A Daddy For Christmas. Linda Ford

hand paused midair. He stared into the distance, then shifted his attention back to her. “I once did. Once had a wife, too.”

      Once? He spoke as if they were gone now. It could mean nothing else, and her insides wrenched with the thought of his loss. “I’m sorry.”

      “It’s the past.” The words came out flat, as if he felt nothing.

      A shiver crossed her shoulders. She knew it wasn’t something that left a person immune.

      He mistook her shiver. “You’re still cold.” He tossed the last of the gathered wood into the fire.

      “I’m not cold.” Any more than you aren’t sorrowful. She shifted again and reached for the bowl and spoon. She managed to eat the rest of the soup without spilling it. He handed out biscuits, and the girls sighed blissfully as they bit into them.

      Clara couldn’t blame them. The biscuits tasted fine and went a long way toward filling the emptiness in her stomach. Though she’d fed the children whatever food she’d found the past two days, she’d no doubt they were still hungry. She watched as they ate with glee.

      Blue sat cross-legged facing her. “Ma’am, if you tell me where you’re going, I’ll see you get there.”

      She studied the half-eaten biscuit in her fingers. Felt his waiting and the watchfulness of the girls. She had to say something and settled on a portion of the truth. “I’m waiting for a ride from someone.”

      When he didn’t say a thing, she looked at him. She wished she hadn’t when she saw the way his expression grew hard. He glanced at the girls, then back at her. He leaned in. “This person is going to come today?” He was so close his breath brushed her cheeks.

      “I’m not certain when to expect him.” Petey, the stagecoach driver, had made only one thing clear about his return.

      “Ye’ll know when I’m back in town,” he’d said. “Won’t likely stop long with winter weather to contend with. So be here and be ready if you want a ride. ’Twill be the last trip I make north for the winter.”

      “So you’re stranded until this person shows up?” Blue asked. “What if he doesn’t?”

      She sat up straight and tipped her chin. She had no intention of telling this man her plans. “I’m trusting God to take care of us. He will provide.”

      He sat back. “Exactly how long are you planning to wait for that to happen?”

      “As long as it takes.” It sounded foolish, simplistic, even childish, but she had no one else to turn to but God, nor did she trust anyone else. Anyone could reveal her whereabouts to a seemingly concerned person asking after her, and that bit of information could be relayed to her father. She managed to control the shiver racing through her. If Father found them...

      “In the meantime, are you planning to sleep in empty buildings? Faint from hunger and cold? What about—” His gaze darted to the girls and back.

      This was not a conversation she wanted her daughters to hear. “Girls, you can go play quietly.”

      “Where, Mama?” Libby’s surprise was expected. Where could they go but to a different corner of the big room?

      Eleanor took her sister’s hand. “Come on, Lib. They want to argue, and we’re not supposed to hear.”

      “We aren’t going to argue,” Clara called as they marched away. She faced Blue squarely. “I can take care of the girls with God’s help.”

      His eyes never flickered. His expression never changed. “It’s none of my business, but seems to me you need a better plan than sitting around waiting for something to fall from the sky.”

      “I trust God.” She knew she sounded as stubborn as Libby often did, but she clung to her faith.

      “Well, that makes it easy.”

      She waited, wondering if he believed what he said or mocked her. When he didn’t say anything more, she got her feet under her and stood. “Thank you for the food. I will pay you back someday.” She would continue to trust Him even though her plans had fallen through. Not fallen through, she amended. Only delayed.

      “Mrs. Weston, I don’t want repayment. The only reason I helped was because of your girls. I lost two children who would be about their age now.” He turned away as he spoke, and his voice again grew flat, emotionless. He was hiding, she knew, hiding emotions so deep and raw that he didn’t know how to face them. “I could do nothing to save them, but helping your girls was something I could do.”

      “And I thank you for that.”

      Libby and Eleanor chased each other up and down the length of the building, laughing and squealing.

      She smiled. Her heart overflowed with love. They trusted her to take care of them.

      How was she to do that? It was too cold to sleep outside and not safe, but there was no hotel in this little town even if she could afford a room. If she had a warm place to spend the night, then she could devote time to finding a way to feed them. But where? She glanced about. The church would make good shelter. Her gaze settled on the bedroll upon which she had so recently lain.

      Blue obviously spent the nights here.

      That eliminated the only option she’d been able to discover in this tiny pioneer town. There had to be something somewhere.

      God could not fail her now.

      She set her feet going toward the door.

      “Wait a minute.”

      At his words she paused without turning around.

      “I can take you someplace safe and warm.”

      Why had he used the word safe? Did he suspect she was running from someone?

       Chapter Two

      Blue analyzed everything she’d said and wondered if there truly was someone coming for her. And if so, when? One thing was certain. He couldn’t let a woman and two little ones manage on their own in winter weather without any sign of shelter or home. Never mind that it triggered memories he had sworn to bury and never resurrect. He could forget them again. He was good at forgetting.

      “I could maybe send a messenger to let your party know you’ve arrived. Or take you there myself.”

      “Thank you, but that’s not necessary. Come on, girls.” She signaled them.

      The pair had been racing around the room and now skidded to her side.

      “Mama, where we going?” Eleanor asked, her joy of a moment ago swallowed up in worry. “Back to Grandfather?”

      Clara’s shoulders stiffened enough for Blue to understand she didn’t care for the notion. “Certainly not.”

      Libby’s expression grew stubborn. “But it’s warm here.”

      “We’re going.” Clara hitched one bag over her shoulder and tucked another under her arm and marched for the door.

      Blue watched. Did they plan to return to the river? They’d freeze to death. He groaned. He couldn’t allow it even if every minute increasingly threatened the fortress he’d erected around his heart.

      “You need to reconsider. My boss at Eden Valley Ranch is Eddie Gardiner. His wife, Linette, often has people staying there.” Linette would soon have a baby, and Eddie had imposed limits on how many people she could take in. Still, Blue allowed himself a tiny smile. He couldn’t see Linette turning anyone away if she saw a need, even if Eddie didn’t approve. “It’s twenty minutes’ drive away,” he added. “You’d be most welcome.”

      “Thanks, but no. We need to wait here.”

      He