Free Debra Holland by Stormy Montana Sky Page A

didn’t know what, which caught her attention and kept it in a way that only Nick had.
    To her surprise, Harriet realized that she hadn’t thought of Nick all day. Not once . She waited for the familiar pang of pain to hit her, but it didn’t. Well! She tucked that thought away to ponder later and followed Ant into the cabin.
    He’d already lit the fire in the stove and stacked the rest of the wood in the box next to it.
    “I’ll go see to the livestock. I noticed a shed round back. See what they have that needs tendin’.”
    The children wandered in.
    “I want to bathe your folks, change the bedding, and put them in clean nightclothes.” Please, please may they have a second set of everything.   “Do you have other sheets and night clothes?”
    “The company sheets. Ma only brought them out when my grandma used to visit.” The boy pointed to a wooden chest, the nicest piece of furniture in the home. Probably Mrs. Crooks’ hope chest . She lifted the lid, relieved to find sheets and pillowcases, nicer ones, with tatting on the edges, another nightgown with lace on the collar and sleeves, and a clean union suit. There were also several child’s shifts and nightshirts. She lifted them all out, uncertain which would fit.
    The water on the stove started to boil. She had Jimmy bring a washtub outside, and she poured the water into it, before sending the boy to get another bucket of water. She straightened and tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear, took a deep breath, and headed back into the house. It was going to be a big chore to get everyone and everything clean. Not one she looked forward to.
    * * *
    At the end of the day, feeling weary in body and mind, Ant saddled up the horses, listening as the teacher called her final goodbyes to the children. He couldn’t help but feel some pride in all they’d accomplished today. They were leaving behind clean sheets and clothes, hanging on the clothesline. The animals were taken care of. The ill family members had managed to keep bread and some lemonade in their stomachs, and Martha and Jimmy had stuffed themselves to the gills on sandwich fillings and cookies. Everyone was scrubbed and sweet smelling, including Crooks. And darned if his little schoolmarm hadn’t convinced the parents to send the children to school.
    Harriet walked out the front door, a concerned look on her face. She limped over to him. The hard work she’d done today had obviously taken a toll on her ankle.
    “What’s wrong?”
    “I hate to leave them, Ant.”
    “You could move in.”
    The corners of her lips turned up, but there was no humor in her smile. “Ant, they have no food. Mr. Crooks hasn’t been able to hunt. Only two chickens. What will they do? They won’t take more charity than we’ve given today. Why do they have to be so prideful?”
    “Sometimes for the poorest people, pride is all they have.”
    “And if their children starve?” Distress darkened her eyes.
    Ant couldn’t resist. He leaned over, way over, and dropped a light kiss on her lips. “I’ll find a way to help them. Don’t worry.”
    Harriet’s wide eyes, and the blush creeping into her cheeks, tickled his fancy, and he wanted to give her another kiss. A longer one this time. But mindful of his priorities, he pulled away. Jerking his head toward the horses, he said. “Up you go. We’ll be racing daylight as it is.”
    He helped her onto the saddle. Then he mounted Shadow and turned him downhill.
      Ant settled into the ride. One more day gone by without finding David. One more day where his nephew might be suffering—hungry, cold, beaten, or neglected. As good as he felt about helping the Crooks, and he felt mighty good about that indeed, his guilt and worry over David wouldn’t let up.
    Tomorrow, he’d check out the last cabin. Maybe by tomorrow the long search would be over. He could only hope.
    What will I do if he’s not there?

 
    CHAPTER SIX
     
    As Ant pushed open the unsecured door and