âSo the opinion of the good folk of Golden Prairie hasnât changed?â
Lincâs words were low, as if resigned to the inevitable.
Sally didnât answer.
âWhat do you think?â
His question, so direct, so void of emotion, jarred her from trying to maintain disinterest. She jerked her gaze to him and saw something in his eyes that said he wasnât as uncaring as he tried to portray.
She swallowed hard. âI think â¦â Her heart opened up and dumped out a tangle of emotionsâthings she couldnât identify and didnât want to own. They seemed to pull her in a hundred different directions. âI think Abe is right. You deserve a chance.â
His expression faltered. He shifted on his feet, then nodded. âDoes that mean we can be friends?â
She smiled softly. âIt looks like we already are.â
âGood to know.â His words were brisk.
Had she disappointed him? Friends was good, wasnât it?
Strange, then, how it felt totally unsatisfactory. As if sheâd fallen short of gaining a prize.
Golden Prairie, Alberta, Canada
Spring 1934
She needed eyes in six places at once to keep track of that child.
âRobbie!â An edge of annoyance worked itself into Sally Morganâs voice. Yes, she understood how a boy who was about to turn six might be upset by so many changes in his life. His mother had passed away just after Christmas. His maternal grandmother had stayed until spring and then Sally started coming during the day. But the child needed to realize life was easier if he didnât fight every person and every rule.
Sally found Carol playing with her doll in the patch of grass next to the big tree at the front of the lot, her plain brown hair as tidy as when sheâd left for school. Even her clothes were still neat and clean. The girl was only eight but had adjusted much better than her brother. âHave you seen Robbie?â
Carol didnât even glance up from her play. Simply shook her head.
âWhere can he be this time?â As soon as sheâd realized he was missing sheâd searched the house. Sheâd looked in the shed in the back of the lot where he often hid. Now she marched toward the barn. The childrenâs father would be home shortly and expecting his meal. Sheâd left the food cooking on the stove. If she found Robbie soon she could hope to keep supper from burning.
She stepped into the cool, dark interior of the barn, now unused. Mr. Finley didnât own a horse. He drove a fine car instead. âRobbie!â she yelled, then cocked her head to listen. She heard nothing but the echo of her voice, the flap and coo of pigeons disturbed by her noisy presence and the scurry of mice heading for safety.
She left the barn and turned her gaze to the narrow alley separating the fine big yard on the edge of town from the farm on the other side. Would Robbie have ventured into forbidden territory? Most certainly he would if the notion struck.
Sparing a brief glance at the house where the meal needed attention, she headed for the gate, pausing only long enough to call to Carol, âYou stay there while I find Robbie.â
Her steps firm with determination and mounting frustration, she strode across the dusty track to the sagging wire fence. From where she stood she saw nothing but the board fence around the back of the barn. Sighing loudly, she stuck her foot on the wobbly wire to clamber awkwardly over the fence. She landed safely on the far side and hurried forward. Three steps later she skidded to a halt.
A man leaned against the fence. A man with an I-own-the-world stance, a cowboy hat pushed back to reveal a tangle of dark blond curls, and a wide grin wreathing his face. She spared him a quick study. Faded brown shirt, tied at the neck like a frontier man of years ago. Creased denim trousers. He dressed like heâd very recently come off a working ranch.
Sallyâs worry about Robbie collided with surprise at seeing a man in Mrs. Shawâs yard. A sight, she added, that made her feel a pinch in the back of her heart. It had to be the way sheâd hurried about searching for Robbie that made her lungs struggle for air.
Robbie. Sheâd almost forgotten she was looking for him. Her gaze lingered on the man two more seconds. Then she forced herself forward another step, following the direction the man looked.
Her heart headed for runaway speed.
Robbie stood within reach of the hooves of a big horse.
She choked back a warning. If anything startled the animal he could trample Robbie, which would certainly reinforce some of the things the boy had been told, like donât go near a horse that doesnât know you. Stay out of peopleâs yards unless invitedâbut she had no desire to see him learn in such a harsh fashion.