The men doing the haying came in at dark and left at first light. Hayracks trundled to the barn’s far side, where they tossed off the load and returned to get more.
Gil wandered over every morning with a cup of coffee and sat at the table to drink it.
Amelia detected no sign of him imbibing. She appreciated that. One less thing to concern her. Not that things were any different than they had been from the beginning. Except Pa needed to be watched every minute of the day. And Zach wasn’t there to talk to, to go over the day’s events with, to share her concerns.
As long as Gil sat beside Pa and discussed the ranch, Pa seemed content, but when Gil left before noon, saying he needed to make one thing or another for the evening meal, Pa grew confused and restless.
On other occasions, he’d fallen asleep in the big chair in the living room. But then he’d waken and ask for Evelyn.
It took all of Amelia’s ingenuity to persuade him not to go looking for her.
Today was no different.
By the time they’d eaten their lunch, Poppy was ready for her nap.
Pa walked to the living room, then headed for the door.
“Kat, can you watch your pa while I set the bread to rise?” The girl stood on the porch where it would be easy for her to keep an eye on her father.
“Sure.” She didn’t look at Amelia or her pa when she answered.
Amelia followed the direction of her gaze but saw nothing to concern her. Was Kat getting restless? What would she do? Where would she go?
Amelia would have to keep a close eye on Pa. If he wandered away, she couldn’t leave Poppy to look for him.
Then Kat jogged from the porch, disappearing around the barn.
With an anxious sigh, Amelia watched Pa. He sat on a chair, twisting a bit of rope.
Hours later, when four loaves of golden bread cooled on the counter, Pa was still there, sleeping.
Meat was cooking for supper. Every night, she’d made enough to feed Zach if he came home. Maybe he’d come tonight.
Boots clattered on the outside step, and she rushed to the window. But it was only Kat returning from wherever she’d been.
Poppy woke up and went outside to join Pa and Kat.
Only one thing was needed to make the scene perfect, and that was Zach riding over the hill.
As if her thoughts had brought him into view, a man rode toward the house. It only took seconds for her to see it wasn’t Zach, but Sobel. So shiny and clean, the sun reflected off him.How did he ride a horse across the dusty trail without a speck of it landing on him?
He rode toward the barn. What sort of mischief did he have in mind? Or was he looking for Zach?
“Kat, watch Pa and Poppy. Don’t take your eyes off them, not even for one minute. I want to check on something.” Not wanting him to come to the house and upset Pa or raise Kat’s ire, Amelia picked up her skirt and hurried to the corrals.
Sobel leaned over the saddle horn, grinning. “This is a nice welcome.”
She glanced over her shoulder. Good. They weren’t visible from the house. “Are you looking for Zach?”
“I know where Zach is. Out with the cows.”
“Then why are you here?” Did crossing her arms across her chest signal he wasn’t welcome? He didn’t seem to notice. Or perhaps he didn’t care.
“He’s been out there a long time. Thought you might be getting lonely.”
“You thought wrong.”
“Girl, you don’t fool me. The old man is lost in his head. The sister is as prickly as a Russian thistle. Oh yeah, then there’s the baby. Nothing but work.” He leered. “Figured you’d be wanting some company by now.” The way he waggled his eyebrows sent shudders throughout Amelia’s body. “Guess that baby means you know what it’s like to enjoy the attention of a real man. You know what I mean.”
