Dakota Father

He turned, saw her at the window. His gaze drilled into her, dark, powerful, full of—

She jerked back and pressed her palm to her throat.

Promise? Hope? Or was it despair? Warning?

Was she seeing things she wanted to or things that were real?

In a flash she thought of the way he watched her on the train. Had he been kind or something sinister? No. He’d been kind and polite. Her imagination was simply getting out of control. He’d defended her before the others in the train. He’d helped her with her bags.

And he’d warned her not once but twice that she didn’t belong here.

Why? What lay behind his warning? Kindness or something else? What secret lay behind his not being married?

Sufficient to the day is the trouble thereof.

Pa’s oft-spoke words released her tensions and she laughed. None of those things mattered. She had a task to do and she would do it. She would keep her promise to Lena and Mark.

Meggie had fallen asleep, the rag doll clutched in one hand.

While she slept, Jenny quickly changed into a dark skirt and a wrinkled shirtwaist. It could do with ironing but at least it was clean and considerably cooler than her traveling outfit. Then she surveyed the room. There was nothing she enjoyed more than a task of significance and this was a big one. She tackled the job with vigor, singing softly as she worked.

Burke rode for half an hour, a leisurely, enjoy-the-quiet type ride. Out here he found peace and solitude—something he feared he would not find at home in the future.

He reached the spring Mac had expressed concern about, took his shovel and attacked it, tossing out heaps of dirt. The work did its job—releasing the tension that started at the first sight of Jenny in his house, and built steadily throughout her announcement that Lena and Mark had died until it peaked when she informed him she would stay. He should have insisted she leave. Before this country sent her screaming into the distance.

He paused to suck in air. Lena was dead. Her husband, too. He let sorrow drench his pores, let it ease out in the sweaty drops beading his skin. He would miss her.

The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.

He would not finish the sentence…blessed be the name of the Lord. The taking held no blessing in his opinion. Only regret and sorrow. Deep sorrow.

He returned to digging out the hole until water broke loose and flowed freely into the shallow pit he’d fashioned last year. At the scent and sound of water, a nearby cow bellowed and headed toward him. The call echoed across the short grass and was picked up and passed along by other cows until he could see them running like a living, shrinking circle.

The first cow saw him and balked. A human on foot made her nervous.

He obligingly swung into the saddle.

The cow tossed her head and raced onward, her calf skipping at her side.

The herd neared. As they crowded in for water, he smiled. A man could forget his troubles out here.

And just like cows heading for water his thoughts headed for home. What was he going to do about Jenny? She didn’t belong out in this country. But he couldn’t seem to persuade her otherwise. And until he did, he was stuck with her.

How could he best prove to her he didn’t need her?

He thought of little Meggie crying and struggling in his arms and amended his question—he didn’t need her for long.

He considered his options. First, he didn’t want any pretty young woman languishing out here in order to care for Meggie. He would manage her care. All he had to do was give her a few days to get used to him and then he would simply take her with him as he worked. She’d grow up as his sidekick.

Someone to share his life with. The idea gave him a jolt of pleasure.

Carefully, he laid out his plan. A few days for her to get to know him, and then they’d ride and work together.

And Jenny could return to her safe home back east. Before it was too late.

That settled, he reined around and headed back to the ranch. Paquette would wonder at him returning before suppertime but he figured the sooner he got working on his plan, the sooner it would be fulfilled.

A few minutes later, he strode toward the house, trying to think how he should start getting to know Meggie. Only two years old. No doubt shy. Certainly frightened. Like a barn kitten seeing a human up close for the first time. He’d tame Meggie the same way…slow, patient and with…he laughed. Doubted she would like milk straight from the cow in a warm stream. What did a child like? Perhaps Paquette would know.

He slipped inside. The kitchen was empty but sounds came from the far side of the house. He followed the voices around the house and stopped short at what he saw.

Jenny stood before a stack of boards and blankets, boots and saws all in a heap fifty feet from the house. She’d taken off the ridiculously impractical thing she wore on her arrival and wore an ordinary shirt and skirt. Not that he thought it changed who she really was.

