Free Colin's Quest by Shirleen Davies Page B

night. She hoped whoever came calling didn’t need her husband’s help.
    “Coming.” Pulling the door open, she schooled her surprise at who stood outside. “Dougal MacGregor. What brings you here at such a late hour?” She didn’t step aside, preferring he state his business, then leave.
    “I’ve come for my daughter.”
    “Oh, you have, have you? Well, she’s long in bed and I won’t wake her. You should return at a decent hour so the two of you can talk.” She crossed her arms, not budging.
    “Step aside, Mrs. Olford. She’s my daughter and I’ll take her with me now.”
    She could see his jaw twitch as a red tone crept up his face. Neither dissuaded her. “She may be your daughter, but Sarah is also a grown woman, able to make her own decisions. You may not like it, but that is the way of it.”
    “I’ll speak to your husband,” he demanded, taking a menacing step forward.
    “He’s not at home, but he’ll tell you the same. You may have a chance to change her mind if you return when you’re both rested. It’s all I can offer tonight, Mr. MacGregor.”
    “You’re making a terrible mistake. Sarah doesn’t know her own mind. Her place is with her family, not staying in town as if she has nowhere else to go.”
    Bessie hid her amusement at the extent to which MacGregor fooled himself. Her opinion of the man had changed over his years in River City. At first, she thought him to be simply arrogant and rude. Those impressions had turned. Now she believed his need to control every decision and action by those in his family was unnatural, coloring his judgment.
    “Despite your objections, she is welcome here as long as it suits her. You, however, need to return at a respectable hour. Now, I have chores to finish. Goodnight to you, Mr. MacGregor.” She closed the door before he could utter another word, although his cursing could be heard all the way into the kitchen.
    “Thank you, Mrs. Olford. I’m sorry you had to deal with him.” Sarah came down the stairs, a wrapper secured around her.
    “Nonsense. The man is used to getting his way with bluster and bullying. Well, I’ll have none of it. He can return tomorrow or another day, which is what any other person would do.” She walked over to a settee, taking a seat on one end, patting the space next to her. “Now, tell me about Caleb Stewart.”
    Sarah smiled, taking a seat. “You already know he’s working for Fergus Bell at the ranch. What else would you like to know?”
    “What you think of him, of course. He’s handsome, strong, and has a good brain. And I believe he may have an interest in you.”
    Sarah put a hand over her mouth, stifling a laugh. “Caleb is all you say, except he has no interest in me.” Her humor died when she thought of what he’d told her. “I learned the true reason he left his family, and it had nothing to do with me.”
    “A rift with his father then?”
    Even though Caleb hadn’t asked her to keep his reason quiet, she felt a slight unease at sharing his sorrow. “All I’ll say is he loved another and it didn’t work out.”
    “Ah, the poor man. He left to forget.” Taking Sarah’s hand, she squeezed before letting go. “Sometimes distance is the best cure for aches of the heart.”
    Sarah lifted her gaze to Bessie, wondering if her words held more than one meaning. Licking her dry lips, she thought a moment before speaking.
    “You don’t believe Colin will come for me, do you?”
    Bessie had never met the man and didn’t want to judge his actions, yet five years seemed a long time to hold off coming for the woman you loved.
    “You’re asking me a question I have no answer for, dear. I know you pray for him each day, and I pray for you. If our prayers are answered, then yes, I do believe your young man will come someday.”
    Sarah let out an audible breath. The same question greeted her when she awoke each day. Most mornings, she answered with a resounding yes, Colin would come for her. Other