“Cora. She’s two years older. She got married a short time ago and she and her husband, Wyatt, live on a small ranch not far from here.”
“How old are you?” Teddy asked, the question so out of the blue and so inappropriate it shocked Caleb.
“Son, we don’t ask personal questions.” He needed to give the boy some lessons on how to carry on a conversation with a woman. Not that he would mind knowing the answer. There was something about Lilly that made it impossible to guess her age. She had a twinkle in her eyes and a freshness about her that spoke of young innocence, but several times he’d glimpsed wisdom lurking in the depths of her gaze.
Lilly chuckled. “It’s a perfectly natural question. I’m eighteen.”
Teddy considered it a moment. “Mr. Frank said you and that girl you were with are twins. So your sister is eighteen, too?”
“That’s correct.”
“I’m five.”
Caleb ducked his head to hide his smile at how Teddy delivered his announcement. As if it carried a huge amount of importance.
“My pa is twenty-five. Isn’t that right, Papa?”
Caleb didn’t know whether to laugh at his son’s audacity or to scold it. The boy had developed a sudden need to tell Lilly everything. Everything? He hoped not. He did not want Teddy informing Lilly that his mama had been murdered and his papa had shot two men. And worst of all, that his papa might have been the one to injure his leg. Perhaps he could distract the boy. “Blossom is watching you.”
Teddy smiled at his dog and patted her back. “My mama was twenty-four when she died.” Teddy cocked his head as if thinking about Amanda’s death.
Caleb held his breath. Teddy had refused to say a thing about the day of her murder ever since it happened. Please don’t start talking about it now. Not in front of a stranger. How would Caleb deal with the press of regrets and the weight of sorrow if he had to confront his past before this beautiful woman? He swallowed hard and gritted his teeth. He would not let his emotions escape into the open.
“Papa, does that mean she’s still twenty-four?”
His lungs relaxed and released the pent-up air. “I suppose it does.” Forever twenty-four. For some odd reason the notion gave him a measure of comfort.
Lilly touched Teddy’s head. “I’m sorry about your mama.” She shifted her gaze to Caleb. It was soft, gentle, full of compassion. He tightened his jaw. Her expression would have shifted to horror if she’d known the details. Lilly rubbed Teddy’s back. “I’m so sorry, Teddy. I lost my own mama and papa when I was three.”
He looked at her. “You did? I thought that man was your pa.” He was referring to Mr. Bell.
“He is. He and my ma found us and adopted us.”
Teddy studied her unblinkingly.
Lilly met his look with a kind smile.
Finally Teddy spoke. “I’ve never known anyone who was adopted. I found Blossom.” He turned to Caleb. “Can I adopt her?”
Caleb chuckled. “I don’t think it’s called that when it’s an animal.” Teddy already had his heart set on keeping the dog. The animal wasn’t as sorry looking as she had been when they’d found her, but she still looked mighty poor. “How is she?” He directed his question at Lilly.
She continued examining the dog. “There are some serious cuts, but nothing is broken that I can tell. She’s awfully tender over her ribs, though, so it could be some of them are broken. They’re certainly bruised. I’ll get some ointment to apply to the cuts. She needs to rest and get some proper food in her.”
“Lilly, you have guests. I didn’t notice anyone drive up.” The sound of a new voice drew Caleb’s attention. Mr. Bell stood in the doorway.
“Hi, Pa. You remember Mr. Caleb Craig and his son, Teddy? They found this dog and brought her to me for some care.”
“Of course, the Caldwell cowboy.”
The man’s voice revealed no emotion, but Caleb felt condemned by the statement.
Mr. Bell rumpled Teddy’s hair. He knelt by the dog and ran his fingers through her fur. “Found her where?”
Caleb answered the man. “Down the road about three miles.”
Mr. Bell grunted. “Close to where the Bixbys live. He’s a man with no regard for God’s creation. Lets his animals suffer. Uses his land unwisely. What’s your verdict?” He asked the latter to Lilly and she repeated what she had told Caleb.
Mr. Bell nodded. “He might benefit from Ma’s tonic. She gave me a shot of the stuff and I feel better already.” He chuckled. “Might be the nap and a hot drink of tea helped, too.”
“I was going to ask her for some.”
Mr. Bell planted a hand on Lilly’s shoulder. She smiled up at him. Their love was obvious. It seemed neither of them regretted finding the other.
A found family full of tenderness and love. It was almost enough to give a man hope—
He jerked his thoughts away from that trail.
Mr. Bell headed for the open barn door and then paused. “Lilly, you need any help with the dog?”
“I think I can manage on my own.”
“Then I’ll be in my shop.” The man disappeared through the door.
Lilly went to the neat room in the corner and returned with a jar and a roll of bandage. She looked from Caleb to Teddy.
He felt her hesitation and wondered what she wanted. He didn’t have to wait long to find out.
She knelt in front of Teddy and commanded his attention. “I am going to fix Blossom’s cuts.” She explained how the ointment would help the wounds heal. “Now Blossom might not like me touching them.” She let the information settle in Teddy’s brain.
“Sometimes you gotta do what’s best, even if it’s hard.” The words seemed to come from a dark place inside Teddy.
Feelings of pride and pain warred inside Caleb.
Lilly squeezed Teddy’s hand. “You are exactly right. And very wise.”
Teddy beamed.
“Now here’s where you have to make a choice. Do you want to stay even if you have to see Blossom crying, or do you want to have your papa take you outside and wait until I’m done?”
Caleb jerked forward. “May I speak to you?” He indicated that they should retreat to the tack room.
She rose slowly. Leaving her supplies behind, she joined him, though she hovered just inside the door as if ready to take flight.
“I don’t think he should have any choice in this. I’ll take him to the wagon or over to the pump for a cold drink of water.”
She refused to meet his eyes. “I’m sorry I spoke out of turn. But I’ve already given him the choice.” She shot him a look of defiance.
“Papa, Miss Lilly, I’ve made up my mind.”
Caleb knew he wasn’t mistaken in thinking Lilly was relieved about the interruption. Maybe he was, too. He had no desire to engage in an argument with her about what was and was not appropriate for his son. All he wanted was assurance the dog Teddy had adopted on sight would live.
Teddy sat up, his expression eager.
“Son,”