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Logan remained at her side, stifling an urge to put an arm about her shoulders and protect her from the glaring truth. “You kids are alone, aren’t you?”
Sadie pressed a hand to her throat. “Alone? Is that possible?” She studied the silent trio. “I think you better explain what is going on.”
Sammy looked up at his older sibling, a slender girl with hair lighter than Sammy’s and the same dark eyes. She shook her head in answer to Sammy’s unasked question.
“We got nothing to say,” Sammy said.
Logan pulled forward the only chair, two rungs missing in its back, and indicated Sadie should sit. Her glance at Logan informed him that the misery of the children’s situation brought her pain. Sadie placed a package on the table and unwrapped a cake. Three pairs of eyes lingered on it, then eased away. It didn’t take more than a glance around the place to know they were likely hungry.
He wished he could erase the pain for Sadie and the children. But things like this couldn’t be undone...only resolved, and he prayed for wisdom. Lord, help us unravel this mystery.
Slowly, softly, Sadie began to speak. “Sammy, are these your sisters?”
Sammy nodded.
The older girl tightened her arm about Sammy’s shoulders. If Sadie noticed the warning gesture, she ignored it. “What are their names?”
“She’s Beth.” Sammy indicated the older girl. “And this here is baby Jeannie.”
Jeannie, the blondest of the three, with the same dark eyes, wasn’t a baby anymore, but Logan understood that the youngest child often got called the baby for a long time.
“How old are your sisters?” Sadie continued in her gentle voice.
“I’m thirteen,” Beth said. “And Jeannie is three. Why?”
Sadie managed a slight smile as she met Beth’s eyes. “It’s just something teachers ask children. Let me introduce ourselves. I’m Sammy’s teacher, Miss Young, and this is Logan Marshall.”
Beth nodded. “I know who you are. But why are you here? I—Sammy took a note asking you not to visit.”
Logan noted the hesitation, as if Beth had been about to say she had sent the note. He glanced at Sadie, saw by the flash in her eyes that she had heard the same thing.
Her gaze returned to the older girl. “Yes, he did. But I couldn’t help but be worried. Especially when I saw that his back hurt him.”
Both Sammy and Beth adopted impassive expressions.
“Sammy, who has been hurting you?”
“Not Beth.”
“I wasn’t accusing Beth.” She looked to Logan, seeking his opinion.
He gave her a slight nod to indicate she should continue questioning the children.
“Where’s your mama?” she asked them.
“Mama?” Little Jeannie spoke for the first time.
“Hush, baby.” Beth jostled the child.
“I want Mama.” Jeannie looked ready to cry.
“Hush, hush. Remember what I told you.”
Jeannie nodded. “Mama not coming back.”
So Logan’s uncle had been right.
“I’m sorry,” Sadie said. “You must all be very sad.”
Nothing but more unblinking stares from Sammy and Beth.
“Where is your father?” Logan asked. Though his deeper, more demanding voice jolted the pair, they quickly recovered and pressed their lips together.
“Where’s your papa?” he asked again, softer this time.
Little Jeannie, her eyes full of fear, whimpered and clung to Beth. Beth’s jaw muscles twitched as she clenched her teeth. Her eyes narrowed and she wrapped her arms about Jeannie in such a protective gesture that a shiver climbed Logan’s spine.
Logan crossed the floor to the cupboards and threw open the only remaining door. Empty. He touched the stove. Cold. He confronted the children. Sadie was right, both in thinking things weren’t as they should be and coming here to check on them.
He stilled his raging heart. “There is nothing in the house to eat.”
No response from any of them.
He circled the room, hating every inch of it as a place for children to live. He stopped behind Sadie’s chair and gripped the back. “When is your father returning?”
Jeannie whimpered and buried her face against her sister’s shoulder.
Beth glowered.
Sammy trembled. What was he afraid of?
“He’s gone, but he’ll be back.” Beth tried to look as if that was all that mattered.
“Where is he?” He’d find the man and make him look after these kids. And he’d make it clear that he must treat them kindly.
“Said he’d bring us something to eat,” Sammy blurted out.
“Hush,” Beth warned.
Sammy hung his head.
Logan assessed the little information the children had provided. One thing was clear—they couldn’t stay here.
“I’ll take you to the ranch, where you’ll all be well taken care of.”
At the same time, Sadie said, “Children, I am taking you home with me. I’ll make sure you are well taken care of and that no one will hurt you.”
Logan gave Sadie a hard look. “You live in tiny quarters.”
“You live with a houseful of people who, apart from your grandfather, are all busy, and he can’t take care of the children.”
