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Roper removed his hat, scratched his head until his hair looked like a windblown haystack then shoved the hat back on, adjusting it several ways until he was satisfied.
She’d never seen the man at a loss for words. “Roper, what are you up to? You haven’t kidnapped them, have you?”
“Nothing like that.” He stared at the wagon and the kids, who stared right back.
“Well, what is it like?” She alternated between watching Roper and watching the kids as wariness continued to creep across her neck like a spider.
He faced her so quickly she stepped back, as much from his bleak expression as from being startled. “The kids’ mother is dead. They came West hoping to join up with their pa but they just heard he’s dead, too.”
Cassie’s heart dipped low, leaving her slightly dizzy. She remembered what it was like to hear your pa had died, recalled what it felt like to suddenly be homeless.
“I said I would keep them until their uncle sends for them. Or comes for them.”
“Roper, how will you look after four children?”
“I will.”
She didn’t bother pointing out the obvious arguments. “Why are you here?”
He gave her a look rife with possibilities and she didn’t like any of them. “I know how to build a house. I could put this up for you in short order.”
“We’ve had this discussion.”
He snatched the hat from his head. “Hear me out. What I have in mind is a business proposition.” He paused, waiting for her response.
“I’m listening.” The word business appealed to her. She had every intention of becoming a successful businesswoman.
“I plan to take care of the kids until the Mountie finds their uncle. But I can’t do it alone. If you helped I would pay you by building your house.” He grinned, as pleased with himself as could be. “I’ll stay here, in a tent, as long as it takes me to build it.”
She stared at him, turned to study the kids who listened intently. She wanted to help. Not for Roper’s sake but because her heart tugged at her. She knew how uncertain the children would be feeling right now. She hoped their uncle would welcome them, unlike her grandfather who had never welcomed Cassie and her mother. He’d made it clear every day how much it cost him, though the way he’d worked Ma she knew he’d gotten a bargain in the arrangement. Cassie didn’t want the children to feel as lost as she had felt, but if she went along with Roper’s suggestion would he end up thinking he had the right to control her life? She would never give up her dream of being self-sufficient.
The youngest boy sank back in the wagon. “She don’t want to help us,” he muttered.
The words were slightly different than the ones that had echoed in her head from the time she was nine until she’d run off to marry George, but the ache was the same. The need to be accepted, to feel secure.
Before she could reason past the emotion, she turned to Roper. “It’s a deal.” She held out her hand, and they shook. He held her hand a moment longer than the shake required, his eyes warm and thankful. She clamped her lips together and tried to deny the feeling that the two of them had stepped across an invisible line and entered strange new territory.
He released her hand and turned to the children. “Come on, kids. You’re staying here.”
They scrambled from the wagon and edged their way over to face Cassie. She felt their uncertainty like a heat wave.
She wanted to ease that fear. “You’ll be safe here as long as you need.”
The oldest girl teared up. “Thank you. Thank you.”
The oldest boy’s expression remained guarded. Cassie knew he wouldn’t easily accept words; he’d have to see for himself they were more than empty promises.
Roper introduced them all and at Cassie’s request they gave their ages: Daisy, thirteen; Neil, twelve; Billy, six; and Pansy, two.
Cassie quickly assessed them. They seemed weary and afraid but not defeated, especially Daisy who appeared competent in her role as mother, her watchful brown eyes never leaving her siblings.
Neil, too, seemed strong though not yet grown past childhood. His brown hair was in need of a cut, she noted as he stared at Cassie with the same deep brown eyes as Daisy.
The two younger children were both fair-haired, like their older sister, and blue-eyed and clung to their older siblings.
They all shuffled their feet and grew exceedingly quiet as the Mountie crossed from Macpherson’s store.
“You kids ready to go?”
Cassie shot Roper a look full of hot accusation. He had neglected to say anything about the NWMP having a claim to these children. What else had he not told her?
“Constable, they’ll be staying here with us.” Roper included Cassie in his announcement.
The Mountie looked about slowly, taking in the pile of lumber, the tiny sagging tent and likely a whole lot more. His gaze stopped at Cassie. “Are you in agreement with sheltering these children temporarily?”
