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  As soon as the man holding Claire turned, Adelaide recognized Sheriff Roper. What she didn’t remember, or perhaps she’d never noticed, was his ruggedly appealing face. His features were not as perfectly formed as Morgan LeMasters’s, not handsome in the usual definition. More like strikingly dangerous looking. The slash of a thin scar running along the top of his cheekbone, along with his severely square jaw and penetrating silver-gray eyes, lent him a formidable appearance. “Sheriff,” she said, placing her hand in his. As soon as her feet were on the ground, Rose and Granny converged on her and wrapped their arms around her.

  “Oh, Addie, I’m so glad you’re home,” Granny choked out on a sob.

  “I’m happy to be home.” Addie was so overcome with emotion seeing her grandmother that she could barely speak. “It’s so good to see you.”

  Granny pulled back, and seeing Addie’s tears, she pulled her handkerchief from her sleeve and started dabbing at her granddaughter’s cheeks. “Now, no crying. You’re home and this is a happy day.”

  Addie wiped her tears away. “Of course it is. These are happy tears.”

  “Addie, you remember Sheriff Roper,” Granny said.

  Addie’s eyes met the sheriff’s. “Of course, nice to see you again.”

  Jack reached up and tipped his hat. “Miss Adelaide.”

  Addie thought his deep baritone voice matched his intimidating appearance. “Please call me Addie.” She turned to Davey and Jane. “Let me introduce you to the children.” She placed her arm around Davey’s shoulders. “This is Davey, the eldest, and our protector on our journey.” Jane was standing behind her, so Addie reached for her hand and urged her forward. “This is Jane, and I don’t know what I would have done without her help.” She pointed to the young child in Jack’s arms. “Claire is the youngest, and as you can see, a real handful.” She gave Claire a stern look. “Claire, you shouldn’t have jumped from the coach. You could have hurt yourself. Thank the sheriff for catching you.”

  Claire looked at the group of strangers before she turned somber eyes on Jack. “Thank you for catchin’ me.”

  “Any time,” Jack replied.

  Running her tiny fingers over the scar on Jack’s cheek, Claire frowned. “Hurt?”

  The concern on her sweet face tugged at Jack’s heart. “Not any longer, honey.”

  Claire smiled at his reply, and Jack returned her smile, flashing a row of perfectly aligned white teeth.

  Like Claire, Addie couldn’t seem to force her eyes from the sheriff’s face. At first glance he appeared intimidating, but when he smiled, his face transformed from fearsome to remarkably handsome. She held her arms out to take Claire from him, but her eyes remained on Jack’s mind-numbing smile.

  Claire ignored Addie, shaking her head from side to side, silently conveying she was happy where she was. Jack just grinned at the child’s refusal to leave his arms, leaving Addie speechless.

  Claire placed her small hands on Jack’s cheeks, turning his head until he was nose to nose with her. She studied his face, seriously appraising his every feature. “Are you my new papa?”

  Jack was taken aback by her question. He didn’t know how to respond to the darling little girl. He glanced Morgan’s way, hoping his friend might help him out, but Morgan looked as flummoxed as he was.

  Claire’s question drew Addie’s focus from Jack’s smile.

  Granny realized no one knew what to say to the child, so she spoke up. “Children, you can call me Granny if you like.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Davey and Jane said in unison.

  Addie breathed a sigh of relief when Claire turned to stare at the older woman. “Granny?”

  “Yes, Claire, you can call her Granny,” Addie said. She wasn’t certain, but she had a sinking feeling the child had already decided she now had a father and a grandmother.

  Davey’s eyes were bouncing from Jack to Morgan. The two men definitely fit his definition of cowboys: big and tall, wearing pistols and cowboy hats. He was enamored by them, and his curiosity was evident on his face.

  Morgan saw Davey gaping at him and stuck his hand out. “Davey, nice to meet you. You can call me Morgan if you like.”

  Davey shook Morgan’s hand and said, “Do you have horses?”

  “Yes, I do. You’ll be welcome to ride anytime on the ranch.”

  “I’ve never ridden a horse,” Davey admitted.

