The Cowboy's Ready-Made Family

“Janie, wait.” The child ran headlong into danger. She trusted strangers, expected nothing but kindness. Not that Susanne could fault Jim for teaching the children to think the best of everyone. Too bad life would teach them otherwise.

Janie opened the door. “Hello, Mr. Tanner.”

“Hello, little miss. What a nice smile.”

Janie about melted at his feet.

Susanne hurried to the door to rescue Janie. She needed to warn the man to be careful of the child’s tender heart.

“Ma’am, before I start on the crop planting, I figure to plow a vegetable garden for you today. I see the fences for a spot, but do you want to show me your preferences? Maybe tell me how big you want it, and what direction you want the rows?”

She couldn’t keep up with his questions. Plow the vegetable garden? This was not part of their agreement.

A war raged within her. The voices of Aunt Ada, Mr. Befus, Alfred Morris and even her own battled against the necessity of feeding four hungry mouths.

She looked at the children clustered around her.

“If you don’t mind?” His voice carried a note of caution.

Necessity won. “Not at all.”

He held the door open and she stepped out to stand at his side. Then she realized she’d forgotten the children. “Come along.”

They followed eagerly. Every step took her further into her fears.

He led the way to the garden, measuring his steps so she walked at his side. The children ran ahead, scrambled over the garden fence and began chasing each other through the dry, dusty weeds. Their laughter and screams filled the air and made her smile despite the tension crackling along her spine.

Tanner chuckled. “Nice to see them enjoying themselves. Reminds me of me and my brothers when we were young.”

They reached the garden gate and paused.

A hundred old memories flooded her mind. “I remember helping my mama plant her garden.” She sucked in air. “Before she died.”

“Your mother is dead? I’m sorry.”

She kept her attention on the crop of weeds before her. “Both my parents drowned when I was twelve. A flash flood.” She hoped her voice remained flat and emotionless though her insides ached with the memory. She couldn’t stop the shudder that rocked her shoulders.

“I was seven when my ma died. Her name was Seena. I still miss her.” His voice deepened and she understood he fought the same pain she did.

“I guess the missing never goes away.” She looked at him.

He looked at her, sharing—at least, in her mind—a common bond of loss. His dark eyes held a world of sorrow and sympathy that called to her lonely heart. The idea made her insides feel they could break into a thousand pieces with the slightest jar.

“Auntie Susanne, look at me,” Janie called, saving her from her silly thoughts. Lonely heart, indeed. She’d never be lonely with four children to raise. “I’m a queen.” Janie had woven some kind of vine into a coronet on her head.

“You sure are,” Susanne said, her voice surprisingly calm.

“Do I look nice, Mr. Tanner?” the child asked.

“Just like a queen.” He chuckled as he turned to Susanne. “I guess these kids keep you on your toes.”

“I admit I’m never bored. In fact, I feel bad that I’m so busy I don’t get a chance to do special things with them.”

“Maybe you’ll be less busy now that I’m here to help.”

She wished he hadn’t reminded her of the situation. Her nerves twitched. Accepting help equaled obligation and losing the freedom to make her own choices. It allowed someone to demand something in return. Something she couldn’t or didn’t want to give.

Now was the time to insist on boundaries around the children. But before she could speak, he opened the gate and ushered her through. “Show me what you want.” He crossed his arms and waited.

She’d have that discussion later, after the garden had been worked. The children and their needs must come first.

She’d walked as far as the fence several times, planning how to plant the garden if she ever got the ground tilled. She’d even started digging it with a spade but made little progress. The garden spot had seemed as big as the oat field when she’d turned over one clod at a time. She’d not refuse his help if it meant providing for the children.

“If you wouldn’t mind, you can plow the entire area and run the rows this way.” She indicated the direction with a wave of her hand.

“It will be ready in a couple of hours. You go prepare your seeds while I take care of it.”

She hustled back to the house as her inner war continued. Her vows, her fear and caution against the pressing needs of the farm.

Her throat burned knowing she had little choice but to accept his help. But she would not be obligated. Somehow she had to make that clear to him.

She lifted the cellar lid and climbed down the ladder to get the box of seeds she’d stored there, and brought them up. In addition, for weeks she’d been saving the eyes from the potatoes as she peeled them and storing them in a bucket.

She fairly danced as she organized the lot. The garden would be planted today. With God’s good blessing she would have food to feed the children through the winter.

She wanted to monitor Tanner’s progress without appearing to be watching him, so she took the seeds to the edge of the garden.

He followed after the horse and plow, the reins loose in his hands. Pat appeared happy to be working, plodding along at a moderate pace. Did horses express emotions? Tanner grinned and waved. Seemed he was happy, too.

The idea should put her at ease, but it had quite the opposite effect.

Aunt Ada would act as if she enjoyed something only to turn on Susanne with sudden criticism and harshness, stealing away any idea that her aunt had been pleased in the least.

Susanne hurried away to get a hoe, a rake, twine and stakes.

When she returned, Tanner had his back to her as he plowed the other direction and she felt free to watch. There was something about his posture that suggested he was relaxed. Could it be true that he enjoyed this task? Would that make him less demanding of repayment? He was using the corrals. Would that be enough?

He finished plowing the garden and guided Pat back to the yard.

Susanne grabbed the rake intending to smooth the furrows.

“No need to do that,” Tanner said. “I’ll be right back.” He drove the horse to the barn and unhooked the plow, then backed Pat to another implement. In minutes he drove the horse across the yard dragging harrows that lifted a cloud of dust in their wake.

“I didn’t even know they were in there,” she said.

“They were kind of buried in the grass.” He returned to the garden. The children chased after the harrows. They’d soon be dirty from head to toe, but she didn’t have the heart to call them away. They were enjoying themselves far too much.

Tanner glanced over his shoulder, saw them playing in the dirt and laughed. He turned to Susanne and called, “There’s nothing sweeter than the smell of freshly turned soil.” His smile faded. “Except maybe the smell of sage and pine.” He looked at the mountains for a moment before he returned his attention to the garden.