Pony Express Mail-Order Bride. Rhonda Gibson

chuckled. Both boys scrambled up the ladder. He listened as they searched the barn for the cat. Tiredness weighed on him like a wet blanket as he rubbed down the horse and poured feed into the bucket in its stall. He picked up each of the horse’s hooves and checked them for rocks.

      As he worked, Philip listened to the boys rooting around in the hay above him. They seemed like nice little boys who needed a father figure. Just like he had at the age of twelve, six years ago, when John Young and his wife, Rebecca, had adopted him. John had been a good parent to him. Still, the thought of his own birth father troubled Philip.

      “What are they doing up there?” Bella asked.

      He’d been so deep in his work that he hadn’t heard her come into the barn. Philip stood and stretched out his back. “Looking for the cat.”

      Her face was tilted upward as she tried to see the boys. Dark circles surrounded her heavily lashed blue eyes. She’d been through a lot over the last few weeks and Philip’s heart went out to her.

      Caleb called from above. “Mr. Young?”

      He looked up, too. “Yes?”

      The little boy’s blond head popped through the railings. “We found a cat, but I’m not sure it’s Sunny.”

      “What makes you think it isn’t Sunny?” Bella eyed the loft warily.

      Philip frowned. He realized that the old tomcat normally would have come out as soon as he heard voices. Why hadn’t he been paying better attention to the boys? Philip just prayed that whatever kind of cat they found up there, it was a friendly one.

      “Come see.” Mischief filled the boy’s smile.

      Philip chuckled. Caleb reminded him of his younger self. He seemed like the adventurous, fun-loving type. He looked back to where Bella still stood looking up into the hayloft. Her tan coat hugged her body and she crossed her arms about her middle. “Are you coming?” he asked.

      She shook her head. “No, if it’s all the same to you. I’ll stay down here.”

      Philip nodded. Curiosity drove him up the ladder. Bent over at the waist, he gazed about. The loft was beginning to look like a storage shed. Tools, old furniture and wooden crates filled the space. “Where are you two?”

      Caleb stepped out from behind a pile of furniture. “Over here.” He disappeared again.

      He walked toward the boy and stepped around the rubble of broken furniture. He found the boys crouched down staring into a pile of hay. He cleared his throat and caught their attention. “What are you two looking at?”

      Mark ignored his question and asked one of his own. “I thought you said Sunny was a boy cat.”

      Philip grinned. “He is.”

      Caleb tried to muffle his laughter. “I don’t think so, Mr. Young,” he said.

      Mark scooted back so that Philip could see what they’d discovered. A mama cat lay on her side nursing three kittens. She was yellow with big green eyes that didn’t look happy to have her secret space invaded.

      “Well, I guess you are right, boys. Daddy cats usually don’t take care of their kittens. She can keep the name, though, don’t you think?” He kneeled down beside Caleb.

      Both little boys nodded. Mark reached out a hand to touch one of the kittens and the mama cat hissed up at him.

      “Don’t touch them, Mark. She don’t want us to,” Caleb said as he grabbed Mark’s hand and pulled it back.

      Philip agreed. He stood slowly. “Come on, boys, let’s give the little family some privacy while Sunny feeds her young.”

      Mark’s bottom lip shot out. “I want to stay and pet them.”

      Caleb shook his head. “Remember what Aunt Bella said, Mark. We better do as Mr. Young says.” He tugged on his little brother’s shirt.

      Still not pleased at having to leave, Mark stood.

      Philip looked down at them. “Boys, we best leave Sunny alone until the kittens get bigger. I’d hate for her to move them. Promise you’ll stay out of the loft until I tell you that you can come back.”

      Caleb nodded and nudged his brother to do the same. Mark did so, but not with as much enthusiasm as his brother. The two boys descended the ladder first. Philip followed a little more slowly.

      When he turned around, Bella was kneeling down in front of Mark. “What did you find up there?” she asked softly.

      “A mama cat and kittens,” Mark said, his bottom lip still pooched out. “Mr. Young told us to leave them alone. Do we have to, Aunt Bella?”

      She looked up at him. Philip felt as if he could drown in her pretty blue eyes. To avoid them, he bent down and picked up a piece of straw. He chewed on the end of it, waiting for Bella to look away.

      She turned her attention back to Mark and Caleb. “If he said so, then yes.”

      Mark kicked at a clump of wet hay. Disappointment filled his face. Tears filled his eyes.

      Philip watched as Caleb placed an arm around his brother’s shoulders, then looked to him. “Mr. Young? Are you still going to give the cat some milk?”

      Philip looked up into the loft. “Not today. I don’t think we should disturb the mama cat, but the cow still needs to be milked. Do you boys want to help?”

      Mark seemed to brighten with the prospect of milking the cow and both boys nodded. Philip looked to Bella.

      She stood slowly and said, “Before she left, Cara said we could warm up the pot of stew for our supper. While you men milk, I think I’ll see if I can scrape together a pan of biscuits.” Bella walked toward the barn door but then stopped. She turned slowly and studied them. “Are you sure you don’t mind the boys helping you?” Her brow furrowed.

      “I wouldn’t have asked for their help if I didn’t want it,” he answered with a grin. Philip dropped a hand onto Caleb’s shoulder.

      Bella nodded and then left.

      Philip turned his attention back to the boys. “Looks like we have chores to do.”

      “I’ve never milked a cow before.” Caleb removed his arm from Mark’s shoulders.

      “Me, neither.” Mark stooped down and picked up a piece of straw. He placed it between his teeth and chewed.

      Philip tried not to smile as he realized Mark was imitating him. The boys needed a man in their lives. Could he follow in his adoptive father’s footsteps and adopt the two boys as his own? Bella would have to be part of the package. He couldn’t imagine her letting him raise the boys alone and, truth be told, Philip didn’t want to. But he also didn’t want to fall in love. Would Bella agree to a loveless marriage?

      * * *

      Bella missed her old job at the bakery. She even missed the early hours and found herself still rising long before the sun. If there was one thing Bella was good at, it was baking. The smell of biscuits filled the house. She loved mixing, kneading and baking bread.

      Philip came through the door with both boys hot on his heels. “Woo-wee, something smells good in here.”

      Mark dashed around Philip. “I got to help milk the cow.”

      Caleb followed, carrying one of the milk buckets. “Me, too.” He panted under its weight.

      Bella couldn’t help but smile. The boys were louder and more active than they had been since she’d taken them from their home a month ago. It appeared spending a little time with Philip had been a positive experience for the boys. She was thankful that Cara had suggested they spend the night with them so that they could all get to know each other better.

      Philip put his bucket of milk on the kitchen counter and then helped Caleb with his. “You did a good job.” He patted