make all those children he planned to have a terrific father.
Ruby went willingly into Chip’s arms. He shifted her onto his hip and offered his free hand to Callie—along with a knee-buckling smile. “Your turn.”
An unexpected wave of shyness washed over her. “Thank you, but I’ve got it.”
“I’m sure you do, but I’m here if you need me.” The rich timbre of his voice, coupled with his kindness, was her undoing. She didn’t need his help, but she certainly wanted it.
“It would be easier if I had assistance.” She took his hand. He clasped hers tightly as she navigated the sizable spaces from the wagon bed to the wheel’s hub and from there to the ground below. Much to her delight, he didn’t let go until several seconds after she’d completed her descent, giving her hand a squeeze—and her a wink—as he did. The handsome man possessed so much charm he was dangerous.
A slender young girl, around nine years old, sidled up to Tess. “I took the last of the gingersnaps out of the oven, Mama. What would you like me to do next?”
“I think these two youngsters might be eager to sample your baking, Lila. What do you say, Jasper? Would you and your sister like to go inside with my daughter and have a cookie?”
The boy cast a quizzical glance at Callie.
She nodded. “It’s fine.”
Uncertainty crinkled his brow. His gaze bounced between Callie and Chip. “You’re not gonna go off and leave us, are you?”
Chip was quick to answer. “I have an errand to tend to, but I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“What about you, Miss Callie? Ruby needs you.” The boy put on a brave front, but clearly he was scared, too.
“I don’t want to leave, but this isn’t my home.” Although she hoped it would be, she didn’t know what her future held.
Tess faced Jasper, stooping to put herself on his level, and spoke in a reassuring voice. “Your new friends will be here for you. Mr. Chip is building furniture to fill the rooms in Jack and Jill House so we can invite more children like you to come and live with us, and Miss Callie is going to be working here, too.”
“I am?” The words had slipped out before Callie could stop them. “But you haven’t even interviewed me yet.”
“That—” Tess straightened and waved a hand dismissively “—is entirely unnecessary. I’ve watched you when you visit your brother. Your love of the children is evident, and that’s my top priority. I can teach you everything else you need to know.”
“Thank you.” She’d always wanted children to shower with love. Now she’d have them.
Chip set Ruby down, and the youngsters followed Lila inside. He looked at Callie, one eyebrow raised. “You didn’t tell me you were coming here for a job interview. I thought you were just visiting your brother. And you said I’m not forthcoming?”
She ignored the teasing gleam in his eyes. The jovial man had a disturbing ability to weaken her defenses. She’d spent the past six months putting him and his endearing ways out of her mind. She responded with feigned detachment. “I wasn’t sure I’d get the job, so I saw no reason to mention it.”
Tess folded her arms and smiled. “I didn’t realize you two were so well acquainted.”
Callie rushed to answer, eager to dispel any false impressions. “We’re not. Close, that is. I helped Chip with his orders a few times when he came into the Blair brothers’ lumberyard, and we went to lunch once, but that’s all.”
“I see. Now, what can you tell me about the children?”
Chip quickly filled in Tess on how they’d come across Jasper and Ruby and made the decision to bring them to the Double T.
“What did you find when you went in search of their father?” Tess asked Chip.
Callie had been wondering the same thing.
He cleared his throat. “It’s, um, not a pleasant tale, nor one fit for a lady.”
“Be that as it may,” Tess countered, “since Spencer and I are taking the children in, I need to know what took place.”
Chip rubbed the back of his neck. “When I got close enough to assess the situation, their father’s wagon was fully engulfed in flames. The killers were nowhere to be seen. They must have ridden off, as Jasper said. Since I didn’t know for sure or have any idea how many people were involved in the holdup, I approached cautiously. Jasper told us afterward that he’d seen two men and one woman, but all I saw were footprints. The trio took the horses and left the wagon’s contents strewn all over the ground, evidence of a hasty search.”
“What were they after?” Tess asked.
Callie blurted the answer. “Jewels.”
He jerked his head toward her. “How did you know?”
“Jasper told me his father was on his way to Placerville to open a jewelry shop. If the crooks knew about that, it makes sense that’s why they’d come after him.”
He nodded. “Yes. I found a letter to that effect in his pocket from his new landlord.”
“Was he still...in the wagon?” Callie dreaded the answer, but she had to know.
Chip shook his head. Tightness around his eyes and mouth showed his anger, but his voice was level. “I found Mr. Tate tied to the trunk of a tree a short distance from the wagon. Based on the number of cuts and bruises he’d sustained, it was clear that before they shot him, his killers roughed him up in an attempt to get him to tell them where to find the jewels.”
Callie’s eyes burned with unshed tears, but she refused to let them fall. She must remain focused on the children and their needs. Thanks to her new job, she’d be here to help them move beyond this tragedy and find happiness once again.
“I’m going to head up the hill now and see that Mr. Tate receives a proper burial. I’ll stop by the sheriff’s office afterward and report the crime to the deputy.”
Tess took charge, as was her way. “I’d like you to ask Spencer to provide a couple of ranch hands. They can help with the task and ensure that you’d have backup if the murderers return to the scene of the crime. We’ll have our workers keep a lookout for any suspicious activity here at the Double T, too. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to the children.”
“I’ll talk with Spencer and get underway.” Chip strode toward the barn.
Callie’s chest tightened. “You don’t really believe the children are in danger here, do you? It seems to me this would be the safest place possible.”
Tess cast a watchful eye over the area before returning her attention to Callie. “I like to think that, but we can’t be too careful. Now, about your job. Since you worked at Blair Brothers Lumber Company, I would like you to assist Chip.”
“Me? Why?” No sooner were the words out of her mouth than Callie wished she could take them back. “Wouldn’t a man be more suited for the
