like your food.” He sounded so uncertain that Lilly smiled.
Teddy brightened. “But it might be nice to try someone else’s for a change.”
Caleb gave his son such a loving, amused look that tears stung Lilly’s eyes. She almost envied the boy such devotion, which was plumb foolish. Ma and Pa loved her every bit as much as Caleb loved his son. But oh, to see such a look meant especially for her. She shook her head hard, trying to clear her brain of such confusing thoughts.
Caleb and Teddy had followed Lilly as she put the cows in the pen for the night. He turned his horse in to the pasture, and then they returned to the barn.
“Look, Papa,” Teddy chirped. “Blossom wagged her tail. Isn’t that good? Means she’s getting stronger.” Teddy eased himself down beside the dog and petted her, murmuring encouragement. “You’re safe here. Don’t be afraid. No one will hurt you now.”
Caleb pressed a fist to his chest as if, inside, his heart were hurting.
Lilly touched his arm. “He’s safe, too.”
Caleb nodded, but his eyes did not show relief. “I wish—” He shook his head.
She patted him twice. “I’ll ask Ma to look at his leg after supper.”
“Thanks.”
“I’ll leave you two with Blossom.” She hurried to the house to strain the milk. As she passed through the kitchen, she stopped to speak to Ma.
“How’s the pup?” Ma asked.
“She’s a fighter. I think she’ll be okay. Ma, I asked them to stay overnight so they could be with the dog.”
Ma nodded. “Sounds sensible. Did you ask them to come for supper?”
“Yes. Ma, the little boy has something wrong with his leg.” She repeated what Caleb had said. “I said we’d do what we could to help. Can you look at the leg after supper?”
“Certainly.” She stirred a pot on the stove.
“Caleb was afraid we might torture his son.” She told Ma the things Caleb had said.
Ma dried her hands on a towel and looked out the window toward the barn. “That poor little boy and that poor father. I hope you assured him we’d be very gentle with the lad.”
“I did, but I warn you, he’s very protective of his son.”
“As well he should be.” Ma returned to the stove and her meal preparation, her lips tight.
Lilly stared. Was she thinking of her three daughters? She had never said much about the circumstances of their adoption. She had only assured the girls over and over that they were loved, that they were a blessing from God to a childless couple. But no doubt she wondered what had happened to the girls’ birth parents. Or more accurately, their father. Cora could remember their mother had died. Lilly figured it must have been something horrible that caused their father to abandon three little girls in the middle of the prairie. She went to Ma’s side and brushed her hair off her forehead. “You’re the best ma,” she said. When had Ma’s hair gotten so gray? Both her parents were in their seventies, but she didn’t like the thought that they were getting old.
“I’m glad you think so. Now you get on with your chores so you’ll be done in time for supper,” Ma said. “It will be ready soon.”
“Yes, Ma.” Lilly went to the workroom, strained the milk and set it to cool. Pa would take the cans to the river after supper and hang them in the water, where the cold would keep the milk fresh and sweet for days. Soon that wouldn’t be necessary. The workroom would be cold enough once winter set in. Many days it was so cold the milk froze. Lilly smiled. She loved spooning the crystalline milk from her cup. It was almost as good as ice cream, a rare treat they only enjoyed at community gatherings.
Although done, Lilly lingered. She didn’t want to rush back to the barn and give anyone reason to think she was being overly curious or concerned about Caleb and his son. Though, of course, she had Blossom to check on, and she had said she and Ma would do what they could to help Teddy. It would be nice to have more than one day on which to help. But she’d tell them Ma would look at Teddy’s leg after supper.
She turned, her reasons for returning firmly established. But still she hesitated. There was something about Caleb that upset her equilibrium. She might have said it was concern and sympathy over Teddy’s plight, but it was more than that.
She might have said it was compassion because Caleb’s wife had been murdered. Or she might have said it was because they had shared a good old-fashioned belly laugh at Teddy’s description of his father’s routine.
It was all of those things. But still more. Something about the man touched a tender, expectant spot deep inside that she hadn’t been aware of before this day.
And that frightened her. She didn’t like surprises, and this unexpected feeling left her off balance.
But why let it bother her? He’d soon be gone. He’d made that very clear.
Rose stepped into the room. “I can’t believe you asked him to stay.”
There was no mistaking the challenge in her sister’s voice. “Only for one night, so Blossom has time to rest.”
Rose made a dismissive sound. “Never thought I’d see the day you’d hang about a Caldwell cowboy.” She didn’t give Lilly a chance to answer before she grinned and spoke again. “Though he is rather handsome, and seems a decent sort of man.” She grew glum again. “For a Caldwell cowboy.”
Lilly shrugged. “Hard to judge a man after only a few hours, but I’m glad he’s staying long enough for Ma and me to look at Teddy’s leg and see why he doesn’t use it.” She explained yet again what had happened to the boy.
“Oh, that’s terrible. I wouldn’t wish that kind of disaster even on a man who works for the Caldwells.”
Lilly chuckled. “Nice to know.”
Rose studied Lilly long enough to make her squirm inside, but outwardly she returned the look, hoping she was managing to keep hidden every hint of her confusion about her feelings for Caleb and Teddy.
Rose’s expression softened as if satisfied with what she saw.
Lilly might demand to know what exactly Rose thought that was, but she didn’t care to encourage Rose’s curiosity about the Caldwell cowboy and Lilly’s choice to open their home to him.
“I came to tell you supper is ready,” Rose said. “Will you let the others know?”
“Certainly.” Lilly left the house and stopped at Pa’s shop to tell him, and then made her way to the barn. She paused outside the door. Why hadn’t Rose informed everyone of supper herself? Lilly narrowed her eyes. Was she purposely avoiding contact with Caleb and Teddy simply because Caleb worked for the Caldwells? His reasons were noble—to earn enough money to take Teddy to a special doctor. She’d have to tell Rose that and set the record straight.
Caleb was sitting near Teddy and Blossom, his back against a post, his legs stretched out halfway
