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  “Sounds like you have the evening all planned out,” Sarah told him, and then relented as his smile wavered. “I’d love to read to you and Brace, sweetheart. You go pick out a book and we’ll be in right shortly.” As an afterthought she called out after him, “See if you can find a copy of Robinson Crusoe, why don’t you? It’s one of my favorites.”

  “You handled that well,” Brace told her as Stephen finished his chore and then ran down the hallway to the parlor.

  “He’s so easy to be with,” she said, looking after the boy as he disappeared into the room at the front of the house.

  “So are you,” Brace told her. He enveloped her in an embrace that pleased her, his hands careful as he touched her with knowing fingers, his mouth against her face and then her throat, tasting the soft skin and inhaling the aroma of willing woman.

  “You smell so good.” His words were low and whiskey-soft against her ear. “I’ll have to investigate all your sweet spots a little later on,” he said, laughing softly as she clung to him with soapy hands, dampening his shirt in the process.

  “You do that quite often,” she commented, her knowledge of his approval and affection firm. She snatched up the dish towel he’d laid aside and dried her hands. “A little too late, I fear,” she said. “I’ve already gotten your shirt all wet.”

  “Ask me if I care,” he said, laughing softly as she brushed at the water stains with the towel. “I’ll let you take it off after a while, if you like.”

  “All right.” Her lips found his, blending in a kiss that gave her the assurance she craved. “I’ll do more than that, after a while,” she promised. “Just be warned, mister.”

  “I can hardly wait.”

  Sunday afternoon, after church service and dinner had been tended to, found all three of them measuring the available space in the shed for another stall. Jamie joined them, hammer in hand, and Sarah was sent to the kitchen to put together a picnic.

  Later she brought out a basket filled with the over-flow from her kitchen. Cinnamon buns left from the night before, thick slices of ham from the noon meal and biscuits she’d slid into the oven just a half hour before, along with a bowl of potato salad, completed the meal and they sat on a blanket outside the shed to enjoy the abundant feast.

  “The stall is pretty well done, Miss Sarah,” Jamie said, placing a slice of ham on the bottom half of his biscuit and covering it with the top. “We’ll be ready for Stephen’s horse by the middle of the week.”

  Stephen wiggled excitedly. “I can’t hardly wait!” he exclaimed, his grammar gone by the wayside. It was all Sarah could do not to hug him close, so appealing were his actions. He was growing up, she thought, and she’d do well to give him the respect due a young man, lest he think she saw him as a baby.

  They cleaned up their picnic, and Stephen all but scooted Jamie out the front door, so anxious for another session of reading he barely observed the manners he’d been taught. It was all right with Jamie, for Brace said he’d been off sparking with a town girl for the past weeks and had already planned an assignation with the young lady for after Sunday-evening vesper services.

  The continued reading of Robinson Crusoe came next, and the three of them decided they should devote their evenings to the story, enjoying two chapters a night. Stephen tried his best to argue for three, but gave in gracefully at a nod from Brace.

  “I think it’s time for bed, son,” Brace told him. “School tomorrow, don’t forget.”

  “It’s almost summertime,” Stephen said. “In fact, it was pretty hot today.”

  “We have another month before school will be out,” Sarah told him.

  “And then I can work at training my horse, can’t I?”

  “Yes, I think that sounds like a good idea. There’s a lot involved, you know. We’ll have to talk to Nicholas to find out just what we need to do.”

  Stephen nodded happily, kissed his aunt and hugged Brace with a strength that surprised the man. “I’m going to bed,” he announced.

  “Shall I go up with you?” Sarah asked.

  “Naw. I’m old enough to take care of myself,” he said. And then, as an afterthought as he climbed the stairs, he called back to her. “You can stop in later and say good night if you want to.”

  Sarah knew a moment of joy as she recognized his need of her. He was growing up, but a woman’s touch was still important in his young life. She said as much to Brace and was pleased by the look of affection he cast her way.

