Montana Cowboy Family

Logan remained at her side, stifling an urge to put an arm about her shoulders and protect her from the glaring truth. “You kids are alone, aren’t you?”

Sadie pressed a hand to her throat. “Alone? Is that possible?” She studied the silent trio. “I think you better explain what is going on.”

Sammy looked up at his older sibling, a slender girl with hair lighter than Sammy’s and the same dark eyes. She shook her head in answer to Sammy’s unasked question.

“We got nothing to say,” Sammy said.

Logan pulled forward the only chair, two rungs missing in its back, and indicated Sadie should sit. Her glance at Logan informed him that the misery of the children’s situation brought her pain. Sadie placed a package on the table and unwrapped a cake. Three pairs of eyes lingered on it, then eased away. It didn’t take more than a glance around the place to know they were likely hungry.

He wished he could erase the pain for Sadie and the children. But things like this couldn’t be undone...only resolved, and he prayed for wisdom. Lord, help us unravel this mystery.

Slowly, softly, Sadie began to speak. “Sammy, are these your sisters?”

Sammy nodded.

The older girl tightened her arm about Sammy’s shoulders. If Sadie noticed the warning gesture, she ignored it. “What are their names?”

“She’s Beth.” Sammy indicated the older girl. “And this here is baby Jeannie.”

Jeannie, the blondest of the three, with the same dark eyes, wasn’t a baby anymore, but Logan understood that the youngest child often got called the baby for a long time.

“How old are your sisters?” Sadie continued in her gentle voice.

“I’m thirteen,” Beth said. “And Jeannie is three. Why?”

Sadie managed a slight smile as she met Beth’s eyes. “It’s just something teachers ask children. Let me introduce ourselves. I’m Sammy’s teacher, Miss Young, and this is Logan Marshall.”

Beth nodded. “I know who you are. But why are you here? I—Sammy took a note asking you not to visit.”

Logan noted the hesitation, as if Beth had been about to say she had sent the note. He glanced at Sadie, saw by the flash in her eyes that she had heard the same thing.

Her gaze returned to the older girl. “Yes, he did. But I couldn’t help but be worried. Especially when I saw that his back hurt him.”

Both Sammy and Beth adopted impassive expressions.

“Sammy, who has been hurting you?”

“Not Beth.”

“I wasn’t accusing Beth.” She looked to Logan, seeking his opinion.

He gave her a slight nod to indicate she should continue questioning the children.

“Where’s your mama?” she asked them.

“Mama?” Little Jeannie spoke for the first time.

“Hush, baby.” Beth jostled the child.

“I want Mama.” Jeannie looked ready to cry.

“Hush, hush. Remember what I told you.”

Jeannie nodded. “Mama not coming back.”

So Logan’s uncle had been right.

“I’m sorry,” Sadie said. “You must all be very sad.”

Nothing but more unblinking stares from Sammy and Beth.

“Where is your father?” Logan asked. Though his deeper, more demanding voice jolted the pair, they quickly recovered and pressed their lips together.

“Where’s your papa?” he asked again, softer this time.

Little Jeannie, her eyes full of fear, whimpered and clung to Beth. Beth’s jaw muscles twitched as she clenched her teeth. Her eyes narrowed and she wrapped her arms about Jeannie in such a protective gesture that a shiver climbed Logan’s spine.

Logan crossed the floor to the cupboards and threw open the only remaining door. Empty. He touched the stove. Cold. He confronted the children. Sadie was right, both in thinking things weren’t as they should be and coming here to check on them.

He stilled his raging heart. “There is nothing in the house to eat.”

No response from any of them.

He circled the room, hating every inch of it as a place for children to live. He stopped behind Sadie’s chair and gripped the back. “When is your father returning?”

Jeannie whimpered and buried her face against her sister’s shoulder.

Beth glowered.

Sammy trembled. What was he afraid of?

“He’s gone, but he’ll be back.” Beth tried to look as if that was all that mattered.

“Where is he?” He’d find the man and make him look after these kids. And he’d make it clear that he must treat them kindly.

“Said he’d bring us something to eat,” Sammy blurted out.

“Hush,” Beth warned.

Sammy hung his head.

Logan assessed the little information the children had provided. One thing was clear—they couldn’t stay here.

“I’ll take you to the ranch, where you’ll all be well taken care of.”

At the same time, Sadie said, “Children, I am taking you home with me. I’ll make sure you are well taken care of and that no one will hurt you.”

Logan gave Sadie a hard look. “You live in tiny quarters.”