She spoke to Paquette. “I’m sure it can be arranged for someone to haul this stuff away where it will pose no threat to a small child.”

Paquette stood on the veranda shaking her head and making disapproving noises. “Boss not like stuff throw out like dis.”

“Meggie and I can’t sleep in the midst of debris and dirt. She’s a baby. She needs a safe, clean environment.”

Burke sighed and filled in the other things Jenny no doubt figured Meggie needed—things like neighbors, church, town activities, pretty clothes. He’d heard it all. Tried to convince Flora those things weren’t necessary but it was the land itself that defeated him. Flora thought the prairies desolate; the wind haunting. She swore they would drive her mad.

She was right in the end.

But he would teach Meggie to be different.

He could only do it without some city gal filling her mind with frivolities.

He cleared his throat to announce his presence.

“I finish de supper,” Paquette said and shuffled indoors.

Jenny dusted her hands. “I’m cleaning out the room you’ve allotted me.”

“So I see. Is all this necessary?”

She smiled. “I guess only you could say. But necessary or not, it won’t be sharing my quarters.”

He knew from the way her eyes flashed that she had purposely misunderstood him. He meant was it necessary to move everything out to the middle of the yard. But he let it pass. “Where’s Meggie?”

“Sleeping. I better check on her.” She would have slipped past him except he moved to block her path.

“I think you better accept that we have different agendas here.”

Her eyebrows headed for the sky. “Really? I thought we both had Meggie’s best interests in mind. Her health and safety and happiness. Am I mistaken in thinking so?”

Her quiet challenge edged through his arguments and completely disarmed him. “On Meggie’s behalf, we are agreed. But you won’t be staying any longer than it takes for me and Meggie to make friends.”

Her eyes clear as the sky above, she stared at him. “I’ll leave when I decide everything is as it ought to be for Meggie.” She swung away then turned back. “Unless you figure to have me bodily removed.”

The idea tickled his insides. Somehow he suspected it would require three strong men and a long length of sturdy rope. His amusement trickled into his eyes. He felt them crinkle. Then it caught his mouth and filled his throat and he laughed. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”

She blinked at his laughter then her stubbornness seemed to melt away. “I do tend to get all bristly, don’t I? I’m here to see Meggie is settled. We should be able to tolerate each other long enough to accomplish that.” And she marched away.

He scrubbed his chin with one finger. Tolerate her? Now why should she think that? But perhaps she’d been thinking she would tolerate him. Ah well. He had nothing to offer a fine lady. He knew it. His life consisted of the vast lonely prairie and the company of cows and cowboys. He’d teach Meggie to appreciate it all but he had no such misconceptions regarding any young woman. He’d put up with her tolerance only as long as he needed.

Mac and Dug rode to the bunkhouse and Burke sauntered over to see how things were.

“Good to have you back, boss.”

“Good to be back.” He better warn them before they stomped into the house for supper. “There’s company up at the house.”

“Yeah?”

He could almost feel their ears perk up with interest. The last time he’d had company…no point in thinking about that. It was history. A lesson well learned for them all.

Lucky joined them. Burke felt their cautious curiosity but it was Mac who broke the barrier of silence. “Flora?” His voice was courteous, revealing nothing though Burke knew they likely all hoped to never put up with her dramatics again.

“Flora won’t be back. Ever.”

A silent sigh filled the air.

“She’s still in the—”

Burke nodded. “Her parents are with her. They told me not to come again. Blamed me for how she is.” No more than he blamed himself. He shouldn’t have pushed her, shouldn’t have asked so much from her.

The four men turned and stared at the house. Burke realized he still hadn’t provided them with the necessary information. “My niece is here. Meggie. She’s only two.”

He chuckled at the way all heads turned and surprised eyes stared at him.

Dug swallowed hard, his long thin neck working all the way down. “A little gal?”

Mac, ever practical and blunt said, “Why?”

“My sister and her husband died. I’m now Meggie’s guardian.”

“Sorry, boss,” the three mumbled in unison.

He joined them in staring toward the house. “A young woman brought her out.”

The men shuffled but no one spoke, as if waiting for Burke to say more.

“Name’s Jenny and she’s staying to get Meggie settled in.”

