frantic horses.
“You stay here,” he ordered five-year-old Teddy, and then raced through the door.
The young woman, whose virtues the storekeeper expounded on even as Caleb hustled out of the shop, wrestled with a rearing horse hitched to a swaying wagon. Packages and sacks tumbled out the back. A redheaded woman raced toward the struggling gal. That must be the twin sister, Rose. An older man hobbled across the street toward them while other people huddled on the sidewalks, watching but doing nothing.
Caleb saw it all in one glance as he jumped to Lilly’s side and grabbed the harness, his hand right next to hers.
“Steady there,” he ordered, his voice stern yet kind—something animals understood.
Breathing raggedly, the horse allowed Caleb to pull his head down. Still holding tight to the animal, as was she, Caleb turned to the young woman. The name Lilly suited her. Blond hair, unblemished skin, blue eyes flashing like lightning.
She was understandably upset.
“What idiot set off firecrackers?” he demanded.
She snorted. “That Caldwell cowboy.”
Ebner? His boss? Caleb glanced about but saw no sign of the Caldwell foreman. “Is anyone hurt?”
The redhead rushed to their side. “Lilly, are you okay?” She rubbed her hands over the young woman’s arms. “I saw the whole thing.” She jammed her fists to her hips. “I can’t believe anyone would do such a stupid thing. Not even a Caldwell.”
Caleb’s neck tensed. He’d been working at the Caldwell ranch a couple of weeks now. Ebner was tough, allowing no slacking and objecting to Caleb keeping Teddy with him as he worked. Caleb had reminded Ebner several times it had been part of the agreement before Caleb had taken the job.
Mr. Caldwell was away on some errand, leaving Ebner in charge. The foreman ran the place with efficiency. Caleb had certainly seen no sign of such wanton disregard for the safety of man and beast.
“I’m fine,” Lilly said. She sucked in air as if to calm her nerves and faced Caleb. “Thank you for your help. I saw you at the store, didn’t I?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He gave his name.
“Pleased to make your acquaintance.” The smile she gave him could have changed rain to sunshine.
“Papa.” Teddy’s trembling voice made them all turn toward his son. Both ladies murmured, “Ah,” as they saw Teddy.
Caleb understood how the boy would pull at one’s heart. Big blue eyes, tousled hair that refused to be tamed, a look of innocence, though it was impossible there could be any innocence left after what the boy had been through. Teddy leaned on his crutches, his right leg not touching the floor.
“Son, I asked you to stay inside.”
“I know, Papa. But what if something happened to you?”
Lilly’s attention flickered between Caleb and Teddy. Rose’s lingered on the boy.
“I don’t intend for anything to happen to me.”
Teddy nodded, his expression more worried than relieved.
“You stay there while I help these ladies collect their packages.”
“Yes, Papa.”
“That’s my boy.”
An older man approached them. “Are you girls okay?”
“We’re fine, Pa,” the pair chorused.
So this was Mr. Bell. Caleb introduced himself. In turn, Mr. Bell introduced his daughters.
The horse had settled down. Caleb left Mr. Bell holding him and strode to the back of the wagon to gather up parcels and return them to the box.
Lilly scurried around to pick up things as well. “I hope nothing was damaged.”
Teddy hobbled along the sidewalk to see better what Caleb was doing.
Lilly lifted a sack and paused to watch the boy. There was no mistaking the question in her eyes. She was wondering why the boy wasn’t walking.
If only someone could provide that answer.
“Caleb.” Ebner rode toward the wagon. “Leave them people to gather up their own stuff. You get our wagon on home now. Hear?”
“Yes, boss.”
Lilly glowered at Ebner as he rode away laughing. Then she turned toward Caleb. “You work for them?” She grabbed the package from his hands and shook it as if his mere touch had somehow soiled it.
“Yes, ma’am. ’Fraid I do.” And if he wanted to keep his job, he needed to do as the boss said. “Glad no one was hurt.”
She snorted. “I’m sure your boss won’t agree.”
If only he could explain. But what could he say? His job with the Caldwells was too important to risk losing over a few packages in the dirt. He needed the money to take Teddy to a new doctor down east. Perhaps this special doctor would be able to say why Teddy still wasn’t using his leg though it had healed up. At least on the outside. The several doctors he’d already seen suggested there was nerve damage. Or something. They had all been vague and none had helped in any way.
“Goodbye.” He included the sister and father in his nod and joined Teddy on the sidewalk. “Let’s get going.”
The walk toward the wagon couldn’t be hurried even though Teddy had gotten good at walking with his crutches over the past few months. At the wagon, he scooped Teddy up and set him on the seat. “Now don’t you be driving off without me.”
Teddy laughed. “You know I can’t drive a wagon.” He leaned forward as if to take the reins. “Unless you let me.”
Caleb climbed up and sat beside his son. “Seems to me it’s about time you learned.” He pulled the boy to his lap and let him hold the reins, his big hands firmly on Teddy’s small ones.
Teddy turned his face up to Caleb and gave him a smile as wide as the sky.
Caleb’s heart caught the smile and clung to it, determined not to let the past steal the joy of this precious moment or any others yet to come with his son.
If only he could go back and undo the past. But he couldn’t. He couldn’t bring back his wife, nor could he stop the thugs from breaking in and taking her life. He’d discovered them and shot them, but in the gunfight Teddy had been injured. Caleb’s throat constricted with the same mire of emotions he’d experienced when he found his son, his leg bloody, his little face filled with terror.
Caleb swallowed hard and forced air into his lungs. He’d never know if he had been the one who fired the shot that hit Teddy. He lived for only one thing—to see Teddy’s fears end and the boy walk normally again.
If that required him to work for the Caldwells knowing Ebner could stoop to such