  “A boy never gets over needing a woman’s touch,” he said. “Speaking of which, I could use a little touching right now. Someone said something about taking off my wet shirt.”

  “That was last night,” Sarah told him, eyeing the cotton garment. “This one is dry.”

  “It still needs to come off,” he said. “I thought maybe—”

  “You thought right,” she said as he hesitated. “It’s time for bed for all of us, I think. And time for you to…”

  “Scout out all your sweet spots?”

  “I shouldn’t have reminded you of that, should I?” she asked.

  “You’ll never need to ask for that,” he told her. “It’s my pleasure to let you know how precious you are to me.”

  Once more, Sarah felt the rush of thanksgiving that so frequently invaded her very being. “Remember the night we met?” she asked, thinking about the events of the past weeks. “You scared me to death, pointing that gun at me.”

  “I wouldn’t have shot you, no matter what the circumstances,” he told her. “In fact, I’d never pointed a gun at a woman before, and when I realized you were a female, it just about did me in.”

  “You sure didn’t have any qualms about putting me in jail,” she said. “I thought you were pretty businesslike about the whole thing.”

  “I didn’t want to let you get away,” he admitted. “There was something special about you, Sarah. I couldn’t take a chance on losing you. Even then.”

  “And now?” she asked.

  “You’ll notice I married you as soon as I could figure out how to get a ring on your finger,” he told her, laughing as he recalled his haste.

  “You don’t stand a chance of losing me, Sheriff,” she said. “I’m yours for as long as you want me.”

  “Let’s just say forever, then,” he murmured, holding her captive against him.

  She nodded. “Forever.”

  Chapter Ten

  Brace came in the back door at noon, a smile that seemed to forecast good news curving his lips. His words affirmed that theory, and Sarah was breathless at the announcement he made.

  “I have a surprise for you,” he told her, barely taking time to greet her with a kiss before his impatience made itself known.

  “A surprise?” She placed his plate on the table before him as he settled there, and bent to touch her lips to the curls that rested atop his collar at the nape of his neck.

  “That tickles,” he said, shrugging his shoulders and shivering.

  “I thought I might coax you to tell me your news,” she said, bringing her own plate to the table. Freshly picked green beans, lavish with bits and pieces of ham, were heaped generously beside slices of corn bread. A plate of newly churned butter was placed before him and he lifted his brows at the sight.

  “When did you manage to get fresh butter? Did you churn it?”

  Sarah nodded. “I went to the store and almost bought some ready-made, but Mr. Metcalfe had fresh cream, just brought in from that farm on the edge of town, where the man sells milk. I like to use a churn, and I’d found one in your pantry.” Her shoulders rose in a gesture that belied much effort on her part. “Try it,” she said.

  He did, slathering a generous amount on his corn bread and lifting it to take a bite.

  “I was thinking,” Sarah said. “I’d thought we might get that cow we spoke of once. Especially if you decide to enlarge the shed into a barn.”

  “I thought you were more interested in hearing the news I have for you than discussing a
cow,” Brace said with a grin.

  “I am,” she returned smartly. “But the idea of having our own milk and cream handy is very appealing, Sheriff.”

  “How appealing is a visit from your family?” he asked, unable to subdue his smile as he drew a folded piece of paper from his shirt pocket. He held it in one hand, the fingers of his other carefully unfolding it, then offered it to her.

  “A wire from my father?” she asked, glancing at the bottom of the page, where the stationmaster had written the name Joshua Murphy in a firm hand.

  “One and the same,” Brace told her. “Read it out loud. I think I got the general idea when I looked it over, but I may have missed something.”

  “I doubt that,” she said smugly. “You’re my star pupil, sweetheart. You can read most anything in print.”

  “Thanks to you,” he said quietly. “I owe you much, Sarah.”

  “No, not at all,” she replied. “We’re even, so far as I’m concerned.” Her gaze dropped to the contents of the paper she held and her voice held an abundance of happiness as she looked up after a moment. “They’re coming here. Their train will arrive tomorrow and they’ll be staying for several weeks. Oh, Brace, I can hardly wait to see them. I just wish it hadn’t taken them so long to make the trip.”

