***
Bret must have dropped off to sleep. When he roused himself he sat on the edge of the bed for several minutes. He was about to stand when Davie rushed into the room.
The boy looked about to cry. “Mr. Craig, can you come to the porch? Mr. Winfield is here upsetting Mama.”
Bret reached for his rifle. “You’d better walk beside me. I’m not too steady yet. Help me tuck in my shirt so I look decent.”
They made their way to the front door.
Bret pulled off his bandage and tossed it at a table before stepping onto the porch. “Is something wrong, Charlotte?” He carried his rifle.
She looked almost as surprised as the man facing her. Another man sat on his horse nearby.
The man facing Charlotte scowled. “Who are you?”
“A friend of the family and you must be Winfield.”
Charlotte glared at the man. “Mr. Winfield was just leaving.”
Winfield pointed at Bret. “I still don’t know who you are, mister.”
“I don’t see that it’s any of your business, mister. I believe Charlotte said you were leaving.” He cocked his rifle and leveled it at Winfield. “You on the horse, don’t draw or you’re a dead man. In fact, I believe you’re both trespassing and I can shoot you without worry.”
“You’ll regret this. I’ll talk to you another time, Mrs. Dunn.”
“Not everyone is for sale, Mr. Winfield.”
The man mounted his horse and after a glare at Bret, he galloped away with his friend following.
Davie cheered. “You did it, Mr. Craig, you scared him off.”
“Mrs. Dunn, I beg your pardon for addressing you by your given name. It seemed best under the circumstances. Now, I believe I’d better sit down somewhere.”
She rushed to his side. “Let me help you. Put your arm over my shoulder so I can help support you. Davie, tend to the rifle and remember it’s been cocked.” She guided Bret inside the house.
His legs threatened to give way. “Perhaps we could stop and rest a moment.”
“If you can make it into the kitchen you can sit at the table. Our lunch is almost ready.”
He was never so glad to see a chair. At least he didn’t believe he was. “Why was he here this time and what upset you so?”
“It’s almost laughable.” When she looked up, anger sparked in her eyes. “If you can believe the nerve, he came to propose to me.”
“I thought you said you were a recent widow.”
“I am. He said he knew I didn’t want to lose the ranch and if we married I could share all the land. He even agreed to let me bring the children.” She appeared angrier. “Of course Davie and Susie would have to go to boarding school. He graciously said Jimmy wouldn’t have to go away until he was a year older.”
Bret looked where Davie had stood his rifle. “I wish I’d shot him.”
“I wouldn’t mourn him but it would mean trouble for you.” She stirred a saucepan on the range.
“Who was that with him?”
She removed a pan containing a nicely browned hen from the oven. “His so-called foreman, Fred Arp. I suspect his real job is taking care of Winfield’s dirty business.”
Davie’s hands fisted. “I’ll bet he’s the one who shot Papa.”
She stopped her meal preparations and laid a hand on Davie’s shoulder. “We’ll never know, son. We can’t accuse anyone without proof.” She went back to the range. “Of course this is all conjecture on my part. As I mentioned, most people think he hung the moon.”
“What makes them think that?”
“He donated money to buy more school books and made a large donation toward a new organ for the church. Apparently he is always willing to donate a few dollars for any worthy cause.”
“I see—he’s generous in public and devious in private.”
She glanced his way. “You understand why I can’t simply accuse him.”
“Say, I don’t know anything about ranching, but maybe I can stay around a little while and do my best to help.”
He looked at Davie. “I’ll bet you could teach me what to do.”
Davie’s grim expression fled and he grinned at that request. “I could, couldn’t I, Mama?”
“Mr. Craig, I appreciate your offer more than I can say. You aren’t trying anything that strenuous until you’ve recovered. You’re a brave man. I know you were barely able to face those men but you didn’t show it to them. All the same, I felt you weakening while we walked in here.”
“I’m glad I was of service. Perhaps as I’m up a bit more each day I’ll soon be good as new. Maybe my memory will return.”
“For your sake, I hope that’s true.”
She set a bowl of green beans on the table then transferred the hen to a platter and set it beside the green beans. A fresh loaf of bread waited on a cutting board. From another pan, she scooped ears of boiled corn.
Taking off her apron, she smiled. “I believe we’re ready to eat.”
Davie carried the coffee pot. “I’ll fill your cups then get the others.”
He set the coffee pot on the range and rang a bell. Susie and Jimmy came running inside. Davie poured milk for them.
Charlotte pointed at them. “Wash your hands.”
They went to the kitchen sink and washed their hands before they sat at the table. Bret had never seen faster cleansing and suspected they’d missed most of the dirt. Their mother was too upset to pass judgment but she said a blessing.
After the meal, Charlotte insisted he go have a nap. He was too fatigued to argue. She helped him walk to the bedroom. Once she’d tucked him in as if he were a child, she stepped back.
“I can’t tell you
