Cutty (Prairie Grooms Book 8) by Kit Morgan

leave and not bother you again …”
    “Is that what you want?”
    Fresh tears fell from his eyes. “No, darling. It’s most definitely not what I want.”
    She smiled through her own tears, ran to him and threw her arms around his neck. “Then stay!”

Ten
     
    Cutty sighed as he sat in front of the fire. He’d lived through it. He’d told Nettie who he was.
    And she’d embraced him and called him “Father.” His eyes welled up at the thought of it. All of his fear as to what her reaction might be, washed away in an instant. They’d cried in each other’s arms in the kitchen for who knows how long, then pulled themselves together as best they could. They’d both been full of questions, and spent the rest of the afternoon asking about each other’s lives and trying to get caught up.
    Now she sat across from him on the settee working on a piece of embroidery, Amon next to her reading a book. Amon didn’t know yet – neither he nor Nettie had said a word to him. It was best to let Nettie tell him in her own time. For now his true identity was between him and his daughter, and that was fine. He still needed to tell Newton, though – he and Nettie had agreed he needed to be the one to do it, not her.
    His eyes drifted to his daughter again. It was hard not to stare at her, especially now that she knew who he was, and didn’t hate him for it. She … understood. It was the greatest gift he’d ever received, and he loved her all the more for it.
    Newton … might not be so accepting.
    “When is Newton returning?” Nettie asked as if reading his thoughts.
    “Said he’d be back in a few days,” Cutty informed her. For Amon’s sake, he’d switched back to his adopted voice.
    “He does love his little excursions,” she said.
    “It’s a good thing he’s educating himself this way,” Amon commented.
    “Educatin’ himself?” Cutty said.
    “Yes,” Amon said. “He’s teaching himself how to survive out here. That’s a good thing. He might get it in his head to go to Oregon City by himself one day. He’ll need to know how to live in the wild – hunt, fish, do a little trapping. Wouldn’t hurt you to learn the same.”
    “Me? Oh, I’ve seen enough of the back of the beyond, thank ya kindly,” Cutty said. “I’m getting’ old besides – better I stick close to town.”
    Nettie smiled at him. “He’ll get it out of his system, then be closer to home, I’m sure. In the meantime, I have you all to myself.”
    Cutty noticed her bright smile and knew what she meant. She’d warned him during their talk earlier that Newton would either ignore him completely or bombard him with questions once he heard who he was. Cutty hoped and prayed for the bombardment. He smiled back. “Eh, I guess I could mosey on out with him next time he goes.”
    “I think that’s an excellent idea,” Nettie agreed. “It would give you two time to get to know one another better.”
    Amon looked at her. “Like they don’t know each other already?”
    “That’s not what I meant,” she said. “I’d say I’ve gotten to know Cutty quite well since I’ve been here. Newton doesn’t know him nearly as well.”
    Cutty coughed into one hand. “Ya can say that again.”
    “Then you should go,” Amon suggested. “Maybe you can teach him a few things while you’re out there. But I’d do it before winter sets in.”
    “We’ve got time. Maybe after Ryder’s house is done – them Jones boys love bein’ out on the prairie. Maybe that’s why Newton started spendin’ so much time with ‘em.”
    “Best to get it out of his system,” Amon commented. “One day he’ll want to settle down, and won’t have much chance for exploring once he does.”
    “Have you gotten it out of your system?” Nettie teased.
    “I have something to keep me home. You won’t catch me wandering around the prairie.”
    “See that I don’t,” she said with a smile.
    “Though I do like going now and then,” Amon added with a