Caroline reached under her coat and took out a small drawstring bag made of leather. “When your uncles heard you were getting a puppy, they took up a collection.” She set the bag in the palm of Noah’s hand, causing its contents to clink. “They said it’s yours, but you mustn’t go out and spend it. You are to hide this far in the depths of the root cellar. Then, if times get so hard that you uncover it, you can use it to feed your dog.”
Noah weighed the bag in his hand. “That’s a great gift.” He handed it to Jackson. “Papa, hide it for me.”
Jackson pocketed the bag and held his tongue, lest he say something unkind. The charity grated, but he understood its purpose, to allay his objection and keep the pet from being a burden.
What he couldn’t understand was what had possessed Caroline to bring the dog at all if she didn’t plan to stay. He was grateful to have more time with his children, but her visit did little to improve his holiday, and her gift would make things harder on Noah once it was over.
Caroline stared at Jackson’s back as he’d walked away, knowing full well he was angry. A little muscle near his lip twitched whenever he held his irritation in. But she wasn’t sure of the cause. It couldn’t be the dog. He’d denied it, and he’d all butbrought the animal home himself. Maybe it was over the bag of coins.
Despite his sullen mood that persisted, she spent the week doing what she came to do—care for the children and the house, so Jackson could have more time with them. Maybe, someday, he’d appreciate her efforts.
At the sound of hooves in the yard, Caroline pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders and looked out the window at Jackson riding away on his horse. He’d be gone two days to get Amanda’s headstone then return with enough men to lift it and set it on its final resting place.
Caroline would worry about Jackson until she saw him again. His return would be a relief. But so would his absence.
Being near him stirred warm feelings as well as resentment. He’d give her forever if she asked, but she wasn’t sure she could stand forever if this was how it would feel. Every time she imagined the two of them together, memories of his betrayal trampled through her head and stomped across her heart.
His reasons absolved him of blame, but it didn’t erase the damage.
“Morning, Aunt Caroline,” Noah said from behind her.
“Good morning,” she replied as he came down the stairs and headed for the front door, Ranger at his heels. “Where are you going?”
“Taking him to do his business,” he said as he hurried to put on his coat.
“Why the front yard?”
“If I take him out back, the kittens hiss at him.”
Caroline hid her smile behind her hand as he left. She put some dried apples on to stew, to go with the sausage and toast she’d prepared earlier for Jackson. The children would appreciate the sweet, and so would she.
Noah came back in, shivering. “It’s cold out there. Papa said it might snow.”
“It very well might. Go stand by the fire.”
Noah removed his coat then sat on the rug in front of the hearth with Ranger. “I hope the snow doesn’t keep Papa from making it back home.”
“It might delay him a little, but that’s all. Your father has traveled in all kinds of weather.”
“He was going to take Jewel and me on a trip, but then you showed up.”
Surely, he hadn’t told them… “A trip to where?”
“Pennsylvania.”
“To visit your grandparents?”
“No. To visit you.”
It took four men to move the headstone off the wagon and place it on Amanda’s grave—Mr. Ames, Mr. Green, Mr. Dolan, and Jackson. The marker was a solid piece of pale marble expertly engraved and embellished with flowers and vines.
Caroline joined the men as they removed their hats and stood in a loose circle. “It’s beautiful, Jackson.”
He looked at her with moist eyes, then cleared his throat and turned his attention to the others. “Thank you for helping. You’re welcome to stay for lunch.”
His offer was met with a masculine chorus of polite declinations.
“Are you sure?” Caroline asked. “There’s plenty of soup to go around.”
