Cross My Heart by Cox Carol

Author:Cox, Carol
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2013-07-07T16:00:00+00:00

Eleven

“Hello there!”

Willie looked up from the woodpile to see a man and woman standing next to the gatepost where the quarantine sign glinted in the noontime sun. Must be neighbors he hadn’t met yet. He waved to acknowledge the greeting and sauntered over to exchange a few words, pleased at the prospect of seeing new faces. Aside from Doc’s visits and the occasional howdy Jeb McCurdy hollered from the road, he hadn’t talked to anyone but Violet and the kids since the quarantine began.

He stopped at the prescribed distance from the newcomers and dipped his head in greeting. The couple stared back at him without speaking, then the man turned and jabbed a finger at the quarantine notice.

“What’s the meaning of this?” he barked.

Willie felt the hackles rise on the back of his neck. He hadn’t been in the area long, but he’d met enough locals to know he could expect friendly treatment from most of them. Apparently this fellow didn’t belong to the majority.

“Just what it says,” he responded, not bothering to temper the frosty tone in his voice. “There’s scarlet fever here. We’re under quarantine.”

The woman’s clear brown eyes widened. She gasped and clapped a hand to her throat. “Violet?” she faltered.

Willie relaxed a fraction. At least she seemed to care somewhat about the farm’s occupants. “No, Ma’am,” he replied. “It’s Jessie, the little girl who’s staying here.” Instead of the relief he expected to see, the woman’s expression grew more confused.

Her companion glowered. “What little girl?” he demanded. “And who on earth are you?”

Willie bristled at the peremptory tone. “Name’s Willie Bradley.” He drew himself erect and took on a combative stance. “Of the Double B Ranch in northern New Mexico Territory. And you are. . .?”

The man’s face darkened like a thundercloud. He planted both fists on his hips and scowled. “I’m Daniel Moore, and this is my wife, Rachel. We live here.”

❧

Once, Willie had watched a cowboy stun a wild-eyed steer by delivering a well-aimed blow between its eyes with a two-by-four. Now he knew just how that steer must have felt. He drew his lower jaw up from its sagging position and tried to gather his whirling thoughts into some semblance of order.

Rachel and Daniel. Of course. He’d heard Violet mention them often enough. He’d even seen a photograph of the two of them on the mantel. Why hadn’t he made the connection himself?

What brought them back from their trip so soon? Mentally, he calculated the date and groaned inwardly. Their return wasn’t early at all. With all the upheaval surrounding Jessie’s illness, he’d lost track of time. Violet must have too, or she would have mentioned something about expecting them any day.

He had to quit standing there like a dunce. Willie struggled to find something suitable to say. “Welcome home. How was your trip?”

Judging from Rachel and Daniel’s startled expressions, his overture hadn’t had the desired effect. Daniel’s sandy brows drew together in a straight line, and he took a step forward. Rachel grasped his arm.

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