He rocked his head back and forth. Did she realize she would be absent as much as anyone at the ranch? Somehow, he knew that little truth wouldn’t change her mind. “Who will look after Jeannie when you’re teaching?”
The stubbornness slid from her face.
“I look after Jeannie,” Beth said. “But we aren’t going with either of you.”
Logan and Sadie forgot their argument as they confronted the children.
“You can’t stay here,” Sadie said. “It’s not...” She glanced about and seemed to struggle to find the appropriate word. “Safe.” A heavy beat passed as everyone stood poised to argue. “It’s only until we can locate your father,” Sadie added.
A look passed between Sammy and Beth. Logan could not interpret it except to know it put him on edge.
Jeannie struggled to get down, and Beth could not hold the squirming child. The little girl went to the table and stared at the cake.
“Who would like some?” Sadie asked, her look including all the children.
Sammy surged forward, but Beth pulled him back.
Ignoring their response, Sadie took a knife from her bag and cut a piece. “Jeannie, would you like some cake?”
She nodded and took the offered morsel. “Thank you,” she said before she devoured the treat.
Sadie cut two more pieces and indicated Sammy and Beth should each take one. Beth shook her head and gripped Sammy’s shoulder, but the boy slipped away and took the cake, making short work of it.
“When did your father leave?” Logan demanded, his voice more sharp than he intended, but to see the way the children ate...
“He left Friday and good rid—” Sammy’s words were cut short as Beth poked him.
Sammy jumped and gave his sister a glaring look. “What?”
“How many times do I have to tell you we keep our business to ourselves?”
“Lots, I guess,” he mumbled. “Want your cake?”
“I’m not hungry,” she said, although her eyes practically devoured the treat.
“Can I have some more?” Sammy asked Sadie.
“Certainly.” She handed him another piece, then turned to Logan. “Can I speak to you outside?”
Three pairs of eyes followed them to the door. She went to the far side of the buggy and waited, her eyes flashing green shards. “These children cannot stay here.”
“I agree.”
Her fierce expression didn’t falter. “Good. We agree on that point, at least. Now would you mind helping me get them to my place?”
“Your place? Where is everyone going to sleep? Do you even have enough bedding for four people?”
“I’m sure I can get what I need at your uncle’s store.”
“That’s so.” But still, it seemed just plain wrong for her to take them home. “At the ranch, they would be surrounded by many loving people.”
“Is it fair to ask Annie to take on more?”
He almost gave up at that. “Annie can manage. After all, she doesn’t have Dawson and Mattie to look after anymore.”
Sadie sighed as if he missed the whole point.
“Shall we let the children make the choice?” he said. Of course, they would choose the ranch. What child doesn’t want to live on a ranch with lots of adults to dote on them? “Besides, we know what it’s like to lose a mother.”
She looked past him, far past him. “Maybe I understand them better than you and your kin can.”
“Now why would you say such a thing?”
“Because you come from a loving, supportive, forgiving family. How can you begin to understand what these kids are dealing with?”
He wished he could see what her past held that made her eyes seem lifeless as she brought her gaze back to his.
“Let’s go ask the children.” She took half a step and stopped. “What if they keep insisting they will stay here?”
He considered the possibility and suddenly chuckled. “Guess we could tell them there’s a nice hot meal waiting for them with cake to follow.”
The heaviness left her face and she grinned. “I heard the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. I suppose it applies equally to children.”
He took her arm and led her back to the shack. “We’ll soon find out.”
The children stood lined up waiting for them to enter. He wondered how much of the conversation they’d been able to hear through the thin walls and barely-there window.
Side by side, he and Sadie stood before them. He and Sadie hadn’t decided what to say to persuade the children they must leave, but while he mulled over possibilities, Sadie spoke.
“Children, I think you can see as plainly as we can that you can’t remain here. I’d like you to come stay with me while we sort things out. You might enjoy sharing the stew I have planned for supper.”
“Or you could come with me to the ranch.” That didn’t sound very enticing. “We always have lots to eat.”
“We’ll go with the teacher,” Beth said with finality.
Logan had agreed to let them make the choice. So that’s how it would be. He glanced at Sadie, who didn’t look like she was enjoying this victory. In fact, her eyes were dark. Was she regretting her offer?
She clapped her hands just like a schoolteacher should. “Very well. Let’s get your things gathered up.”
The children’s belongings were pitifully few—three threadbare blankets, a change of clothes, well-worn jackets. Beth’s and Sammy’s were too small, while the arms of Jeannie’s jacket hung past her hands.
Jeannie clutched a rag in her arms.
“What’s that, honey?” Sadie asked.
“My comfie.” She wrapped both arms about it, looking defensive.
