He shrugged. “It’s just business.”
“Yes, of course. You can pick them up tomorrow when you and Henry go feed the animals—he knows where they are.” She swallowed. “That is, if you’re really sure.”
Sawyer pushed away from the counter, uncomfortable with the emotions he saw playing across her face. “I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t intend to follow through.” With that he turned away. “Time to go.”
He absently gave AJ a quick pat before he headed out of the room.
When Sawyer came home for lunch, he found AJ and Henry in the kitchen, but there was no sign of Emma Jean.
“Where’s your sister?”
“She’s hanging the last load of laundry on the line out back.”
It seemed Emma Jean planned to take care of all the housekeeping chores despite his telling her it wasn’t necessary.
He stepped out the back door and saw her pinning a sheet to the line. She didn’t notice him, so he stood there watching her for a moment. Her movements were so graceful—why hadn’t he noticed that about her before? She was still too thin, but there were already signs that she healthier than when she’d first set foot in his shop a few days ago.
Once she had the last clothespin in place, she stepped back, straightened, and drew her shoulders back while she rotated her neck, obviously trying to ease her muscles.
He felt a momentary stab of guilt. How much sleep was she getting? Had AJ kept her awake the way the infant had done him?
Then she turned and spotted him. “Oh, sorry. I hadn’t realized it was lunchtime already.”
She moved to the house in long, quick strides. “Give me just a minute and I’ll get your lunch ready.”
He waved dismissively. “I’m capable of getting my own lunch.”
Then something about the clothes flapping on the line caught his attention. A moment later it hit him—there were three sets of sheets.
He turned to her, his jaw tightening. “Have you been in Lanny’s room?”
She recoiled at his tone. “Only to clean and air it out. I assure you I haven’t—”
“I told you not to go in that room. Nobody goes in that room.”
“I’m sorry, I—”
He didn’t let her finish. Instead, he turned on his heel and headed back inside. Not pausing in the kitchen, he marched past a wide-eyed Henry and didn’t stop until he reached Lanny’s door.
Chapter 22
Sawyer paused a moment with his hand on the doorknob, trying to compose himself. Then he twisted the knob and jerked the door open.
It was still Lanny’s room. All of his things were there, his old tan hat hung on a peg near his bed, though now the angle was more precise. His rocks and feather were on the dresser but were now neatly gathered together and the surface free of dust. The sheets had been stripped from the bed and the blanket folded neatly and placed at the foot of the mattress. The wood shavings had been swept up and disposed of.
Yes, this was still Lanny’s room, filled with Lanny’s things, but Lanny’s presence was no longer here. The feeling that his brother had just stepped out for a moment and would be back soon was lost. Everything had been tidied up, straightened and put to rights.
He stood in the doorway for several moments, his hands clenched at his sides. Finally he exhaled, relaxed his hands, and straightened. He stepped into the room and without looking around and went straight to the small trunk at the foot of the bed. He gathered up the three books stored there with some of Lanny’s other favorite things and quickly left.
When he reentered the kitchen, Emma Jean was waiting for him, chewing on her lip.
It seemed he wasn’t doing so great a job of making things up to her.
She spoke up before he could say anything. “I’m so sorry. I obviously overstepped, but I promise it wasn’t my intention—”
He raised a hand to cut her off. “What’s done is done. No point wringing your hands over it.”
“Once I put the sheets back on the bed, I give you my word I won’t so much as open the door again.”
He shrugged. “That’s not necessary. If you have a need to go in there, feel free.” The damage had been done and there was no undoing it.
She appeared confused, no doubt by his sudden about-face.
Time to change the subject. He handed her the books. “I thought you could use these when you’re working with Henry on his reading.”
He cut off her stammered thanks by turning to the table. “I see there’s a sandwich ready for me—thanks. I think I’ll take it with me to eat at the mercantile. A new delivery of canned goods came in this morning and I need to get it shelved.” He paused a moment as he had another thought. “If you don’t need Henry’s help around here this afternoon, maybe he can come along to lend me a hand.”
Her expression immediately brightened. “Of course. AJ and I’ll be fine on our own. And I’m sure Henry is ready for a change of scenery.”
She turned to her brother. “What do you say, Henry, are you willing to help Mr. Flynn at the mercantile?”
Emma Jean couldn’t believe how things were working out. Having Henry working under Sawyer’s direction at the mercantile would not only give her brother a good man he could look up to but it would also place him in a better light within the community.
AJ’s fussing turned her attention back to the baby. “Yes, yes,” she crooned. “I know it’s time for your bottle. Just give me a minute to get it ready for you.”
What had caused Sawyer’s angry reaction to her going into his brother’s room? Was it because she was a Gilley? Or was he sensitive about it regardless? The fact that the room had looked so neglected had led her to think Sawyer just hadn’t wanted to deal with doing what needed to be done. She’d seen her efforts to tidy it up as a way to take that burden from him.
But perhaps she’d misread the situation, and he had kept it as Lanny left it as some kind of memorial, in which case she’d done him a huge disservice.
