The turnoff to his and Sarah’s homesteads appeared up on the right. At one time all the property on this side of the road was deeded to the Cooper family.
When he’d first come back to West Kootenai, he’d remembered the property that once belonged to Sarah’s son was sitting vacant, so he’d asked to buy some of the land and the old house. She’d been more than agreeable.
Being reunited with his family again had come at a heavy price. If it weren’t for his fraa’s passing, he wouldn’t have come back. For more than ten years, his relationship with his brothers had been strained. After losing Miriam and their unborn child to the fire, living under suspicion had gotten to be too much. He’d wanted a fresh start. Eli had reached out to his mamm and found the welcoming he’d longed for. But he still felt it necessary to keep some distance between himself and the family. Maybe out of a sense of guilt for his part in what happened between himself and Bruder Mason.
And so, he’d bought the place next to Sarah’s. It was some distance from the rest of the family and away from most of the community. He enjoyed the privacy and Sarah’s calming presence.
Her modest homestead came into view. Eli guided the mare down her narrow drive and stopped in front of the house. Puffs of white smoke disappeared among the snowy night air.
He turned to Faith. Tears glistened in her eyes as she stared at the house, and he wondered when she’d been here last. He of all people understood how hard homecomings could be.
Eli hopped down and helped her from the wagon. In the distance an engine revved, and she spun at the sound.
“It could be coming from the highway. Sound travels far out here.” Yet he understood exactly what she was thinking because he’d thought the same.
She relaxed. “You’re probably right.” Without another word, she hurried up the steps to the porch. Faith stood in front of the door for a long moment before she knocked.
Eli followed at a slower pace. He didn’t have it in his heart to tell her the engine noise was much closer. After what happened at the creek, there was no way he was leaving two women alone with a killer on the loose in the community. He’d find a way to stay close. Sarah wouldn’t have a problem with him bunking on the sofa.
Even though he’d been home for just over a month, he and Sarah had become gut friends. As a widow alone, she relied on him, and he was happy to help her out in any way he could.
A single lantern showed through the window. Sarah would be working on her quilting. The one thing she enjoyed most these days.
“Sometimes her hearing isn’t so gut,” Eli told her. “You have to knock louder.”
Faith drew in a breath and knocked harder. Waited.
As he listened, the familiar labored steps of the woman who had welcomed him back to the community with open arms came toward them. The curtain near the door moved.
“Sarah, it’s me, Eli. I have someone here to see you.”
The curtain dropped and the door opened. A smile creased her face. Sarah’s smile always made the darkness that haunted him flee.
“Eli, I’m glad you stopped by. Komm inside. The night is cold. I’ll make some coffee to warm you up.” Sarah’s gaze shifted from him to the woman at his side. “And who is this?”
She stepped closer. Recognition dawned in slow surprise. “Faith.” Tears quickly filled her eyes. “It is you.” She swept her granddaughter into her arms and hugged her tightly. “Oh, my boppli. My precious boppli. You’re finally home.”
As much as Sarah was overjoyed to see her granddaughter, Eli worried that the danger following Faith would find its way into this gentle woman’s life.
Copyright © 2021 by Mary Eason
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ISBN-13: 9781488072284
Wyoming Mountain Escape
Copyright © 2021 by Laura Iding
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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