  “Have you forgiven them for not pursuing the truth about your sister’s death?” Brace asked her tightly.

  “They’re my parents,” she said softly. “We all do things we’d like to change, and I think they probably have a lot of regrets about Sierra. But you have to remember that they were dealing with Lester’s shenanigans, stealing and embezzling, and maybe holding Sierra responsible in a way. She married the man and brought him into the family, after all.”

  “And how did you feel about that?”

  Sarah thought for a moment. “I think Lester had Sierra hoodwinked, and he obviously fooled my father into giving him a job and access to company funds.”

  “Well, if you can put your grudge against them aside, I can do no less,” Brace told her. “And I think they’ve probably only recently realized how much they’re missing, Sarah. Between you and Stephen is a bond that must be obvious to them, and I’m thinking they want to share in that. They must feel his loss terribly, on top of missing you.”

  “I hope so,” she said, carefully folding the wire and tucking it into her apron pocket. “I’ve feared that my leaving had cut all ties between us. But it sounds like they’ve forgiven me for running off.”

  “Did they realize you were hot on Lester’s trail when you left?”

  “They knew he was about to cart Stephen to Texas, and had even tried to stop him. But you know what Lester is like. Nothing stands between him and what he wants to do.”

  “Well, I’m sure your father talked to the local lawmen in Big Rapids before he left there. I’ll warrant they’ve changed their minds about Lester’s part in your sister’s death. If anything comes of all this, they may have to go home to testify. And you may have to make the trip, too,” he told her. “Just know that if you go, I’ll be with you, Sarah.”

  “Thank you,” she whispered, and then her frown disappeared as she rose quickly from the table. “I’ll have to think of where to put them,” she said. “I don’t know if the bed in the back bedroom will be large enough. Maybe I can switch things around a little.”

  “There’s a big bed in the attic,” Brace said. “The folks who lived here before I did apparently had an overload of furniture, and when the lady sold out to me, she left everything behind. I think I saw a couple of dressers and chests of drawers up there, along with a rocking chair and a little cushioned chair that looks kinda fragile to me.”

  “Maybe a slipper chair, made for a lady’s dressing room,” Sarah ventured. “I’ll go up and look this afternoon, and maybe we can bring things down after supper.”

  “Whatever you say, sweetheart,” Brace said agreeably. “Just don’t try to do any carrying yourself, you hear me?” His brows drew down as he spoke, and Sarah nodded quickly.

  “I’ll wait for you and Stephen to help,” she told him.

  The morning train was greeted by the three of them, Stephen begging to stay home from school for the occasion. Sarah had agreed to his request, and so the three of them drove in the wagon to meet the older couple.

  They were nicely dressed, Brace thought, a hat perched stylishly on Mrs. Murphy’s head, her traveling gown a bit dusty, but nonetheless cut nicely to fit her stout form. Joshua Murphy was dressed as a businessman, his suit dark and well tailored.

  “I’m Sarah’s father,” he said, holding out a hand to Brace. “This is my wife, Colleen,” he continued smoothly, the two men clasping hands as he spoke. Then he turned to where Sarah stood quietly beside the lawman. “Sarah.” Her father’s voice broke as he spoke her name.

  “Sarah?” He repeated her name and then his arms rose to enclose her. She went gladly into his embrace and her arms circled his neck, her mouth against his cheek.

  “Daddy,” she whispered, her eyes filling with tears as she was greeted with an abundance of emotion.

  “Save a hug for me,” her mother said, moving closer to be included in the embrace.

  “How about me?” Stephen asked, looking expectantly at his grandmother. Colleen smiled at him and halted, veering from Sarah to where the boy stood. She bent to him and kissed him warmly, then brought him to her side.

  “We’ve missed you terribly, Stephen,” she said, allowing her tears to fall unashamedly. “Your grandfather and I were so happy to hear that you were here with your aunt Sarah,” she told him.