  Jack extended his hand to the young man. “We’ll change that.”

  “Are you really the sheriff?” Davey asked when he took Jack’s hand.

  Jack pointed to the badge on his shirt. “Yes, I am.”

  “Are you really a cowboy?” Jane asked Morgan.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Morgan said.

  “Can I ride a horse?” Claire asked Jack.

  “You can ride in front of me until you are just a bit taller,” Jack said.

  That seemed to appease Claire. “Okay.” She was running her small palm over Jack’s cheek, feeling his afternoon stubble. “What’s that?”

  “That’s my beard,” Jack answered.

  Addie was surprised at the sheriff’s patience with Claire. She held her hands out again to Claire, saying, “Honey, we need to let the sheriff get back to work.”

  “But he’s my new papa.” Claire wrapped her arms around Jack’s neck, hugging him as tightly as she could.

  Addie had never seen Claire so taken with a man. She couldn’t recall another man even holding Claire before, certainly not Prescott, nor the superintendent of the orphanage. She hated to disappoint Claire, but she couldn’t allow her to think she had a new father and later have her hopes dashed. “No, honey, the sheriff isn’t your papa, but you will see him often since he’s the sheriff.”

  Jack’s gut clenched when he saw tears welling in Claire’s eyes. “I tell you what, honey, I’m riding to Granny’s farm to do some work, so how would you like to ride on my horse with me?” He glanced at Addie and read the worried look on her face, and realized that he may have overstepped his bounds. “That is, if Miss Addie says it’s okay.”

  Claire’s lower lip started quivering, but she nodded before she buried her face in Jack’s neck and sniffled.

  “Are you sure it’s not an imposition, Sheriff?” Addie asked. The sheriff hadn’t given her much of a choice, lest she break Claire’s heart the second time in a matter of minutes.

  “No problem at all,” Jack said.

  “Addie, Jack is helping Morgan rebuild the farmhouse and there’s more work to be done, so you will be staying at our ranch for a few days,” Rose said.

  Seeing the confused look on Addie’s face, Granny took her hand. “We have a lot to tell you, but we’ll explain everything later. We are having lunch at the ranch before Morgan and Jack leave for the farm.” Granny hated to give Addie the sad news of her brother’s death upon her return, but it wasn’t something that could be avoided. Addie had already departed Boston when Stevie was killed in the fire at the farmhouse, and they’d had no way of contacting her.

  Not wanting to be an imposition on Rose and her new husband, Addie said, “Perhaps it would be better if we stayed at the hotel. Adding four more to a household can certainly be daunting.”

  “We have the room, and we want you to stay with us,” Morgan said. He picked up the valises that the stagecoach driver had placed beside them. “Let’s get to the buckboard.”

  They reached the buckboard, and Addie approached the sheriff as he untied the reins of his horse. “Are you sure you will be okay with Claire?”

  “We’ll be fine.” Jack couldn’t stand the thought of the little girl crying, but he figured Addie was worried about Claire being on a horse for the first time. “We’ll ride right beside you all the way.”

  “Claire, you listen to Sheriff Roper and do what he tells you,” Addie said.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Jack mounted his horse with Claire in his arms and situated her in front of him, telling her to hold on to the saddle horn. He wrapped his arms around her
and backed his horse from the hitching rail.

  “I gotta go,” Claire said softly.

  Jack chuckled, thinking she was anxious to be on her way. “We’re pulling out, honey.”

  “I gotta goooo,” Claire repeated, twisting around nervously.

  When he understood what she was saying, he grabbed her around the waist and lifted her off his saddle, holding her in the air to the side of his horse. He held her at arm’s length like a rock in a slingshot seeking his intended target—Addie. “Miss Addie,” he said in a serious tone.

  The women were chatting and not paying attention, but when they heard Morgan laughing they all turned to see what was so funny. Seeing Morgan’s eyes were on Jack, Addie glanced his way. Jack was holding Claire away from him as if he’d just discovered she had the plague. Thinking he’d changed his mind about Claire riding in front of him, she arched her brows at him. “What is it?”

