The Cowboy's Baby Bond. Linda Ford

wished for a way to make life easier for her. That, however, was not his responsibility. It would be her husband’s if he were alive. Being as she was a widow, he supposed it was God’s job to look after the details of her life. Even though she said she figured God wasn’t doing a good job of it.

      As she did every evening, Maisie asked about their day, starting with Big Sam.

      “I dragged a cow out of a mud hole down on the flats. It looks like we’ll have to move the cows away from that area.”

      Maisie turned to Johnny next.

      “You all know what I did. I brought Mrs. Reames and her son here.” He didn’t care to add to that. Not the disappointment of delaying his journey to the cabin nor the unexpected joy of holding young Adam.

      “Willow,” she whispered. “Please call me Willow.”

      Maisie asked Levi next.

      “I saw Tanner. He says everyone is well.”

      Maisie turned to Willow. “Tanner is the oldest of the Harding boys.” She got a distant look in her eyes. “I can’t believe he’s twenty-one and married. And now I have four grandchildren.”

      “My brother married Susanne, who is raising her brother’s four orphaned children,” Johnny explained. “Now they’re a new family.” He’d never before thought how nice it sounded. Blame Adam for making him realize he might be missing something by shutting his heart and life to the possibility of experiencing the same kind of joy and belonging. But his experience taught him he could not expect to fare as well as his big brother had.

      Maisie sighed. “I can’t believe how time has flown. When I married your pa, you—” she looked at Johnny “—were eight and you—” she looked at Levi “—were seven. And now look at you. All grown up at twenty and nineteen.” She emitted another deep sigh.

      Levi chuckled. “But every minute of it has been fun, right?”

      Maisie’s face became wreathed in a smile. “It has indeed.” She turned to Willow. “My dear, tell us about your day. Where are you from and where are you headed?”

      Willow repeated the story she’d told Johnny, of being widowed three months ago and now expecting her sisters to join her in Granite Creek.

      Maisie patted her hand. “I’m glad you’re getting a chance to start over. I firmly believe in new beginnings.” She then gave a report of her day—how the garden progressed, the birds she’d enjoyed. “And best of all, having Willow and Adam here for a visit.” She smiled warmly at the young woman.

      Johnny saw the wariness in Willow’s eyes before it shifted suddenly to thankfulness. “I’m grateful you were nearby and could help,” she said.

      The meal ended and the men went outdoors again, as much to escape the heat of the house as to finish their work.

      Johnny went to the wagon, not surprised when Levi followed.

      “Never thought you to be the kind of guy to hold a baby that wasn’t your own.” His brother paused. “Hadn’t even pictured you holding your own. Kind of figured you to be the sort to leave that all to the missus. ’Course, you’d have to get married first.”

      “And you know I don’t intend to do that.” He contemplated the repair on the wagon, planning to get blocks to hold it while he removed the wheel.

      “Like Ma says, it’s good to start over.”

      Johnny straightened and faced his brother. “You saying that for your sake or mine?”

      Levi’s teasing grin vanished in a flash of pain.

      Johnny wished he could pull the words back. He had no desire to bring up hurtful memories for his brother. “I’m sorry. Forget I said that. In case you’ve forgotten, I am planning to start over. Me and Thad.”

      Levi snorted. “I doubt that’s what Ma meant.”

      Johnny shrugged. “Not all of us can find what Tanner found.”

      “You mean a woman like Susanne or a ready-made family?”

      “Yup.” Let Levi interpret that any way he liked.

      “I saw the look on your face when you held that baby. Seems a ready-made family might be to your liking.”

      “I played second fiddle, second best to the father of a child with Trudy. Sure as guns don’t plan to do that again.” Johnny marched away to find blocking material.

      He’d fix the wagon and send Willow and Adam on their way just as soon as the boy was deemed fit to travel. Then he’d go to the cabin and prepare it to live in.

      That was his plan and he meant to stick to it. Not even the downy head of a little boy would change his mind.

      * * *

      Willow stared at the door after the men left. Were they what they appeared to be? Big Sam, a man of considerable size, smiled so tenderly at his wife and bestowed looks of approval at his sons...and the two grown sons were so polite.

      She swallowed hard, trying unsuccessfully to ease the lump in her throat that made it almost impossible to breathe. Her own father had been like that. He’d said he loved having three daughters and she’d never seen any hint that he didn’t mean it. She’d known nothing but affection and approval from him.

      She shook off the ache that had become part of her every breath since her parents’ deaths. In a day she would be reunited with her sisters, and together they’d again create the Hendricks family.

      “I regret that I kept Johnny from his plans,” she said by way of apology.

      “He has a cabin to repair.”

      “Is he getting married?”

      “No.” Maisie paused. “He and his best friend, Thad, have plans.” She rolled her head a little. “They need a new beginning.”

      It sounded rather mysterious but it was none of her business. “I’ll help clean up,” she told Maisie. But when she put Adam down, he threw himself on his back and cried. “I’m sorry. He’s not usually like this.” Normally he liked the freedom of scooting around on the floor, exploring every corner.

      “He’s miserable. And the house is hot. Take him outside and let him rest in the shade. I don’t mind doing this on my own.” Maisie waved her hand to indicate the kitchen and the dish-laden table.

      “But—”

      “Wait right there.” She went into the other room and returned with a neatly folded quilt. “Spread that on the ground for him.”

      Willow hesitated. “It doesn’t seem right. First I keep Johnny from his plans, and now I’ve given you extra work.” Johnny had been going the opposite direction when he rescued her.

      “Hush now. You haven’t given me extra work and Johnny’s plans can wait.”

      Murmuring her thanks, Willow carried her son and the quilt outside and settled on the ground in the shade of some trees. As Adam reached for some leaves to play with, Willow relaxed for the first time in many hours. Make that many days. Since she’d left Wolf Hollow.

      Were Johnny’s plans as pressing as hers? If so, she had cost him a delay. She’d be sure to thank him at the first opportunity.

      It didn’t take long for a hundred worries to put an end to her relaxed state. Were her sisters as anxious to see her as she was to see them? Where was she to sleep tonight? The last two had been spent at the wagon, where she’d slept poorly, concerned about the safety of herself, her son and her belongings. Would Adam be ready to travel in the morning? Perhaps sleeping in the open accounted for his ear infection. Was it another mistake she would bear the burden of?

      She trailed a cluster of leaves across Adam’s tummy. He giggled, then screwed up his face and wailed.

      “Poor