Montana Cowboy Family. Linda Ford

them. And no more. She wouldn’t think that it meant she couldn’t invite Logan to share their meals. Or simply come for tea. It was not like she longed for his company. But he had offered to help. Insisted on it.

      She sliced bread, spread butter and jam, and placed some before each child. They thanked her and ate neatly. Almost too neatly, as if concerned she would scold them—or worse?—if they dropped a crumb.

      Again she was overreacting. She had no reason to think they were being anything but polite, and if she cared to acknowledge what it really meant she would have to say the parents had trained them well. But her gut insisted there was more to the situation than either she or Logan understood.

      The children finished and carried their dishes to the dishpan. “I’ll clean up,” Beth said, handing Sammy a tea towel so he could dry.

      “I appreciate that.” She would not take away their independence. While the children did dishes, she got out vegetables and the leftover meat to make into stew.

      “We can help with that, too,” Beth said.

      So she parked the children in a row beside her. Beth diced meat, Sammy peeled the carrots, and Sadie gave Jeannie a basin of water and let her wash the potatoes. Satisfaction filled her insides. This could be her family for a few days.

      She stiffened at the pain that grabbed her insides. This might well be the only family she would ever have, and knowing it would be temporary filled her with stinging regret.

      Once the vegetables and meat were prepared, she tossed it all into the biggest pot she had and set it to stew. In minutes a succulent aroma filled the room.

      They cleaned up. Jeannie played happily with a handful of peelings she’d rescued. Beth and Sammy stood by the cupboard, looking about as if searching for something to do.

      Sadie would have no trouble keeping them busy in the classroom, but what would she have them do in their new home?

      Before she could come up with an answer, the rattle of a wagon pulling up to the door drew them to the window.

      “It’s Logan,” Sammy announced.

      “Indeed, it is.”

      “He’s got stuff with him.”

      Logan jumped down, hurried around the back and lifted out a wooden box.

      Sammy rushed to open the door.

      Logan entered and looked about, giving each of them a smile. “Sure smells good in here.”

      “What’s in the box?” Sammy asked.

      “Sammy.” Beth sounded horrified at her brother’s question.

      “Why don’t you look and see.” Logan set it down and waved them all forward.

      Beth hesitated, which was enough impetus for Sadie to move closer and have a look.

      Sammy lifted out a jar of canned meat. And then another of peaches. “It’s food.”

      “Yup.” Logan looked pleased with himself. “When I told my family about you children coming to live with Miss Young, they said they would help.” He brought his gaze to Sadie, his eyes bright with pleasure.

      She wasn’t about to refuse the offering. “Thank you to you and your family.” There were potatoes, carrots and turnips, canned goods and—she lifted out a cloth-wrapped bundle—two loaves of fresh bread.

      “I have a few more things in the wagon. Sammy, give me a hand.” He trotted back outside.

      Grinning at being asked, Sammy joined Logan and they brought in a small cot. “There are two of them. Where do you want them set up?”

      Her relief was palpable. “This will solve the sleeping situation. Put this one in the bedroom.” They shuffled the furniture around to make room for the cot. “I’ll sleep here and the girls can have the bigger bed.”

      “Oh no, miss.” Beth blinked and fluttered her hands. “We wouldn’t think of putting you out. Me and Jeannie can sleep on the cot.”

      “Nonsense.” She draped an arm across the girl’s shoulders, feeling them tense. Did the father beat her, too? She would certainly be keeping an eye out for any evidence. “It only makes sense for the two of you to take the bigger bed.”

      “What about me?” Sammy demanded. “Where am I sleeping?”

      “Ma always said you could sleep standing up, so we’ll just prop you in a corner somewhere.” The room silenced at Beth’s comment.

      Logan was the first to realize she was teasing her brother and chuckled. “Looks like that problem is solved.”

      Beth’s pleased smile was fleeting but beautiful. Sadie and Logan glanced at each other. Seems he was as relieved as she to see this lighter side of the girl.

      Sammy shuffled his feet. “Aw, I can’t really sleep standing.”

      “No?” Logan grinned at the boy. “Then maybe you can help me bring in the other cot while Miss Sadie decides where she wants it.”

      Sammy followed Logan, trying his best to match the man’s longer strides.

      Beth watched with a thoughtful, guarded expression. She turned, caught Sadie watching her and blinked away any telltale emotion.

      Logan and Sammy returned and stood in the room, holding the cot. “Where do you want it?” Logan asked.

      Sadie sprang into action. “I’ll shove this armchair to the side and the cot can go along this wall.”

      Logan and Sammy set it up and stood back to study it. “How does that look to you?” Logan asked Sammy.

      “Looks better’n standing in the corner.”

      The boy earned a chuckle from both adults and a fleeting smile from Beth. Jeannie climbed to the cot and sat down on the metal slats. “Sammy sleep here?”

      “Seems he thinks it will do.” Logan patted Sammy’s back.

      The boy flinched so sharply that Logan’s hand fell away.

      The boy’s pain was obvious. Sadie’s jaw tightened. Her nostrils flared as she fought back tears. Had Logan seen it? She widened her eyes to stop the threatening tears and looked at Logan.

      His eyes had grown stormy. His expression had hardened. He’d noticed. Would he begin to share her suspicions regarding the father or would he blame it on the falls of an active boy?

      He turned back to Sammy. “Shall we get the rest of the things?”

      The pair went back out and returned with a mattress for each cot.

      Then he brought in a box of clothing. “Annie thought you could use this. It’s mostly stuff either she or Mattie have outgrown.”

      * * *

      Logan couldn’t miss the way Sammy had flinched when he’d touched his back. It was on the tip of his tongue to ask the boy how he got hurt, but he didn’t want to make the children more defensive and guarded than they were already.

      Annie had sent a stack of bedding, and he handed some to Sammy to carry in while he filled his arms with the rest.

      “I’ll make the beds.” Beth hurried to do so. “Come on, Sammy. You can help.”

      “Aw, that’s girls work.”

      “We do our share.” Beth waited at the bedroom doorway. “I’m not doing it without you.”

      Sammy followed, taking his time.

      Jeannie trotted after them. “I help, too.”

      Sadie let them handle the job on their own. She stood by Logan’s side. “I appreciate all this, though I fully expected to buy what I need at the store.”

      “I’m prepared to help in any way I can.”