“Cookie is across the way.” Although she’d seen no evidence of it. To divert herself, she pulled out one of Grady’s shirts and mended a torn seam. With each jab of the needle, annoyance at Eddie mounted. If her father heard how he’d treated her—
Heaven help them all if he did. She’d pay as dearly as Eddie. The thought only served to anger her more. She’d come in good faith. Eddie could at least allow her that.
Cassie stared out the window, as she often did. She never commented on the beauty, never saw any blessing in their situation. Linette knew she saw few blessings in her life.
Right now Linette didn’t see a whole lot more. She’d forgotten to trust God. She calmed her breathing, slowed the speed of her needle.
“Someone rode into the yard.” Cassie said it with resignation rather than the curiosity and anticipation Linette felt as she sprang to the window.
A man—a cowboy—with a snow-crusted buffalo-hide coat slouched low in the saddle. Eddie followed, sitting tall on his horse, his buffalo coat equally coated with snow. The others did not appear. Perhaps they’d stayed with the cattle.
He was back. Relief melted her muscles and she clutched the logs of the wall to hold her up.
He certainly looked regal. Born to rule.
He rode closer to the cabin. Despite his upright posture, his face seemed drawn. No doubt he was worn out by riding in the cold. She’d make certain he had a hot drink when he returned to the cabin. He rode by without glancing in her direction.
Hmmph. Her relief twisted into frustration. Was he too high and mighty to take note of the newcomers in his cabin? To give a thought to their comfort and security?
The pair rode to the barn.
She watched until they were out of sight. Only then did she realize she held her breath, and let it out with a gusty sound.
Cassie left Linette’s side. “I expect it’s bad news.”
Linette strained for another glimpse. “Why do you say that?”
“Hasn’t Eddie been expecting it? How many times has he told us how cows can die in deep snow? How they can’t find anything to eat? Stupid animals. Buffalo are built for this land, but what happened to them? People shot them for their hides.”
Linette kept her face toward the window. Buffalo coats certainly looked good hanging from the shoulders of a cowboy. “It’s natural Eddie should worry. His responsibility is a heavy load.”
If only he’d allow her to share the weight of his responsibility, lighten his load in any way she could.
Lord, show me how to help him.
“He’s coming.” She spun away and hurried to the table. She didn’t want him to think she’d been staring after him. She barely found her way to a chair and picked up a shirt to mend before he flung the door open and stepped inside.
“They’re safe.”
Linette nodded. Her anger fled and she grinned at him. “Glad to hear it.”
Their gazes connected and held. A strange feeling of accord trembled in her heart. Then Cassie made an impatient noise and diverted her gaze from Eddie’s dark eyes.
He hurried to explain. “The boys had the animals all gathered and when they sensed the snow coming, got them into the shelter of a wooded area. Ward says they even had some grazing.” He rubbed his hands together and looked thoroughly pleased.
“I prayed God would keep them safe and He did,” Linette gently pointed out.
“So you did. Do you want me to thank you?” His voice carried a hint of teasing.
“Would it hurt you?”
He tipped his head back and laughed.
His amusement danced across her nerves until she could hardly remember what they’d been discussing. She ducked her head and returned to the mending in order to get her thoughts sorted out. In her hurry, she jabbed her finger and found the pain erased everything else from her mind. She sucked her fingertip and tried to be annoyed that he’d caused her to be so careless. Except it rather pleased her to know he felt comfortable enough to tease her.
He
Heaven help them all if he did. She’d pay as dearly as Eddie. The thought only served to anger her more. She’d come in good faith. Eddie could at least allow her that.
Cassie stared out the window, as she often did. She never commented on the beauty, never saw any blessing in their situation. Linette knew she saw few blessings in her life.
Right now Linette didn’t see a whole lot more. She’d forgotten to trust God. She calmed her breathing, slowed the speed of her needle.
“Someone rode into the yard.” Cassie said it with resignation rather than the curiosity and anticipation Linette felt as she sprang to the window.
A man—a cowboy—with a snow-crusted buffalo-hide coat slouched low in the saddle. Eddie followed, sitting tall on his horse, his buffalo coat equally coated with snow. The others did not appear. Perhaps they’d stayed with the cattle.
He was back. Relief melted her muscles and she clutched the logs of the wall to hold her up.
He certainly looked regal. Born to rule.
He rode closer to the cabin. Despite his upright posture, his face seemed drawn. No doubt he was worn out by riding in the cold. She’d make certain he had a hot drink when he returned to the cabin. He rode by without glancing in her direction.
Hmmph. Her relief twisted into frustration. Was he too high and mighty to take note of the newcomers in his cabin? To give a thought to their comfort and security?
The pair rode to the barn.
She watched until they were out of sight. Only then did she realize she held her breath, and let it out with a gusty sound.
Cassie left Linette’s side. “I expect it’s bad news.”
Linette strained for another glimpse. “Why do you say that?”
“Hasn’t Eddie been expecting it? How many times has he told us how cows can die in deep snow? How they can’t find anything to eat? Stupid animals. Buffalo are built for this land, but what happened to them? People shot them for their hides.”
Linette kept her face toward the window. Buffalo coats certainly looked good hanging from the shoulders of a cowboy. “It’s natural Eddie should worry. His responsibility is a heavy load.”
If only he’d allow her to share the weight of his responsibility, lighten his load in any way she could.
Lord, show me how to help him.
“He’s coming.” She spun away and hurried to the table. She didn’t want him to think she’d been staring after him. She barely found her way to a chair and picked up a shirt to mend before he flung the door open and stepped inside.
“They’re safe.”
Linette nodded. Her anger fled and she grinned at him. “Glad to hear it.”
Their gazes connected and held. A strange feeling of accord trembled in her heart. Then Cassie made an impatient noise and diverted her gaze from Eddie’s dark eyes.
He hurried to explain. “The boys had the animals all gathered and when they sensed the snow coming, got them into the shelter of a wooded area. Ward says they even had some grazing.” He rubbed his hands together and looked thoroughly pleased.
“I prayed God would keep them safe and He did,” Linette gently pointed out.
“So you did. Do you want me to thank you?” His voice carried a hint of teasing.
“Would it hurt you?”
He tipped his head back and laughed.
His amusement danced across her nerves until she could hardly remember what they’d been discussing. She ducked her head and returned to the mending in order to get her thoughts sorted out. In her hurry, she jabbed her finger and found the pain erased everything else from her mind. She sucked her fingertip and tried to be annoyed that he’d caused her to be so careless. Except it rather pleased her to know he felt comfortable enough to tease her.
He
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