Rocky Mountain Dreams & Family on the Range by Danica Favorite (summer beach reads txt) 📕

tall and freshly painted. The fumes permeated the humid summer air. A set of steps led to an ornate door. Baskets and pots of flowers surrounded the porch, and their floral scents became more apparent as they neared the front door.

“I don’t like this house,” Josie muttered, her little legs lifting high to manage the stairs.

“You live here a long time?” Lou inquired carefully. Everything inside roared for him to snatch the ladies and run. He couldn’t do it, though. That was a sure ticket to jail, and then how would he protect them?

“Nope. I liked my other house better. It was by the ocean.”

Interesting. She’d recently moved and then somehow ended up in the desert where Rose had found her. While finding his shooter, he’d also figure out why someone had done that to Josie.

In fact, he might question the mother a bit. He rubbed at his chin, thinking.

Mary was first to the door. He saw her back rigid, her shoulders set as she stepped to the side to allow him to knock. Josie huddled next to her, forehead furrowed and fingers twisting in her skirt.

He cleared his throat, set the luggage down and rapped on the door.

It swung open, revealing an ancient-looking man whose shock of white hair hung precariously over a furry set of eyebrows. “May I help you?” he croaked.

“We’re here to see Mrs. Silver. Very special delivery.” He winked at Josie, but the little girl didn’t smile. He held his own smile in place, even though it felt broken. Could he do this to Josie? God knew, he didn’t want to. God knew, if it was in his power, he’d keep Josie safe with Mary. But the situation was out of his hands. He could only do now what he’d been ordered to do, or risk more danger to the little girl by being completely cut out of her life if he resisted the law.

“Mrs. Silver isn’t here.” The man sniffed, then peered at Josie. He lifted rheumatic eyes to Lou. “I see you brought the troublemaker. You can keep her.”

The door slammed in their faces.

Chapter Sixteen

“That ol’ Baggs.” Josie sniffed. “I never liked him.”

“Josie,” Mary gasped while fighting a smile. “That’s not a nice thing to say.”

“It’s his name,” Josie replied pertly, “and I always tell him he looks older than a bag of bones. He should trim his nose hairs.”

Mary’s jaw dropped. Had no one taught the girl manners, or did she say whatever she felt, regardless of consequences? It must be pleasant to be so unencumbered by niceties.

“That’s enough,” Lou said firmly. “We’ll wait here until your mother returns.”

“Fine.” Josie trudged to a swing set in the far corner of the porch. Looking glum and very pouty, the she sat and rocked, using her toes to push herself.

Poor darling. Mary sighed deeply and tried to ignore the pressure at the base of her skull that could quickly turn into a headache. What a stressful situation, only to be compounded by a mother who obviously didn’t care about seeing her daughter. “Where do you think Mrs. Silver is?” she asked Lou, careful to keep her voice low.

He shrugged. “I sent a telegram saying we’d arrive today, but there wasn’t a time given. Could be she’s at the doctor’s or something.”

“Maybe we should ask... Mr. Baggs...if he knows her whereabouts. Surely he could direct us to her.”

Lou’s brow rose. “Could try that, I suppose. If he answers.”

A low hum interrupted their conversation. They looked in Josie’s direction. She’d gotten to her knees, facing outward to a mass of flowers that peeked over the porch rail. Her voice quivered as she sang. Her fingers gently stroked flower petals and sun spilled over her head, a dumped bucket of gold that washed her in light.

Mary’s breath caught, suspended as a slow knot formed in her belly. She didn’t want to leave this precious child here, alone with a sickly mother and odd circumstances. She glanced at Lou, prepared to beg, or to at least see what options they might have, but his gaze remained fastened on Josie. His eyes looked shadowed in the dimness of the porch, pained, even.

She traced the shape of his face with her glance, giving herself free rein to stare while he was so occupied. His strong nose and jaw, the wild hair she’d kept a tad too long yet remaining fashionable.

In this moment, she realized how dear he was to her. How safe and kind. Sure, now, he had frustrating qualities. Stubborn, flippant, never anchoring anywhere for long...yet somehow she’d become attached to him.

Uneasy, she forced herself to look away, to the road where a fancy, newer-model Ford chugged to a stop in front of the house. A man emerged from the passenger door, tipping his hat to them before moving to the rear door.

Lou moved beside Mary. She caught a whiff of Wrigley’s and felt the warmth of his arm near hers. Focusing on the people in front of her, she watched as the man scooped a lady from the rear seat of the automobile.

The man carried the woman up the steps, his face young and unlined. Brown eyes met hers in passing, then traveled behind her, to where Josie still hummed on the swing. Lou rushed to the front door, opening it without knocking first.

The man nodded his thanks and disappeared inside.

“Come on.” Lou slid into the house.

He expected her to follow, but she hung back, startling when a hand slipped into hers. She looked down into Josie’s wide eyes.

“I don’t want to stay,” Josie whispered.

Mary tried to ask why but her throat was closing up. This was it. After weeks of caring for Josie, she must say goodbye. She could feel her heart cracking apart inside, sending pulsating waves of emotional pain through her body. Blinking quickly, she knelt to face the girl.

“Do you know how much I love you?” She smoothed a curl from Josie’s eyes. “You are special and a joy. Never forget that.”

“But I