Dakota Father

Bent as she was, the woman appeared to regard Jenny from beneath her gray-streaked, black hair with eyes so dark the pupils were indiscernible. “Be no Missus Edwards.” She gave a jerky sort of laugh that seemed oddly full of both mirth and mockery.

“But—” Jenny fell back a step. “There must be.”

“No, Ma’am, there is not.” The deep voice behind her jerked Jenny about so fast it hurt her eyes. She blinked. It was the man from the train. Except—

She narrowed her eyes and looked at him more closely. He looked like a wild cowboy now but with the same dark intense eyes. Yes, it was the same man.

She gathered her thoughts and chose the most obvious one. “Mr. Edwards, I presume?”

“That would be so, though I prefer to be called Burke. But tell me, why must I have a wife?” His words were slow, his voice deadly calm.

She shivered at the way he spoke as if she had insulted him and he was about to demand some sort of retribution. Suddenly the strength drained out the soles of her well-worn black leather boots. As her knees turned soggy, she groped toward the table and plunked down on a bench.

“Perhaps you better explain what it is you want.” He signaled to the woman. “Paquette, bring us coffee, please. Unless…” He silently questioned Jenny.

“Might I have tea?” she whispered.

“Tea, for the lady, Paquette.”

“Yes, boss. Fer de lady. I get de tea.”

Jenny pulled in a long, strengthening draft of air, hot from the stove and rolling with scents of many meals past and present. An explanation, he wanted, did he? Well, seems he had some explaining to do himself. Maybe she’d misunderstood. “No wife?”

“No wife now or ever.”

“But—”

Mr. Edward’s expression stopped any comment she’d been about to make. Lena said he had sent for his intended six months ago. They should have been married by now.

She reminded herself of all the times Ma had warned her to control her emotions, speak like a lady. Mama, how would a lady speak and act in this situation? Thoughts of Ma settled her and common sense replaced her shock. She’d deal with the facts one at a time.

“Mr. Edwards, I have come with some bad news.”

His eyes narrowed and he sat down a few feet away, forcing her to shift sideways to look into his face.

Ignoring the thunderous warning in his face, not even pausing to wonder what it meant, she rushed on. “I’m sorry to have to inform you your sister, Lena, and her husband, Mark, succumbed to the fever a few days ago. And I have brought your niece to you.”

The man jolted like she’d stomped on his foot and she knew a certain satisfaction at surprising him as much as he’d done her. Her inappropriate feeling fled as quickly at it had come, replaced by sympathy. He’d lost his sister and brother-in-law. “I’m so sorry. Please accept my condolences.”

And somehow he’d managed to lose the woman who was to be his wife. What had happened to her? Why didn’t Lena know this? It sounded very suspicious and she glanced about as if the corners held secrets.

“They’re gone? Both of them?” He swallowed hard and shifted his gaze to the little girl. “This is Meggie?”

Meggie whimpered at the sound of her name.

“She’s hot and tired and missing her parents.” The details regarding his lack of a wife could be sorted out later, after Meggie had been tended to. But what the baby needed most was a new mother figure.

There was no Mrs. Edwards. She tried to get her thoughts around the unwelcome information. Jenny glanced at the man in continuing disbelief.

His gaze held hers in the same steady probing look that had trapped her on the train. She tried to free herself. Tried to think what she must do now.

Paquette set steaming cups at the table.

The driver sucked back black tea.

Jenny bent her head, ran her finger along the tiny handle.

This was not how things were to be.

Chapter Two

Burke stared at the young woman. Lena was dead? His baby sister and her husband? The only family he had? A sour taste like gall stung his throat. He’d cared for Lena after their parents died when he was sixteen and she fourteen. He’d found work, provided them a home, been her chaperone at outings. Only when she had Mark to care for her had he felt free to head west, full of plans for the future. He’d never considered Lena wouldn’t always be there. He should have stayed and protected her. But shouldn’t Mark have been doing that?

They were both gone. Taken by something no one could control but God. And God seemed not to care about the troubling affairs of individuals. No doubt He had his hands full running the world and taking care of the stars in space.

Burke had gotten his ranch. He’d planned to be married by how, perhaps even have a new little Edwards boy or girl to look forward to.

That wasn’t going to happen now. Suddenly he felt very alone.

He considered the fussing child. This baby was Meggie? He’d never seen her except for a likeness Lena had sent in a letter. He hadn’t seen Lena and Mark since their marriage just before he headed west.

He choked back the thick bitterness clogging the back of his throat. Meggie was the only family he had left. A fierce protectiveness clawed at his gut. This child was now his. But what was he going to do with a little girl? If she’d been a boy…

The young woman coughed discreetly. “This changes everything. Lena was very clear that Meggie was to be raised by a mother and father. I’ll take her back home and raise her myself. After I marry.”

His fists clenched of their own accord. He uncurled them and planted his hands on his knees, deceptively calm while inside raged a storm a thousand times more fierce than the one he had endured only yesterday at Flora’s side. The thought of losing Meggie about tore his heart out. And who was this stranger that she thought she had a say in it?

“I think we better start at the beginning. I’m Burke Edwards, Lena’s brother and now Meggie’s guardian. This is my home.” He waved a hand to encompass the room where they sat, suddenly aware of the inadequacies of his home. The leather straps he’d been soaping tossed in the corner, the clutter of pots hung on the wall because the cupboard he’d started to build sat in the back of the barn, unfinished. The rest of the house offered even less. The front room only a thought in his head, the bedrooms, intended for a family, used mostly for storage except for the one Paquette occupied.

To her credit the woman before him revealed little shock as she glanced about. “Pleased to meet you. I’m Jenny Archibald.” She held out a very tiny hand clad in soft kid leather.

He spared her a closer look. She wore what he expected was a fashionably appropriate but totally impractical bonnet. Her traveling outfit was of fine gray broadcloth although it now showed signs of her trip. She was every inch a city girl though her eyes blared with challenge.

“How did you know Lena?”

“We became friends when they moved to Center City, Ohio.”

“Ahh.”

“Lena and Mark were very specific in their instructions regarding their daughter.”

Did he detect a hint of defiance in her voice? And the sheen of tears in her eyes. No doubt she found this whole ordeal most taxing. Well, he could relieve her of her problems immediately. “No need for you to concern yourself further about my niece. I will assume responsibility for her here and now. You can return with Mr. Zach.” He indicated the man she’d hired from the livery barn who watched the proceedings with avid curiosity. By the time he was back in town in fifteen minutes, everyone would know Burke’s current situation. He drew in a breath that had to struggle past an angry tightness. Adding this to the speculation about Flora and Burke would provide enough fodder for many a delicious evening of head shaking and tsking.

Jenny drew herself tall and gave him a look fit to brand his forehead. “And how, may I ask, do you intend to care for a two-year-old child?”

“I’ll manage.”

Paquette mumbled something in French or perhaps Cree in the background.