Debra Holland (24 page)

“As well they should,” Harriet bristled.

Ant laughed. “That wasn’t a criticism. I’m all for a woman’s right to vote.”

“You are?”

“Yes. My sister Emily had gotten involved in the suffrage movement the year before she died.” He paused, losing his cheerful demeanor. “I think that’s what ultimately led to her murder. Lewis wasn’t pleased with her growing spirit of independence. When he couldn’t beat it out of her, he...” Ant’s voice tightened.

Harriet placed her hand on his leg for just a few seconds. “I’m so sorry about your sister, Ant.”

He exhaled, put the reins in one hand, then reached over and squeezed her hand. “I wanted to talk to you about David.” He took the reins back in both hands.

“I’m surprised you let him go stay with Daniel.”

“I’m surprised he wanted to, although it was Daniel who got his mother to do the asking. It was the most eager I’d seen David. I didn’t have the heart to say no.”

“I’m sure it will do him good.”

“I bought the Maguire place today.”

Her heart gave a quick leap. “You did?”

“Abe approached me at the party. Rode out to look it over today, and we shook hands on it.”

Excitement bubbled in Harriet. “I’m
so
glad. David’s going to be my student!”

“That’s one of the reasons I’m choosing to stay here. David already has people in this town who care for him. That’s important to me.”

“Staying in Sweetwater Springs will be good for him. He’s certainly made a new friend.”

“One who doesn’t need him to talk.”

Harriet laughed. “Daniel talks enough for both of them.”

Ant’s expression sobered. “If I’m going to establish a newspaper....”

Harriet clapped her hands together. “You are? Wonderful!”

“And a printing business for leaflets and advertisements. I’m thinking I’ll build a newspaper office, but in the meantime, I’ll move into the store on Second Ave. I’ll order a printing press and supplies, and have them shipped out.”

“Where will you build the new office?”

“I’m thinking Main Street. There’s that plot of land next to the mercantile.”

“To the right or the left?”

“Haven’t decided.”

“Are you excited?”

He squinted into the distance. “Maybe a bit. I’m shouldering a big financial burden, which is...disconcerting. Then there’s David. I don’t know what to do with him. Come autumn, he’ll be in school. But until then....”

“Why don’t you drop him off at the mercantile. I could start tutoring him while you work.” Even as she said the words, she realized that the Cobbs would never allow her to tutor David in their home. “Or maybe at the schoolhouse.”

“Harriet, I know you’re not happy living with the Cobbs. Would you consider working for me as David’s governess? I could use a housekeeper, too. If you can cook, that is. I’ll pay you well. There’s a bedroom you could have. Just ’til school starts.” He named a sum that had her head spinning. “After that you could continue to live there to see to David after school. Do a little cooking and housekeeping.”

Harriet’s thoughts jumbled all around in her mind.
I’d be free of the Cobbs.
The money would go a long way to getting her a home of her own, plus she wanted to live with Ant and David and help the boy grow out of the shell he’d locked himself into. Possibilities danced through her mind.
This could hurt my reputation.
She shrugged that idea away. Ant was a gentleman, and she’d be
working
for him.
It wasn’t as though we’d be living in sin!

Harriet thought of David and how much she had come to love the boy. She did
not
want to leave his care in another woman’s less loving hands. “I’ll do it!” The words jumped out before she could modulate them, and her heart soared.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

When they pulled up to the ranch house, Ant could see the boys in the corral with the midget horses. The last time he’d been by, looking for Lewis and David, he hadn’t had time or attention to spare for the little critters, but today he allowed himself to be charmed by them, glad to see David kneeling by a tiny creature, petting it. Although he was too far away to see the boy’s expression, just the fact that he was moving on his own volition, instead of being led around like a puppet was a good sign.

The other boys in the Rodriguez clan saw them and let out whoops that made Ant grin. He looked forward to meeting them.

