she’d been knocked over. Through the open door, she saw Craig filling the troughs in the corral with water. The coat was probably a common enough one, but it would have to be a pretty big coincidence if it wasn’t him who’d tried to scare her last night. The discovery eased her fear, but she’d have to find out for sure before she called Josh and Serena.
Alex walked across the grounds toward her. “So you’ve met Craig.”
“Yes, I met him.” Morgan shaded her eyes from the sun. “I think it was Craig who was prowling around last night.”
Alex nodded. “What makes you say that?”
“His coat is the same one the guy who knocked me over was wearing. Craig and his friend wanted to scare me last night.”
Alex shook his head as his expression hardened. “I’m surprised he did that, but I think I know why. Craig mentioned that his dad would like the caretaker’s job. Robert Jones has plenty of experience with horses, but he’s not reliable,” Alex said.
“I guess that explains why he was so hostile toward me just now. He views me as the person who stole his dad’s job.”
Alex seemed incensed. “He has no right to treat you badly.”
She appreciated his defense of her. It was kind of chivalrous, actually. She grabbed his hand at the wrist. “You said yourself he’s a good worker. Maybe he needed to blow off some steam, and that will be the end of it.”
Admiration shone in Alex’s eyes. “It’s your call.”
“‘A soft answer turns away much wrath.’” The verse had come easily enough to her mind, an old habit.
His face brightened. “Proverbs 15:1. I know it well.”
He looked at her at though he was waiting for her to say something more. A spark of connection had passed between them. But even that was a lie. She’d lost everything in Mexico, including her faith. She had wanted to make a difference in the world and instead she had unwittingly aided in children being taken from their mothers. “It’s a really common verse. I don’t know why I even said it.”
He took a step back. Her harsh response may have stunned him. “I’ve got some bags of feed to unload.”
It was better that she not foster even a small connection to him. The marshals had warned her against forming any attachments. “Do you need my help?”
“I’ll get Craig to give me a hand,” Alex said. “Maybe I’ll have a word with him about what he did last night and tell him he needs to drop the attitude going forward.”
“How about I do it?” she said. “Maybe I can build a bridge.” Given Craig’s background and what Alex had said about him, she was willing to give him a second chance.
“Suit yourself. But if he gives you any more trouble, let me know. I can unload the feed myself.” He ambled across the yard.
She stood watching Alex take bags of feed off the back of the truck. Alex was what her dad would have called “a good hand,” a man who wasn’t afraid of physical work.
She walked toward the shed where she had seen Craig go. Alex thought they had something in common when she’d uttered the Bible verse. He had no idea how all of that now rang hollow for her. She longed to get back to the place where faith was as comfortable as a pair of broken-in boots, but she didn’t know if she ever would. Disillusionment had taken up residence in her life.
She stood at the opening of the shed. Craig had his back to her, but she could tell he was holding something. He turned slightly and she saw a kitten cupped in his hands. When Craig looked up and saw Morgan, all the warmth and softness evaporated from his expression.
“What are you looking at?” Craig sneered.
“Are you taking care of those kittens?” She stepped toward him. He had made a bed for a mother and her three babies.
“Alex lets me keep them here. My dad says cats are freeloaders.” His words were harsh and defensive, and he even seemed a little embarrassed.
She reached over and petted the kitten Craig held. “Do you kind of wish your dad would have gotten my job?” She understood Craig’s motivation. His father having a job would probably eliminate some of the shame associated with having a parent who drank too much. The job would have made his father look respectable...or maybe it was more simple, a financial need.
Craig’s features compressed, revealing harsh lines. He pulled the kitten away from her. “What do you care?”
“Was it you who tried to scare me last night?”
“So what if it was,” he snapped. “It should be me and my dad living in that house.”
Morgan stared down at the black-and-white cat licking one of her calico babies. For a brief moment, she’d seen a different side to Craig. He was capable of compassion. He deserved a chance. “How about we wipe the slate clean and start over? Last night never happened.”
Craig offered a halfhearted shrug. “Whatever.”
His posture and words were defensive, but she thought she saw just a flash of gratitude in his eyes. It was a start.
She stepped out of the shed and headed back to the barn. She took in a breath of straw-scented air and began to feel a little more relaxed about staying at The Stables. Alex had been right about the late-night prowlers. The knowledge that she hadn’t been found made her feel more confident about the Waverly horse sale and going out in public. Maybe a day spent helping Alex would be fun.
THREE
A chill hung in the air as Alex made his way to the stable. Morgan was already busy filling feed buckets when he stepped inside.
She looked up at him. “Hey, thought I’d get an early start. You wanted to be out of here by eight, right?”
She wore a denim coat with a lacy white top underneath and jeans. He grabbed a bucket off the wall and filled it with feed from a bin. “Thought I’d come out here and give you a hand, but you’ve got most of it done.”
He stroked the neck of one of the horses and then stepped inside the stall to look at a cut on its back leg. He helped Morgan finish with the feeding and watering. They worked quickly and quietly. When they stepped outside their breath came out in puffs in the cold morning air.
Morgan crossed her hands over her body. “Hope it warms up. This is cold for April.”
“It’s Iowa,” Alex said.
“Where I grew up in Wyoming it was cold, too, but this chill cuts through to my bones.”
It was the first piece of personal information she’d shared with him. He counted it a victory that she had even opened up to him that much. Maybe she was starting to trust him. “Wyoming, huh?”
A worried look came across her face. “All I meant was that it’s cold out here.” Her voice was monotone.
Her defenses went up so quickly. “I’ve already got the trailer hitched up.” He pointed toward the
