"Well, I swear," the man muttered. "Reckon you oughtta take a couple?"
"No, thanks," Adam said, coming to his feet. "I think this one will be just perfect."
Chapter Eleven
Adam and Peggy got back into town about midday. As they walked from the livery to the house, Peggy carried her kitten and whispered to it. Adam thought he ought to carry her, since he had been in too big a hurry that morning to put on her shoes. He watched the little girl walk across the uneven ground as if she were more used to going without shoes than wearing them.
When they came to the boardinghouse, Peggy turned up the walk. "Peggy," Adam said, waiting at the street.
She ignored him completely. With the kitten in one hand she tried to turn the doorknob. She switched hands and tried again. Adam walked up the steps behind her.
Peggy's little fist pounded on the door. "Ann Jane," she called.
Jane threw open the door. "Did I hear you calling me?" Her eyes met Adam's. "Did you hear that?"
"There's more," he said.
"Peggy." Jane knelt down in front of the little girl. "What have you got?"
"Nonny." She held the kitten out proudly.
"Nonny's beautiful," Jane said, stroking the yellow-and-white fur. "We missed you at breakfast."
She was talking to Peggy, but Adam decided to answer, anyway. "We were called out to a patient."
"Was it serious?" She kept one hand on Peggy's shoulder as she stood.
"Serious enough."
"You should have left Peggy with me."
"I know. But we wouldn't have gotten the kitten if she hadn't come along." She returned his smile; a good sign, he hoped.
"Are you hungry?" she asked.
Adam shook his head. "I think I'll see if Peggy will take a nap. We'll be back for dinner."
He hesitated just a moment, trying to think of a reason to stay a few more minutes. Peggy yawned noisily, as she had several times on their ride back into town. "We better go," he said.
Jane nodded. She bent to give Peggy a kiss and the kitten one last stroke. She whispered something in Peggy's ear that made the little girl nod.
Adam took Peggy's free hand and led her away.
Jane watched them go. She was sure it had been Peggy's idea to show her the kitten. She felt flattered.
She wasn't sure how she would feel if she thought Adam had suggested it. Her feelings for Adam were completely confused. She didn't trust him, should never have trusted him, but she was afraid she still loved him.
Jane thought Adam looked a little haggard when he arrived for dinner. She wasn't sure whether to be pleased or not. If he had enough difficulties, he might be willing to let her have Peggy. On the other hand, he might be even less inclined to believe that she could handle the child.
Peggy had avoided the parlor and its occupants and headed straight for the dining room. Adam had been right behind her.
"Did you have a good nap?" Jane asked the little girl.
Adam answered for her. "The kitten slept. I had patients all afternoon, and I guess they kept Peggy awake. Can we talk after dinner?"
Jane hoped her trepidation didn't show when she agreed. She turned her attention to Peggy. "Let's go find something for Nonny's dinner. He can wait in the kitchen while we eat."
Peggy followed Jane into the kitchen. So did Adam. Jane tried to ignore the latter. She poured some cream into a saucer and set it on the floor. Peggy put the kitten down and sat beside it. The kitten purred as it lapped up its dinner. Peggy looked up at Jane and smiled.
"Let's go get our dinner," Jane said, reaching a hand toward the girl.
Peggy shook her head.
"Come on, Peggy," Adam said. "You didn't have much at noon. You've got to be starving."
Peggy shook her head again.
"But Aunt Jane's dining room smells so good," he coaxed. "Let's go see what she made."
Peggy bit a finger, as if torn, then pointed to the kitten. "Nonny, too."
"Nonny can wait right here." Adam lifted Peggy to her feet.
When he took her hand, she pulled away. "No."
Adam looked taken aback. Jane couldn't suppress a smile. "At least she's talking."
He scowled at her, and she bit her lip. Crouching down beside the little girl, she said softly, "Nonny will wait for you, Peggy. As soon as you've both eaten, you'll be together again. Look how hungry he is. Aren't you hungry, too?"
Peggy's brow furrowed. "Peggy's Nonny," she declared.
"I know. I'm not taking him. I'm just feeding him. Kittens can't come to the table. The Cartlands would faint." She turned Peggy's face toward hers and smiled. "That would scare your little kitty, wouldn't it? He better hide in here."
Instead of the smile she had hoped to get, Peggy's face crumpled completely. "Nonny say hide," she cried, as tears spilled from her eyes.
Jane drew the girl into her arms. She looked up at Adam for help but he shrugged. "Your kitten wants you to hide with him?" she asked. That would make some sense. Peggy didn't like eating with the others, anyway.
"Nonny say be kayet."
"What, sweetheart? Your kitten wants us to be quiet?"
Peggy cried softly against her shoulder.
Adam had knelt down beside them. He ran a comforting hand over Peggy's back. "I think she's too tired to understand that we're not taking her kitten."
"Maybe we should let her wait in here," Jane suggested.
Adam sighed. "That would be easiest, but is it a good idea in the long run?"
Jane shook her head. "I don't know. You're the guardian."
His eyes locked with hers and narrowed slightly. She wondered what he was thinking. That she would take the decision off his hands if he would change his vote? Of course she would.
Finally he spoke. "Peggy, do you want to wait in here?"
Peggy drew away from Jane. "Nonny gone," she said mournfully.
"Nonny's right here, sweetheart."
"Nonny gone," she repeated. She sat down on the floor and snatched the kitten away from the cream. Nonny seemed only momentarily startled by this sudden change in fortune. He settled into her lap, licking delicately at his face and paws.
Jane and Adam rose to their feet. "Let's go eat," Adam said. "She'll be all right in here.".
George asked after the orphan; everyone else accepted her absence as a return to normalcy. Jane couldn't stop thinking about her, though. Halfway through the meal she went in to check on her and found her sleeping on the floor. The kitten, having finished the cream, was curled up beside her.
She reported this to Adam while the others at the table were deep in a conversation of their own. He nodded, but didn't seem pleased. She could guess what he was thinking. The child's sleeping patterns weren't fitting well with his life. Part of her hoped Peggy kept him up all night.
When the others left, Adam began stacking dishes. Jane decided to let him. It would be nice to have a little help again. She started toward the kitchen with two of the platters, but Adam stopped her.
"Let's talk before we wake Peggy."
"All right," she said, turning back. He pulled a chair away from the table and took the platters out of her hands, indicating a chair. She sat as he swung another chair around to face her.
"There are a couple of things I need you to understand," he began.
She heard her grandmother's voice in her head and determined not to believe him. But she had to listen. In spite of everything, she wanted him to say he loved her, and she wanted to believe him.
But evidently that wasn't what he had wanted to tell her.
"I'd like for you to have Peggy," he began.
Jane found herself holding her breath. Was this it? Had he finally changed his mind?
"But I'm afraid to give her to you."
Her breath left her all at once. "Afraid? What are you talking about?"
"Jane, I've seen how hard you work." He tried to take her hand but she pulled it away. "You let everyone take advantage of you."
"Including you."
He flinched at that, and she counted it a small victory. While he seemed to scan the room, searching for words, she kept her eyes locked on his face. She couldn't afford not to.
"What I'm trying to say is that I worry for your health. You're not sleeping."
He reached out to touch her face, but she drew back. She didn't want him noticing anything about her that was less. than perfect. She especially resented him pointing out the very things she noticed every time she looked in the mirror.
"You're already beyond your limits," he continued. "A little girl, especially this little girl, would be too much for you."