After he and Harriet had finished discussing their plans for moving, she’d told him the story about Samantha Rodriguez’s adoption of two unruly twins and an Indian boy, how the town had turned against them, and Samantha’s staunch defense of her boys. Wyatt Thompson had stood by her side, and after everything was satisfactorily resolved, had proposed.

Ant had no trouble in discerning Harriet’s opinion of the whole situation. She showed her concern for the boys in her voice and gestures. Admiration for Samantha and anger at the Cobbs, Mrs. Murphy, and Banker Livingston’s family came through the narration. Whenever he could take his eyes off the road, he enjoyed watching the battle light flare in her gray eyes at her retelling about the fight to keep the boys from being sent off to an orphanage, then soften as she told the tale of the romance.

The Thompson and Rodriguez families, including the odd assortment of boys and Thompson’s daughter, Christine, were all going to be one big happy household come Monday next. A wedding would be held at Wyatt Thompson’s house and attended by their special friends.

Maybe David will be talking by then.
Ant allowed himself to hope. He set the brake, gave the reins to Harriet, and jumped down.

Wyatt Thompson, followed by another man, came out of the house and walked over to the horses to lift his daughter off her mount. She gave him a hug, handed over the reins to the other man, who must be one of Thompson’s hands, and scampered over to join the boys.

Thompson strode over to Samantha who greeted her betrothed with a smile that made her pretty face glow. He put his hands on her waist, and they exchanged a few words before she dismounted, sliding into his arms.

It was obvious to Ant that if the two had been alone, Thompson would have kissed her. He looked away, uncomfortable with their restrained passion.

Once Thompson released Samantha, she hurried over to Harriet’s side. “Wyatt’s going to see to the horses. Let’s go see if we can pry David away from that colt.” She gave Ant a wry glance. I have to warn you, the Falabellas are hard to part with.”

They walked to the gate of the corral. Samantha pushed it open, and then closed it behind them. Daniel ran over to them. “Ma! Ma! David’s fallen in love with Pampita’s baby.”

Samantha gave him an, “I told you so” glance over her shoulder.

Ant walked over to where David sat next to the tiny gray foal, engrossed with petting it and ignoring everyone around him. He squatted next to his nephew.
 

David looked up at him, his face alight with pleasure. He smiled, his brown eyes clear and alert.

Ant took a quick inhale of joy.
This
was the nephew he remembered. “Davy boy,” he murmured. He ran his hand over the foal, instead of sweeping David into a bear hug like he longed to.
Slow and steady.
“What have we here?”

David looked as if he might say something, and Ant held his breath, hoping. Then his eyes shadowed.

Although disappointed, Ant could sense David’s struggle.
Slow and steady
, he reminded himself again. Rather than push to see if he could help David force the words out, Ant turned his attention to the foal. The colt stood no higher than his knees. It looked at him with wise brown eyes, as if the baby horse knew it was here to help David. Then the look disappeared, and the foal butted his head against Ant’s thigh.

Captivated, Ant scratched the foal’s head as he would a dog’s, then brushed his hand down the black mane, untangling some knotted strands.

All this time, David didn’t stop petting the horse.

“What do you think, Davy boy? Think we can see if Mrs. Rodriguez might sell this little guy to us?”

David’s eyes widened, and he nodded vigorously.

Ant laughed. This time he did let himself touch the boy, rubbing his head with affection. “Let’s go ask her.”

David dropped a kiss on the horse’s forehead and jumped to his feet.

A little creaky from squatting, Ant straightened to his full height. When he looked for Harriet, he saw her watching them, unshed tears making her gray eyes bright. Her lip trembled.

Ant wanted to lean over and kiss her. Instead, he gave her a look that asked if she’d seen David’s reaction to the horse.

“I saw him! Oh, Ant, how wonderful!”

Samantha must have also watched them. She reached over and squeezed Harriet’s hand, then walked over to stand in front of David.
 
She reached out and brushed a lock of hair out of his eyes. “You’re in luck,” she told the boy. “That colt is my last unsold foal. But…” her tone turned serious as she stared into the boy’s eyes.
 
