Lacy Williams by Roping the Wrangler Read Free Book Online Page A

used his hold on Sarah’s elbow to propel her through the cabin and outside. She shrugged off his hand as they crossed the threshold.
    “I wasn’t done asking them about their family.”
    “No, but they were done talking to you. You push too hard.”
    Her back went up. “I was trying to help,” she hissed.
    “I know.” He wasn’t ruffled by her tone at all, only amused. The corner of his mouth turned up.
    He motioned toward his horse, now saddled and waiting for him just off the porch. “If you don’t mind riding double, I’ll give you a lift back to the Allens’ place.”
    “No, thank you.” She had no intention of getting on his beast. How easily an animal like that could throw them and break their necks!
    “Aw, he promises to behave. And I do, too.”
    If she was a weaker woman, the grin he gave her—a flash of white teeth against his tanned skin—would’ve made her knees knock. But she wasn’t weak, and she started walking toward the road.
    “No, thank you.”
    “C’mon, Miss Schoolteacher. I promise this guy’s as gentle as a kitten. It’s a long walk.”
    She just shook her head and kept going. Finally, he fell in step beside her, the animal trailing behind him as the man held the reins loosely. She couldn’t keep from noticing the brawny shoulder beside hers.
    “It isn’t necessary for you to accompany me home,” she said stiffly. “I’m sure you have things to do if you’ve been working here all day.”
    He nodded. “My ma would have my hide if I let a lady walk home alone, daylight or not.”
    “I can’t believe you washed and hung those diapers,” she murmured, because she couldn’t forget the bobbing string of white linens.
    He chuckled. “It’s not the first time I’ve had to help out with the little ones. And there wasn’t much choice—there weren’t any more clean ones to be had.”
    She shook her head, glancing at him from the corner of her eye. Imagining such a big strapping man doing a menial woman’s chore...she couldn’t picture it.
    “And the stew?” she asked.
    He shrugged. “They needed something to eat for supper.”
    “And the baby? The singing?”
    “I couldn’t very well leave little Velma inside by herself all day, could I? The sling is a little trick I picked up from my pa when Breanna was an infant. The singing, well...”
    His voice trailed off and she glanced at him. Beneath his hat, his cheeks looked red. Was he embarrassed?
    “At first, neither the baby or the horse really wanted to work with me, but once I’d started singing, they both calmed right away.”
    “Are you planning on going back tomorrow?”
    He frowned. “I don’t know. I doubt that would make Mr. Allen very happy. I’ve got responsibility for that colt. I don’t know if I can really get involved.”
    That was the response she’d expected. He wasn’t a resident here in Lost Hollow. And the girls weren’t his responsibility.
    But they were her students. And she refused to let them fall through the cracks, like she and her sisters had after her father’s accident.
    “Can I ask why no one else in town seems to want to help this family? Caldwell is no peach to be around, but I would think there might be some women who could provide the occasional meal to ease the burden on the girls a little....”
    She hesitated, but finally said, “I’m not sure on all the details. I believe it has to do with the girls’ real father being an Indian. He died before Velma was born, but I don’t think he was fully accepted in the community.”
    “That’s a shame. Those girls shouldn’t be punished because of their parentage.”
    “Mr. Caldwell seems to make it worse with his behavior. He isn’t exactly sociable, and can be...unkind—” it was a very softened description of how she’d seen him “—when he’s under the influence of drink...” Her voice trailed off.
    He was silent, thoughtful.
    “Listen, there’s something else I wanted to talk to you about,” he said, half