thoughts back to more pleasant topics than his past. He glanced down at Adam, asleep on his tummy, his knees bent so his little bottom stuck into the air. How could he sleep like that? It made Johnnyâs back hurt just imagining it.
He shifted, resting against the back of the bench, and perched one foot on the front of the wagon, getting comfortable for the long ride.
Willowâs head bumped into his arm.
He looked at her and found that sheâd fallen asleep against his shoulder. He eased his body around slightly so she rested more comfortably and, smiling to himself, he put his attention back on the road ahead.
Poor girl had a lot of bad stuff in her past. All those deaths had left her afraid to remarry, no doubt fearing she might again lose the love of her life. The least he could do was see she found her sisters and got settled in their newly rented house. Perhaps heâd go to town occasionally to check on her after that.
She wasnât a lot different than Thad, and he was beginning to get over his grief. Willow would, too. If Johnny could do anything to help that process, well, he didnât mind, so long as it didnât interfere with helping Thad, and didnât require anything more of him than an occasional visit. That should be safe enough.
They hit a bump and Willow jerked away. She wiped her mouth and scrubbed at her eyes. âI fell asleep.â
âSeems so.â
She looked at his arm. âHow long have I been leaning against you?â
âCanât rightly say. Didnât mind.â
âThereâs a wet spot on your sleeve where I drooled.â She rubbed at it, pink staining her cheeks. âMy apologies. You should have wakened me.â
âNothing wrong with sleeping. I know you didnât get a lot last night what with little Adam fussing.â
They both looked at the baby. He snuffled and rolled to his side.
Willow brushed her hair back with her hands. âTravel is hard on him. It disrupts his routine. He likes to move about more than he can in the little space he has in the wagon. I feel bad that I have to make him endure this.â
Johnny tried to think what to say to ease her concern about the baby. Before he could find any suitable words, he noticed a tipped wagon by the side of the road ahead. Goods lay scattered about and several people hustled around the outfit. âSomeoneâs having trouble up there.â
She jolted upright and reached for her valise.
Heâd left his rifle on Grayâs saddle and pulled the wagon to a halt to go back and retrieve it. All of which wakened young Adam, who whimpered. Willow scooped him into her lap and soothed him.
When Johnny returned to the bench, Adam reached for him. âMan,â he crowed and gurgled a chuckle.
It pleased Johnny to be greeted so cheerfully, but heâd have preferred to have the baby stay asleep, out of sight and out of harmâs way until he could be certain the group ahead didnât pose a threat.
Willow must have shared the same thought. âHe wonât be happy back in the wagon.â
They didnât move as Johnny considered what might lie down the road. âIt looks like a man and a woman and two children. Weâll see if they need help, but weâll be cautious.â
âYou donât have to tell me.â The way she clutched the valise said she was ready for anything. She parked Adam on the bench between them and they simultaneously edged closer, crooking their elbows in front of the boy to keep him safely confined.
Adam patted both their arms and grinned at them. âMama. Man.â
Johnnyâs heart swelled inside his chest. This little guy had given him so many enjoyable moments. Just as quickly, his heart shriveled. Heâd never have a son of his own, thanks to Trudyâs deceit. Unless he was willing to forget the past. His jaw clenched.
He urged the horse forward at a measured pace, which allowed him lots of time to