“I don’t let my foals go to anyone who won’t love them and take good care of them. So before I sell him to your uncle, I’ll need your solemn promise that the foal will be in good hands.”

David wiggled with excitement and gave her an eager nod.

Samantha laughed. “I’m going to want to use him for stud when he’s older. Is that all right?” She gave Ant a questioning glance.

He’d give her anything if he could keep the foal for David.

She looked down at David. “He won’t be ready to leave his mama for a while. But you can come visit whenever you want. He’s about ready to learn to accept a halter and be led around. We’ll work on those things when you’re here.”

Daniel jumped up, pumping his fist in the air. “Yes!” He clapped David on the back then danced around him and the foal.

Daniel gave him a grave smile.

Christine walked over and patted David’s shoulder. “We’ll both have Falabella foals.” She pointed to a brown one. “That one’s mine. I named her Anastasia.”

Anastasia, eh.
Ant made sure not to laugh. He looked down at his nephew. “Guess we’re going to have to do some hard thinking to come up with a name for your horse that’s as fancy as Anastasia.” But even as he teased David, his spirits drooped. He and David wouldn’t be able to decide on a name together—no back and forth conversation for them. Not until his nephew was talking again.
 

How long will that take?

What if David’s never able to call his Falabella by name?

* * *

Humming under her breath, Harriet almost danced into the Cobbs kitchen. She inhaled the mouth-watering aroma of fried chicken, and then stopped abruptly when she saw the Cobbs sitting at the table eating supper. An empty place setting was laid out for her.

They looked up, giving her identical glares.

Mrs. Cobb set down her fork. “Where have you been, Miss Stanton?”

Harriet’s high spirits deflated. “After riding to the Swensens, Mr. Gordon and I drove to the Rodriguez ranch to pick up David.”

“You’ve kept us waiting to eat. We didn’t know where you were and finally gave up. That’s not very thoughtful of you.”

Harriet’s temper flared, but she struggled to hold onto it. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to keep you waiting.”
I’ve had to apologize too many times to them. I’m so glad I won’t have to any more.

Mrs. Cobb folded her napkin into a neat square, then stood up, walked to the stove and began to dish up Harriet’s food.

Harriet washed her hands and sat down.

Mrs. Cobb placed the plate in front of her, and they all ate in silence.

Although Harriet was anxious to break her news to the Cobbs, she wanted to enjoy her meal first. The conversation wouldn’t be pleasant. She just knew it.
Although maybe they’ll be as glad to be rid of me as I am to leave.

Once she had finished supper, including the molasses cookies Mrs. Cobb had made for dessert, Harriet set down her utensils. “Thank you for dinner, Mrs. Cobb.”

The woman nodded, her heavy features still pinched in disapproval.

In for a penny, in for a pound.
“I have some news for you. Mr. Gordon has decided to stay in town with his nephew. He’s going to open a newspaper and printing office.”

Mr. Cobb sat back in his chair, but left both hands gripping the edge of the table. “That’s good news, indeed. We’ll be able to advertise our specials. Bring more people into the store.” He nodded several times, obviously thinking. “Could advertise new merchandise, too.”

Mrs. Cobb’s tight features smoothed out. She patted her husband’s hand, a rare gesture of affection. “You know how much you enjoy reading the paper, Isaiah. Now you’ll have a local one as well.”

Harriet tossed out her next tidbit. “Mr. Gordon has also bought Abe Maguire’s home.”

Mr. Cobb rubbed his chin. “The man must have some money. Good thing he’s throwing it around our town. He’ll need quite a lot from the mercantile.”

Glad that the first part of her news had smoothed her path, Harriet figured she’d better share the rest while they were in a good mood. “There’s more. Obviously David is going to need extra care and tutoring to help him recover from his ordeal. Mr. Gordon has hired me to be David’s governess.” She rushed out the hard part. “I’m to live with them. I’ll have my own room, so I’ll be moving out three days hence.” She braced herself for their reaction.