He dug a trench along the taut cord and she followed, bent over at the waist as she dropped pea seeds in the trench.
“Can we help?” Liz asked. Her brothers and sister stood behind her waiting for his answer.
“You certainly can.” He moved the twine and dug another trench. He got pea seeds and gave some to each of the children, set them at various places along the row and showed them how to carefully drop in the seeds. They all bent over, intent on the task.
He lifted his eyes to see Susanne watching him.
Her gaze shifted to the children and her expression hardened.
He tried to think what it meant, but he could only find confusion in his thoughts. She’d agreed to let him help, but he sensed a reluctance in her. Because of who he was? Or rather what he was?
Seeing she had almost reached the end of her row, he moved the string and dug another trench. The whole time he avoided looking directly at her, trying to keep his thoughts in order.
He quickly filled in her row, checked the children’s row and covered it, as well.
Susanne straightened to look at what she’d completed, but when she took a step backward, she stumbled on a lump of dirt and fell on her rump. Her breath whooshed from her.
He dropped his hoe, prepared to run to her rescue, but he forced his feet to remain where they were. Not everyone would welcome a hand up from a half-breed.
Her burst of laughter froze him to the spot.
She jumped to her feet, dusted her skirts and laughed again. “That will teach me to watch where I’m going.”
The children clustered about her.
“Are you okay?” Liz asked, her voice full of concern.
She gathered them in a group hug. “I’m fine.
Robbie broke free. “Aunt Susanne, show us how to watch where you’re going when you go backward.”
She laughed again. “I can’t show you ’cause I can’t do it.” Her gaze hit Tanner. Her eyes danced with happiness and pleasure in these children, and perhaps in life in general.
He thought he was frozen in place before. Now it threatened to become a permanent state. What would it be like to be part of such joy and acceptance? Then he stopped himself. His family accepted him. It was all he needed.
Susanne looked away, shifting her attention back to the children. “I see you’re done with your row. What shall we plant next?” She led them to the stack of seeds and offered them their choice.
His body remembered how to work and he covered in the rows and moved the stakes.
“They decided on beets,” she declared.
“I like beets,” he said. “You ever make beet pickles? Maisie, that’s my stepmother, makes great beet pickles. They taste mighty fine in the middle of winter. So spicy sweet.” He rattled on like a loose wagon wheel, but he couldn’t seem to stop. It beat staring at her as if he’d lost his senses.
“Auntie Susanne, you ever make beet pickles?” Janie asked. “They sound good.”
“They do, indeed. Maybe Tanner will ask his stepmother to give me her recipe.” She faced him with an expression of horror. “I’m sorry. I should have said Mr. Harding.”
It was his turn to enjoy a laugh. “Think I already said Mr. Harding is my pa, though most people call him Big Sam. I prefer you call me Tanner.”
She nodded, lowered her gaze, then slowly brought it back to his. “I’d be pleased if you’d use my Christian name, as well.”
Little did she know, he already did in his thoughts. “Thank you.”
“Can we call you Tanner?” Robbie asked.
Tanner looked at Susanne, wondering whether she would allow the familiarity. He knew that many folk didn’t approve of children using the Christian names of adults, but on the ranch they’d never held to such rules. “I don’t mind, if it’s okay with you.”
She nodded. “If you aren’t offended.”
“Not in the least. My ma didn’t hold with children and adults being treated differently.”
“Then, yes.” She spoke to the children. “But you must remember to be respectful.”
Suddenly the children were shy and wouldn’t look at him.
Janie giggled. “Tanner is just like us.”
Susanne shook her head, but her eyes brimmed with amusement. “No. He’s an adult.”
“I know.” Janie gave her aunt a look rife with impatience. “’Cause he’s big and strong like my papa.”
The children studied him.
He let them make their assessment. “I’ll never be like your papa. ’Cause no one can ever be like him. Your papa was special to you and always will be.”
Four little heads nodded.
“You ever meet him?” Frank asked. “Papa would have liked you.”
Tanner couldn’t believe the boy’s words. His throat tightened at the suggestion. “I met your pa a few times in town.” It was a fair ways to Granite Creek so trips were infrequent. He tried to recall the few times he’d seen Jim Collins. “I recall last summer he was in town waiting for the stagecoach to arrive. A pretty young lady climbed down and got into his wagon.” By the time he finished he realized that young lady must have been Susanne. Would she be offended at his brash comments? He stole a glance at her, saw her cheeks had grown pink, though he might put that down to the effort of her work.
“A pretty lady?” Janie asked, innocent and curious.
“He means Auntie Susanne,” Liz said.
“I suppose I do. Sorry, ma’am. Didn’t realize until after I’d spoken that I was talking about you.”
“Why are you sorry?” Robbie asked. “She is pretty, isn’t she? I think so.”
“Me, too,” Frank said, and his sisters added their agreement.
Susanne’s cheeks grew pinker by the moment. Tanner should think of a way to change the subject but he could only stare and smile. She certainly was pretty.
What was wrong with his head that he stood here like a dunce thinking about how pretty this white gal was?
How had the conversation led him so far astray? They’d been talking about Jim Collins. His thoughts settled into their proper place.
“I also met your pa a time or two while I was out riding the range. One time he helped me move a bunch of cows that were stranded by a little rock slide in a draw. He didn’t seem to mind pitching in to move the rocks.” He paused, wishing for a way to ease the children’s sense of loss. “He was a good man. Sorry to see him go.”
Frank nodded. “He was a good man.”
Tanner knew he had to distract the children from their grief. “What do you say to getting the rest of this garden in?”
The children eagerly shifted back to the task at hand. As Tanner measured out the next row, Susanne came up to him.
“Thank you for your kind words regarding my brother. They mean a lot to me and the children.”
He slowly brought his gaze to hers, telling himself the whole time that he could look her in the eye without getting all muddled in the head. As soon as their gazes connected, he knew he was wrong.
Something about the way she looked at him made him forget who he was and think only of who he might be...except for his mixed heritage.
“You’re good with the children,”