He Warned Her He Came With Four Children — The Cowgirl Said, “Good This Ranch Needs a Family”
Chapter 10
The sheriff arrived two days later.
He carried a sealed paper.
“I have orders to take the children.”
Thomas stepped onto the porch.
“You’ll have to arrest me first.”
The sheriff sighed.
“Thomas, don’t make this harder.”
Clara came beside him.
“Who signed it?”
The sheriff looked uncomfortable.
“Judge Holloway.”
Clara took the paper.
She read it.
Then laughed.
“This seal is wrong.”
The sheriff’s face changed.
“What?”
“My father taught me how to read legal seals.”
She held the paper up.
“This court seal hasn’t been used in eleven years.”
Thomas stared.
“The warrant is forged.”
The sheriff reached for his pistol.
Clara raised hers first.
“Don’t.”
The sheriff froze.
Mary appeared behind the window.
Samuel stood beside her.
The sheriff lowered his weapon.
“I don’t want trouble.”
“Then leave.”
He did.
But before leaving, he whispered:
“Whitfield has forty men.”
Thomas looked toward the horizon.
“When?”
“Tomorrow.”
That night, Clara walked outside.
Thomas followed.
“You should sleep.”
“So should you.”
She smiled.
“Stop saying that.”
He stood beside her.
“I don’t know what tomorrow brings.”
“Neither do I.”
“I have four children.”
“I know.”
“You could still walk away.”
Clara looked at him.
“I could.”
“Why won’t you?”
She took his hand.
“Because somewhere between supper and repairing the fence, this stopped being your family.”
She looked toward the house.
“It became ours.”
Thomas stared at her.
“Clara…”
She smiled.
“Go inside, Thomas.”
“Why?”
“Because your children are waiting.”