His sudden change of attitude hadn’t fooled her—he was most definitely still bothered by it. His attempts to downplay it was just another sign of his consideration.
“Okay Henry, all of these cases need to be unloaded and the cans stored on the shelves. I’ll place the cases near the section they belong in, and you unload them. Do you think you can handle that?”
“Yes sir.”
Sawyer hid a smile at the boy’s chest-puffed-out confidence. “If you have any questions about where something goes, you just ask me, understand?”
“Yes sir.”
Sawyer watched Henry work for a few moments, then, with a nod of satisfaction, went back to his own tasks. The boy was not only a quick learner but he seemed to have a good work ethic. No doubt he’d learned that through his sister’s example.
Henry deserved the opportunity to go to school. Perhaps he would talk to Miss Trosclair and enlist her help in finding a way to make that happen.
Over the next several days they settled into a routine of sorts. Sawyer and Henry continued to feed the animals every morning with Sawyer taking a few minutes to do some simple repairs. Then they would have breakfast and Sawyer would head to the mercantile. After lunch, Henry would accompany him to work where he’d help with various stocking, sorting, and inventorying tasks. The few occasions where customers gave the boy a hard time or snubbed him, Sawyer made a point of making sure those individuals knew the boy was not only under his protection but that Sawyer considered him a valued member of his household.
In the evenings, along with his supper, Emma Jean would regale Sawyer with stories of AJ’s antics and accomplishments.
When he handed her the money from the first of her saddle blankets to sell, she threw her arms around his neck in an impulsive hug of gratitude, an action that embarrassed her but that pleased him more than he cared to admit.
As Emma Jean passed the biscuits at breakfast Saturday morning, she turned to Sawyer. “I know you close the mercantile early on Saturdays. Is there anythi
ng special I should plan for the day?” She was looking forward to having him here for more than just his meals.
But Sawyer shook his head. “I have some business to take care of this afternoon, so just go about your day as usual. I’ll be back around suppertime.”
“Oh.” Her spirits dipped. Was the idea of spending more time with her and Henry so unappealing to him that he would go out of his way to avoid it? “Will you be stopping by for lunch?”
He shook his head again. “I’ll take a couple of these biscuits and a hunk of cheese with me and eat lunch at the mercantile.”
She hadn’t realized how much she was looking forward to having him around the house for the whole afternoon. She should be happy that he no longer viewed her as an enemy, as someone to be avoided and even look down on. It was greedy of her to want more from him.
But that didn’t make it any easier to ignore that longing.
Sawyer pulled the wagon to a stop in front of the Gilley place. Once he’d set the brake, he went around back and started unloading the roofing materials he’d brought. With luck he’d have all the holes patched before time to head back to town.
He wasn’t sure how much longer the Gilleys would be staying at his place—the detectives could find a new home for AJ any day now. But at least when Emma Jean and Henry moved back here, they wouldn’t have to worry about a leaky roof.
Three hours later he had put away his tools and stowed the ladder, along with the leftover materials, back in the barn. As he washed up at the pump by the barn, he thought about the other repairs that needed tending to around the place. Next Saturday he’d tackle getting a critter-proof fence around what was left of her garden. It wouldn’t do much good right now, but it would be ready for planting come spring.
And if Emma Jean got angry with him for taking care of the repairs without asking first, well that was something he could live with.
To his way of thinking, this wasn’t so much charity as neighborliness, something she and Henry hadn’t had much of in their lives.
Chapter 23
Bright and early Sunday morning, Sawyer arrived at the house, ready to escort his little group to the church service.
To his surprise, Emma Jean wasn’t ready. And she seemed to find a dozen little things that needed her attention, slowing her down even further. Was she deliberately trying to make them late?
But finally everyone was ready and he hurried them out the door and down the sidewalk toward the church.
Unlike last Sunday when folks flocked around to ooh and aah over AJ, this Sunday they held back, shooting them looks from the merely curious to some that were downright resentful. But he stared them down and even went so far as to put a solicitous hand on Emma Jean’s back as she negotiated the church steps with AJ in her arms.
Once inside, he took Emma Jean’s arm when she paused at the back pew and led her to the one he’d occupied with the Shultzes last Sunday. He could tell Emma Jean was uncomfortable, but she held her head up and didn’t shrink back. Even when it became obvious that no one would be sharing their pew.
Folks might snub her, but surely no one would have the gall to berate or insult her outright in the Lord’s house.
When the service was over, Sawyer took his time leaving, being sure to engage several people in conversation, forcing them to acknowledge Emma Jean and Henry’s presence.
Mrs. Martin, bless her kind heart, came up to their group, making a point of talking to Emma Jean and discussing how AJ was doing.
When he had a chance to interrupt, Sawyer looked to the preacher’s wife. “By the way, ma’am, you can ignore that search you were doing on my behalf. Miss Gilley is handling the position quite well.”
Sawyer heard Emma Jean’s quick intake of breath but kept his gaze on Mrs. Martin.
“As you wish,” the preacher’s wife said with a smile. “I’m glad things worked out.”
