kind of face that always attracted the ladies and weakened their good sense. But Mama hadn’t raised a fool for a daughter. Even as Susanna’s knees threatened to buckle, she gritted her teeth and considered what to do next, sparing a glance at Daddy before glaring again at the stranger. If he went for that gun at his side, would she be able to shoot him first?
“Put your gun down, daughter.” Daddy croaked out a laugh and paid for it with a painful grimace. “This gentleman has come to help.”
* * *
Nathaniel Northam wanted to laugh, but with that Winchester cocked and pointed at him, he didn’t dare make the lady mad. My, she was a cute little thing, all bundled up in a man’s bulky winter coat over her brown wool dress with blond curls peeking out from her straw bonnet. That turned-up nose just about couldn’t get any higher, or those puckered lips look any more prim and prissy in her brave attempt to appear menacing. The gal had spunk, that was certain. Fortunately, the old man on the ground spoke out before she took that spunk too far and shot Nate.
Should he lift his hat in greeting or stay frozen with hands uplifted until her father’s words got through to her? Lord, help me now. The Colonel will kill me if I get myself shot before I bring Mother’s anniversary present home, not to mention my death would ruin that big anniversary shindig she’s planning.
“To help?” The girl blinked those big blue eyes—at least they looked blue. He couldn’t quite tell with her standing up there on that shady rise. To his relief, she lowered the gun, and those puckered lips spread into a pretty smile. “Oh, thank the Lord.” Before he could offer to help, she hefted her bucket and hurried down the slope. “You can’t imagine how I prayed all night long that the Lord would send help.” She swept past him. “And here he is.” She set down her bucket with a small splash and knelt beside the old man. “Oh, Daddy, it’s going to be all right now. Help has come.” She didn’t seem to notice the absurdity of her own words.
Daddy? Once again, Nate withheld a grin. That genteel drawl in both of their voices and her way of addressing her father marked them as Southerners, as sure as the sun did shine. Oddly, a funny little tickle in his chest gave evidence that he found everything about the young lady entirely appealing, at least at first glance. Time would tell if there was more to her than beauty and spunk. That was, if they had more time together. Seeing the state her father was in, Nate was pretty certain they would. He’d never go off and leave a wounded man in the wilderness, not when he had the means to help.
“Ma’am?” He put his hands down but didn’t doff his hat because she was facing her father and the gesture would be meaningless. “Maybe we ought to get your father up off the ground.”
She looked up at him as if he were a two-headed heifer. Then her eyes widened with understanding. “Oh, mercy, yes. Of course.”
“Zack.” Nate called to his companion. “Get over here and help me.”
The short, wiry cowhand jumped down from their low, canvas-covered wagon, secured their lead horses and hurried to Nate’s side. “Yeah, boss?” Zack’s gray hair stuck out in spikes from beneath his hat, and Nate wished he’d made the scruffy hand clean up a bit more before they started out this morning. But then he hadn’t known they’d meet a lady on the trail.
“Let’s get this man into his wagon.” He wouldn’t ask the young miss why she hadn’t moved her father there, for it was obvious a little gal like her wouldn’t be able to lift him, and the man was in no condition to move himself. But at least he was resting close enough to the brown prairie schooner for it to shield him from the wind, and he had plenty of blankets around him. “Hang on a minute. Let me check inside.”
Moving aside the once-white canvas covering, he struggled to calm a belly roiling with anger over what he saw. Just about everything had been destroyed, from the smashed food crocks to the shattered water barrels to the broken trunks. Only a few tools and hardware remained hanging on the outside of the wagon box. Obviously, the thieves had been searching for money and no doubt had left this little family of homesteaders penniless. A strong sense of protectiveness swept through Nate. God had sent him here and, like the Good Samaritan of Scripture, he would not refuse the assignment. If the Colonel got mad, Nate would just have to deal with him later.
He squatted beside the girl, his shoulder brushing hers, and a tiny tremor shot through him. He clamped down on such brutish sensations, which dishonored his mother and sister and all ladies. “Sir, if you’ll let me, I’ll divide my team, and we’ll pull your wagon down to the hotel in Alamosa. They can help you there. Would that be all right?”
He’d offer to take them to Fort Garland just down the road, but a Southerner probably wouldn’t like to recuperate among the Buffalo Soldiers stationed there, those soldiers being black and some of them former slaves. Nate ignored the pinch in his conscience suggesting his real motivation was to get better acquainted with this young lady.
“Obliged,” the man muttered, giving him a curt nod, but Nate took no offense. Clearly, the old fellow was in pain, and all of his responses would be brief.
“I’m Nate Northam, and this is Zack Wilson.” He tilted his head toward his cowhand.
The old man’s eyes widened, and his bruised jaw dropped. “Northam, you say?”
“Yessir.” Nate stood up. “You know the name?” His father, referred to as the Colonel even by his friends and some of his family, had a powerful reputation from the War Between the States. Maybe this man had met him on some battlefield.
He shook his head and grimaced, almost folding into himself. “No. No. Nothing.” He tried to extend his right hand, but it fell to his side. “Anders. Edward Anders.”
“Well, Mr. Anders—” Nate reached down and patted the limp hand “—you just give Zack and me a few minutes, and we’ll get things all fixed up.” Nate didn’t know how he managed to say all that without choking on the emotions welling up inside, especially with Miss Anders staring up at him as if he was some kind of hero. My, a man could get caught up in those blue eyes and that sweet smile. Those golden curls only added to her appeal. Nate cleared his throat and turned back to deal with the wagon.
Lord, what have You got me into this time?
* * *
Susanna forced her eyes away from Mr. Northam to focus on Daddy, her stomach twisting over his lie. This was so unlike Daddy. She understood why it wouldn’t be wise to let these strangers know they had money, but his insistence that they make this trip across the country under an assumed name continued to disturb her. And although Daddy had denied it, she could tell the man’s last name meant something to him. She wouldn’t press him to tell her, at least not until they were alone and maybe when he felt better.
“Daughter, where’s my coffee?” The artificial gruffness in his tone further encouraged Susanna. The earlier hopelessness he hadn’t quite been able to hide seemed to have disappeared with the arrival of these good men, that and the bright sun now warming the campsite.
While she poured water into the battered tin pot and checked the fire, her own mood remained wary. Not about the men, but about Daddy’s health. He always tried to put on a good front, so she would have to watch him carefully to keep him from overdoing.
“Miss?” Mr. Northam gave her an apologetic frown. “If it’s coffee you’re wanting, I have some in my wagon.”
She eyed him as his words sank in. Of course. Their coffee had been dumped on the ground along with their other supplies. Why hadn’t she realized
