Darcy squeezed the man’s hands and smiled. “You stay here, and I’ll talk to Bar. You’re welcome to stay here as long as you like, and we’ll serve supper soon in the adjacent room.”
Jim smiled his brown eyes weary. “Thanks Darcy, you always was a gem.”
***
“You think it’s safe to have this man here?” Bar asked as he and Mary looked across his desk at Darcy. “I mean he isn’t dangerous is he?”
Darcy twirled a curl around her finger, amazed at how her hair had grown in the past few months. “He’s not dangerous, not on his own,” she hedges. “Jim was paid muscle, he didn’t kill anyone just roughed them up a bit to make them pay or tossed them out if they got too rambunctious.”
Barrister looked up into Mary’s face. They had known from the moment the young woman had written to them who she was, but had asked no questions, nor had they disclosed their own connection with Blake and his role in breaking up the gang. What they acknowledged about Darcy’s past life was only what she chose to disclose to them on her own, but they had grown to care for her as a true friend.
“He’s like me,” Darcy continued, worried they would ask him to leave. “He’s lost and alone and doesn’t think anyone will ever want him. I believe if you give him a chance, you might reach his heart. He, he was always kind of soft on me and treated me kindly.” Darcy’s hand automatically stroked her cheek where all too often she had worn a bruise from one of Pierce’s rages.
“He can stay,” Bar finally spoke patting his wife’s hand where it rested on his shoulder. “But you’re responsible for him until we go home for Christmas.”
Darcy nodded, studying them with serious eyes, thinking. “I’ll do it.”
“You’re still coming home with us for the holidays aren’t you?” Mary asked. She had been insisting for the past few weeks that Darcy come to the family home with them. “We have that group of missionaries coming in to look after things here while we’re gone, and I’m sure you’ll be happy if you come along. It will be a nice break from the city.”
Darcy studied the pretty woman for a few seconds then nodded. What could it hurt to go back to the family farm and have dinner with a few strangers? She knew Bar and Mary well enough, and now that the limelight had died down after the trial, she felt less conspicuous.
So much had changed for her in the past year, in her own way she was a new person. “I’ll come,” Darcy finally agreed, a hint of sorrow filling her voice. She had written to her own family several times, but had still not heard from them and could only surmise that they wanted nothing to do with their wayward daughter.
Mary smiled brightly practically dancing with delight. “You won’t regret it.”
Darcy shot the other woman an odd look, but said nothing, finally turning and heading back into the big outer room to find Jim.
Something told her that she had been brought to this place for a chance to help the man who had once been kind to her.
Chapter 28
“You remember what you’re supposed to do?” Darcy asked the lumpy man next to her as she smoothed her A-line skirt.
“I remember,” Jim grinned. “I’m to make sure that the fires stay hot and the rooms are warm. I’m to make up the beds when anyone leaves, and keep an eye out for any trouble makers.” He grinned, his dark eyes twinkling. “Are ya nervous about meeting Bar’s family?”
“No,” Darcy laughed, patting the big man’s arm. “I’m sure they are nice people, and they won’t know who I am so it will be fine.”
“Darcy, I can’t thank you enough for being here when I needed you,” Jim smiled. “I didn’t think… Well I didn’t know that there was truth like this in the world.”
“I didn’t either,” Darcy replied. It had been both thrilling and humbling the night Jim had come to her and asked her to show him how to pray the sinner’s prayer. In that one simple act, Darcy realized again, that she was truly a new person. This trip to Bar’s home for Christmas was just a sweet reminder of how her life had changed for the better.
“You’d best go now,” Jim grinned. “I think they’re ready to leave.” He pointed toward the door where Bar was checking his watch.
“You be good and take care of yourself,” Darcy said, giving Jim one last pat. “And don’t be bothering that nice widow Mato who came with the missionaries. She has work to do.”
Jim blushed but didn’t promise and Darcy laughed at his boyish look. The man had a bigger heart than she ever knew and was sweet on the petite widow with the big attitude.
“There you are,” Mary chided a minute later as Darcy climbed into the back seat with the children. “All ready?”
“I can’t wait to see Gram and Pap,” their son William said. “Maybe Pap will let me go riding or drive the sleigh.”
“You had better not be a pest,” Mary said. “Now try to get some rest so you’ll be ready for a big breakfast with everyone in the morning.”
Bar drove into the night talking quietly with Mary, while Darcy kept William and his little sister Gracie occupied. As the night grew darker the children soon fell into a sound sleep and Darcy leaned back against the seat closing her eyes.
The snow outside was falling softly and tomorrow the world would be washed in white. She felt content traveling to who knew where, her heart finally peaceful and at rest.
A deep rut jostled Darcy from a quiet sleep and she blinked into the night, peering through the front windscreen as the car topped a rise. Ahead, in the valley below, lights spilled from various buildings casting shadows on
