Fool Me Twice by Kate Donovan

Author:Kate Donovan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Published: 2012-12-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Jack enjoyed the two-hour ride from the Spur to the Delta Valley Home for Boys, knowing that his girls were in good hands. Janie had been up at dawn, helping Elena feed the baby animals, Mary had still been asleep, but had appeared serene when he’d peeked his head into her bedroom to check on her. And Trinity had a treasure hunt on which to spend her day.

Even Louisa had seemed happy, appearing at the predawn breakfast table to ask Jack’s permission to ride out to the roundup with Clancy. Before he could object, she had explained that she was bringing a book to read, and intended to stay up on the rise, with the extra horses, on the exact spot where they’d picnicked the prior afternoon.

“I just want to look at the boys,” she told him sweetly. “Mr. Clancy said I could use his spyglass, and he promises to keep the ranch hands away from where I’m sitting. I just want to see them.”

Jack had struggled not to grin at the heartrending lament, and after receiving assurances from Clancy that the hands would be too busy to bother Louisa, and Louisa in turn would be no bother, he had cheerfully agreed to the arrangement.

As the orphanage came into view, a small boy who had been sitting on the fence jumped off of his perch and began to wave and run toward Jack. Sobered by the knowledge that this poor lad was all alone in the world, Jack reined Pluto to a slow walk and raised his hand in greeting, calling out, “Hello, there.”

The boy stared for a moment, then his shoulders slumped, but he continued walking toward Jack until he was within a few yards. “Morning, mister. That’s a fast-looking horse.”

“You have a good eye.” Jack studied the boy’s tall, underfed form. He appeared to be close in age to Janie, or perhaps a year or two older.

“My pa knows horses.”

“And he taught you? That’s good.” Swinging down from his saddle, he offered, “Would you like to ride him back to the orphanage? My legs could use some walking.”

“I need to stay here, in case my pa comes. He’ll be in a hurry to get outta here, and I want to be ready.”

Jack pursed his lips. So, the boy’s father wasn’t dead after all? But he’d be in a hurry? Did that mean he was some sort of fugitive from justice? In some ways, he imagined that was just as hard on the boy as losing the man entirely. “You’re expecting him today?”

“Soon as he knows I’m here.”

“I see. How long have you been here?”

The boy shrugged. “I don’t know. A couple of weeks, I reckon.”

“And you sit out here every day? Waiting?”

The boy nodded.

“What’s your name?”

“Nicholas Holloway, sir. Pleased to meet you,” he added, thrusting his hand upward as though anticipating Jack’s handshake.

Amused, Jack returned the gesture briskly. “I’m Jack Ryerson’

“If you’re here looking for help for the roundup, they’re mostly all gone.”

“The orphanage hires boys out?”

“The real big ones.

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