Dug took a straw from his pocket and picked at his teeth. Mac crossed his arms and stared at the house, his expression dour. Burke didn’t bother glancing at Lucky. He felt again their reluctance to voice their concerns about another young woman visiting the ranch.

“She won’t be here long.”

A couple of grunts.

“She hauled all the junk out of the second bedroom and piled it in the middle of the yard on the other side of the house.”

Cautious nods.

“Guess we best haul it away.” He strode across the yard, the men in his wake. They rounded the corner and viewed the pile of junk.

“Boss, all this was in a bedroom?”

“Yup.”

“What was ya thinking?”

He shrugged. “Had no need of another bedroom. Paquette only needs one.” He didn’t say the bedroom had been meant for him and Flora. Suddenly the men figured it out and shut up. Except Mac.

“You say this young woman hauled all this out by herself?”

“I came from cleaning out the spring and found it here.”

The men grabbed armloads. “Where you want it?” Dug asked.

“I don’t know. In the barn. Beside the barn. Wherever you think it should be.”

Lucky paused at Burke’s side, his arms loaded with lengths of lumber. “Must be a right spunky gal to drag this all out by herself.”

Spunky? Huh. He didn’t know about that. “All I seen was her stubbornness.”

Mac chuckled softly. “A bird of a different feather maybe.”

The men seemed cheered by that thought as they moved the pile of stuff.

Burke didn’t care what sort of feathers she wore so long as she nested them far away from here. As soon as possible.

Chapter Three

Jenny held Meggie’s hand and led her to the kitchen. Her job at the present was to get Meggie settled and that included introducing her to the house and its occupants.

“Meggie, say hello to Mrs. Paquette.”

“It be only Paquette.” The woman bent forward even more until she was almost eyeball to eyeball with Meggie. The beaded necklace she wore hung within easy grasp. “Pretty baby.” She patted Meggie’s head.

Meggie chuckled and reached for the necklace.

“Don’t touch, Meggie,” Jenny warned.

“Baby not hurt it.” Paquette slipped the necklace over her head and hung it around Meggie’s neck. “You play with.”

“Paquette, are you sure? She might break it or lose it.”

“Not break. Leather string. Not lose. Too big.”

“Thank you. Meggie, tell the lady thank you.”

Meggie looked up from patting the beads. “Pretty. Thank you for pretty.”

Paquette seemed satisfied and turned back to her chores.

“What can I do to help?”

The woman grew very still, her back to Jenny. “I not need help. I be strong as bear.”

Jenny immediately realized the woman felt challenged, as if Jenny had suggested she couldn’t manage. “I’m sure you do very well but I can’t sit around and watch you work. I intend to make myself useful while I’m here.”

Paquette turned slowly and studied Jenny with bottomless eyes. Finally she nodded. “Set de table.”

“Great. How many?”

“Burke and three men. Me.”

She hadn’t included Jenny and Meggie. Was it intentional? Was she not going to be allowed to eat with the others? That wasn’t going to work. Not if Meggie were to feel at home with whomever lived here. Her mind made up, she nodded. “With myself and Meggie that would be seven places.”

She held Paquette’s startled gaze, refusing to back down. Finally the older woman nodded. “Seven.” And turned back to the big pots on the stove.

Jenny found the plates and silverware. She found battered tin cups and put them on. “Shall I fill a jug with water?”

“Water at pump.”

Jenny already had noticed the pump at one end of the cupboard. Much more convenient than having to run outside for water. She found a large enamel jug. As she pumped the water, she looked out the window.

Burke stood at a low building with three men at his side. They all stared toward the house as if waiting for something. Burke reached up and pushed his hat back. The sun hit his face, making each feature sharp. Suddenly he grinned, his gaze still aimed at the house. Her heart skittered in alarm. Did he see her? She backed away. But if he did, he wouldn’t likely smile. He had been less than welcoming. And she had been even less compliant. She had forgotten her upbringing. Father God, forgive me for being so quick to speak my mind. Help me cause no offense.

She vowed she would not react to any further comments from Burke about how soon she would leave and how glad he would be for that time.

