Lonnie grew as still as the log on which he sat. Wyatt wondered if he even breathed.
“No other family,” Wyatt said softly.
“No ma and pa?” She sounded shocked.
“Ma died a couple months back.” Wyatt figured she’d hung around just long enough for Wyatt’s return. Long enough to make Wyatt promise to take care of Lonnie. Even without Ma’s admonition, he’d have made sure Lonnie was okay. He’d been Lonnie’s guardian and protector since Ma had put the tiny baby, only one day old, in Wyatt’s arms. She’d hugged them both. Wyatt had put his finger in Lonnie’s palm and the baby’s tiny fingers had curled around it.
It probably wasn’t manly to say it, but it had been love at first touch.
He loved his troubled little brother even more now.
“I’m so sorry.” Cora’s voice thickened as if she held back tears. “I can’t imagine not having a ma.”
The river rumbled by, on its way to the ocean, where it would become part of something so much bigger it would disappear. Was that how death was? Or maybe it was only how it felt to those left behind, because he knew Ma had gone to something better where her pain and fear disappeared and she became whole and happy again.
“What about your pa?” Cora asked.
Her words vibrated through the air. Wyatt kept a firm look on Lonnie, silently begging him not to overreact.
Lonnie met his eyes, correctly read Wyatt’s message, and didn’t speak or move.
Relieved, Wyatt smiled and nodded reassurance. He didn’t break eye contact with Lonnie as he answered Cora.
“Our pa’s been dead several months now.” He’d survived the beating but from what Ma and Lonnie said, it seemed something inside him had been broken. He never regained his strength but slowly faded away to a shadow before he died, which was a mercy for Lonnie. It had freed the boy from the fear of more abuse. But from what Wyatt had put together about the year he’d been missing, he figured the boy was made to feel ashamed because he had a brother in prison, and he remained afraid even after Pa was dead and gone.
Cora touched the back of his hand, bringing his attention to her. “I’m so sorry. You’re both far too young to be orphans.” She pulled her hand back to her lap.
His skin where she’d touched him burned as if he’d had too much sun in that one spot. He’d not been touched in a compassionate way in so long he didn’t know how to respond.
“At least we have each other.” He managed to squeeze out the words. He gripped Lonnie’s shoulder, felt the tension and held on until the boy began to relax. “We will always have each other.”
* * *
Cora stared at her empty cup. She tipped it as if she could dredge up another drop of milk and that would somehow give her the words to express her sorrow at their state. No wonder Lonnie acted as though the world was ready to beat him up. Likely that was how it felt.
It was enough to make her want to offer Wyatt and Lonnie a home with the Bells, where they’d find the welcome and warmth she and her sisters had found.
Mrs. Bell had found five-year-old Cora and the twins two days after their real father had ridden away.
Cora remembered how she’d been ready to defend them. “My papa’s coming back,” she’d told Ma Bell. She’d looked down the trail as if he might suddenly appear. “He’ll be here any second now.” They were the same words she’d spoken to the twins throughout the lonely, fear-filled days and night. But the twins had gone readily into Ma Bell’s open arms and been comforted.
Cora had needed a little more persuasion.
“Your sisters are tired and dirty and hungry,” Ma had said. “Why not come with us? I’ll help you take care of them.”
It was the only argument she would have listened to. Their mother had died a few weeks previously, but not before she’d made Cora promise to take care of the twins.
Their father had never returned, though Cora had watched for him for several years. She’d given up looking for him, but she would never forget the promise she’d made to her mother, which meant she must be very careful about every decision she made. On the other hand, Ma and Pa Bell made the promise easy to keep.
The Bells had loved the girls from the first. She wished everyone could have people like them—loving and true. They’d never once given her any reason to doubt them or their word.
“I’m sorry you don’t have parents,” she said as she handed Wyatt the empty cup.
Wyatt nodded as he took it from her. “How much do I owe you for the oats and the food? They’re very much appreciated. Thank you, in case I forgot to say that earlier.”
Normally she would name the price and take the money, but his question gave her a way to see more of him, assess how honest he was. “You can settle up with Pa later.”
“I’ll do that.”
She rolled up the sack she’d brought the supplies in and rose. “If there’s anything else you need, don’t hesitate to ask.”
Wyatt rose, too, and smiled at her. “Much obliged.”
She studied him. He had a nice smile, but it didn’t erase the dark shadows that lingered in his eyes. It was those shadows, and his reluctance to say where he and Lonnie had come from and where they were going, that made her wary of him. “Bye for now.”
He nodded. “Goodbye.”
She glanced past him to Lonnie. “Bye, Lonnie.”
The boy’s head jerked up, his lips parted, his eyes wide. “Bye.” The word squeaked from him.
Was he afraid of her? But why?
His eyes went to Wyatt, who stood with his back to his brother.
Was Lonnie afraid of his brother? That gave her cause for concern. One thing was certain. There was something not quite right with this pair, and until she knew it wasn’t anything that threatened anyone in her family—including herself—she would not be encouraging any contact. She silently prayed as she returned to the farm. God, make the truth known, clear and plain. Protect my family. May we serve You in sincerity and truth.
Rose and Lilly watched for her return. “Did you find out anything?” they asked in unison.
“Their parents are dead.” Her voice trembled. “I can’t help feeling sorry for anyone whose parents are dead.”
The girls nodded.
Cora said, “Makes us all the more grateful for being adopted by the Bells.”
“We need to tell them again,” Rose said.
The girls agreed they would be more faithful at telling their parents how much they appreciated their love.
Cora knew the twins wondered about their birth parents, but she was the only one with any recollection of them. Not that it mattered. They were now the Bell sisters.
“Did you find out where they’re going?” Rose asked.
“How did the mares look?” Lilly added.
Cora chuckled. “I could tell which one asked each question without seeing either of you. Lilly’s first concern is the animals. Rose’s is to have all the questions answered.”
The girls faced her as a pair. “Well?”
She grinned and teased them. “Well, what?”
“The mares?” Lilly prodded.
“They looked all right to me, but I honestly didn’t look very closely at them. Wyatt and his brother built a rope corral that looked fine.”
Lilly sighed long.