Inherited: Instant Family. Judy Christenberry

as he stepped into the kitchen. “Are the ladies out?”

      “Yeah,” Nick said in angry tones.

      “Do you know where they are?”

      “No. They didn’t even leave a note.” Nick couldn’t believe his wife would disappear without leaving word of her plans. Not in her condition!

      “Hey, here’s a casserole I can warm up. I think there’s enough for all three of us,” Brad said.

      “Ah, that’s one of the casseroles Kate made,” Mike said. “I’ll set the table.”

      “How did you know about the casserole?” Nick asked.

      “I had a quick lunch earlier with the ladies. But I didn’t get enough to eat,” Mike assured Nick and Brad.

      Nick shrugged his shoulders. “Okay, I’ll make us something to drink. Is coffee okay with both of you? I think the wind got colder today.”

      It wasn’t until they were finished eating that Brad realized it was unusual for Mike to be out there during the day. He asked his reasons.

      “I came to talk to Sarah,” he explained.

      “Why? Is something wrong?”

      “No, not really, but I need some help.”

      Nick spoke up. “To do what?”

      “To escort Sarah to Denver.”

      Neither man seemed upset.

      “Who you gonna get?” Brad asked.

      Mike just looked at him.

      “Oh, no! Not me. Don’t you have any deputies to handle the job?”

      “You know I don’t have as many deputies as I need to take care of the county. I can’t send one of them away.”

      “But I think she’ll feel better with a deputy.”

      “That’s why I’m going to deputize you before you go,” Mike assured him with a grin.

      Sarah was sitting at the kitchen table that afternoon, trying to make sense of her life the past few days. Not that she was complaining. She seemed to have fallen into a good situation. Abby had offered her the job of housekeeper for at least three months at a generous rate plus room and board for all three of them.

      Kate had taken them all shopping, even Abby, and she’d charged all the clothing for Anna and Davy, promising to take it out of Sarah’s salary after she’d insisted. Sarah had bought more than she should, because the two kids had so little, but she didn’t regret it. It was little compared to what they deserved.

      All their lives Anna and Davy had suffered from their father’s behavior. Even with Sarah living there and providing food, it wasn’t enough. Children shouldn’t have to live the way her siblings had.

      The kitchen door opened and Brad walked in.

      She jumped to her feet. “Do you need anything?”

      Brad looked at her in surprise. “No, I was just going to get some water. The wind is cold at night, but the temperature is warm this afternoon. I was going to get a couple of bottles of cold water.”

      “I’ll get them for you,” Sarah said.

      He stood there while she got the water.

      “Uh, where did you go today? We didn’t see anyone when we came in for a late lunch.”

      “But you found the leftover casserole, didn’t you?”

      “Yeah, Mike said Mom made it.”

      “Yes, she brought lunch for all of us. Did Mike eat lunch with you, too?”

      “Yeah, you’d think he couldn’t handle two lunches. I keep thinking it will catch up with him, but it never seems to.”

      After a second, Sarah got up enough courage to ask if Mike had talked to him about going to Denver.

      “Yeah, he mentioned it.”

      “Did you say yes?”

      He looked at her then and she noticed the dark eyes with gold flecks that matched his dark brown hair, the lines at the corners of his eyes, no doubt from working outside on the ranch. He was a handsome man. A man’s man.

      A man she could fall for.

      But she couldn’t. Not now.

      Before he could answer, she blurted, “I don’t need you to go. I can manage on my own.”

      “You need an escort.”

      “It’s ridiculous for you to leave your job to go with me. I’ll be fine.” She turned away from him and pretended to wipe the cabinet.

      “I’m going. Mike’s going to deputize me, so my presence will be official.”

      “There’s no need.”

      “How big is Ellis Ashton?”

      “Why?”

      “I just wondered if he’s scary.”

      “He’s not quite as tall as you, but he’s big enough around to make two of you.”

      “Hmm. I guess he could take me in a fight.”

      “Probably not. He’s slow…and dumb.”

      Brad gave a half smile. “So, maybe I could take him?”

      “Maybe. But it’s neither here nor there. There will be no fighting!”

      Brad shrugged his shoulders. “I was just thinking.”

      “Well, don’t think. Just tell Mike no.”

      “Why don’t you want me to go with you?”

      “I don’t know you! You’re more of a stranger to me than my stepfather!” And what she did know—how good-looking he was—was a danger.

      “Sarah, I’m going along to protect you.”

      “I can take care of myself.”

      “You want to compare muscles?” Brad asked with a grin.

      “You’re being silly!”

      Brad turned serious. “Even if your stepfather were a ninety-pound weakling, you need someone with you, to lend moral support if nothing else.”

      “I told Mike I could go alone. He’s holding Anna and Davy as hostages! What more does he need to guarantee that I’m coming back?”

      “Maybe he thinks you’re planning on dumping your responsibilities and cutting loose.”

      Sarah immediately headed for the quickest exit.

      “Why are you running away? Was I too close to the truth?”

      She whirled around and charged back to him. “How dare you even insinuate that! Don’t you ever say that to Davy and Anna!”

      “Are you planning on coming back?”

      “Yes! I won’t dump Davy and Anna on your family! Unless—unless I can’t come back,” she said, ending in a whisper.

      “Of course you’ll come back. That’s why I’m going. To make sure you do.”

      “If—if something happens to me, will Abby find a home for Davy and Anna? I know your family won’t have room, but—but maybe a nice family in the area? And keep them together?”

      “Quit worrying about it, Sarah. You’ll be back in a couple of days, and things will go on just like they’ve been doing.”

      “Abby hired me to be her housekeeper,” Sarah informed him.

      “That’s good. You seem to do the work well.”

      “I