“I want to help with the horses,” the boy pleaded.
“I’ll be glad to finish her bath.” Lorelei extended her hand to Beth. “Lorelei Sullivan.” The two women shook hands. “And this is my brother, Corey.”
Corey whipped off his hat and bowed.
“Sorry, I guess I should have…” Braddock didn’t finish his sentence. His lack of social graces spoke for itself. He hadn’t used to be so inept, he reminded his hurt pride.
“And this is Archie.” Lorelei gestured with a twist of her wrist. “But we just met and I didn’t catch his last name.” Archie followed Corey’s lead and bowed gallantly. “Dr. Archibald Banks the Fourth, of the Virginia Bankses.”
Lorelei’s gaze widened, unsure as Braddock was as to the validity of his statement. Doctor of what was something they all probably didn't want to know.
“Yes, and you know…” Lorelei hesitated. “Christopher.”
The way she said his name, as if she never really knew him, unreasonably irritated Braddock. He finally found his voice. “Is Jay around?”
“He’ll be along shortly. Come on inside so I can fix you all something to eat. Rachel, would you like Miss Lorelei to finish your bath?”
Little Rachel finally pulled her curious and penetrating gaze away from Braddock, who sighed with relief. He’d rather be watched by an Apache scout.
The little girl’s stare targeted Lorelei. “You have pretty hair.”
Lorelei squatted. “Thank you, Rachel. If you let me give you a bath, I’ll let you return the favor. I bet I need a bath more than you.”
Rachel grasped Lorelei’s hand. She led her across the yard without a word to anyone, Braddock and everyone else forgotten.
“Corey, can you bring my bag? I think I’m going to need a change of clothes,” Lorelei called over her shoulder.
Beth, the only one brave enough to tangle with her naked daughter, put her palm on Rachel’s forehead, halting the girl’s abduction of Lorelei. “Hold on there, little miss. You mind Miss Lorelei. And if you don’t keep yourself in the tub this time, I’ll swat your bare behind.”
“But she wants a bath.” The little girl tilted her head almost off her neck to look up at her mother.
“Maybe she does, but you’re still going to mind her. You understand?”
Rachel held on to Lorelei’s hand as she would a favorite blanket. “Yes, ma’am.”
Beth’s gaze rose to Lorelei. “Thank you. I can’t keep up with her anymore.” She rubbed her swollen belly. “You’re already a blessing. I didn’t know how I was going to make it until the baby was born.”
Lorelei smiled, but it came out lopsided. “Wait until you hear our story. You might not want to keep us around.”
“I’ll want to.”
Little Christopher turned to Corey. “Let’s take the horses to the barn. We have lots of oats. Your horse will like that.” He swaggered toward the structure, not waiting to see if Corey followed.
Braddock watched with a painful swelling in his throat. The little boy had an exaggerated adult gait. He was big for his age, already a little husky, but long limbed. He walked like his father had. Braddock swallowed hard, hoping that if he had to cry he would be able to do it in private. His stomach started to burn in his effort to hold back the emotion.
“He’s Jay’s son, isn’t he?”
Braddock’s gaze was drawn to Beth’s. Shameless tears pooled in her eyes. Braddock set his jaw, ruthlessly grinding his teeth. He blinked, and was grateful his eyes were as dry as dirt. He looked away from Beth before that could change. He almost said, Jay’s a lucky man, but stopped himself. Jay’s luck was rotten. He just said, “Yep,” instead.
The sound of a horse galloping in their direction drew everyone’s attention. Braddock had to blink to make sure it was Jay who sat atop the big draft horse. He’d never expected to see his friend riding again. Jay slowed the horse when he reached the clearing and trotted right up to Braddock. He sat back, his hands resting on the saddle horn. “Thought I’d been out in the sun too long, but it is you.”
Braddock looked up at his friend’s face and shielded his eyes with the flat of his hand, half to block the sun and half to hide his expression. He purposely avoided looking at the empty stirrups. “It’s me. I’ve come to ask for a favor.”
Jay grinned. “It’s about time.”
“Pappy!” squealed Rachel as she broke from Lorelei and ran toward her father. She stopped in front of him and lifted her hands. “I want a ride.”