The Fire in Ember - DiAnn Mills [33]
I’d be honored if you’d let me take you for a buggy ride on Sunday afternoon.
Leah had sensed his interest in the past, but she’d avoided him. She had too many disruptions in her life without adding another one. But Victor refused to let it rest. Mr. Charm had pushed away her polite refusal as though she were a … child who didn’t know what she needed. He could view her as a challenge or a burr under his saddle. No matter, he could take his fascination elsewhere.
Should I ask John for permission?
Leah hadn’t considered a buggy ride or asking John if he minded. She’d smiled and thanked Victor, making certain he understood she had obligations and responsibilities right there without adding more.
I’m not giving up so easily, Miss Leah. I’ve thought about this for a long time.
Victor could go on thinking about it from now until the good Lord returned. She had plenty of other problems to hold her interest—like keeping John and Evan from going to blows over Ember.
Ember … How could one pint-size woman cause so much agitation? Had she stolen Mr. Oberlander’s horse? What lay in her past that gave her nightmares? And what could Leah do to keep her sons from fighting over her? John was the levelheaded one, but Evan was sensitive. Both boys—rather, men—were tasting first love with a young woman who might hand them a kiss of poison.
All of that, and Leah liked Ember. Felt sorry for her and often saw the hurt in her eyes. Leah wanted a peaceful and satisfying life for the young woman. But a mama’s loyalty clung to her sons, and she’d do anything to protect them.
Orange and purple streaks of daylight had barely met Tuesday morning when John stepped from the campsite along the northern section of Evan’s acreage and watched a rider approach them in the distance. John grabbed his rifle and studied the man, then relaxed. The steel-gray gelding, the high brimmed hat with a single center crease, and the way he sat tall in the saddle could be only one man—Bob Culpepper, Rocky Falls’ marshal and undertaker.
And yet, for Bob to ride all this way so early in the morning meant trouble.
“Looks like me and Evan will be working alone.” Mark stepped into the rising sunlight, drinking a mug of coffee that he’d made with enough grounds to cover a creek bottom.
John nodded. “Evan doesn’t mind since we’re campin’ on his land.”
Yesterday morning, the three had checked on the cattle grazing near the upper free range. After rounding up a few strays and driving them back into the herd, they rode to Evan’s land to build fence. John had the deed granting Evan the acreage, but a fence separating Evan’s land from the Wide O made sense.
The three took turns cooking and cleaning up, always working hard and enjoying each other’s company. These were the times all of them would no doubt remember in years to come when they had families of their own.
Thank goodness Mark had enough sense not to bring up the subject of Bert. Evan and John had an unspoken truce with the matter. But it was hard, real hard, not to persuade Evan to forget her and remember his future of becoming a veterinarian.
“Mama hates it when you’re busy with deputy work,” Mark said. “I don’t like it either.”
“We haven’t had any serious crimes for nearly five years since the McCaw gang tore through here. Could be Bob is taking the missus for a trip and needs me to fill in for him.”
“Not this early in the mornin'.” Evan made his way beside John and Mark. “We might be younger, big brother, but we aren’t stupid. This means stealin’ or a murder. I can feel it in my bones. And Mama will be horrible to live with until you return.”
Evan’s most likely right. “You can ease her mind by keeping the others from fussin’ and fightin'.” John clamped a hand on Mark’s shoulder. “You and Aaron need to ease up—not