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

don’t want you to leave.” Her lip trembled and those beautiful eyes turned shiny.

“Friends are forever, sweet girl.” Mary pulled her into a hug, inhaling her scent, enveloping her in her arms and trying to memorize every moment to hold on to.

“You said God heard me. I told Him I wanted to stay with you and Mister Lou....” The girl’s voice was as trembly as her lips.

“He heard you, honey.”

“Then why am I here? My mommy can go with us. I don’t want to be here, never, ever. I never wanted to come back.”

That knot in Mary’s stomach grew. Drawing in a deep breath, she pulled back and looked Josie in the eye. “Mister Lou is going to make sure you’re safe because your mommy needs you here with her. Do you still have that thimble?”

Josie nodded.

“Whenever you’re lonely or scared, hold the thimble and remember that I’m always praying for you. And that God is looking out for you and loves you dearly.”

Josie sniffled and a lonely tear seeped from the corner of her eye. It rolled down her cheek unchecked. Mary swallowed hard, gave her one last hug and then, hands held, they went into the house.

Mary barely remembered the trip back to the hotel. Leaving Josie had been horrendous. The girl had sobbed, and Baggs had held her tightly when Lou and Mary exited the house. The sound had tormented Mary on the streetcar. She couldn’t speak.

When Lou stopped at his office to drop off paperwork and make arrangements for who knew what, she sat on a bench outside. Clouds drifted over the sun, and before long it started raining, but she hadn’t even noticed until Lou reappeared, picking up her luggage and leading her to a waiting streetcar.

They arrived at the Seward Hotel in the afternoon, dodging through the rain to the entrance. The massive building loomed before her. Elegant. Expensive.

Blinking back raindrops, she tried not to gape as she followed Lou inside.

She discovered the lobby was gapeworthy, however. A bell motif rounded the interior. Sparkling and clean, people of obvious wealth studded its landscape. Fur stoles, shining shoes... She huddled in a corner of the lobby while Lou checked them in, feeling out of place and wanting to disappear. A shiver coursed through her, and belatedly she realized her clothes were sopping wet.

What was Josie doing right now? Her mother was barely capable of speaking, she was so sick. She’d seemed kind, though, her eyes a paler shade of Josie’s, her smile soft yet weak. Tuberculosis was what was killing her, she’d said, speaking past her face mask. A rare strain, the doctors told her. One they had trouble treating. It seemed the Great War, coupled with the disastrous influenza pandemic, had increased tuberculosis cases. Or perhaps made them worse.

Either way, what would happen to Josie when her mother passed away? Who would care for her? The worry nibbled at Mary incessantly. She clutched her luggage closer as another shiver vibrated through her.

Lou stalked toward her, his lips still and serious. “Ready to go up?”

She nodded and followed him to an elaborate staircase. Its surface shone and she wondered how long it had taken the staff to make it look that way. How often must they clean it? She gingerly stepped up.

Lou turned to her. “Let me help you with your bags.”

“I can handle them.”

“I want to help you. Please.” His voice was sober, so she relented. “Now, our rooms are side by side. We have a dinner to attend this evening and I’ve left you something in your room. A fellow agent picked it out, in case you don’t have anything to wear.”

“I’m supposed to dress up?” She frowned.

Lou shrugged and slipped her a quick look. “You don’t have to, but we’ll be eating in the hotel’s dining area. It’s exquisite, I’ve heard. There’s music, candles...” He trailed off and looked straight ahead.

“Why such a fancy dinner?” They reached the top of the stairs and Mary followed him to the right.

“It’s been a hard day. A soothing dinner will be relaxing, don’t you think?” He shot her a half smile that faded when he saw her face. “I thought you would like it.”

Mary shook her head. “Why? Why would you think that?” Her voice sounded high-pitched, even to her ears. “This is too much...too much noise, and people. A restaurant will be filled with those who stare.” She swallowed and made her voice calmer. “I can’t help thinking of what Josie is doing right now, if she’s still crying. What will happen when her mother dies? What if that man looking for her is really her father? Or some relative who wants to hurt her?”

Lou stopped in front of a door. His jaw was clenched. She saw a muscle work in his neck. “There’s already an undercover agent that has been hired on in the house. He’ll be there tomorrow. I’m doing the best I can, Mary. Leave it be.”

“I can’t,” she insisted.

He turned slowly toward her, the key dangling from his finger. “It’s out of our hands. Your mother found a little girl and didn’t report it to the authorities. Josie’s mama has been frantic with worry and was ready to take legal steps.” A sheen crept into his eyes before he blinked it away. “Take a nap, get ready for dinner, and tonight I’ll outline how I plan to protect them.”

Hope fluttered for a moment, then spiraled to a crash. “I’m never going to see Josie again, am I?”

His gaze closed. He held out the key to her. She took it. He set her suitcase near the door. His hand came up, near her face, and she almost flinched. Some instincts couldn’t be undone.

But he moved softly and the next thing she knew, his hand was cupping her chin. Warm. Gentle. His eyes were tender.

“If it were possible, I’d make sure Josie could stay with you forever.”

Her breath caught, suspended by the unfolding of rare and beautiful feelings inside. It was