Linda Ford Read Free Page B

crossed the room and took Lilly. “Come on over. It will soon be time for supper.”
    Kathleen glanced out the window. Long shadows slanted across the skiff of snow. She jumped to her feet. “I’ve stayed far too long. Mother will be worrying.” Her coat hung near the stove and she shrugged into it, pulled on her fur hat and mittens.
    Buck stood in the bedroom doorway, watching.
    She felt his measured consideration. Determined to ignore him, she turned to Rosie instead. “I could come back tomorrow.” Perhaps Rosie wouldn’t welcome her company as eagerly now that her brother was there. “If you want.”
    Rosie’s lips flattened. “Nobody’s forcing you to come.”
    Kathleen refused to be offended by the woman’s remarks. In the few weeks she’d been visiting, she’d learned Rosie didn’t expect any offers of friendship. But Kathleen didn’t intend to be a fair-weather friend. She patted Rosie’s shoulder. “I only asked because I thought you might enjoy spending time alone with your brother.” For some insane reason her cheeks warmed. She could well imagine such pleasure.
    Rosie nodded. “I’m sorry for being prickly. It’s just…” She darted a look toward Buck. The pair sent wordless messages to each other, then Rosie shrugged. “I’d be pleased if you’d come again.”
    Kathleen understood Rosie’s caution. She, too, had learned to wonder if a friend would visit again. “I’ll be back. After all, we have that quilt to work on.” She’d noticed a shortage of warm bedding and offered to help Rosie sew a quilt. Rosie had scraps of material and Kathleen intended to supply a woolen batt.
    Only when she reached the outer door did she allow herself to look directly at Buck. “It was nice meeting you, Mr.—” She realized he’d never given his surname.
    He grinned. “Buck is name enough for me.”
    “Nice meeting you, Buck.” She knew she blushed to speak so familiarly. Her parents would be shocked.
    “My pleasure, Miss Sanderson.”
    The way he said it made her cheeks grow even warmer.
    She scurried out and rushed toward home. When had she ever had such a reaction to any man? Never. But then she’d never before met such a cowboy, never seen such a kind smile. Her feet slowed. What was she thinking?
    Nothing. Nothing at all, except it would be nice for Rosie to have a man around to take care of filling the wood box and fetching water.
    It would be equally as nice for Buck to have a place to care for his son.
     
    Her parents both sat in the drawing room and glanced up as Kathleen hurried in, rubbing her hands together to ease the chill.
    “You’re very late,” Mother said. “I was beginning to worry.”
    Father lowered the papers he’d been reading and studied Kathleen. “I’m still not comfortable with you going to that woman’s shack. It’s in a rough area of town. You aren’t safe.”
    Kathleen held back annoyance at their continued resistance to her being friends with Rosie. “There is no danger.” For some reason, Buck’s image flitted through her mind. There was something about him his sister considered threatening, but she couldn’t imagine it was the kind of danger her father meant. “Rosieand her children are very nice people. You would like them if you ever got to know them.”
    Mother fluttered her hand. “That’s not likely to ever happen, is it? We simply don’t belong in the same circles.”
    Kathleen had invited Rosie to attend church with her. Assured her she would be welcome. “I would think rich and poor are both welcome in the church.”
    “Why, of course they are.” But Rosie heard her unspoken qualifier— just don’t expect us to sit in the same pew.
    Having no desire to argue with them or upset them, Kathleen let the topic end. She sank to an ottoman at her mother’s knees and took her hands. “How have you been this afternoon?”
    “I’ve managed to sit up and read a bit.” Mother’s voice quavered. “I’m sure I’m getting