Free The Cowboy's Ready-Made Family by Linda Ford

Already the child had grown to see Tanner as part of her life. Anything she said would likely bring a fresh onslaught of tears. “Janie, I’m not going anywhere, nor are your brothers and sister.”
    The child clung to Susanne, silent sobs shaking her. Tears pooled in Susanne’s eyes, and she again vowed that she would provide a permanent home for these children and protect them from hurt. How was she to do that if Tanner hung about? Already they expected more from him than they should.
    After a bit, Janie shuddered and tipped her head back to look at Susanne. “I love you, Auntie.”
    Susanne kissed the soft cheeks. “I love you, too.” She reached for Liz’s hand. “You, too.”
    â€œWhat about Robbie and Frank?” Janie asked.
    â€œI love them, too.”
    Satisfied, Janie allowed Susanne to get to her feet and, holding the girls’ hands, she continued to the house. As she worked with them preparing the soup and biscuits, she often glanced out the window to the garden and smiled to see it planted. Soon they would have fresh vegetables and she’d enjoy the flowers she’d planted.
    And she owed Tanner nothing. He had the use of the corrals in exchange for his help.
    Her smile deepened. Once the crop was in the ground, she could manage on her own.
    * * *
    When they heard Tanner ride into the yard the next day, Frank and Robbie slipped out the door before she could stop them.
    â€œI want to go, too,” Janie said, tears pooling in her eyes when Susanne halted her.
    â€œSweetie, he’s working with a big horse. We need to stay out of his way.”
    Tears trickled silently down the child’s cheeks.
    Susanne’s heart bled a little. “Why don’t I put a chair by the window and you can watch from there?”
    Janie nodded and waited for Susanne to position a chair in place, then stood on it, her nose pressed to the window.
    Susanne returned to cleaning the kitchen. She’d promised herself she would do more than wash the dishes and wipe the table. As she worked, she stole glances out the window as Tanner hitched Pat to the plow and headed for the field. Not once did he look in her direction. Not that she expected him to. He’d been abundantly clear that he would be avoiding her. Which was exactly what she wanted.
    She sighed, then, realizing Liz watched her, she stretched as if needing a change of position.
    What she needed was—
    She didn’t know. Wouldn’t say. Because God would provide what she needed. And she must not expect to get everything she wanted.
    â€œWhy don’t you clean the lamp chimneys?” she suggested to the older girl.
    Liz nodded.
    Susanne prepared a basin of warm soapy water and gathered all the chimneys and put them on a cloth in the middle of the table.
    She left Liz with the task, filled a bucket with hot water and got down on her hands and knees to scrub the floor. She rose halfway through to change the water. How could she have let the floor get so dirty?
    Liz polished a glass chimney, but the chair where Janie had stood was now empty. Susanne glanced about. “Did Janie go to her bedroom?”
    â€œShe went outside.”
    Susanne’s heart thudded against her chest. Surely she wouldn’t—
    She dashed outside. “Janie, where are you?”
    There was no reply, though Robbie and Frank leaned back from watching the horses through the fence and looked about.
    Susanne scanned the yard, looking up into the tree branches where Janie often went, but there was no sign of the child. She went into the yard where she could see farther afield. Her gaze went reluctantly, fearfully to the field where Tanner worked and she screamed. “Janie.”
    Tanner would never hear or see the little girl sitting on the ground just feet ahead of the horse.

Chapter Five
    â€œG iddyap,” Tanner called, but old Pat shook his head and refused to move. Odd. The horse had been placid and