Free The Cowboy's City Girl by Linda Ford

will and I believe God brought her here so we could help.”
    They stood hand in hand looking at the house. He couldn’t say what Beatrice thought, but he wished there was some way he could ease the pain little Dolly would have to face. “Pa did his best to take care of us boys. He took us with him on whatever job he had to do. Tanner and Johnny reveled in being allowed to ride along with Big Sam, but I often wished I could stay home and play quietly with my toys.”
    â€œDolly will stay with me. I’ll do my best to see she gets what she needs.” Beatrice faced him squarely. “But I believe you will understand her needs far better than I can so I’m holding you to your promise to help with her.”
    For a moment he faltered. He had to find the men who were bothering the place. He had chores to look after. He had Charlie to keep an eye on. And she had Maisie to take care of.
    Were they doing the right thing in keeping Dolly? Though the sheriff had left them little alternative.
    Even in the dim light he could see the challenge in her eyes. He would not let her down. “We’re in this together.”

Chapter Five
    H is promise felt like so much more than concern over an orphaned child. For the first time ever, she felt as if she and a man were united in one purpose, together for more than personal gain. Her heart swelled with the idea.
    Then she told herself to think sanely. She would accept his help with Dolly. Likely both she and the little girl would need it. But she would not allow dreams of anything more to cloud her judgment.
    Standing close to him, holding his hand in the moonlight, surely proved how close she was to forgetting her words of caution and she slipped her hand to her side. “I better get Dolly into bed.”
    He sprang away. “I brought her things. You’ll be needing them.”
    They hurried to the door, where Levi picked up a basket of little-girl things. “I’ll take it to one of the bedrooms.” He ground to a halt inside the door and they watched Dolly sleeping with Smokey pressed to her chest.
    Levi turned to Beatrice and commented, “She’s a beautiful child. So fair.” He had taken off his hat and hung it on a hook and rubbed a hand over his head.
    Beatrice wondered if he made a comparison between the child’s fairness and his own dark skin and hair. From some of his earlier comments she understood him to be keenly aware of his half-breed status. But she could think of nothing to say that wouldn’t sound like being a half-breed meant more to her than it did.
    With a start she realized that over the hours of this very long day she’d drawn a firm conclusion. It wasn’t the outside of a man that she cared about, it was how he conducted himself and how he treated others. So far, she’d seen nothing but kindness and concern from Levi.
    She took the basket from Levi and began to search through the garments. “I’ll find her nightwear.”
    â€œShould I put her things in Johnny’s room?”
    She straightened and regarded him. “Would you have liked to sleep alone when you were five and had lost your mother?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œI doubt she does, either. Put her things in my room. She can sleep with me.”
    While Levi did so, she slipped the nightgown over Dolly’s head. The child barely stirred. How long had she been alone? Lost and frightened? It made Beatrice want to cradle her in her arms and sing lullabies to her. Instead, she hummed as she lifted Dolly and made her way to the bedroom she’d been given.
    Levi waited at the doorway until she’d settled the child. Beatrice glanced up, wondering at his bemused expression as he watched the child.
    He shifted and tipped his head toward Maisie’s room. “Did Ma waken at all?”
    â€œI haven’t heard a sound.”
    â€œShe took some drops for her pain. They’ll make her sleep soundly.”
    He