Honor-Bound Lawman

He could feel Laura’s eyes on him as he left the room. Not just her eyes, but the weight of those questions in her eyes. His appetite fled as he thought about having to sit at the table with her and make small talk about things he didn’t want to discuss.

When he returned to the table, the girls had nearly finished, and the ladies appeared to be eating more slowly to give him time to catch up. Presumably to give him company so he wouldn’t have to eat alone.

“Papa, did you know Miss Laura doesn’t have any children?” Anna smiled at him like she had a whole day’s worth of conversation to catch him up on. And she did, he supposed, since he’d been gone most of it.

“I do know that. And that’s probably not a polite thing to say about a lady. It might hurt her feelings,” he said gently.

Anna turned her attention to Laura. “Did it hurt your feelings that I asked if you had children? Papa says I ask a lot of questions that I shouldn’t, but how do you know things if you don’t ask?”

Owen closed his eyes for a moment and prayed for patience. Anna was an inquisitive little girl with a zest for life, and Owen didn’t want to kill that spirit totally, but sometimes, she made it difficult.

Fortunately, Laura didn’t seem to mind the impertinent little girl. She smiled at Anna. “It did not hurt my feelings. But thank you for being willing to consider them.”

His daughter preened at being validated in her questioning of Laura. If there were ever someone with enough questions to match Laura’s, it would have to be Anna. But Anna’s questions were easier to answer.

Lena set her fork down on her plate with a clatter. Owen looked up at her, and she smiled sweetly. A little too sweetly.

“Girls, let’s clear the table and let your father finish his supper. Miss Laura can keep him company. I’m sure they have much to discuss.”

She gave him another sugary smile before picking up her plate and leaving the room. The girls followed suit, leaving Owen alone with Laura in the awkward silence.

“You have a very nice home,” Laura said.

“Thank you. My uncle had it built for his bride.”

“I know,” Laura said. “Lena told me.”

He gave a nod, then focused his attention back on the delicious roast Lena had prepared.

“I find it interesting,” Laura continued, “that you both refer to her as his bride and not your aunt.”

Owen set his fork down. Small talk was not something he enjoyed, nor was he capable of it. Especially because nothing about his life involved small talk.

“That’s because we don’t like talking about her. She hurt a lot of people, and my uncle stayed here, hoping that someday she’d come back to him. She never did. He put everything he had into this place, all for her. But she never appreciated it. He was never bitter, so I suppose we’re bitter on his behalf. He was a good man, and he didn’t deserve to be treated like that.”

Something he and his uncle had in common. They both picked women they thought they could save, but in the end, they didn’t have that kind of power.

“I suppose that makes sense, then,” Laura said, sounding a little too cheerful. She was probably hoping this would open him up to more of her questions.

“So the girls’ mother is dead? I believe you said your wife died?”

Owen set his fork down and patted his lips with his napkin. “Yes. And that is all I will say on that matter. Please don’t bring it up again. With me, my sister or my daughters.”

He threw the napkin down on the table. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to—”

“You’re not going anywhere,” Lena said, reentering the room, carrying a pie. “The girls helped bake this, and we’re all going to enjoy a nice family dessert and chat about things.”

Had Lena heard Laura ask about Sadie? Her face was too innocent for him to be able to tell, but he had to think not. Though Lena liked to encourage him in that department, she’d never give a stranger such easy access to his pain.

“Owen, sit,” Lena said. “You don’t get to go off sulking tonight because your perfect little plans got ruined. We’re going to have pie and get to know Laura better, and it’s going to be fun.”

Emma sidled up to him. “Please, Papa. Auntie said you might even tell us a story about life on the trail.”

Owen shot Lena a quick glare. She knew he refused the girls little, and even though those stories were the last things he wanted to tell, especially in front of Laura, he would because the girls asked.

“Of course I will.” He pressed a kiss to the top of his daughter’s head, then he looked over at his sister. “Even though Auntie knows I don’t like to talk about those times, and she exaggerates about what a hero I am. But just as soon as I get this case wrapped up, we’ll invite my old friend Harold out, and he can tell you about life on the range.”

Two could play Lena’s game of torment.

Ignoring him, Lena turned to Laura. “Don’t believe a word he says about not being a hero. You can’t imagine all the wonderful things Owen has done, the lives he’s saved. He’s the best lawman you’ll ever meet.”

The smile Laura gave him made the dinner he’d just eaten turn over in his stomach. Back to the hero worship he detested. That was the trouble with people thinking he was so wonderful. Owen wasn’t that man. Just like Sadie had been all those years ago, Laura was over the moon about an illusion, not who he really was.

As a lawman, he’d made too many mistakes. Enough that he knew he didn’t deserve to wear a badge. Maybe he’d even been too prideful in keeping his promise to protect Laura. Could he keep her safe?

Looking around the table at the shining eyes directed at him, he wondered if he should have brought her here at all.

Chapter Four (#u1dc918ad-233b-5e69-b150-7a2563d7a8ae)

The next morning, when Laura went down to the kitchen, she found Lena already hard at work.

“Good morning,” Laura said.

Lena smiled at her. “Good morning. Breakfast will be ready shortly. Owen is out feeding the animals.”

“Is there anything I can help you with?”

Lena shook her head, then turned to the stove. “No, I have everything in hand, thank you.”

It was the same conversation they’d had more than once since she arrived yesterday. She wanted to be useful, not a burden, in Owen’s household.

“Please,” Laura said. “Give me something to do. Otherwise, I’ll go crazy.”

Lena sighed as she turned back around. “Well, I suppose you—”

“Auntie! Tell Emma it’s her turn to get the eggs.”

“No. It’s your turn. That mean old rooster got me yesterday.” Emma held out her scratched arm.

“But I don’t want him to get me.” Anna’s face had the cutest little pout. It was hard for Laura not to laugh, considering how serious the two girls were taking the situation.

Lena sighed. “Well, I guess I know what’s for supper then. Laura, come with me.”

Laura followed her outside. “What are we doing?”

“Dealing with a mean rooster.”

As they passed a shed, Lena grabbed an ax.