sitting up on watch for most of the first night. Then there was last night’s fiasco in the national forest.
She hadn’t thought about bears.
Thanks to Brad Logan, she and the children had been taken care of. A safe house, warm beds and good food. What more could she ask for? Sighing, she realized she owed Brad a lot. And to think she’d been angry at him when he barged in on her makeshift campsite last night. The sternness she’d seen in his eyes had softened to concern, then sympathy. She didn’t want his sympathy, just his compassion. And the handsome cowboy had offered it.
After sweeping the kitchen floor, she heard footsteps coming down the hall. Her unknowing hostess, perhaps?
The brown-haired pregnant woman came through the door and stopped in her tracks when she saw Sarah. “Hello?”
“I’m Sarah. Your brother-in-law let us stay last night. May I fix you some breakfast?”
“No, I— Well, okay, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course not. There’s still some hot coffee if you—”
“No, the doctor says I can’t have coffee. I’ll take a cup of tea, though, with milk and sugar in it.”
Sarah not only fixed her the tea, but made toast, bacon and scrambled eggs. After she served the woman, she said, “I’m sorry if I startled you before—”
Abby held up a hand. “It’s fine. I just wasn’t expecting anyone to be here.” She picked up her fork. “So, did you meet my husband this morning?”
“Yes, he cooked breakfast for all of us. I volunteered to clean the kitchen to repay him.”
“That was nice of you. Do you want some coffee? It won’t bother me, I promise.”
“I’d love another cup. I was saving it for you.” Sarah got up and poured the last cup of coffee and sat back down again.
“Are you a friend of Brad’s?” Abby asked.
“No. We’re—we’re on the run from my stepfather. He—he killed my mother two nights ago. I was afraid he’d kill all three of us if we didn’t get out of there.”
Apparently Abby wasn’t expecting such a gruesome story. She nearly dropped her teacup and her eyes flew to Sarah’s. “Oh, no! I’m so sorry.”
“Thank you,” Sarah said, blinking rapidly to hide the tears that sprang to her eyes.
“You said we. Who are you with?”
“My two half siblings. They’re watching TV in your family room.”
“How old are they?”
“Five and nine.”
“You certainly have your hands full, don’t you?” Abby reached across the table and patted her arm, and the gesture was Sarah’s undoing.
She broke down, releasing all the fear, anxiety and tension of the last few days in a flood of tears.
“These are good cookies.”
Little Davy sat at the kitchen table munching on the homemade sweets that Kate, Abby’s mother-in-law, had sent over. Even Anna seemed to like them, though she sat quietly.
After her breakdown, Sarah had brought the children in to meet their gracious hostess. Abby took to the children immediately.
“I’ll tell her you like them,” Abby said. “She’s a wonderful grandmother to Robbie.”
Sarah smiled. “I’m sure she is. Is he her only grandson until your babies are born?”
“Yes. Nick’s the only married child of her brood.” After a minute, Abby looked around the kitchen. “I probably need to think of something for lunch.”
“I think you should just tell me what you want done.”
“I can’t ask you to do that!”
“Yes, you can. You know your husband doesn’t want you risking your babies.”
“Well, yes, but— Do you mind?”
“Of course not. Just tell me what you have in mind. I’ll fix it.”
As Sarah got up, the phone rang. She looked at Abby with a question in her eyes.
“Yes, please,” Abby said with a smile.
Sarah answered the phone. “Logan Ranch.”
“Is this Sarah?”
“Yes.”
“This is Kate Dunleavy, Mike’s wife.”
“And Robbie’s grandmother?”
“Exactly. You’ve learned all of us already, haven’t you?”
Sarah said, “Do you want to talk toAbby?”
“Yes, please.”
The telephone had a long cord and she carried the receiver to Abby.
While Abby was talking, Sarah took a quick inventory of what food they had on hand. The stocked cupboard and refrigerator were astounding for Sarah. She wasn’t used to such abundance.
Abby said goodbye and Sarah was beside her to take the phone back to the wall.
“Kate’s bringing over a casserole for lunch. We just need to cut up a salad.”
“Okay.” Sarah quickly got to work. Setting the table for six, she put the salad out and heated up some black-eyed peas. When Kate arrived, everything was ready.
“You did all this?” Kate asked. “Abby, you know you shouldn’t. I was going to do the work.”
“I didn’t, Kate. Sarah did everything. Isn’t she great?”
“She certainly is.” She walked over to the newcomer and put out a hand in greeting. “Hello, Sarah. I’m glad to meet you.”
The woman, who looked to be in her fifties, with graying light-brown hair, was so welcoming that Sarah returned her handshake. “I’ll—I’ll go call the kids.”
Kate watched the young woman leave the room. “Mike says she’s a good person.”
“I think so, and she’s had a horrible time of it. Does Mike think he can help her?”
“Yes, he thinks so. He’ll tell her his news after we all eat. He doesn’t want to talk in front of the children.”
“Oh, of course—”
Sarah entered the kitchen, followed by Anna and Davy. Anna pressed closer to Sarah. Davy didn’t seem too concerned.
“Kids,