She nodded, too nervous to speak as he studied her. His look seemed to see a whole lot more than the tight smile she gave him.
His gaze again went to the tent.
Roper stepped forward. “I guarantee they’ll be as safe and dry as any kids setting out with their folks in a wagon.”
He might as well have said things would be a little rough.
The Mountie didn’t answer for several minutes then shook his head. “This is most unusual. Two unmarried people caring for a family. However, I’ve had reports about a group of Indians stirring up trouble and I need to check on them before I head back to the fort. Should be gone a few days. I’ll leave the children in your care until then. When I get back, I’ll make my decision.” He donned his Stetson to indicate the interview was over and headed back to the store.
Tension filled the air after he left. Cassie searched for something to ease the moment, but as she glanced about, the enormity of the situation hit her.
“Where is everyone going to sleep?” She waved her hand toward her tent that grew more bowed with each puff of wind. Obviously that wouldn’t be sufficient.
The kids considered the tent. As if the thought of so many inside was too much for it to contemplate, the tent collapsed with a heavy sigh.
Billy giggled. “It got tired and laid down.”
For some reason his words tickled his brother and older sister and they pressed their hands to their mouths, trying to contain errant giggles. They failed miserably and stopped trying.
Pansy’s eyes widened and she gurgled at their amusement—a sweet pleasing sound that brought a smile to Cassie’s mouth.
Their reaction was likely the result of all the emotion of the past few hours, Cassie reasoned. She glanced toward Roper. As he met her gaze, he started to chuckle.
“I don’t see what’s so funny about the prospect of sleeping out in the open.” But there was something infectious about the laughter around her and she could no longer keep a straight face.
They laughed until she was weak in the knees and had wiped tears from her face several times.
As if guided by some silent signal they all grew quiet at once.
“I’ll put up a temporary shelter,” Roper said. He headed toward the pile of lumber.
Neil sprang after him. “I can help.”
“’Preciate that. Let’s find something to build half walls with.”
“Half walls?” Cassie asked.
“Temporary but solid. I’ll get some canvas from Macpherson to cover the top. It will be warm and dry until we get the house done.”
Neil grabbed the end of a board that Roper indicated.
Cassie trotted over and reached for a second board.
Roper caught her shoulder and stopped her. “I can handle this.”
Did he think he could simply take over? “We need to discuss our arrangement.” She edged away from the children so they wouldn’t hear the conversation. “I want to be clear this is only while the children are here.”
“Cassie, that’s all I expect.” Something about the way his eyes darkened made her think of retracting her words. But only for a quick second.
“I don’t need or want help for my sake.”
He lifted his gaze to the sky as if seeking divine help then grinned at her.
She gave his amusement no mind. “I’d pay you if I could.”
“You take care of the kids.” He tipped his head toward the quartet. Neil had joined the others and they regarded her warily. “I want nothing more.”
“Good. So long as you understand completely.”
“You’ve made yourself more than clear. Now about the children...”
“Of course.” She had no idea how she could manage until they had some sort of shelter and a stove, but she’d keep her part of the bargain and care for them. She squared her shoulders as she joined them. “When was the last time you ate?”
“We’re not hungry,” Daisy said but the way Billy’s eyes widened with hope and little Pansy stopped sucking her fingers, Cassie knew Daisy did not speak for the others. “I’ll make tea.” She headed for the tent to retrieve her stack of dishes. She lifted the canvas and crawled inside, fighting the billows of rough material. A moment later, she backed out with her hands full.
Billy giggled.
“Shh,” Daisy warned.
He sobered but the way his lips trembled tickled the inside of Cassie’s stomach.
“I feel like a bug crawling out from a hole.” She grinned and ran her hands over her hair.
“Pretty big bug.” Billy’s smile flickered and sputtered to an end as Daisy poked him in the back.
“He doesn’t mean anything bad. He just hasn’t learned to think before he speaks.” Daisy’s stare dared him to say anything more.
“Have, too.”
