"Think I'd rather you just bring my jacket out here for me," Dan replied. "I'd sorta like to sit here and remember Cal for a while. Look." He nodded toward the small cabin behind the schoolhouse on their right. "There comes Sissy. You mind a'tellin' her, Wyn? I promise I'll help you tell the rest of 'em when they get in from school. I oughta be up to repeatin' the story by then."
"I'll do that, Pa." He patted Dan on his shoulder, then stepped inside the store and grabbed his pa's jacket from a peg. After handing the jacket to Dan, he went to meet Sissy, who had her two-year-old, Bobbie, toddling after her. Despite her advanced pregnancy, Sissy carried a bucket with her cleaning supplies in it, and Wyn reached to take it from her as soon as they met.
A moment later, Sissy sobbed in his arms, and Wyn glanced over at Widow Tuttle's. Sarah stood on the porch watching him, and somehow he could sense her concerned gaze. Telling himself he was only remembering her unusual, expressive eyes, he lifted a courteous hand to her, then led Sissy toward the store.
His pa could like her all he wanted, and he admitted that he really didn't dislike the woman. She was as different from the mountain women as night from day, though. She stood out like a Christmas tree in July in these surroundings, where he was used to women with tired eyes and weary shoulders.
He'd always enjoyed snowstorms in the mountains. For one thing, they gave him an opportunity to relax and catch up on his reading, when he could keep his brothers and sisters out of his hair. But right now he wished this storm Jeeter was predicting over with, since it would keep Sarah Channing from leaving for possibly a week. He didn't exactly understand why he felt threatened by her, especially since there were qualities about her that he admired. He'd just keep his distance until he saw that straight back and perfectly styled hair riding down the mountains in Jeeter's wagon.
Too, he couldn't forget the hunger in Sarah's eyes when she gazed at Mairi. Despite her assurance that she only wanted to delay her good-bye to Mairi for a day or two, he would cautiously keep an eye on her. He knew pretty much what Sarah could offer Mairi, and he could only hope that the child's deeply instilled mountain pride would mean more to her than the material things at Sarah's disposal to give her.
His pa had a huge dose of mountain pride himself, and a loyalty to family unsurpassed by any other man Wyn knew. His pa would wrap Mairi in his love and loyalty, and it would wound his spirit mightily if his niece turned her back on her family and opted for the life of a rich girl.
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Winter Dreams Page 30
