He swung off Lucky, draped the reins around the porch’s rail, and climbed the steps to the front door. His actions felt exaggerated, as if he had to put on as how to keep from helping Lorelei dismount. But if he didn’t keep his distance during the day, he’d never make it through the nights. The camp loomed silent then, and he could hear her heavy sighs. To keep from touching her, holding her one last time, required all his strength. More than that, he at least wanted to tell her he was sorry. But that would make their inevitable parting that much harder. And that he must leave her and never see her again was the one thing he was sure of.
He knocked on Jay’s door. His stomach clenched with the unreasonable and unwanted hope that they had moved. He stepped back and waited. A restless wind that ruffled the yard’s lone tree was his only answer.
He scanned the grounds for signs of life. His prisoners had dismounted and stared at him expectantly. Lorelei wiped dust and sweat from her eyes. She was clearly exhausted.
Braddock knocked again, louder. There was still no answer, no movement behind the door. “Hello,” he called loudly. “Jay, Beth. Anybody home?”
“Don’t give away it’s you. They might not answer,” said Corey.
Braddock took off his hat, avoiding looking over. The little
smartass was right. Braddock himself wouldn’t answer the door if it were him. He stepped down from the porch, intending to go around back. A high-pitched squeal followed by a woman’s surprised shriek stopped him in mid-step.
He swiveled in the direction of the noise, adjusted his weight to his knees, and reached for his guns.
A child’s scream melted into a peal of laughter.
Braddock barely had time to reholster his pistols before a dripping, naked child ran full speed around the comer.
“I’m gonna get you, Rachel. Ma’s going to whip your behind.”
The taunt that followed her kept the little girl running past the haggard strangers in her front yard. The boy chasing her, however, stopped in his tracks. His eyes rounded into blue saucers.
“Rachel, get over here,” he commanded with real concern in his voice.
His sister continued to giggle while she careened around Archie, then Corey. Her pursuer’s sudden desperation seemed to make the game that much more fun. The two men held their hands up in the air and jumped to avoid the child the way they might have if a sea of rattlers were winding through their path.
The naked little girl bounded straight for Lorelei, wrapped her fists in her skirt, and hid behind her.
Beth waddled around the comer. “Did you catch her, Chris?” she called. The white apron she wore over her blouse and skirt was soaked up the front, and she was even more pregnant than the last time Braddock had seen her.
She stopped, apparently not recognizing him, and wiped her wet hands on her drenched apron. “Hello. I didn’t know we had visitors.”
Archie stepped forward. “You’re with child. How wonderful. Eight months, looks to be. You’ll be having the baby a little earlier, from the way you’re carrying.”
Her smile seemed strained until she spotted Lorelei standing behind Archie. Lorelei had coaxed the little girl in front of her and wrapped her skirt around the child.
“You must have a lot of children. Is this your wife?”
She sidestepped Archie to check on her daughter. “Rachel Hartman, get your fanny over here. You’re getting that nice lady all wet. I’m so sorry.”
Lorelei smiled. “She’s fine.”
The girl burrowed more deeply into Lorelei’s skirts. “I’m hiding, Mommy.”
“Lori May is his wife,” said Archie, pointing to Braddock.
Braddock stepped forward, hoping to cut the bartender off. “I’m sorry to drop in like this, Beth.”
She turned to him for the first time. “Christopher Braddock, I didn’t even recognize you in all the excitement. Is this your wife?”
Braddock forced himself not to cringe. Nor did he have the courage to deny it.
“We’re not married,” Lorelei spoke up. She kept her gaze on the little girl. “She’s so cute. How old?”
“Three.” Beth shot Braddock a curious glance. She wanted an explanation, and if he didn’t hurry she was going to concoct one of her own.
“These are…” He stopped, not knowing what to politely call the ragtag assortment. “These are some people who need help. I was hoping as a favor to me you could put them up for a while. They can help around the farm, of course.”
Beth Hartman pulled her gaze away to examine the others. Her face showed she didn’t believe him completely, but she respected him too much to say so. “You know Jay would do anything you asked. He’ll be thrilled you finally asked.” She appeared to suspend her silent investigation and smiled warmly. “Are you all hungry?”