stepped down from the buggy and followed Susanna inside. The front room, about the size of her large front parlor back in New Orleans, was dimly lit by the two windows on either side of the front door. A wood stove stood sentinel in one back corner, with a small stack of wood beside it. A desk and chair sat near the front window, and five tables with four chairs each were placed in random fashion about the room. Wooden boxes of books were stacked in front of the shelves built into three of the room’s walls.
“The books were donated by various folks in and around town,” Susanna said. “Not many are new, but they’re in good condition.”
Evangeline gazed around at the site of her new occupation, and the depression she’d felt since seeing Justice lifted. She couldn’t wait to get her hands on those books. Perusing the titles, she pulled a copy of Pride and Prejudice from one box.
“Remember those summer nights when we stayed up late reading this to each other?” What romantic girls they’d been. At least Susanna had found her Mr. Darcy.
“I do.” Susanna smiled like a proud mother. “Isn’t this a lovely room? The men managed to get the walls painted and the shelves stained before roundup began, but we ladies have been busy with putting up our gardens, so we haven’t had time to make curtains for the windows.” She tapped one cheek thoughtfully. “I planned to sew them, but since you and I need to make clothes and you’ll also be working here, I should hire Mrs. Starling. She’s a sweet widow lady with four children, so it’s good to send work her way when we can.”
Evangeline gave her cousin a wry smile. “You’re good at helping widows.”
Susanna blinked, then hurried over to give Evangeline a hug. “Oh, my dear, I’m so sorry. I’m sure you miss Lucius terribly.” She waited expectantly for an answer.
The urge to tell the truth about her horrible marriage nearly overwhelmed Evangeline. But she merely sighed wistfully, hoping Susanna would take it for agreement.
“Well.” Quickly changing her mood, Susanna released her and posted fists on her hips. “There’s a great deal to be done here, but for now, I think we should return home and start our sewing.”
Soon on their way, they fell into the girlish chatter of their childhood. Only this time, instead of romantic dreams, they shared the joys and difficulties of motherhood.
The sound of hoofbeats rapidly approaching from behind put a stop to their conversation. While Susanna reined the buggy closer to the side of the road, Evangeline looked over her shoulder.
Justice. Was he pursuing them? His tall, dapple-gray horse moved nearer, but at least he was now cantering rather than galloping as though chasing a criminal.
He pulled up beside them and slowed to match the moderate trot of the buggy horse. “Good morning, ladies.” He tipped his hat.
“Hey, there, Sheriff.” Susanna smiled brightly at him. “Didn’t we see you a while ago? Don’t tell me you just happened to be out for a ride.” She turned to wink at Evangeline. “Why, I do believe you’re following us.”
Heat rushed to Evangeline’s face. She should have warned her cousin not to try matchmaking her with the sheriff.
“Not at all, ma’am.” Justice still hadn’t looked directly at Evangeline. “I’m headed out to the various ranches down this way to see if I can find out who shot up the mercantile.”
“Oh, yes. Of course.” Susanna laughed as though she didn’t believe him. “Well, carry on, then. And if you’re hungry in an hour or so, stop by our place for dinner.”
“Thank you, ma’am. I’ll see what happens.” He touched the brim of his hat. “Ladies.” He kicked his horse into a gallop and soon became a speck in the distance.
Evangeline exhaled so forcefully, she nearly tumbled from the buggy in relief.
Misunderstanding, Susanna laughed. “Oh, my dear, do I have plans for you.”
* * *
Justice’s stomach was already growling because he’d missed breakfast, so the mention of dinner ignited his appetite. But the last thing he planned to do was accept Susanna’s invitation, especially after seeing the look of horror on Evangeline’s face. His presence must be distasteful to her. Too bad, since they’d have to work together starting on Monday. She might even have to put up with him for a few minutes when he stopped by Nate’s house to ask about his temporary cowhands. He’d stop there last, and maybe they’d be finished eating. But otherwise, he’d stay as far away from her as possible.
He checked at the first ranch and learned from George Eberly that all of his seasonal cowhands were reliable men not given to troublemaking. Less than a mile down the road, he came to the main property of Four Stones Ranch. Foreman Seamus O’Brien, who’d been shot by outlaws a few years before and never recovered enough to participate in the roundups, told Justice he’d have to check with Nate to be sure about a few of the new men.
This warranted a quick change of plans. If he hurried, Justice could ride to the smaller house and speak to Nate before the ladies reached home. As tempted as he was to bypass the place, he needed to do his duty. He spurred Thunder to a gallop and raced over the fields instead of wasting time by going back to the main road. He rode into the small barnyard behind the house and heard unmistakable sounds of a ruckus coming from inside the barn.
He dismounted and unbuttoned the strap securing his gun to its holster. Edging up to the partially open door, he peered in. Dismayed but not surprised, he saw Nate hauling Gerard over his shoulder toward a stall, where he set the struggling, hollering boy down with a thump.
Towering over the youngster, Nate fisted his hands at his waist. “Now you stay in here and don’t move.”
The boy crossed his arms over his small chest and said, “Make me,” as he had at the restaurant the day before.
“Need some help?” Justice stepped inside and towered over Gerard from the other side. Poor Evangeline, having to deal with a son who seemed determined to cause trouble. The boy needed a man’s strong hand to guide him.
“Hello, Sheriff.” Nate used his title, probably to intimidate Gerard.
While it wasn’t the way Justice preferred to interact with children, in this case it was probably best.
“Howdy, Nate.”
“Tell me, Sheriff, how do you deal with a boy who chases milk cows out of their stalls and shoots barn cats with a slingshot?” As he talked to Justice, he watched Gerard, whose eyes darted from one man to the other and back again. Still, his defiant expression remained unchanged.
“Well, Nate.” Justice scratched the back of his head, causing his Stetson to tilt forward. “My father used to tan my hide when I did anything that rotten.” It happened only once, which was enough for Justice to mend his ways. But then, his godly father had been easy to obey. Lucius might not have disciplined his son.
“Sounds like a good idea to me.” Nate reached out, but Gerard ducked into a corner of the stall.
Justice managed to grab his shoulder. “You ever had your hide tanned, son?”
“I’m not your son,” the boy screamed while trying to twist away.
“What’s