  Panic was written all over the handsome sheriff’s face. “She’s got to go!”

  Chapter Two

  During lunch at the LeMasters ranch, the children asked Jack and Morgan the many questions they’d been holding for real cowboys since they’d learned they would be traveling west with Addie. Addie had tried to pry Claire away from Jack while he ate, but the child insisted on sitting in his lap the entire time.

  “I don’t mind.” Jack was enjoying the little sprite. He quickly learned she had more questions than he had answers.

  “Jack, if your partner will let you leave, we’d best get to work,” Morgan said.

  Jack kissed Claire on the cheek before he passed her to Addie. “I’ll see you later, sweetheart.”

  Addie stared into Jack’s sparkling gray eyes as he waved to Claire, reminding herself that he was calling Claire sweetheart, not her. No one had ever called her sweetheart, not even Prescott. She glanced down at Claire, fully expecting her to cry when Jack left. But Claire surprised her when she kissed her palm and blew him a kiss, as Jane had taught her.

  Jack pretended he caught her kiss and slapped it on his cheek, making Claire laugh. He stood to leave and when he passed Davey, he gripped his shoulder. “Son, how would you like to work on the farmhouse with us?”

  Davey stared up at Jack. “Really? You mean it? I don’t know anything about building a house.”

  “I mean it. Today is the perfect day to start learning how. You may want to build your own home someday. But you have to ask Miss Addie’s permission.”

  Davey looked at Addie with such hope in his eyes, she couldn’t refuse. “You will be back by dinnertime, won’t you?”

  “Sure thing.” Jack thought the boy might enjoy some male company after traveling across country with three females.

  Davey started to walk to the door, but he hesitated and glanced across the room at Jane. “Maybe I should stay here.”

  Addie knew what was troubling the boy. “Davey, Jane and Claire will be fine with us. Now go on and listen to the sheriff.” On the way out the door, Addie heard Jack tell Davey that tomorrow he would give them their first riding lesson after church.

  Seeing Claire’s eyes were getting heavy, Rose said, “Let me show you the bedroom where Jane and Claire will be staying.”

  They followed Rose upstairs, and Jane clutched Addie’s hand. “Miss Addie, you don’t look anything like your sister.”

  “No, honey, my sister Emma and I both have auburn hair and blue eyes. Rose looks like our great-grandmother. She had pale blond hair and blue eyes.”

  “But I look like Claire and Davey,” Jane replied.

  “But your eyes are different shades of blue.”

  “No one ever noticed that before,” Jane said.

  Addie wasn’t surprised Jane thought no one noticed her. Claire garnered all the attention, partly because she was the youngest, and partly because her sweet face was irresistible. Jane was the middle child, and though she was pretty, she didn’t attract as much attention. Addie understood what it was like to have a sister who received all the attention when she was in a room full of people.

  Rose overheard their conversation. “Your eyes are a turquoise blue.”

  Jane blushed at the compliment. “Thank you. I’ve never seen turquoise.”

  “No? We’ll make sure to show you some. Mr. Longbow has many pieces that he showed me when I was young.”

  “Miss Addie told us about Mr. Longbow.”

  “You will like him,” Rose replied.

  Addie smiled at Rose. She wasn’t surprised her sister had already figured out that Jane needed some attention. That was the most amazing thing about Rose; her inner beauty far surpassed her outer beauty.

  When they reached the upstairs bedroom where the girls were going to stay, Rose opened the door and led them inside. “I hope you don’t mind sharing.”

  “No, ma’am.” Jane’s eyes widened in surprise when she saw the large, beautifully decorated room. The children had never had their own private room. At the orphanage there was only one room where all of the children slept, the beds lined in a row next to each other. Their belongings were placed in a chest at the foot of each bed. Jane turned in a complete circle in the middle of the room, taking note of the wardrobe, a large mirror, and a fireplace. “This is such a big room.”

  “Which bed would you like?”

  Jane pointed to one of the beds covered with a beautiful pink and white quilt. “Claire and I can take this one, and Davey can have the other one.”

  “Honey, this room is for you and Claire,” Rose said.

