Poor Boy's Christmas with Bonus Book
Page 15
They traveled from trap to trap and found nothing. Perhaps the woman brought some bad luck with her. His mother would have prayed over her and sent her on her way. He smiled. He missed his mother but at least he had many fond memories to get him through the hard times. The clouds were rolling into the mountains and they were in for more nasty weather. He turned Ahern toward home and off they went.
A set of small footprints caught his eye. He pulled up on the reins, stopping Ahern and jumped off. The prints looked to be a child’s. Did Samantha leave a child behind? She didn’t wear a ring. Was she married? He followed them for a while but they disappeared in the blowing snow. Still he searched but he came up empty. It was too damn cold for a child to survive out here but there was nothing else he could do.
Grabbing Ahearn’s mane, he jumped onto his back and headed to the cabin. The wind picked up and the sky turned dark. He’d better hurry if he planned to make it home before the next storm blew in.
After getting Ahearn into the barn and dried off, he gave him extra hay and made sure there was water. Grabbing a rope, he fully intended to tie a line from the barn to the house in case there was a white out. More than one person had frozen to death just steps from their houses. A rustling sound in the hayloft caught his attention and he slowly made his way to the pile. A small black shoe stuck out but the rest hid beneath the hay.
“Achoo.”
“Come on out, I know you’re in there.” His words were met with silence.
There was another sneeze and Patrick reached down and brushed the hay off a small child. A boy, a blond-haired, blue-eyed, boy.
“You’ll freeze out here and die. Come to the house, your Ma’s in there.”
The boy’s eyes widened but he remained silent. He stretched out both arms to Patrick and he grabbed him up into his arms. The poor child was skin and bone. What type of mother leaves her child out in the snow to die? Samantha had a lot of explaining to do.
“Let’s get ya warm and dry. I even have food warming over the fire.”
The boy nodded, put his head on Patrick’s shoulder, and closed his eyes.
Samantha grabbed a tin plate and ladled some of the venison stew on it. Her stomach growled and her mouth watered. Her clothes were still damp so she grabbed one of Patrick’s shirts and put it on. It was huge on her. She rolled up the sleeves and laughed. It practically hung to her feet.
He didn’t seem to be one to smile often, but he hadn’t tried to have his way with her either. Hoping for a peek outside, she opened the door, but the intense wind immediately pushed her back. It was a struggle to close the door. Hopefully Patrick wasn’t too far away.
Her hands and feet still hurt, but not as much as the first time she woke. It was a good sign. Patrick must get supplies somewhere. The nearest town couldn’t be too far away. As soon as the storm stopped, she’d be on her way. She hadn’t quite figured out what she’d do once she got to town but she was sure there must be a kindly pastor and his wife to take her in for a bit.
Sitting at the table, she ate until she was full. It seemed to be forever since she’d had enough to eat. Supplies on the wagon train had been rationed and the hope for hunting quickly dimmed as the hunters returned day after day with no food.
She took her last bite when the door blew open with a bang. Patrick stood in the doorway, carrying a child and glaring at her. “I found your child. I’ve heard about bad mothers but dang it ya are as cold hearted as they come. Why no mention of your son? You left him out there to die!”
Quickly standing, she backed up. “That is not my boy. I’ve never been married.”
“Aha! So, the real skinny is coming to light. What happened the rest of the pious folks on the wagon train found out you have a bastard and threw ya out? Did you figure you’d be better off without proof of your sins?”
The back of her legs hit the bed and she immediately sat. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. That child needs tending. Bring him here.”
“What’s his name?” he asked as he laid him on the bed.
“How would I know?” She was glad her irritation showed in her voice. The mountain man was pure loco.
“You plan to play out your lies? Your heart must be iced over.”
“He is not my child.” She began to undress the boy and gasped. His bones were visible and he had more than a few bruises on him.
Patrick gaffed. “I wouldn’t want to admit to the treatment of the boy either.”
It was getting nearly impossible to keep her temper reined in. “Could you get me some warm water and a bit of muslin if you have it. I’d like to wash him off a bit.”
He didn’t say a word, he just did as she asked. He watched as she tenderly wiped the dirt away from the boy.
“From his thinness I’d say he’d been on his own for more than a few weeks. How old do you think he is?”
“He’s puny enough to pass for three but I reckon he’s at least four or so. He was smart enough to hide in my hay.”
Samantha nodded. It didn’t matter what Patrick thought, she needed to tend to the boy. Someone out there was missing a child and they were probably heartbroken or dead. These mountains were unforgiving. She briefly wondered how the people on the wagon train were faring but dismissed them fast enough. They probably weren’t wondering about her.
As soon as she washed the boy up, she tucked him into the massive bed. His eyes opened and he smiled. “Mommy?”
Before she could utter a word, Patrick sat on the edge of the bed. “You’re fine now, lad. Your ma is right here. No more worries.”
The boy nodded and instantly fell back to sleep.
Patrick stood and crossed his arms in front of him. His expression was thunderous. “Lies upon lies. If the wind wasn’t howling like a banshee, I’d put you out. Children are innocents and no matter how they came into the world they deserve the same love as any other child.”
She took a deep breath and slowly let it out. What was there to say? He didn’t believe one word she said. Why the child called her mommy was a mystery but they did have the same coloring. His ma was probably blonde too. She’d lived a good, honest and respectable life. She obeyed her parents and tried to do what was right. Maybe it was all for naught. Patrick didn’t care, he already judged her immoral.
“I hope his parents are alive somewhere and we can reunite them.”
He laughed mockingly and shook his head. “Still insisting he’s not yours huh? He did call you mommy. I think it’s proof enough. You can stop with your untruths now.”
She gave him a sad smile, walked by him, and grabbed one of the chairs. She put it closer to the fireplace and sat down. Maybe the storm would be over soon.