  Joshua looked up at Brace. “Thank you for letting us know what was going on here,” he said with feeling. “Our sheriff in Big Rapids notified us that the case involving our daughter was being reopened, thanks to you and a friend of yours.”

  “Nicholas Garvey,” Brace said. “He’s a good man, and has agreed to help us.”

  Sarah reached for Brace’s hand and drew him closer. “I’m married, Daddy,” she said, holding up her hand, showing the wide gold band she wore. Her fingers were almost engulfed by Brace’s wide palm, but the ring glistened in the sunlight.

  “The groom sent a wire, Sarah,” her mother said. “I wish we’d been here for the wedding, but if you’re happy, that’s all that matters to us. And having Stephen here with you is exciting. We’ve been so worried about both of you.”

  “Is there anything we should know, right off?” Joshua asked Brace. “You said in your wire that the judge for this area was returning to finalize the matter. When will that be?”

  “Within the next week or so,” Brace told him. “Right now Lester and his two brothers have left town to visit their father. The old man is quite ill, I understand, and the three brothers have gone to the western part of the state. They should be back before the hearing. I’m hoping you can be here, too.”

  “I’m planning on it,” Joshua said firmly. “We need to do whatever we can to secure Stephen’s future.”

  “Thank you, Daddy,” Sarah said. “And you, too, Mama. I’m so glad the both of you came to visit. Will you stay long?”

  “As long as it takes to set things to rights, child,” her mother said. “We didn’t do everything we should have back in Big Rapids, ignoring things the way we did. The only excuse I can offer is that we were so broken up about Sierra, we neglected to investigate thoroughly. That’s been taken care of now. Our lawyer is still digging up the facts, along with the town’s sheriff and a marshal sent in by the government.”

  “Well, it sounds like things are under control,” Brace said, waving a hand at the wagon he’d brought for transportation. “The wagon isn’t very comfortable, but the buggy wasn’t large enough for all of us to travel in,” he told them. “I’m thinking of buying a surrey, one that will hold six nicely.”

  “You are?” Stephen looked up at Brace with wide eyes. “Boy, that would sure be great, Pa. Will we get a horse to pull it?”

  “Probably two,” Brace told him. �
��We’ll have to get busy finding room for more stalls, won’t we?”

  “Stalls? You’re building stalls?” Joshua asked.

  “For my new horse,” Stephen said proudly. “We’re gonna get him this week, maybe. And we might make our shed into a regular barn.”

  “Well, I’m quite a hand with a saw and hammer myself,” Joshua said. “I’d like to lend my help.”

  “That would be most welcome,” Brace told him. He turned aside and picked up two pieces of the luggage that had been deposited on the station platform. The whistle sounded and the engine began to move. “Let’s move away. The ladies won’t want to get their clothes dirty when the wheels kick up cinders,” Brace said.

  “I’ll get the rest,” Joshua said, lifting his own share of baggage. Stephen scooped up one smaller bag and moved toward the wagon, placing the tapestry valise on the back.

  “I’ll ride back here and watch stuff,” he said staunchly.

  “I’ll ride with you, Stephen,” his grandfather said quickly. “We can start to catch up on all the news.”

  “Okay, Grandpa,” the boy said quickly, helping the older man deposit the luggage. Brace added the two he’d carried over and then lent a hand as Colleen attempted to climb up onto the high seat.

  Placing her in the middle, he deftly lifted Sarah to sit beside her mother and then circled the wagon to find his own place on the wide board seat.

  The trip home was short, and in less than an hour the Murphys were settled in their room, and Sarah and her mother were busily putting away an enormous assortment of clothing in the dressers and chests Brace had moved into the room. The men headed for the back, where the wagon was placed beside the shed and the horses were staked to graze.

  In less than a week the morning train from the east brought with it a man who was greeted with a hearty handshake by Brace. “Welcome, Judge,” Brace said, his voice more than sincere as he thought of the issue that would be solved today.

  “Is our boy in school?” the magistrate asked, walking beside Brace toward the jailhouse.