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

“But Collin’s had a bit of good fortune lately, so there’s plenty.”

Yet not enough for them to leave the mining camp and live in a decent house. She’d never understand these miners. They settled for living in squalor and throwing their money back into a pit that might someday pay off.

Or, like Collin MacDonald, throw it all into a bottle that never did anyone, least of all his family, any good.

“That’s very kind of her. We’ll be sure to send a basket of Maddie’s goodies to thank her when we’re back home.”

Her father sighed. As if he, too, was learning to see right through her. “I know it’s going to be hard on you, seeing Gertie. Just remember that she was your mother’s best friend, and that she loves you like her own.”

“I’ll try.” It was the best she could do. She hadn’t seen any of the MacDonalds since her family died. Her father had dutifully come from his visits to the family to let her know of how they were all doing, but she couldn’t bring herself to visit. There were too many reminders of what she’d lost.

“I’ll let Joseph and Nugget know.” Annabelle went inside before the feelings got to be too much to bear. She knew it was wrong to shut out the remaining people who loved her. But what else was she supposed to do?

She’d tried so hard to build walls around all the things that hurt, and to keep out the people that reminded her of that pain. But now she was being forced to confront it, and that seemed like the worst injustice of all.

The mining camp was like so many of the places Joseph had visited looking for his pa. A sea of tents, rough-hewn cabins, and the stench of unwashed human flesh. However, instead of the wary stares he’d gotten on his trips, the people greeted them as they passed by.

“Howdy, Preacher.”

“Morning, Miss Annabelle.”

Friendly voices, friendly smiles, and if it wasn’t for the tense way Annabelle sat on the horse in front of him, he’d think they were going to meet beloved friends. Children crowded around the horses, and several women looked up from the washing to give a cheerful wave.

The farther they went into the camp, the more Annabelle’s back stiffened.

“Are you all right?” he asked in a low voice.

“I’ll be fine.”

He might as well have asked if she’d take arsenic in her tea. They stopped near the center of the camp, and as everyone dismounted, he followed suit, then rushed over to lift Nugget down, then to assist Annabelle.

“I can do it,” she said, her voice laced with sadness.

Her father smiled at him. “Now, Annabelle, you’re a lady. Don’t fault a gentleman for treating you as such.”

When her shoulders fell in that resigned way of hers, Joseph felt half-bad for wanting to help her. Now that he’d gotten to know her, had heard about her pain, he wanted to give her space to deal with it.

“I’m sorry for troubling you,” Joseph whispered as he finished helping her off her horse.

He leaned in with one final whisper. “Let me be a friend to you.”

Crystal-blue eyes that could have matched the stream they’d been fishing in filled with water as she shook her head slowly. “Please. Let this be.”

Frank was oblivious to the situation as he neared the campfire and had already begun chatting with the woman who tended it. Joseph watched as she led him into a cabin that appeared to be even rougher than his pa’s.

“Is that where we’re going?”

Annabelle shrugged and looked away.

“Annabelle!” A girl slightly older than Nugget came bounding toward them. “It’s been ages since you’ve come to visit.”

Joseph didn’t have to watch to know Annabelle had stiffened beside him. He could feel it. As much as he wanted to give her some comfort, he had something else to worry about. Nugget had attached herself to his pant leg again. The sweet, cheerful girl had disappeared.

Whatever it was about this camp, he sure didn’t like the effect it had on his womenfolk.

His womenfolk. Joseph shook his head. Annabelle wasn’t his anything.

“I’ve been busy,” Annabelle finally told the girl, her voice thick.

“We’ve missed you.” The girl’s sweet voice didn’t waver. “I miss Susannah.” The last sentence was spoken with such heartbreaking sadness.

“I miss her, too.”

With the way Annabelle’s voice cracked at that admission, Joseph wasn’t sure she’d have the strength to say anything else.

All of this—everything from the time he’d spent with her in their home until now—it was all about the same thing. Annabelle’s crushing grief.

“Annabelle,” her father called, coming out of the cabin. “Bring Joseph and Nugget over so we can get washed up and eat.”

The smell of frying bacon finally hit Joseph’s nostrils. His stomach growled. Though Annabelle’s meal had been wonderful, the meager leftovers they nibbled at this morning hadn’t done enough to satisfy his hunger.

“Is Nugget the horse?” the girl asked, her voice filled with wonder. “We ain’t never had a horse to breakfast.”

“Nugget is my sister,” Joseph answered for Annabelle. “And she’s a little shy, so give her some time to get used to you.”

He nudged Nugget to get her to move forward, but her hands dug farther into his pants. “I’m not hungry.”

Annabelle was no help in the matter, as she just stood there, staring.

“Let’s do as your father says.”

With a soft sigh, Annabelle nodded. “Come on, Nugget.” She held out a hand, as if that hand would somehow make whatever was wrong with Nugget suddenly all right.

Nugget loosened her hold on his pants, then took Annabelle’s hand, still grasping him with the other.

They trudged toward the cabin with painful slowness. Annabelle because she seemed to be doing everything she could to avoid getting there, and Nugget because she wouldn’t let go of Joseph or Annabelle.

“I declare, you are as slow as molasses, Annabelle.” The older woman stepped toward them and wrapped her arms around Annabelle. And, by default, Nugget.

“I don’t know what’s kept you from us for so long,