Free Charlene Sands by The Law Kate Malone Page A

during the reverend’s monotone speech, Cole had lifted her onto his lap. There Kate witnessed Cole brush aside several strands of the child’s golden hair absently and place a soft kiss on her forehead.
    Cole was a good father.
    He was a decent man, a man who deserved a family. Kate couldn’t deny him that, but he was also rigid in his beliefs and as unbending as a one-hundred-year-old oak.
    When the service ended, Jethro offered his arm and Kate joined Abe and Nora outside on the lawn.
    “Well, that was some sermon,” Nora whispered to the three of them.
    Abe laughed and put his arm around his wife. “I just about nodded off to sleep.”
    “You’d best get all the sleep you can, brother,” Jethro said on a teasing note, “’cause when that little babe comes, you won’t be getting a whole lot of it.”
    Abe playfully jabbed Jethro on the shoulder. “What are you looking so smug about? Your room’s next to the baby nursery.”
    Kate had only just met Abe Cable this morning before the service, but already she liked him. He had an easy manner, a good nature and he sure made Nora happy.
    “I think I might take to sleeping in the livery. Then the only thing I’ll be hearing is the snorting of the mares.”
    “And don’t forget the hee-hawing of the mules,” Abe added with a grin.
    Kate enjoyed being included in their banter. Growing up with just her mama, she’d missed out on such things.
    “What do you say, Miss Kate. Where do you suppose I should spend my nights?” Jethro asked innocently.
    Kate was ready to answer when Cole suddenly appeared by her side. She froze when she glanced at his face. A tic worked out a beat in his jaw. He was fence-post stiff and eyeing Jethro with cold disdain. “Cole?”
    Cole’s attention didn’t shift; he kept his gaze on Jethro. “If I didn’t know you better, Cable, I’d say you ought to show the lady a bit more respect.”
    Chagrined, Jethro turned three shades of red. “No disrespect intended, Miss Kate. Honest.”
    “I know that, Jethro,” Kate said softly, then turned to Cole with anger sizzling in her veins. She managed to keep her tone civil. They were, after all, still on the church grounds. “We were having a private conversation.”
    Cole’s blue eyes blazed dark as midnight. He glared at Kate for a moment. Then he turned his attention to Nora and Abe and had the nerve to lift his lips in a genuine smile. “Sorry to interrupt. Just came by to congratulate you both. I understand you’re in the family way, Miss Nora.”
    “Why yes, Sheriff. I am.” Nora placed her hand on her tiny stomach and Kate assessed that gesture to be a purely maternal instinct. The babe couldn’t be much bigger than a peppermint candy, yet Nora felt the need to protect and nurture the child already.
    “I wish you both well. If the child’s anything like my daughter, you’ll know nothing but joy.”
    Abe and Nora looked at each other, their faces already filled with such elation they could barely hold back wide grins. “We think so too, Sheriff,” Abe said. “We appreciate your good wishes.”
    The two men shook hands, then Cole tipped his hat to all of them and walked back to where the Wesleys were waiting with little Meggie. Kate let loose a long, tired sigh. She truly wished her path wouldn’t cross Cole’s so often. At times, the man infuriated her andmade her wish for things she had no right wishing for.
    She turned back to her friends and offered a smile. “Shall we go to supper?”
    Kate had looked forward to having her new friends over for dinner. They’d be her first real guests in a house she’d labored vigorously to make livable. With a great deal of spit and shine, the once-neglected house had polished up rather nicely, faring far better than she’d ever have imagined. Kate was proud to show off her accomplishment to the Cables.
    On the walk back to her house, Nora took hold of Kate’s arm and steered her away from the men. “Kate, did you notice the