Cassie Lynn carried a load of dishes to the kitchen, she pondered what impact this unexpected situation would have on her plans.
First she’d learned Mr. Walker was not going to settle in Turnabout, which took him out of the running for a potential husband. Then, in a twist, it turned out that he and his charges were not only going to remain in Turnabout for a couple weeks, but they were most likely going to be spending most of that time here at Mrs. Flanagan’s place.
Of course, Mr. Walker still wasn’t a candidate. Problem was, could Cassie Lynn effectively look for another man with the extra workload she now had? Not to mention the extra distraction, no matter how pleasant that distraction might be...
On the other hand, it seemed Mr. Walker’s plans were rather loose. Could he perhaps develop a fondness for Turnabout during the time he was here?
Then she grimaced. Why did her wayward mind keep trying to add Mr. Walker to her husband list? She needed to accept he wasn’t a candidate and move on.
Didn’t she?
* * *
Riley stepped into his hotel room and began gathering up the few things the kids would need for an overnight stay. The first thing he grabbed was Bitsy. He studied the cloth doll and winced over how bedraggled it had become since his sister-in-law’s death. Just one more sign that he was not as observant about the kids’ everyday needs as he should be.
Then he found the few items of clothing they’d need and stuffed them all in a carpetbag.
He didn’t like this arrangement, not one bit. The kids were his responsibility, not that of the ladies. And while they seemed nice enough, what did he really know about them? Other than that Miss Vickers was pretty and sweet and could cook better than his ma? And that Mrs. Flanagan had a sharp manner but seemed well-meaning at heart.
Of course, one could never count on outward appearances and first impressions. He just had to look to his stepfather and stepbrother to learn the truth of that.
Then there was the lady in Kansas City he’d hired to look after the kids while he worked. She’d seemed responsible enough, but she’d ended up not only neglecting her charges, but absconding with a necklace that had belonged to Pru’s mother.
No, trust was something he didn’t give lightly.
On the other hand, even he didn’t think the kids would be in any real danger with the ladies for one night. Apparently, unlike him, they’d both dealt with sick kids before and knew how to take care of them. And it was unlikely Guy would show up in the middle of the night.
Riley had to admit he wasn’t opposed to seeing more of Miss Vickers. Not that it could go anywhere, but still, it was nice spending time in her company.
He shook his head, trying to clear it of such dangerous thoughts. He couldn’t afford to make connections of that sort, not while he and the children were still on the run.
Perhaps a good night’s sleep would help him see matters more clearly in the morning.
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