Cassie chuckled. Obviously the boy didn’t seem inclined to listen to Daisy’s warnings, silent or otherwise. To distract him, she said, “Billy, why don’t you gather up some firewood?” There was plenty of it lying about. Neil had gone back to helping Roper so she asked Daisy, “Could you help with these things?” She indicated the kettle and the box of supplies.
Daisy jiggled Pansy farther up on her hip and grabbed the kettle.
It was on the tip of Cassie’s tongue to suggest that Daisy put her sister down but she wondered if either of them were ready to be separated and decided to leave it be.
It didn’t take long to get a fire going and hang the kettle over it. Roper paused from his work to drag logs close.
“Benches,” he explained, and she thanked him.
She took the biscuits and jam out of her provisions and when the tea was ready she called Roper and Neil. The other children hovered beside the fire, Pansy still riding Daisy’s hip.
Roper hung the hammer over the board walls he had started and squatted to begin a mock fistfight with Neil. “You hungry, boy, or do you want to stay here working?”
“I’m hungry.” Neil batted Roper’s harmless fists away and tried to jab Roper’s stomach.
Roper bounced away on the balls of his feet, still throwing mock punches.
As Neil laughed, the other three watched, their expressions relaxed, the guardedness gone from their posture.
Cassie studied them. Strange how the kids seemed to feel comfortable with Roper. Maybe because he was always laughing and teasing. Didn’t he know there were times to be serious? Times to think about the future?
The pair reached the campfire.
“I haven’t a cup for everyone until I unpack some boxes.” She indicated the crates nearby. In one of them were dishes purchased from Macpherson that she planned to use when she served meals to people passing through in need of a feed and willing to pay for it.
“We’ll share,” Daisy said and offered a drink to Pansy from her cup. “Neil and Billy can share, too.” Her look ordered them to agree without fuss and they nodded.
Cassie dipped her head to hide her smile. Daisy had taken on the role of mother. She didn’t have much choice but Cassie wondered how long it would be before the others, especially Neil, decided otherwise. Still smiling she lifted her head and encountered Roper’s gaze. He darted a glance at the kids and winked at her.
Winked! Like she was a common trollop he found on the street. Her cheeks burned. Her heart caught fire. How dare he?
He left his perch by Neil and plopped to the log beside Cassie. “My apologies. I didn’t mean to offend you. I meant only to signal that I understood the way you’d read the children.” He kept his voice low as the kids shared their drinks. “Neil and Daisy are both strong. So far they work together for the good of all. I hope it continues until their uncle arrives.”
Cassie stumbled over her thoughts. She’d misread his action and now she was embarrassed and uncertain how to undo it. Best to simply face it honestly and move on. “Apology accepted and please accept my own regrets for being so quick to jump to offense.”
He nodded but the air between them remained heavy with awkwardness.
“Those biscuits for eating?” Billy asked, eyeing the plate of biscuits and jam.
“Billy.” Daisy grabbed his arm. “Mind your manners.”
Neil watched Cassie with a look of uncertainty that made her forget any lingering embarrassment. How well she understood that look. Even more, she knew the fluttering in the pit of one’s stomach that accompanied it. She wanted more than anything to put a stop to the kids feeling that way—and equally as much to lose the memory of that sensation.
“Billy, you’re right. I’ve forgotten my manners as the hostess. Thank you for reminding me.” She grabbed the plate and handed it around. “Take two,” she insisted. She stopped in front of Neil. “We don’t know each other and you might not be here long enough that we ever do but while you are here, you are safe. I expect each of you to be cooperative and polite but I’m not about to change my mind when you slip up. I won’t kick you to the curb.” She chuckled softly and glanced toward Macpherson’s store. “Guess it might be a little hard seeing as there isn’t even a street let alone a curb.” She returned her gaze to Neil. “What I’m trying to say is you can trust me.”
Neil held her gaze for a heartbeat then took two biscuits. “Thank you.”
She didn’t expect to win his approval overnight but it was a start. She held the plate and the remaining biscuits out to Roper.
He shook his head. “Give them to the kids. I’ll go out early tomorrow and rustle up some more food.”
Seems she would be depending on him far more than she cared to. Her whole goal had been to be free of obligation and debt. She ached to say it again but not while the children were listening.
