Genevieve: Bride of Nevada (American Mail-Order Bride 36) by Cynthia Woolf Page B

let him have one. I don’t want him down there with me. Just the thought of what happened last time, gives me chills.”
    “He’ll like that. Make it a younger kitten that won’t wander too far yet, so the little thing will get used to being in the house, but not too young. Find a runt if you can.”
    “I will. Thanks for letting me tell you my problems. You probably don’t want to hear them, so thank you.”
    “You can talk to me any time, sweet girl. Any time at all.”
    Nettie gave her a hug.
    Genny hurried, upstairs to the now-bellowing Lucy, guilty of letting the baby wait while she talked to Nettie.

CHAPTER 9

    Lucy was sitting up and crying hard when Genny got to her. She picked up the baby and went to the bureau where she’d made a little place to change her.
    The baby quieted until she had just a few sniffles.
    “There now. You’re fine, little sweetheart. I’ve made you some new diapers and found Billy’s old clothes. You can crawl all over the place with them and save your poor little knees from hurts. Goodness, you’re eight months old, you might be walking soon.”
    Lucy smiled. “Babababa. Ha ha. Ma ma.”
    Genny stilled, her heart racing. Lucy had called her mama? Her eyes filled with tears. Why? Why now? Why did this have to happen now when she was thinking about leaving?
    Genny took off Lucy’s diaper and it ripped. It was so small, the cloth had left a red line around the baby’s tummy.
    “Time for this to go into the trash. It’s not even good enough for the rag pile.”
    The baby kicked her legs and grinned.
    She’d take the diaper to the burn barrel on her way to the barn. It was a lovely day. A thick layer of snow covered the ground, but the sun was shining, and Genny wanted a bit of fresh air. Maybe the sunshine would help her think.
    Genny went to the kitchen first, put Lucy in her highchair and gave her a sugar cookie Genny had cut into little pieces. Half of the treat would end up on the floor but it kept her busy for a little while.
    “Billy, I want you to sit here with your baby sister and eat your cookie and drink your milk. I’ll be back in a little bit. Nettie, I’m leaving now.”
    “We’ll be right here when you get back.” She winked.
    Genny put on her coat and walked down to the barn to get a kitten, dropping the scrap of diaper in the burn barrel as she passed it.
    Stuart was in the barn mucking the stalls.
    That was one job he hadn’t insisted Genny learn how to do and she was glad.
    Genevieve came inside, and he stopped, leaning on the pitchfork, with his hands around the top of the handle.
    “Did you need me for something?”
    “No. I won’t let Billy come down here anymore so I told him I’d bring him a kitten. I’m looking for a runt, so it’s small enough not to wander too far.”
    He put the tool against the stall gate and walked toward the far end of the barn.
    “Most of the kittens are in this last stall.” He took off his gloves and put them in his back pocket.
    She followed him and was amazed at all the tiny tigers walking around the stall empty of everything except a bed of straw. There were about six mama cats and dozens of kittens of varying ages. Some newborn, some with their eyes just opened, the bigger kittens prancing and playing with each other.
    Stuart looked over the piles of kittens, bent and picked up a little calico. “She’s probably the best one for Billy. She’s old enough to be weaned and still small enough to live in a box for a while. I’ll make one and bring it up when I come at noon.”
    The calico meowed in earnest for its mother. If any of the mama cats cared that one of their kittens was being stolen, she didn’t make it known.
    Genny took the little cat from Stuart and their hands touched. She stopped, a hitch in her breath as she looked up at him.
    His gaze was on her for a moment, his eyes darkened and then he shook his head, the spell was broken and he was all business again.
    “She’s a girl, by the