The jug was full. As she lifted it Burke and the men trooped across the yard and past the house. A few minutes later they returned, all with their arms full of the things she’d hauled from the bedroom. She chuckled.

Paquette looked out the window to see what amused her. “Boss not like moving stuff.”

Jenny shrugged. What could he do about it? “What else does the boss not like?”

Paquette turned as fast as her crippled body allowed and her mouth worked as she stared at Jenny.

What on earth? It was a simple enough question meant only to help Jenny know how to avoid any upsets. Why did the woman look so sad? Or was it anger?

Paquette ducked away. “Boss not like be hurt.”

“Ahh.” So it was probably both sadness and anger. “And has he been hurt somehow?”

“He not say. I not say.”

That was extremely unhelpful but Jenny knew Paquette would say no more. She couldn’t help admiring the woman for not dipping into gossip or sharing secrets. A most honorable trait.

Paquette checked the pots again. “You ring for men.”

“Sure. How?”

“Out de door.”

Jenny took that to mean the bell hung outside the door. “Come on Meggie, want to help me ring the bell?”

“Me help.”

Hand in hand they went outside. Jenny looked around for a bell. Saw none. She looked again. Saw a metal rod hanging from the rafters. Another piece of rod hung from a nail nearby. This must be the bell. She banged the rods together creating a great clatter.

“Me help.”

She gave the metal bar to Meggie and held her up to bang the bell. Meggie laughed. “Me do more.” She banged and banged, giggling with each crash. Then she handed the rod to Jenny. “You do again.”

Jenny batted at the rod, the racket vastly satisfying. A great way to deal with frustration and she hit the swinging bar as hard as she could. It went flying. She followed its journey and gulped as it landed at the tip of a pair of boots.

Jenny was almost certain she had seen that particular set of footwear already today. Knew they belonged to a man who wasn’t terribly glad to have her here. This would not make him any more glad. Slowly she raised her gaze until it connected with a pair of dark eyes. “Whoops. Guess I got a little too vigorous.”

“Either there’s a fire or the meal is about to dry up and blow away.”

She swallowed hard.

The men she’d seen earlier flanked Burke. She couldn’t look at any of them as embarrassment journeyed up her neck and seared its way across her cheeks. She shifted Meggie closer, feeling the child’s wariness of all these strangers.

“Supper’s ready.” She fled indoors.

Paquette chuckled. “Big racket. Bring de man fast. No?”

“Yes.” Next time she would be more circumspect, more controlled. But a grin tugged at her mouth. It had been fun and maybe next time she’d ring it every bit as hard.

The men had paused at the washstand outside the door and now trooped in and began to take places at the table. Suddenly they saw the number was off and paused, glancing around for someone to direct them.

Jenny hung back, Meggie still in her arms. It wasn’t her place to say where they should sit but all eyes darted at her. If she wasn’t mistaken they all held a bit of nervous wariness. “Please, just go ahead as you always would.”

Paquette placed the heaping bowls on the table. “You be sit at end?” She indicated one of the chairs. The other chair stood at the far end and Burke stood at it like it was his customary place.

Why the sudden cautiousness? Was there a secret order or something? A place she could choose that would usurp some subtle hierarchy? One way to find out. “Where do you usually sit?” She directed her question at Paquette.

Paquette didn’t answer but her gaze sought out the chair.

“You take the chair. I’ll sit wherever is convenient.”

“Sit,” Burke ordered.

A general shuffle followed. Jenny hung back until the men sorted themselves out. The only empty places were next to Burke. She would have chosen to be closer to Paquette but the die was cast and she sat. Meggie refused to leave her lap so Jenny held her.

“Jenny,” Burke said, “Let me introduce my men.” He turned to his right. “Dug—

A man who appeared to be in his early twenties, as lean as a twist of rope, but with a friendly enough expression, grinned at her.

“Lucky—”

The man she’d glimpsed in the barn. Short, stocky and with a wide grin that made Jenny feel more welcome than she had since she landed on the ground in front of the house.

“Welcome, Miss Jenny,” Lucky said.

Burke’s gaze shifted across the table to the man at Jenny’s left. “And Mac.”

