped his hat. “Always a pleasure. Want me to tell Rudy Dolan you don’t need him?” he asked Jackson.
“Let the plans stand for now. My wife’s headstone is scheduled to arrive at Fort Kearney next week. He can run things here while I go get it.” Jackson reached into his pocket. “What do I owe you?”
“Nothin’. Bill’s been settled.” Mr. Ames smiled at the children. “Take good care of that puppy, Noah.”
“I will!”
Jackson watched the children play and giggle at the puppy’s antics until Mr. Ames drove out of the yard. “There’s a roast beefsandwich in the kitchen if you’re hungry,” he said to Caroline. “I need to turn the horses out to graze.”
“Could you stay a minute more? I have another gift for Noah.”
