Frank’s earnestness almost made him want to believe. But there were so many unknowns. Too many things he had to work out and plan for. He couldn’t allow himself the luxury of even thinking about falling in love until after he had his family’s future settled.
“That’s a fine idea, and perhaps we will decide to stay. But there’s much more to consider. Courting Annabelle is not one of them.”
“Maybe you should talk to Annabelle about that first,” Frank stated.
“And maybe you should let my business be my business. I’ve already told you that I’ll be careful with your daughter’s heart, but that’s all I’m going to do in Annabelle’s direction. It’s all I can do.”
“But what about your heart?” Frank’s quiet question was one he’d already made up his mind on.
“My heart is with my family. My responsibility is to them first.”
Joseph cleared the lump forming in his throat. “Let’s get back to more important business. Like our next move in finding my father’s silver.”
With this talk of love and hearts and things best left alone, it was more reason time was of the essence. They were engaged in a dangerous game with everything at stake. No room for any of the impossibilities Frank wanted to discuss.
Slade pulled a map out of his pocket. “Based on what I could see, Bad Billy seemed to have a lot of claims near the Eastern side of Mosquito Pass and around his cabin. The area near the cabin is where things looked dug up and buried, but as far as I can tell, there’s no evidence there’s actually any silver there.” He pointed to a corner of the crinkled paper. “But there’s this one, all alone, in the center of claims owned by Slim Deckert.”
Frank rubbed his chin. “Slim probably didn’t like the idea that Billy purchased a claim in the center of his claims.”
“Billy didn’t buy it,” Slade stated matter-of-factly. “He won it in a poker game against Slim.”
Poker. Joseph shouldn’t be surprised that his pa would engage in such activity, given that he’d fathered a child by a soiled dove. But surely there had to be an end to the sinful legacy left by his father.
“I remember that game,” Frank said. “Slim was fighting mad over the deal and tried accusing Billy of cheating. But Lon was there, and he’d said it was a fair game.”
Slade nodded. “It’s the same mine where Billy died.”
“Or was killed,” Frank said somberly.
Now, more than ever, Joseph was convinced that his pa had been murdered. And with the attempted kidnapping of Nugget and the attack on Annabelle, whoever was after the silver was willing to get it at any cost.
Chapter Fifteen
Polly’s dismissal and subsequent lie about what happened at the creek stung. Annabelle had said unkind things to Polly. And yes, she deserved to be punished for her thoughtlessness. But that didn’t mean it was right for Polly to be so nasty to her at the creek and then lie to everyone about it.
“How’s your foot?” Gertie asked, the familiar kindness in her voice not nearly as painful as her foot.
“It’s fine, thanks.” Annabelle tried to stand, but Gertie shook her head and clucked at her.
“You sit right back down and put this compress on it. Polly may think you’re faking it, but a foot doesn’t swell up to twice the size of the other on its own.”
Gertie handed her the compress, and Annabelle tried not to wince. Still, it was some comfort to know that Polly’s poison hadn’t completely taken hold.
“I’m sorry for the inconvenience. I truly appreciate your kindness,” Annabelle said, not knowing what else to say.
Gertie brushed her hands on her apron, then frowned. “I need to get supper started. I’d ask you to mind the girls, but I suppose you can’t go chasing after them.”
Yes, a lot had changed in her relationship with Gertie. As much as she’d thought it wouldn’t matter, given all of the hurt Annabelle felt, she’d come to realize that it actually did, quite a lot.
“I could help with supper,” Annabelle offered. “I assist Maddie all the time.”
“Can you peel potatoes?”
“Of course.” Annabelle smiled. “And as far as minding the little ones, why, they can help.”
Just then, the little girls came bounding over, huge smiles on their faces. “Annabelle! Guess what we found?”
Nugget held out a sticky handful of tangled wildflowers.
“Lovely.” Annabelle smiled at the little girl. When her foot got better, they’d have to go flower picking again.
“We brought these for you to feel better,” Caitlin said shyly.
Annabelle closed her eyes for a moment, giving herself time to collect her thoughts. Yes, her heart hurt, but she had to remember that poor Caitlin had lost someone, too.
“Thank you so much, Caitlin.” She made a big show of smelling the flowers, even though they were just a bunch of weeds. Still, as she gave an appreciative, “Mmm...beautiful,” the smiles she was rewarded with made it worthwhile.
“Now that I’ve got my flowers, you two wash up and you can help prepare supper.”
“All right,” Nugget said with a smile. “Come on, Caitlin. If we’re real good, and there’s biscuits, Annabelle might let us help roll them out. Annabelle makes the best biscuits.”
The compliment warmed Annabelle’s heart, and for a moment, she wished she hadn’t been so wrapped up in her own life that she’d failed to do such with her sister. Of course, their mother had, which was where Annabelle had gotten the idea to do it with Nugget.
“You’re good with them,” Gertie said quietly. “Your mother would be proud.”
She looked up at the older woman. “At least I’ve done something right. I know she wouldn’t be proud of how I’ve been shutting everyone out. I hope you know I’m trying to do better.”
Slade’s story earlier in the day had made her realize that Gertie, too, probably harbored unspoken grief over her family’s losses.
“I know you are,” Gertie said quietly. “I just hope you learn to do it for your sake, not for hers.”
She turned, then handed Annabelle
