He glanced at the lumber on the ground. “Guess you know what you’re doing.”
What he meant was, You’re lost in the fog. “I was about to ask advice from Macpherson. Who are those kids?” Three pairs of eyes peered at her over the edge of the wagon and the boy on the seat watched with unusual interest.
Roper removed his hat, scratched his head until his hair looked like a windblown haystack then shoved the hat back on, adjusting it several ways until he was satisfied.
She’d never seen the man at a loss for words. “Roper, what are you up to? You haven’t kidnapped them, have you?”
“Nothing like that.” He stared at the wagon and the kids, who stared right back.
“Well, what is it like?” She alternated between watching Roper and watching the kids as wariness continued to creep across her neck like a spider.
He faced her so quickly she stepped back, as much from his bleak expression as from being startled. “The kids’ mother is dead. They came West hoping to join up with their pa but they just heard he’s dead, too.”
Cassie’s heart dipped low, leaving her slightly dizzy. She remembered what it was like to hear your pa had died, recalled what it felt like to suddenly be homeless.
“I said I would keep them until their uncle sends for them. Or comes for them.”
“Roper, how will you look after four children?”
“I will.”
She didn’t bother pointing out the obvious arguments. “Why are you here?”
He gave her a look rife with possibilities and she didn’t like any of them. “I know how to build a house. I could put this up for you in short order.”
“We’ve had this discussion.”
He snatched the hat from his head. “Hear me out. What I have in mind is a business proposition.” He paused, waiting for her response.
“I’m listening.” The word business appealed to her. She had every intention of becoming a successful businesswoman.
“I plan to take care of the kids until the Mountie finds their uncle. But I can’t do it alone. If you helped I would pay you by building your house.” He grinned, as pleased with himself as could be. “I’ll stay here, in a tent, as long as it takes me to build it.”
She stared at him, turned to study the kids who listened intently. She wanted to help. Not for Roper’s sake but because her heart tugged at her. She knew how uncertain the children would be feeling right now. She hoped their uncle would welcome them, unlike her grandfather who had never welcomed Cassie and her mother. He’d made it clear every day how much it cost him, though the way he’d worked Ma she knew he’d gotten a bargain in the arrangement. Cassie didn’t want the children to feel as lost as she had felt, but if she went along with Roper’s suggestion would he end up thinking he had the right to control her life? She would never give up her dream of being self-sufficient.
The youngest boy sank back in the wagon. “She don’t want to help us,” he muttered.
The words were slightly different than the ones that had echoed in her head from the time she was nine until she’d run off to marry George, but the ache was the same. The need to be accepted, to feel secure.
Before she could reason past the emotion, she turned to Roper. “It’s a deal.” She held out her hand, and they shook. He held her hand a moment longer than the shake required, his eyes warm and thankful. She clamped her lips together and tried to deny the feeling that the two of them had stepped across an invisible line and entered strange new territory.
He released her hand and turned to the children. “Come on, kids. You’re staying here.”
They scrambled from the wagon and edged their way over to face Cassie. She felt their uncertainty like a heat wave.
She wanted to ease that fear. “You’ll be safe here as long as you need.”
The oldest girl teared up. “Thank you. Thank you.”
The oldest boy’s expression remained guarded. Cassie knew he wouldn’t easily accept words; he’d have to see for himself they were more than empty promises.
Roper introduced them all and at Cassie’s request they gave their ages: Daisy, thirteen; Neil, twelve; Billy, six; and Pansy, two.
Cassie quickly assessed them. They seemed weary and afraid but not defeated, especially Daisy who appeared competent in her role as mother, her watchful brown eyes never leaving her siblings.
Neil, too, seemed strong though not yet grown past childhood. His brown hair was in need of a cut, she noted as he stared at Cassie with the same deep brown eyes as Daisy.
The two younger children were both fair-haired, like their older sister, and blue-eyed and clung to their older siblings.
They all shuffled their feet and grew exceedingly quiet as the Mountie crossed from Macpherson’s store.
“You kids ready to go?”
Cassie shot Roper a look full of hot accusation. He had neglected to say anything about the NWMP having a claim to these children. What else had he not told her?
“Constable, they’ll be staying here with us.” Roper included Cassie in his announcement.
The Mountie looked about slowly, taking in the pile of lumber, the tiny sagging tent and likely a whole lot more. His gaze stopped at Cassie. “Are you in agreement with sheltering these children temporarily?”
She nodded, too nervous to speak as he studied her. His look seemed to see a whole lot more than the tight smile she gave him.
His gaze again went to the tent.
Roper stepped forward. “I guarantee they’ll be as safe and dry as any kids setting out with their folks in a wagon.”
He might as well have said things would be a little rough.
The Mountie didn’t answer for several minutes then shook his head. “This is most unusual. Two unmarried people caring for a family. However, I’ve had reports about a group of Indians stirring up trouble and I need to check on them before I head back to the fort. Should be gone a few days. I’ll leave the children in your care until then. When I get back, I’ll make my decision.” He donned his Stetson to indicate the interview was over and headed back to the store.
Tension filled the air after he left. Cassie searched for something to ease the moment, but as she glanced about, the enormity of the situation hit her.
“Where is everyone going to sleep?” She waved her hand toward her tent that grew more bowed with each puff of wind. Obviously that wouldn’t be sufficient.
The kids considered the tent. As if the thought of so many inside was too much for it to contemplate, the tent collapsed with a heavy sigh.
Billy giggled. “It got tired and laid down.”
For some reason his words tickled his brother and older sister and they pressed their hands to their mouths, trying to contain errant giggles. They failed miserably and stopped trying.
Pansy’s eyes widened and she gurgled at their amusement—a sweet pleasing sound that brought a smile to Cassie’s mouth.
Their reaction was likely the result of all the emotion of the past few hours, Cassie reasoned. She glanced toward Roper. As he met her gaze, he started to chuckle.
“I don’t see what’s so funny about the prospect of sleeping out in the open.” But there was something infectious about the laughter around her and she could no longer keep a straight face.
They laughed until she was weak in the knees and had wiped tears from her face several times.
As if guided by some silent signal they