A Daddy For Christmas. Linda Ford

He appreciated a person’s need to take care of herself, but of what or whom was she afraid?

      Resignation filled her expression. “I must stay in town.”

      He wished he knew why, but it seemed futile to ask her. She kept her reasons to herself.

      “Then stay with someone in town.”

      Hope flared in her eyes. “Do you know of someone needing help for a few days? I could work for food and lodging.”

      He considered everyone in town. None needed help this time of year. If it had been summer, the Mortons could have used someone to assist with meals.

      That gave him an idea. The Mortons had a shack on their property, one where Cassie had lived before she married the ranch foreman, Roper Jones. It was better than sleeping in the open and at least there was a stove. “I have an idea. Stay here while I check it out.” Blue didn’t wait for her agreement or otherwise. He grabbed his coat and rushed out the door and across the space between the church and the Mortons’ place.

      He swallowed hard and slowed his breathing before he stepped inside.

      Bonnie chuckled. “Back so soon? Wanting more food?”

      “Not food this time.” Again he twisted his hat. “Would you be willing to let someone use your little shack?”

      She gaped at him, then shrugged. “Guess it would depend who needs it. You? I thought you meant to stay at the church.”

      How to explain his predicament? “Not me. I’ll be fine at the church. Closer to my work.” He saw Bonnie’s confusion. “It’s for this lady and her two girls. Mrs. Weston. Her girls are Eleanor and Libby. They’re seven and eight.”

      Bonnie leaned back on her heels and grinned. “A woman and two girls. Where did you find them?”

      “They’re waiting for someone.”

      “I see. Who are they waiting for?”

      He curled his fingers around the brim of his hat. “They didn’t say. I offered to take her to the ranch, but she says she has to stay in town and wait.”

      Bonnie chuckled. “Why, Blue Lyons, how did you manage to get yourself involved with a woman and two children? I’ve always thought of you as a loner. Someone who avoids people.”

      “Yes, ma’am.” That was him all right. “I just happened to be the one who stumbled upon them. That’s all.”

      She nodded, but judging by the way her mouth tipped upward in amusement he guessed she wasn’t agreeing.

      “About that shack?”

      Bonnie shook her head. “We’ve been storing things there.”

      “So they can’t use it.” Now what? He reached for the door handle. Maybe... No, it wouldn’t be proper to stay in Macpherson’s store or the livery barn. Blue was out of suggestions.

      “Wait.” Bonnie stopped him. “How long would they need the place?”

      “I can’t rightly say.” Clara had been unwilling to reveal any details.

      “I suppose we could fit them in. They would be crowded, but if they don’t mind...”

      “I’ll bring them over.” He hurried back to the church.

      Clara stood where he’d left her.

      Eleanor and Libby sat on their bags, their elbows resting on their knees and their chins in the palms of their upturned hands. Their expressions were dejected until they looked up and saw him. Then they smiled, so trustingly, as if convinced he would solve their problems. He hesitated. He didn’t want anyone trusting him to take care of them. Didn’t want the concern and fear that came with it.

      He shifted his gaze to their mother. “I found a place for you.”

      She didn’t move. “I will only go where I can take care of our needs myself. I won’t accept charity.”

      Seemed to him she was long past that. “It’s just a shack mostly used for storage. It’s no castle, but there’s a stove in it and the owner said you were welcome to use it.”

      Still she stood there as stubborn as a long-eared mule.

      “Why not have a look at it and then decide?” he suggested.

      “Very well.” She hitched her bags higher and stepped out of the church.

      He reached out to help, but she shrugged away and gave him a look that made him drop his hand in haste.

      “I thought she was going to say no,” Eleanor whispered to Libby as she got to her feet.

      Libby sighed and rose more slowly. “Sure glad she didn’t.”

      He led them to the Morton place. The path skirted the edge of town but wasn’t exactly invisible. Soon enough Macpherson would know of Clara’s presence. Soon enough everyone would. He couldn’t say why it mattered if they did, except that he preferred no one linked his name with hers.

      Bonnie had been quick enough to jump on that thought. Made a man glad there weren’t a whole lot of people in the area, though the population had certainly swollen greatly in the two years he’d been working at the ranch.

      Libby dropped her bag on the ground and plopped down on it. “I’m tired.”

      “Come on, Libby,” Clara said, her voice full of patience. “We might as well see what’s ahead.”

      Libby shook her head. “I don’t care. I’m not going anymore.”

      Blue waited. The sooner he got them safely into a shelter and got back to the church and the peacefulness of his own presence, the better.

      Eleanor and Clara studied Libby.

      “Are you coming?” Clara asked.

      Libby shook her head. “No.”

      “Very well. Come along, Eleanor.” She turned to Blue. “Lead on.”

      Blue jerked back. “You’re going to leave her here?”

      “She’ll come once she sees we’re leaving.”

      “No, I won’t.” Libby stuck out her chin.

      Blue carefully considered his options. He could take Clara and Eleanor and hope Libby would follow. Or he could stand here and wait. Or he could—

      Oh, for goodness’ sake. He scooped up the child. “Now let’s get this done.”

      Libby grinned. “I knew you wouldn’t leave me.”

      Clara sighed. “Libby, you don’t need to be carried.”

      “Yes, I do.” She settled into Blue’s arms as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

      What he had gotten himself into?

      * * *

      Clara wanted to snatch her daughter from Blue’s arms. She’d taught Libby better than that, and normally her youngest was shy around strangers. But not Blue, and that had Clara’s nerves twitching. Libby could be stubborn to the point of exasperation. Having her decide Blue was someone she could trust was dangerous. He already knew far too much about them. Should anyone ask, he had no reason not to say what he knew. At every stop, on every train, buggy and stagecoach, she had kept her head down and instructed the girls to do the same. She had changed her way of dress. She had changed her name. The girls had been told not to tell people anything about who they were or where they were going. She didn’t dare hope they had outrun her father. Not yet.

      If only the stagecoach would whisk them away. Fort Calgary offered her a place to live and work and take care of herself. To prove to one and all she could provide for her girls.

      Until then she had little choice but to wait.

      But if