She had nerve, sticking to her story. How could she accept shelter from him when her child was out in the blizzard? Then there were the bruises on the child’s body. He had to fight the urge to give her a bruise or two. He’d never hit a woman before and he didn’t intend to start now, even if she did deserve it.
The cabin felt smaller, more closed in with her in it. She wasn’t going to stay without working for her keep. “Can ya cook?”
She jerked her head and glanced at him. “Yes.”
“What about keeping a place clean and the like?”
“I can do it all. Don’t worry, I don’t intend to sit around waiting for the snow to subside. I appreciate all you have done for me but I’ll be lighting out as soon as possible.”
“And the boy?”
“I don’t even know his name. I know you don’t believe me, but it’s true. No, the boy will not be coming with me.”
He grunted. “No sense arguing about it now. The snow will be there for months to come.”
Her eyes widened and her throat dried. “Months?”
“Yes, months. You’re in the high country. Once it snows it’s pretty much going to keep snowing until spring.” He briefly enjoyed her horrified expression, until he realized he was stuck with her. “You mentioned your parents died.”
Her sadness tugged at his heart. “They banned the two of ya?”
“Two? Oh, you still think he’s mine. No, they left me alone.” She bristled.
“I see.” He didn’t see at all.
“Do you like living here alone? How far are you from town?”
“I enjoy my solitude. The town is a good two to three days away. I don’t go in very often.”
“Sounds lonely.” Her voice grew soft.
“It can be but it’s better than the alternative.”
“The alternative?”
He started to reply but a cry from his bed drew his attention. They both went over to see the boy. He sat next to him and was surprised when he wrapped his arms around him and called him pa. Bewildered he turned and locked gazes with Samantha. She just shrugged.
“Do you know what your name is?”
“Yes, Sir, I’m Brian.” He nodded hesitantly.
“I’m Patrick and, well, you know your ma.”
Brian just nodded, his eyes widened as he stared at his mother. Then he smiled.
“How’d you end up outside all alone?” Patrick asked gently.
“I dunno. I don’t think I know. How?” He raised his eyebrows waiting for an answer.
“Perhaps your ma knows.”
“I don’t think so. I don’t think anyone knows.”
“What’s the last thing you remember?”
“I was sleeping in the back of a wagon. A man was takin’ me to live with him. He said I’d be able to do a lot of work.”
Patrick gave her a pointed look. “Doesn’t sound like a good situation.”
Brian smiled. “Here is better. Got any food?”
“I bet your ma could get you some food. I’d like some too.”
Samantha stiffened but didn’t say a word. She went to the pot hanging above the fire and stirred the stew before she ladled it onto two plates. She grabbed the two other forks he owned and brought them both food. “It’s hot.”
“Thank you.”
She stared at him for a moment and then nodded. “You’re welcome.”
He sat on the edge of the bed and out of the corner of his eye, he saw Brian watching him and taking a bite when he did. He wanted to chuckle but thought it best not to. He wasn’t sure what was going on but they’d be stuck with each other for a while and they needed to work things out. The first thing he needed to do was find Samantha’s dress. The occasional peek at her shapely legs was starting to give him ideas. Ideas he had no business thinking. Maybe she would be interested in a relationship with him but he didn’t want any children to come of it. It was better to keep his mind on other things.
“I’ll go hunting tomorrow and see what I can find. For some reason my traps were all empty today. I don’t rightly remember that ever happening before.”
Brian hung his head. “Solomon stoled them.”
His brow furrowed. “Solomon?”
“Yep, he’s the man I belong to. He took all your animals and reset the traps. I must have fallen off the wagon.”
“He has a wagon up here? It’s sure to get stuck.”
“We ain’t from around here. We’ve been traveling and Solomon saw Ma get throwed away so he followed her but he said she was a tricky one and hard to find. He always took the animals. He likes the fur. Soon we were going to hunt for gold.”
“Brian, I want ya to think hard before you answer my next question. Is she really your ma?”
Brian’s hands shook but he looked Patrick straight in the eye. “Yes sir, she’s my ma.”
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About the Author
Sexy Cowboys and the Women Who Love Them...
Finalist in the 2012 and 2015 RONE Awards.
Top Pick, Five Star Series from the Romance Review.
Kathleen Ball writes contemporary and historical western romance with great emotion and
memorable characters. Her books are award winners and have appeared on best sellers lists including: Amazon's Best Seller's List, All Romance Ebooks, Bookstrand, Desert Breeze Publishing and Secret Cravings Publishing Best Sellers list. She is the recipient of eight Editor's Choice Awards, and The Readers' Choice Award for Ryelee's Cowboy.
Winner of the Lear diamond award Best Historical Novel- Cinders' Bride
There's something about a cowboy
Other Books by Kathleen
Lasso Spring Series
Callie’s Heart
Lone Star Joy
Stetson’s Storm
Dawson Ranch Series
Texas Haven
Ryelee’s Cowboy
Cowboy Season Series
Summer’s Desire
Autumn’s Hope
Winter’s Embrace
Spring’s Delight
Mail Order Brides of Texas
Cinder’s Bride
Keegan’s Bride
Shane’s Bride
Tramp’s Bride
Poor Boy’s Christmas
Oregon Trail Dreamin’
We’ve Only Just Begun
A Lifetime to Share
A Love Worth Searching For
So Many Roads to Choose
The Settlers
Greg
Juan
Scarlett
Mail Order Brides of Spring Water
Tattered Hearts
Shattered Trust
Glory’s Groom
Battered Soul
The Greatest Gift
Love So Deep
Luke’s Fate
Whispered Love
Love Before Midnight
I’m Forever Yours
Finn’s Fortune
Glory’s Groom