“Who is this little man?” Miss Callahan asked, tickling his belly. Her eyes squinted as another laugh belted out of her like a lyrical melody.
With slow, dreaded steps, Travis reached Josie’s side. “This is my youngest, Gideon,” he answered, his gaze low.
“Gideon,” Miss Callahan repeated. “What a lovely name.”
Travis cleared his throat, the sound cutting through the moment and drawing Miss Callahan’s attention away from the child. He didn’t mean to disrupt the moment, but so much needed to be addressed—so much still had to be said and done.
“We’ve changed sleeping arrangements for the night. Our cabin only has two bedrooms. I’m moving Jonas to my room so you can sleep with the girls.”
Miss Callahan nodded, her hands clasped in front of her. “That is fine.”
“I would ask you to stay with me, my dear,” Aunt Polly said, patting Miss Callahan’s forearm. “But my cabin is almost half this size. I wouldn’t want you overwhelmed and crammed on your first night.”
Miss Callahan turned to the girls. “I would love to spend more time with the girls, anyway.”
Lillian clapped and bounced on her toes in excitement while Ivy kicked another rock. Travis faced Aunt Polly. “If you don’t mind getting Miss Callahan’s bed ready and bringing the children inside, I’d like to discuss something with her.”
Aunt Polly smiled, adjusting the babbling Gideon on her hip. “Will do.” She whistled sharply, getting the children’s attention. “Come along, children. Let’s give Miss Callahan and your pa some privacy.”
Travis’s pulse moved to his throat after the door closed behind them all. Miss Callahan’s gaze locked with his, eagerly waitingfor him to speak. He studied her eyes—dark brown, rich like a glass of brandy, yet impossible to see through. What lay hidden behind them? Would he ever truly know her?
“Miss Callahan,” Travis began, scratching the back of his neck. “I’ve been thinking about the day we marry . . .” He paused for a moment. Despite every urge to delay the wedding, he couldn’t ask her to stay under his roof for more than a few days. The last thing he wanted was to bring shame upon her. “Would you be willing to get married this Saturday? I know you’d like to have a day or two to settle in and get to know the children beforehand.”
Miss Callahan nodded, then slowly wrapped her arms around herself, her gaze dropping to the ground. “I think . . . that’d be best.”
“Good. I’ll meet with the pastor tomorrow to get it all set up and complete some errands in town. Would you like to watch the children for a few hours then . . . Aunt Polly is close by if you need her.”
Miss Callahan smiled, her timid eyes meeting his. “All right.”
Before Travis could say anything else, Lillian’s squealing voice interrupted him. She peeked her head out the door.
“Miss Callahan! Your bed is next to mine. Come and see!”
Miss Callahan softly chuckled as they heard Aunt Polly getting onto the child. “I guess that’s my cue.”
She turned around to follow Lillian, but Travis felt obligated to offer his gratitude. For a woman with no prior experience and fresh off a long journey, Josephine Callahan was doing remarkably well bonding with his children. No woman would travel thousands of miles, wade through ankle-deep mud, and still have patience for a four-year-old unless she had a profoundly good heart.
“Joseph—I mean . . . Miss Callahan,” Travis stuttered. His ears and face burned.Get yourself together, Travis.
Miss Callahan turned around. “Yes, Mr. Blythe?”
“Thank you.”
She nodded before taking Lillian’s hand. As the door closed behind them, Travis placed his hands behind his head, drawing in a deep breath before exhaling slowly. This was actually happening. In two days, he would be a married man again. His eyes burned as he stared up at the vast blue sky.Forgive me, Sophie.
Chapter Five
Brushingherhairwhileseated on Jonas’s bed, Josie reflected on how supper went hours ago. Travis had sat quietly while Aunt Polly did most of the talking. Josie had been nervous they’d have so many questions to ask about her, but thankfully Aunt Polly mostly spoke about the town and the projects the church ladies were working on.
Carrying too many secrets was a treacherous burden, especially when previous secrets had once put her life in jeopardy with Marcus—and now, her child’s life rested in the hands of a stranger who could just as well be cruel. One wrong word could blow her cover and expose her deception. So she found it safer to remain quiet, speaking only to the children. After all, they were one of the reasons she was here.
When Travis asked about her family in the wagon, Josie told the truth, only leaving out her husband and baby. She didn’t have much time left now that she was four months along. Soon, she would be showing. Josie placed her hand over her smallbump.Only two more days,she told herself. But reminding herself of her true intentions made her stomach sour again. Travis was a polite man from what she had seen in the short time she’d known him. Josie touched her throat and swallowed hard.Until he has you in his grasp.
“Hello, Miss Callahan,” Lillian said cheerfully, entering dressed in her nightgown. Ivy followed behind her, her hair tucked inside her nightcap.
“Hello, girls.”
From what Josie observed, Lillian was a chatterbox and Jonas was very passionate about drawing and animals. However, Ivy wasn’t very talkative. Josie didn’t blame the girl. After losing her own mother, Josie could imagine the child’s pain in getting a new one.
