Free Do Not Forsake Me by Rosanne Bittner Page A

around.”
    Jake grinned. “Hang around?”
    â€œYeah.” Lloyd glanced over at the redheaded young woman, then back at his father. “Katie and I have decided to get married, and the sooner the better. Soon as services are over, we want the preacher to stay and marry us.”
    Jake’s grin widened. “It’s about time.” An eager handshake turned into another embrace. “I’m damn glad for you, Lloyd. You be good to that girl,” Jake told his son. “She’s sweet through and through.”
    â€œYou don’t have to tell me that.” Lloyd sobered.
    Jeff looked away but kept his ears open.
    â€œIt’s not like Beth, Pa.”
    â€œOf course it isn’t. But you’re both far too young to go the rest of your lives without love and family, and that girl is crazy about you. Anybody can see that.”
    â€œYeah, well, there’s also the job. She says she can handle it, but I’m not so sure.”
    Jake glanced over at Katie to see her mother placing some flowers in her hair. “She’s strong, Lloyd. It will be hard at first, but she’ll manage.” He looked back at Lloyd. “Besides, this job won’t last forever. And I’ve told you more than once that you don’t need to do this. I’m the one who has no choice. Maybe now is the time for you to—”
    â€œNo! You know how I feel about that. Do you really think I could let you ride off into backcountry alone, where most of the men you’re after would love to put a hole in your back? It’s not going to happen, and Katie knows that, so stop trying to make me quit.”
    Jeff glanced sidelong at the two of them. Jake walked a few feet away for a moment, clearing his throat and lighting another cigarette. “Then I guess I’ll have to do my best to make sure Katie doesn’t end up a widow for a second time,” he told Lloyd.
    Lloyd put his hands on his hips, and Jeff picked up on the distinct feeling that both men were trying to treat lightly much deeper feelings. “I guess you will,” Lloyd answered.
    Jake came closer and shook his son’s hand firmly again. “I hope you’ll be as happy as your mother and I are. Living with a Harkner is hard on a woman, Lloyd, so you have to be extra good to her when you’re at home.”
    â€œI know. I will be.”
    Jake left him to go and greet his soon-to-be daughter-in-law. Lloyd just then caught Jeff watching and listening. “Who the hell are you?” he asked. Apparently the younger Harkner could be just as intimidating as his father.
    â€œOh—Jeff Trubridge, Mr. Harkner.” He rose and came down the steps, putting out his hand. “I’ve been making friends with your father—came out here from Chicago to do a story on him.”
    Lloyd’s eyes narrowed. He didn’t shake his hand. “A story? What kind of story? My pa doesn’t like people snooping around his personal life, and he sure as hell doesn’t ‘make friends’ with just anybody. I highly doubt you can call him friend yet.”
    â€œOh, I’m—I’m well aware of that. I’m just waiting for the chance to talk to your mother—all of you, in fact—so I can make it clear what I want to do. I’m told your mother is the decision maker in the family.”
    Lloyd just scowled at him. “My mother is the decision maker on a lot of things. Does she know about this?”
    â€œI…I’m not sure.”
    Jake came walking back then with his arm around the lovely young redhead who’d come in on the wagon. Jeff realized she must be Lloyd’s wife-to-be. She looked at bit taken aback by Jake’s embrace and was blushing profusely.
    â€œLloyd, thanks for bringing another beautiful woman into the family,” Jake joked. He looked down at Katie. “You will soon be my son’s wife, Katie, so you will be loved like a daughter.