  Jane’s smile vanished, replaced by a look of alarm. “But where will Davey sleep?”

  “In the room right next door,” Rose answered.

  Addie understood Jane’s concern that she might be separated from her brother. “Isn’t it wonderful that Rose has thought of everything? When you want to talk to Davey, all you have to do is walk next door.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Sensing Jane’s uneasiness, Rose said, “Come with me and I’ll show you Davey’s room.”

  Jane looked at Addie. “Go ahead, Claire is asleep and I’ll put her down for her nap.”

  Rose and Jane returned after seeing Davey’s room, and Jane said, “If you don’t mind, I’d like to take a nap with Claire.”

  Addie didn’t think Jane was tired, but she knew she didn’t want to leave Claire alone. It broke Addie’s heart that Jane and Davey felt like they only had each other to depend on. Their lives had not been easy, but they had stayed together. “I don’t mind at all, honey. Come downstairs whenever you want.”

  “When you’ve rested we will show you the ranch and some horses, Jane,” Rose said.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  The women left the room and walked back to the kitchen. Granny had already washed the dishes, made some fresh coffee, and was sitting at the table waiting for them.

  Rose poured the coffee and sat down beside Addie.

  Addie caught the look that passed between Granny and Rose. “What are you two not telling me?”

  “A lot has happened in the last few months, honey.” Granny told Addie how her eldest brother, Frank, had become an outlaw. He was now a wanted man who had committed many crimes. He’d even set fire to their farmhouse and killed their youngest brother, Stevie.

  It was difficult for Addie to believe the brother who’d always been her hero had turned to the life of an outlaw. “But why would Frankie do such a thing?”

  “Honey, we don’t know why. I stopped trying to understand Frank a long time ago. He doesn’t have a sound mind,” Granny said. “The fire happened before I received your letter saying you were on the way. I had no way of letting you know.”

  Addie sobbed as she listened to the details of Frank’s many crimes. “What was his purpose in kidnapping Rose?”

  “He hated me for marrying Morgan. But the truth is, he wanted me dead too. He said I betrayed him by marrying his enemy.” Rose understood what Addie was feeling. She’d had a difficult time accepting Frank’s treachery. She’d never for
get that day when Frank abducted her. “Frank had hatched the plan to ambush Morgan when he came for me. Frank shot him on the trail and left him for dead. One of Frank’s men shot Jack, and he almost died. As soon as Jack finds out where he is hiding out, they will go after him.”

  Addie placed her hand over Granny’s. “This is all so terrible. I’m so sorry he burned down our home.”

  “It’s done, Addie. Morgan and Rose wanted me to live with them, so we had already moved my most meaningful possessions to the ranch. It has worked out for the best. Morgan and Jack are building a larger home to replace the farmhouse so there will be enough room for more children. Joseph Longbow has been working hard on building some furniture. God had a plan.”

  “Addie, why don’t you tell us about the children,” Rose said.

  “I’m afraid their story is a sad one, like most of the children in orphanages. Their father left their mother when Claire was born. Before Claire’s first birthday, their mother dropped them off at the orphanage door. Davey, who was eight at the time, said his mother told him someone would come for them. She didn’t say she would never see them again. There were attempts to find the mother, but she had disappeared. You can see how attached they are to each other. Davey has taken on the role of father, and Jane watches over Claire like a mother.”

  Rose couldn’t imagine ever leaving the baby she was carrying. “That is terribly sad. Their mother must have been desperate to have done such a thing. No one would choose to leave their children behind.”

  Addie shook her head. “I used to think the same thing, but not all people should have children. Yes, there are many valid reasons children end up in orphanages. Many children have been orphaned due to diseases that wiped out entire families. When their parents die, these children roam the streets begging for scraps, trying to survive. Perhaps in this case, the mother had no means of support for the children. But we’ve also seen some cases where parents decide they don’t want their children.”

  “Will they be adopted together?” Granny asked.

  Addie had prayed for some family to want all three children. “That is my prayer. But I’ve been told I have to separate them if someone wants to adopt one of them.”