Montana Wife (Historical) by Jillian Hart

Author:Jillian Hart [Hart, Jillian]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: General, Romance, Historical, Fiction, Contemporary, Montana, Widows
ISBN: 9780373293346
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2004-12-01T08:48:33+00:00

“Ma?” Kirk’s whisper in the dark hallway was rusty with sleepiness. “Is that you? You’re home safe?”

Rayna hated that sound of worry in her son’s voice. “Of course I am. Daniel made sure of that. Why aren’t you sound asleep?”

“I guess I was just sorta listening for you.”

She could make out the shadow of her son, leaning against the doorjamb. Too grown up to want to accept the hug of comfort she wanted to give him. Kirk had been terribly close to his father. Was he having bad dreams, too?

Not that he’d tell her if he did. “Did Hans wake up at all?”

“No. He didn’t even have one nightmare that I could tell.”

Thank goodness for that. It was her hope that things would be easier for Hans from here on out. “Good night, then.”

“Ma?” His voice squeaked with emotion and he cleared his throat, his voice still in the process of changing. When he spoke, he sounded so very like his father. “Daniel told me about what our uncle did. Saying he’d found work for Hans and me.”

“Oh. I thought that you were better off not knowing that.”

“Nah. Daniel said that’s how he grew up. Workin’ for his keep. He was an orphan.”

So it’s true, that’s how he knew. She remembered the afternoon she’d received the brother’s letter. It’s a common fate, he’d said. And how he wanted to spare her and her boys the hardship he’d known.

Oh, Daniel. She’d wondered what hardships he’d endured as a boy, while she’d soaped and scrubbed sheets on a washboard. And couldn’t bear to think that he might have known about children working like servants long hours for their evening food because he’d been one of those children. It was unthinkable. And yet, she could see how easily it could happen.

How her children had come close to a similar fate.

Kirk yawned, apparently having said what he’d needed to. “I’ve got an exam in the morning. G’night.”

“Night.” Rayna listened to her son’s door click shut. So, Kirk had had second thoughts about working on the railroad.

Good. Grateful for that small miracle, she eased Hans’s door open, saw his motionless form cuddled beneath his covers. His breath came with the slow, relaxed cadence of a deep sleep.

Another good thing to be grateful for.

She eased the door closed, tiptoed the few steps down the hall. Now it was her turn to sleep, for however few hours she could manage it. You’d think with how tired she was, she’d be able to drift right off.

But no. She could feel the tension coiled so tight within her, she could barely move her neck enough to see to light the crystal lamp.

That done, the small pool of light spilled across the bed she’d made up on the floor. At least the feather tick felt almost as comfortable as it had on a bed frame. Her weary bones seemed to sigh when she eased onto the side of the mattress.

Sitting up, her knees bent, she could just reach her shoes. She unbuttoned and loosened the lacing, pulled them off and rubbed her aching arches.

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