Free Debra Holland by Stormy Montana Sky

himself. “Much obliged,” he said in a rusty voice.
    Ant held up a hand to stop the man. “How ’bout you stay right there. Maybe sit up in bed for a while.”
    The man looked mulish, and then shook his head, obviously giving in. “I’m as weak as a babe.” He slid his legs back on the bed, plumped the pillow, set it behind him and leaned against the bed. “Was so sick I wanted to die. Wife, children, too. But I think the worst has passed. Haven’t heard no one throw up for a while.” He seemed to think. “Yah, a while.”
    “You need me to ride for Doc Cameron?”
    Crooks shook his head. “Got no money for the doctor. He looked over at his children. I think the worst is over. They’re all alive, thank the Lord.”
      Miss Stanton came in, shaking her wet hands, followed by the children. “Soap, but no clean towels.” She lowered her voice. “Ant, we can’t leave them this way.”
    “We won’t. Checking out the other place can wait.”
    “Good. Can you pump some water and cut some firewood? I need to start cleaning them up. That is, after I feed Jimmy and Martha.”
    Thankful to be given the easier task, Ant walked out the door. He sent up a quick prayer that David wasn’t ill and neglected somewhere…that Lewis was taking good care of him.
    * * *
    After checking to see the children’s faces and hands were clean, Harriet handed them each a sandwich, telling them to take small bites and chew slowly. They bit ravenously into the sandwiches. “You’re gulping,” she reminded them. She let them take a second bite before asking, “When did you last eat?”
    Jimmy tilted his head at the hens in the yard. “Git an egg a day each. Boil it.” He took another bite, swallowed, and then looked anxious. “Ma said not to bother with feeding anyone who was sick. Wouldn’t keep it down anyway.”
    “You’ve just had one egg a day? For how long?”
    “Three days, ma’am.”
    “No wonder you’re so hungry. Well, we have plenty of sandwiches.” Harriet went into the house to look for glasses or cups. Three days without food. How awful! What would have happened if we hadn’t come here? She gave a quick prayer of thanks that Ant’s search had led them here.
    In a wooden cupboard nailed to the wall in the kitchen area, she found a stack of tin cups and took several of them outside with her. She poured the children some lemonade, and then watched the delight on their faces as they drank it. I wonder if they’ve ever had lemonade before. “Not too fast, now,” she warned. “I’m only giving you a little. I think we need to save the rest for your family.” She went back inside to tackle the next chore.
    Ant walked in, carrying the bucket from the pump. He took it to the stove and poured the water in a big pot on the stove. He opened up the stove and looked inside it. “I’ll bring wood in. More water, too.”
    After he left, Harriet leaned out the door to check on the children. They’d both finished their sandwiches and looked longingly at the bag of food. But neither had moved to take any.
    She stepped outside. Ant wasn’t in sight, but she could hear the sound of the axe splitting wood.
    “Can I have a cookie, Ma’am?” Martha piped. “Please?”
    “Yes, dear. Jimmy, do you want another sandwich first? Or at least a half?”
    The boy gave her several quick nods. “Yes’m. What about my family?”
    “I think it’s best to wait and see how they feel. I’ll make a little broth and see if they can keep it down. As for you, sandwich first, then a cookie.” She handed both to him, then gave a cookie to Martha.” When you’re finished, I’ll need your help inside.”
    Ant rounded the corner of the cabin, one arm full of wood, a bucket of water in his other hand. He eyed the children eating, and he gave them his crooked smile. “Guess you found the cookies.” He kept going into the house.
    Watching him made Harriet’s heart beat faster. There was something about the tall, dark man, she