Guarding Jessica by Kate Bridges

Author:Kate Bridges
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781989198520
Publisher: Cabin Lake Publishing

Guarded, Jessica looked about the town with suspicion in her heart, but things appeared placid and normal. Newly painted storefronts, well-maintained and nailed together with precision, glinted attractively in the warm afternoon light. Friendly townsfolk passed by on the short boardwalk, the men tilting their hats in respect, the woman nodding, unafraid to peer directly at the couple leading five beautiful horses down their rutted street. A big green mountain framed the backdrop.

When they turned at the hardware store, she heard the sound of children laughing before she saw them. The tight nervousness in her chest threatened to suffocate her.

Travis pulled in the horses at the end of the street, along the grassy slope beside the third cabin on the right. As he tethered them to the hitching post, Jessica stared at the beautiful sight.

It was a large acreage and at least a dozen children were jumping, hopping or running across the fenced grass. Too many moving heads to count. Healthy, plump, rosy-cheeked children singing songs and playing finger games, tag, or racing around a teeter-totter and wooden slide. They ranged in age from about thirteen, she figured, staring at the oldest boy, to a one-year-old little blond girl who’d just learned to walk, judging by the jerky nature of her steps as she held a jangling rattle in her pudgy fist.

Physically, these children didn’t seem to want for anything. Jessica gave thanks beneath her breath.

There were so many of them. Were they all motherless and fatherless? All to be adopted?

The little girl dropped her rattle. She tried to bend down to pick it up, but fell down, as well.

Jessica laughed, pushed open the gate and picked up the rattle and the little girl. She fingered the eyelet apron on the girl’s smock. “Hello, button.”

“How-do,” the little one replied. An attempt at how do you do?

Jessica jostled the girl in her arms. The youngster giggled. “Where’s Mrs. Murphy?”

“Mu…fee.” The cherub face peered around the yard. “Mu…fee.”

“That would be my ma,” said the oldest boy, moving closer to Jessica and Travis, who was now standing to her right. “I’m Sidney. My ma’s out back.” He gestured behind the house. “And my pa’s in the barn, milkin’ the cows. I’d be there, too, but I’m stuck lookin’ after the children.”

“It’s a mighty important job.” Jessica smiled and lowered the youngster to her feet.

Sidney smiled back. He had a slender face and slender hands, both heavily freckled.

“We’ll speak to your mother first,” said Travis. “While you tell your pa we’re here. We’re from Calgary. This here is Miss Jessica Haven and I’m Officer Reid.”

“An officer?”

“With the Mounties.”

Sidney raced off, saluting unnecessarily and stumbling over his gangly legs. “Yes, sir!”

They closed the back gate on the children but the little girl wailed through the bars.

A woman raced from behind the house when she heard the cries. A kerchief held back her dark brown hair, gold earrings sparkled on her lobes, and a freshly pressed apron covered her rotund figure. “Angie, is that you crying?”

The woman stopped and wiped her hands on her apron at the sight of Jessica and Travis.

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