The man had red hair and a red beard and even though he smiled at her, he looked like he’d better fit a frown.

“Pleased to meet all of you and I look forward to getting to know you better during my visit.”

If she wasn’t mistaken they all shot wary looks at Burke. She wondered if he had told them she wouldn’t be staying long.

“Eat,” Paquette said. “Before de fat form.”

Hands reached for the bowls.

Jenny cleared her throat. “Shouldn’t someone say grace?”

The hands jerked back and disappeared under the table. A startled silence filled the room.

Jenny met Burke’s eyes. “Lena would want Meggie raised in a Christian home.”

Burke’s eyes were hard and unyielding. “I ain’t much for praying.”

Wasn’t he a Christian man? Lena certainly thought so. Or was it just discomfort at praying aloud? She waited. The men waited. The room pulsed with waiting.

Burke looked about the table. “Anyone else willing?”

The men mumbled. Only words Jenny made out indicated they thought the boss should do it.

Finally Dug cleared his throat. “Want me to do it?”

“Please.” Burke sounded like he’d been saved some dreadful disaster.

They all bowed their heads. Paquette crossed herself.

Dug sucked in air. “We thank you, Father, for this food. And pray you’ll bless it to our good. Help us live your name to praise, in all we do through all our days. Amen.” He gasped as he finished the words in a rush.

Mac cleared his throat.

“Eat,” Paquette again ordered and the men dug in with haste as if they had to make up for lost time.

Meggie watched them for a moment, silently measuring and assessing.

“Meg, how about some food?” It had been ages since they’d had a good hot meal and the aromas coming from the pot roast and rich gravy made Jenny want to imitate the men in attacking her food. But she had Meggie to think about.

Meggie opened her mouth and waited for Jenny to feed her. She’d abandoned feeding herself after her parents died. Jenny understood it was only her way of coping—going backward a little to a safer, kinder time in her life.

No one spoke as they focused their attention on the food.

Finally Mac swiped his plate clean with a slice of bread and leaned back. Paquette placed a pot of coffee in the middle of the table and he poured himself a mug full.

“Hauled out all that stuff by yourself, did ya?”

Jenny realized he meant the junk from the bedroom. “I did.”

“Not a nice job.”

“Wasn’t bad.”

“Must have been pretty dirty.”

“I sneezed a time or two.” The others filled coffee cups and leaned back. For some reason they seemed mighty interested in this conversation. “Stomped a few spiders but nothing much.”

Lucky chuckled. “See any big spiders.” He held his hands out to indicate one about six inches across.

As a greenhorn Jenny knew she was open season for teasing but she wasn’t falling for that one. She decided to turn the tables. “Phew. One that big is nothing.” She held out her hands to the size Lucky indicated. Slowly she widened the distance between her hands until they were twelve inches apart. “There was one behind the stack of lumber that came at me with a piece of wood. But I fixed him.”

All eyes were on her now. She glanced at Burke, saw his guarded expression. His eyes seemed to grab her and invite her to follow him into exciting adventures. She jerked her gaze away. She was being fanciful. Only place he wanted her was out of here.

“How’d you fix him?” Dug asked.

She glanced around the table, delaying the moment. When she felt everyone waiting for her answer she quirked an eyebrow in a dismissive, doesn’t matter way. “I trapped him in a boot. Tied it shut. Put it on the veranda with its mate. Guess you all better be checking your footwear before you put it on.”

The men stared. Burke laughed first. “She gotcha.”

Startled laughter came from the others and Paquette cackled.

Jenny allowed herself a glance toward Burke. The skin at the corners of his eyes crinkled. His eyes weren’t black as she’d first thought but dark brown and full of warm mirth. She couldn’t pull away. Couldn’t break the moment as they grinned at each other, something silent and sweet passing between them.

“I think she got you, boss,” Mac murmured.

The laughter had ended. How long had they been staring into each other’s eyes? Jenny jerked her gaze away and fussed with Meggie, who worked on a crust of bread.

Burke pushed from the table. “I got things to do.”

The men all bolted to their feet and followed him from the room.

“I’ll help clean up,” Jenny offered as she rose from the table.

“It not for lady,” Paquette protested.