Brad nodded. “Uh-huh. My sister-in-law, Abby. She’s asleep in another room with her husband, Nick. He’s my older brother. He’s in charge of this ranch.”
The boy considered his reply. Then said, “My mommy’s in heaven. My daddy killed her. He’s in Denver.”
Though he spoke the words quietly, they struck Brad with the force of a warrior. He had to hold onto the bedpost to keep from reeling back. Scores of questions assailed him, but he knew now was not the time to voice them. If what he said was true, this little boy had been through enough. He deserved to sleep like an angel. Sarah could answer the questions.
When Brad came back to the kitchen, he heard Sarah pleading with Mike to let her and her half siblings go. She promised she wouldn’t camp out anymore.
Brad couldn’t wait. He cut her off and blurted, “Davy said his dad killed his mom.”
Sarah’s face drained of color and he thought she was going to faint. He stepped closer.
“Is that true, Sarah?” Mike asked, watching her carefully.
This time she couldn’t hold back the tears. Anna put her arms around Sarah, both of them hanging on to each other. “Yes,” Sarah whispered.
“Did you report the murder?” the sheriff asked.
“Yes.” After a moment, she continued, “The kids and I had gone to the grocery store. When I started bringing the groceries into the kitchen, I saw my stepfather choking my mother. I grabbed a chair and broke it over his head. I pulled him off Mom, but—but I couldn’t help her.” She choked back a sob, no doubt seeing the scene once again in her mind’s eye. “He was out…my stepfather. I got the kids back in the car and I threw some things into our suitcases and left. Then I called the police and told them that my stepfather had choked my mother to death.”
“Why did you run?”
“Because my stepfather is—he lies. I couldn’t leave without the kids. He’d kill any of us if he thought we knew what he’d done. He wasn’t a good father. I paid most of the bills and bought the groceries. He drank what little he earned. He had even started my mother drinking.” At that confession, Sarah cried again. “I tried to get her to not drink with him. He was a fighter when he drank and she…She was a different person.”
“I still don’t understand why you ran off. You’d already called the police.”
“Sheriff, have you come across people who do bad things but aren’t punished for them? Because no one can prove it? Or because he tells a sad story and is let off easy? I couldn’t risk hanging around to see what happened. He would claim he loved his children and the cops would believe him.”
Mike seemed to ponder that, then he nodded, as if he’d understood her as well as agreed with her. “Look, why don’t you and the children sleep here tonight? The Logans won’t mind, right, Brad?” He looked up at Brad, who nodded his agreement. “I need the names of your mother and stepfather.”
“Alice and Ellis Ashton.”
“Let me contact the police in—You never said where you lived.”
“I don’t think I should tell you.” She was trembling, but her chin was strong, as if determined to keep their former whereabouts a secret.
“I believe Davy said it was Denver,” Brad said softly.
Sarah jumped to her feet. “You had no right to question Davy!” she protested. “He’s just a little boy!”
“I wasn’t questioning him. He volunteered the information.”
Mike put up his hands to still the argument. “Sarah, we’re not trying to harm you or your siblings. We’re just trying to find out what happened. Believe it or not, we want to protect you.” Once Sarah settled down a bit, he continued. “Do you have papers giving you the right to remove your brother and sister from their home?”
“If he gets the kids, he won’t take care of them! He might—might even hurt them!”
At that, Anna began crying, and Brad questioned their judgment in speaking so candidly in front of the young girl.
Sarah picked her up and held her tightly. “Please, Sheriff! You can understand! I couldn’t help my mother anymore, but—but don’t let him take the kids!”
“Sarah, are you over twenty-one?” Mike asked.
“Yes, I’m twenty-four.” She wiped her cheeks, but the tears kept coming.
“If you have to go back to testify against your stepfather, I’ll try to help you get custody of the children. I can write a letter to the judge in support of that action. We’ll keep the kids here if you go testify. If they don’t give you custody, I’ll—I’ll look away for a day or two so you can disappear. Okay?”
“You promise?” she asked.
“You have my word.”
“Thank you, Sheriff. They’re good kids.”
“I can tell that.” He smiled at Anna. “Everything’s going to be fine,” he crooned to the little girl. “No need to cry.”
Brad thanked Mike. “Is that all you need for tonight? I think Anna is pretty tired, too.”
“Yeah, that’s all for tonight. I’ll check with the Denver PD to see if they’ve got an Ellis Ashton in custody.”
“Then, Sarah, if you’re ready, we’ve got an empty bedroom for you two to share tonight. Want me to carry Anna?”
“No, thank you. I’ll carry her.”
Brad picked up the suitcases and led the way down the dimly lit hall. He opened the farthest bedroom door and turned on the bedside light. “There are extra pillows and a quilt in the closet, in case you get cold during the night.” He told her where to find the bathroom and fresh hand towels. All the while Sarah just stood there, holding Anna. She looked frozen to the spot, almost shell-shocked. He couldn’t even imagine what she’d been through, how awful it must have been, how terrified she was. An urge to reach out to her and wrap her in his arms suddenly overtook him, hard and strong. He took a step toward her, but she backed up.
Looking at him, her brown eyes red-rimmed and bloodshot, she shook her head, but said in a small voice, “Thank you, Brad. Thank you for helping us.”
Brad rose the next morning and showered and shaved, then dressed. After that, he headed for the kitchen, where he knew he’d find his brother cooking breakfast.
“Morning,” he greeted Nick as he stepped into the doorway.
“Morning.” Then Nick continued before Brad could say anything. “You got back kind of late last night, didn’t you?”
“Yeah, but—”
Robbie raced into the kitchen, interrupting what Brad was going to say. Following him was Davy. “Daddy, look!”
Nick looked at his son and suddenly realized Robbie wasn’t alone. “What the—”
“That’s what I was going to tell you, Nick,” Brad hurriedly said.
“He belongs to you?” Nick asked. “Something you forgot to mention, brother?”
“No, he’s not mine, but I brought him here. I found him and his sisters camping out on the government land last night.”
“That’s not allowed,” Nick said.
“I know that, but— Anyway, I put out the fire and I brought them here to talk to Mike.”
Brad was glad he got those words out because he heard more steps coming down the hall.
Sarah and Anna came into the kitchen. He noticed how much they looked alike, the same coloring and facial features.
“Good