Calico Christmas at Dry Creek. Janet Tronstad

knows better than that. He’s never even come calling. I’m a widow in mourning. A decent women wouldn’t—” Annabelle stopped and looked at Elizabeth. “Oh. I didn’t mean—”

      Elizabeth waved the words away. “Don’t worry about it.”

      Jake didn’t know what had happened to his Elizabeth. All of her indignation was gone. She looked tired. For the first time, he felt the urge to put his arm around her shoulders. He didn’t deserve this woman, but he did plan to protect her with all of his might. The problem was he wasn’t exactly sure how to protect her from the discouragement Annabelle was causing her.

      “You won’t need to see Higgins if you don’t want to,” Jake said quietly to Elizabeth. “I usually just go over and sit with him and Wells at their place anyway.”

      It was probably best if he kept his old trapper friends away from her.

      He could see Elizabeth straighten her shoulders. “Your friends will always be welcome at your home. I wouldn’t stand in their way. It’s your house.”

      “It will be your house, too.”

      Now that they were talking about it, Jake wondered what Elizabeth would think of his house. They were mentioning it as though it was a grand place, but it wasn’t. It wasn’t even really a house. He supposed it would be considered a cabin if a man were generous in his judging. Jake had given all the smooth lumber he had to the school when they were building that. He was due to get lumber in return when the school had some money, but he planned to let the debt pass. The children needed books more than he needed a better cabin, especially since it was just him.