The Cowboy's Convenient Proposal. Linda Ford

fine.”

      “I suppose your head is fine, too?”

      “Yup.”

      “Would you admit if it hurt like fury and your leg pained clear to your eyeballs?”

      She laughed, a sound that startled him, expecting, as he was, another fierce argument. “I’ll admit it hurts some, but seeing as there’s nothing for it but to endure, doesn’t seem much point in bemoaning the fact.”

      He’d told himself the same thing many times so couldn’t argue. Somehow hearing her say it made him like her just a little. “You will keep an eye on your leg and make sure it doesn’t get infected? If you see any sign of it, let me know. Linette will have ways of treating it.”

      “I can manage on my own.”

      “I was only being helpful.” He felt her wariness and recalled her earlier words. “And I don’t expect any form of repayment in return.”

      “I would pay cash for the use of the cabin if I had any. I don’t. Nor do I aim to repay favors with favors.”

      He sighed loud and long. “I would not take either.” He tested the potatoes with a fork. They were cooked. He trotted back to the cabin for dishes, paused to fill a bucket of water at the well. Back at the fire, he handed her two plates, forks and cups.

      “Thank you,” she said.

      He chomped down on his teeth to keep from saying it was good to see she had a measure of manners. “Call out and tell Belle the food is ready.”

      “Belle. There’s food. It smells mighty good. Can you smell it?”

      They both waited silently for a sound of the little girl. To his right, the grass rustled.

      “She’s coming,” he whispered.

      “Ward made lots of stew and there’s baked potatoes. When was the last time you had a whole potato?”

      The grass rustled some more, then Belle hovered at the edge of the darkness.

      “Come on, honey,” Red urged.

      Belle darted glances at Ward as she made her way to Red’s side, going the long way around the fire to avoid having to pass him.

      He tried not to let it bother him and failed miserably. Instead, he had to be content with handing them a heaping plate of food. He handed Red a potato. She took it. But when he held out one toward Belle, she shrank back. Red reached for it but Ward withdrew. He wanted Belle to trust him enough to take it from him. After all, he had provided the food. Besides, he was getting tired of being treated like one of the bad guys.

      Belle’s fear was palpable, but so was her hunger. He offered her a towel. “It’s hot. Hold it with this.”

      She snatched the towel, took another moment to consider the potato carefully, then, doing her best not to touch his hand, took it.

      It was a start. Satisfied, he sat down with his own food. “I’ll say grace.”

      He didn’t need to look at Red to feel her resistance. But Belle met his eyes steadily a moment before she bowed her head.

      He prayed, and then they ate in silence. When he saw they’d cleaned their plate, he offered them another helping, which they didn’t refuse.

      The evening deepened. Despite the warmth of the fire, he felt coolness moving in. “I need to do my chores.” Though likely Slim or Roper had seen to them by now.

      Red sprang to her feet. “You go. We’ll be fine.”

      Ward picked up his hat from beside him and slammed it on his head. “What’s your hurry?”

      “I didn’t mean...”

      “Don’t bother backpeddling. But if you don’t mind, I’ll see that you’re settled in the cabin and the fire is dowsed before I leave.” He grabbed the lamp and strode back to the cabin. He set the lamp on the tiny table.

      Red slipped into the room. “Guess you can’t blame me for being leery. I want to make it on my own. Owe no man anything.”

      “I could carve it in the log by the table so you don’t forget.”

      “What are you talking about?”

      “Lady, my stepfather made no secret that my presence set his teeth on edge. So I walked away from my family because I figured if I left they’d be better off. But I’ve never known if it was so or not. Instead I wonder. And I regret leaving. My only reason for helping you is to make up for leaving my family. It’s nothing to do with you. So don’t think I plan to take advantage of you. You mention it again and I will carve ‘I want nothing in return’ in that there log.” He slapped the chosen place.

      “Well, fine then. Just so long as we understand each other.”

      “I’m pretty sure we do. There’s the bedroom.” He pointed toward the door. “There’s the stove. I can light it now if you think it’s too chilly in here, though likely you would then roast like trussed chickens. There’s food in the cupboard. Not much. I’ll be back with more in the morning. The place is yours.”

      He headed for the door, which was all of three steps away, and Red bolted out of his way. He stopped to give her a long, steady look.

      She lowered her head and mumbled something that sounded vaguely like “thank you.”

      He nodded briskly and stepped outside. “Call your sister. I’m going to put out the fire.”

      At her call, Belle dashed past him to join Red.

      He carried the dishes to the cabin and set them in a pot without any comment, then grabbed a shovel from the corner.

      Smacking out the lingering flames and covering the embers with dirt allowed him take care of most of his frustration.

      He wondered if rescuing this pair would in any way ease his guilt about having left his own family, or if he had bitten off more than he cared to chew.

      Chapter Four

      Red and Belle stood silent and motionless as Ward called from outside, “Goodbye. Be safe.”

      Red knew Belle didn’t breathe any louder than she did as they listened to him stomp away from the cabin. As the sound faded she strained, but couldn’t tell if she still heard his footsteps in the distance or if it was the pounding of her blood against her eardrums. So she waited, not daring to move until she was certain. It seemed he had truly left, and her breath whistled out.

      “Is he gone?” Belle whispered.

      “Yes.” Thankfully. She was grateful for his help. Truly she was. But she didn’t plan to accept more than she was forced to.

      “Are you glad?” Belle asked, easing away from the dark corner as if still uncertain it was safe to do so.

      “We’re finally on our own. Just you and me.” Apart from Linette and Eddie up the hill, a cookhouse and cowboys across the road and Ward, no doubt, flitting back and forth. She would have much preferred Ward’s isolated cabin, but this would do for now.

      “I’m glad, too.” Belle turned to study the room. “We gonna sleep here?”

      “Yup. Just the two of us. Let’s have a look around.” The room held a small stove that would serve as a kitchen range as well as a welcome source of heat on cold nights. There was a tiny table, two chairs, a shelf with a few supplies and a bookcase with a few odds and ends. There was another doorway and they went to the small bedroom.

      Belle edged over to the bed and touched it. “How long we staying here?”

      Red crossed to Belle’s side, perched on the bed and caught her sister’s chin. “Honey, we need some place until I can come up with a plan. But as soon as I do, we’ll leave. We’ll find a place on our own where we’ll always