That did the trick. Emma Jane took the handkerchief and began using it to wipe her face. The handkerchief came back filthy, but at least it revealed a clean girl. Surely that added to her beauty more than anything else.
With nimble fingers that had gotten far too much practice braiding several little girls’ hair before church, Mary unpinned Emma Jane’s hair and, though tangled, was able to put it into some semblance of a neat braid. She’d have to get the knots out later, but at least it looked better than the mass of washed-out curls and snarls.
Though Mary wanted to go see what news Will brought, her work with Emma Jane kept the other girl calm. Polly caught her eye and smiled. They’d know soon enough what was going on. Until then, Mary could bring comfort to a girl who was certain her life was over.
* * *
Will dismounted, grateful that the nearby ranch had provided them with fresh horses. They’d also provided another wagon, already covered, and would keep everyone dry for the return to the ranch. With the road washed out, continuing home was out of the question. But at least they’d have a warm place to spend the night.
He joined Jasper and listened as Jasper explained what would be happening. Another rider had been sent into town with word of their whereabouts, and they’d spend the night at the ranch. In the morning, after things had dried, there was a back road they could take back to town.
As Jasper spoke, Mary and another girl joined them. He was glad to see that Mary looked to be in good spirits, but then he hadn’t expected anything less of her. Such a cool head in the midst of a crisis. How on earth had she found herself mixed up with Ben?
He watched Mary interact with the girl, recognizing her as one of the ones who’d gone into hysterics at being caught in the storm. Now, as she stood near Jasper, taking in what was happening, a serene smile replaced the lines of worry. He saw how Mary patted her hand. Clearly, the change in the girl’s demeanor came from Mary’s influence. Mary could be such an asset to him in bringing Ben to justice. If only he could convince her.
Shortly after Jasper explained the situation, the ranch wagon arrived. From the steam rising from the horses’ bodies and nostrils, they’d been ridden hard to get here as quickly as possible.
Will helped load the ladies onto the new wagon, pausing slightly at Mary. “Save me a seat next to you. I want to know how things went.”
The girl next to her giggled, and Will wished for a moment he hadn’t been so bold. Mary was so concerned about people thinking they were a couple, and it seemed that every move he made, even those he intended as mere kindness, were continually misinterpreted.
Still, her warm smile almost made him change that wish.
“Certainly,” she said. “Have you met my new friend Emma Jane?”
He glanced briefly at Emma Jane. “It’s a pleasure.”
“Is everyone ready?” Jasper came up behind him, and Will turned his attention to the other man.
“I think so. I’m getting Mary and her friend...Emma Jane? Settled.”
Movement between the two girls momentarily distracted him. “Sorry, it is Emma Jane, right?”
Jasper made a noise, then turned away. From the pained expression on the girls’ faces, Emma Jane must have been one of Jasper’s many admirers.
“We need to get moving,” he said instead. And to his relief was rewarded with a small smile from Mary.
Her smiles shouldn’t matter as much. And he shouldn’t notice things such as her kindness to others like Emma Jane. Daisy had never struck him as particularly kind. One more thing to remind him that what he’d felt for Daisy wasn’t real, wasn’t lasting. The trouble with his growing admiration of Mary was how much he wanted to like her. How much he wanted to help her. Whatever her relationship with Ben Perry had been, surely he could save her from—
What was he thinking?
That was exactly the kind of disastrous thinking that had gotten him shot in the first place.
“Thank you,” Mary said quietly, making his insides quiver.
If she could be avoided, he would run as far away as possible. Mary was not the kind of distraction he needed. And yet, she might possibly have the information he needed to finally apprehend Ben Perry.
Chapter Eight
The smell of hay and dust hung thickly in the air, tickling Mary’s nostrils.
The rancher who came to their aid had a small spread, with a small cabin, not big enough for all of them. So they were dispatched to the barn. When it came time to retire, the men would be able to bunk with the rancher’s hired hands, and the women would have the barn to themselves. From what Will had said, the women were getting a much more comfortable place to stay than the men. Though she heard some of the girls complaining, it wasn’t nearly as bad as what she’d lived through in the past. And after being in the rain for so long, it felt so good to finally be dry that she didn’t care.
The rain had finally slowed to a gentle drizzle, and most of their party was huddled around a small fire the men had built to take the chill off.
“Why aren’t you with the others?” Will asked, appearing beside her.
She glanced at him, noting how his hair had started to curl slightly at the base of his neck as it dried. It seemed as though he grew more handsome every time she saw him. Certainly he’d grown in her regard with the evenhanded way he’d handled their detour.
And the way he looked at her... Warmth shone in his eyes, as if he actually cared. For a brief moment, it reminded her of the way her brother Joseph looked at
