Free A Family Found by Laura Abbot Page B

through the book, then turned to Tate. “Your Marcus seems to be quite a bookworm.”
    â€œHe is. Prying him out of the house is difficult. However, you managed nicely on Wednesday.”
    There was an odd note in his tone, almost as if he begrudged her the time playing with the boys in the snow. “It took a few minutes, but Marcus eventually seemed to enjoy himself. With Toby, of course, there’s no problem. He was born to play.” She chuckled. “And I forgot I’m a grown woman. Snow angels, for goodness’ sake.”
    He took a sip of the tea Sophie had poured him. “I scarcely know what to do with them.”
    â€œPerhaps the best advice I can offer is for you to remember your own boyhood—what you liked to do, what your passions were...”
    â€œI had two and two only. Books and my dog.”
    Again she sensed bitterness in his voice. “There you are. That’s a fine start. Marcus loves to read and Toby enjoys animals.”
    â€œSpeaking of which, you were right to advocate for the dogs.”
    â€œThe dogs?”
    â€œYes. I imagine you wondered why the boys didn’t already have one.”
    She blushed. “I did. I’m sorry if I created a problem for you.”
    â€œActually, you solved it. Tomorrow I’m taking the boys to visit a family with a litter of collie pups.”
    â€œThat’s wonderful.”
    â€œBut one pup won’t do. If the boys can’t even agree on a name, I figure we need two dogs.”
    â€œBrilliant. It might be hard for Toby to share ‘Buster’ with Marcus. What does he want to call his? Aeschylus?” Then the man actually laughed. The sound filled the room and penetrated her heart. “Would it be presumptuous to ask if I might call again sometime in the next week or so to meet these two canine wonders?”
    â€œThe boys will insist on it.”
    â€œI’ll look forward to coming, perhaps on Wednesday again.”
    Tate swigged down the rest of his tea, then stood. Sophie rose, as well. A sudden awkward silence hung between them. “I appreciate your coming by,” she said just as he uttered a thank-you for the tea and cake. He added, “I hope I didn’t disturb you.”
    â€œNot at all.” She trailed him to the door.
    He clapped his hat on his head before pausing on her porch. “Beautiful view.”
    â€œIt inspires me.”
    â€œIt has that power.” He faced her. “Good day, Sophie. I’ll tell the boys to expect you Wednesday.” He made his way down the steps and mounted his horse.
    She waited as he paused for a moment, studying her before finally lifting his hand, and then riding off toward home.
    She looked down at herself. A paint splotch covered one knee and the bandanna had slipped back on her head. She was a fright. A tomboy spectacle serving tea to a gentleman. What must Tate think of her? She bore little resemblance to the well-bred women he was accustomed to in the East, but at least she hoped she would never prove as faithless as his ex-wife.
    Another thought stopped her in her tracks. Why should she care?
    * * *
    Sophie Montgomery was the most puzzling woman he had ever encountered, Tate thought as he galloped toward home. Highly intelligent and spirited, she nevertheless had little appreciation for propriety or decorum. There she stood, her face smudged with paint, sawdust covering her shirt, and her hair pulled back with a bandanna that looked as if it had survived several buffalo hunts, and wearing—of all things—breeches. It was one thing for her to wear bloomers beneath her skirt on the grueling journey up from Denver, but quite another for her to wear trousers as a matter of course. Yet he suspected that scandalizing the neighbors—or him—was the farthest thing from her mind.
    Recalling his first sight of her today, he chuckled. He’d stifled his laughter when he came up on the porch to greet her.