As they moved toward the exit, Emma Jean gave him a tremulous smile. “Thank you for that.”
He met her gaze, his expression somber. “You’re welcome. But remember, AJ will likely be moving on soon.”
Her smile faded, but she nodded. Then she gave AJ a bittersweet smile. “Don’t worry, little one, we will see that you are well and truly loved while you are here.”
Was she including him in that we? He had to admit, despite his resolve to the contrary, he was becoming somewhat attached to the tyke. But the best way to make sure the boy had a good life was to find him a good, loving home.
And that home wasn’t his.
After lunch Emma Jean turned to Sawyer. “How do you normally spend your Sunday afternoons?”
Lately he hadn’t done much of anything other than brood. But he thought back to when his brother had been alive.
“You know how to play checkers, Henry?”
“No sir.”
“Well then, it’s about time you learned.” He pulled out the board and the wooden box that held the checkers and set them on the table.
As he began to set the game up, Sawyer explained the basics of the game. When he was done, he fingered one of the pieces. “My brother Lanny carved and painted these.”
Emma Jean, who had settled into the rocker to do some mending, looked over at that. “The pieces look very smooth and evenly sized. He must have been very talented.”
Sawyer nodded. “He was. He also made that bird there on the mantel and that trinket box on the bookcase.”
AJ, who lay in the baby carriage nearby, made a little fussing noise, and almost without thinking, Sawyer reached over and scooped him up, setting the baby on his lap while Henry pondered his next move.
And it occurred to Sawyer that it didn’t hurt quite so much to talk about Lanny as it had before, that he could even smile when he remembered his brother and all his virtues and flaws, quirks and habits.
And he had a feeling that he owed Emma Jean at least in part for that gift.
When Sawyer came home for lunch on Monday, he paused at the kitchen doorway. Emma Jean was in the process of telling Henry and AJ a story.
“…so after defeating the terrible giant, the prince climbed up on Misty, his flying horse, and the two of them flew over the thorny forest to the meadow beyond. There the people greeted him with cheers and praise for his bravery.”
“I wish I had a flying horse like Misty.”
“And if you did, where would you have him take you?”
“Someplace where nobody knows anything about Pa and where I could go to school and you could have lots of nice friends.”
He saw the flash of sadness in her eyes and knew it was her brother’s view of what was missing in his world that had put it there.
Then she glanced up and noticed him watching her and immediately schooled her expression into one of greeting.
Sawyer moved forward with a smile. “Sounds like I missed a good story.”
“You sure did,” Henry agreed. “I bet if you wanted her to, Emma Jean would tell it again.”
Sawyer tousled the boy’s hair. “Maybe another time. I see the kindling bucket is nearly empty. Why don’t you fill it for your sister?”
With a nod, Henry headed out.
Once he was out of the room, Sawyer turned to Emma Jean. “I received a telegram this morning from that detective I hired.”
Her eyes widened and she bit her lip. “So, did they find another relative of AJ’s?”
“They did. He has a great-uncle, a man named Arthur Darnell, who is sixty-four years old, a bachelor, and not at all suitable for raising an infant.”
Emma Jean relaxed.
Then he spoke up again. “But Mr. Darnell remembers a younger cousin, Dolly Juniper, who may or may not still be around. I instructed the detective agency to look for the cousin and see if we have better luck with her.”
She sighed in disappointment. “So you’re still determined to give AJ away.”
Sawyer took objection to that. “I’m not giving him away. I’m finding him a good home. It’s in his best
interest.”
“I don’t agree. But I know I don’t have any say in the matter.” She handed AJ over to him. “Now excuse me while I prepare our lunch.”
Sawyer was actually more concerned with the second report he’d gotten from the detective agency. They had once more just missed Clyde Gilley, this time in a small town west of Austin. It seemed Clyde was running through the money he’d stolen, playing, and losing, at poker games across the state. And he’d slipped out of town in the middle of the night on more than one occasion, leaving a trail of debt behind him.
Apparently Clyde was better at covering his tracks than he was at gambling.
Emma Jean felt deep in her soul that Sawyer was making a big mistake giving up his guardianship of AJ. She could see the connection between man and babe, even if he couldn’t. Sending AJ away would be like sending a piece of himself away, and he’d never be whole again. How could she make him see that before it was too late?
Chapter 24
Sawyer began picking Henry up a little earlier than usual in the mornings. Now that he’d heard from the detectives, he felt a sense of urgency to finish up the work he’d started. He wanted to make certain everything was shipshape before the Gilleys moved back in. Couching the repairs as a surprise for Emma Jean, he got Henry’s word not to let his sister know what was going on.
By the end of the week he’d gotten the fallen limb cut up and stacked for firewood and had repaired the barn door. Next up he’d tackle the garden fence and maybe take a look at the gaps in the windowsills.
And all the time in the back of his mind was the thought that he could get a telegram at any time that would put an end to his temporarily formed family and things would go back to the way they were before AJ arrived on the scene.
Why didn’t that thought make him happier?
Sawyer (Bachelors And Babies Book 6) Page 10
