He Warned Her He Came With Four Children — The Cowgirl Said, “Good This Ranch Needs a Family”
Chapter 3
Thomas slept in the barn.
Clara had offered him the small room near the kitchen.
He refused.
“I’ll sleep with the horses.”
“Why?”
“Because I’ve slept worse.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“It is the only one I have.”
Clara crossed her arms.
“You are stubborn.”
“So I’ve been told.”
“And foolish.”
“That too.”
She almost smiled.
Then she noticed his hands.
They were covered in cuts.
“You’ve been working alone.”
“For a while.”
“Four children and a wagon.”
“Yes.”
“You need rest.”
“So do you.”
Clara looked at him.
“What makes you think I don’t rest?”
“You have a rifle beside the kitchen door.”
She glanced at it.
“So?”
“Most women don’t sleep with a rifle within reach.”
“Most women don’t own a ranch surrounded by men who think a woman can’t defend it.”
Thomas said nothing.
Clara turned away.
Then she heard his voice.
“Why did you let us stay?”
She stopped.
“Because you asked.”
“I didn’t ask.”
“You came here.”
“I came because I had nowhere else.”
“That sounds like asking.”
Thomas looked at her.
“Most people would have said no.”
Clara stared toward the dark fields.
“Most people aren’t me.”
He wanted to ask what she meant.
But before he could, a horse screamed.
Both turned.
Clara grabbed the rifle.
Thomas reached for his pistol.
The children were still asleep inside.
A rider appeared at the edge of the field.
Then another.
Clara whispered:
“How many?”
Thomas counted.
“Six.”
“Friends?”
“No.”
The men stopped outside the fence.
One called:
“Thomas Reed!”
Thomas stepped onto the porch.
Clara stood beside him.
A tall man rode forward.
His coat was black.
His horse was gray.
“Mr. Whitfield,” Thomas said.
The man’s smile was cold.
“Where are the children?”
Thomas said nothing.
Whitfield looked toward Clara.
“This does not concern you.”
Clara raised her rifle.
“It concerns me now.”
Whitfield laughed.
“You have no idea what you’ve taken into your house.”
Clara’s eyes hardened.
“Neither do you.”
He leaned forward.
“Hand over the children.”
“No.”
“You’ll regret that.”
Clara took one step forward.
“Leave my property.”
Whitfield looked at her.
Then at Thomas.
Finally, he smiled.
“We’ll see.”
The riders turned.
Thomas watched them disappear.
Clara lowered her rifle.
“You didn’t tell me his name.”
Thomas sighed.
“I hoped you wouldn’t need it.”
