Free The Convict and the Cattleman by Allison Merritt Page A

but it would fade before Mr. Andrus saw it. If she even had the courage to look at him.
    “I’ll tell him what she did. He’ll speak to her and she won’t lay a hand on you again,” Farjana promised.
    “Heavens, no. All I need is more trouble.”
    “There’s plenty of it today, Miss Bridgit. Rupert didn’t see Langnecker, or he’d have turned him away before he made it to the door. I don’t know why we can’t tell him the truth. He’s been sniffing ’round here for months trying to get a look at Miss Charlotte. Mr. Jonah thought he would go away sooner.”
    “Why is he asking about Charlotte?”
    Farjana glanced to make sure Martha wasn’t within listening distance. She pulled Bridgit aside. “He was a convict and he spent the last of his sentence working for Mr. Jonah. The droving time came and Rupert went along to care for the horses. Langnecker was left here to mind the place. He and Miss Charlotte became close. Some of the jackaroos say he’s Olivia’s father.”
    Bridgit’s jaw dropped. “Shouldn’t Mr. Andrus confront him? Why would he keep Olivia’s birth a secret?”
    “Miss Charlotte never admitted it to anyone else. No one knows for certain. Langnecker went on an expedition to the west. It’s opening up and he thought they might grant him land out there. He was gone well before Mr. Jonah returned from Port Jackson. Well before Miss Charlotte started showing.” Farjana glanced toward the door as if she expected someone to burst through it. “Langnecker doesn’t know about Olivia.”
    “It isn’t right. Someone should tell him that poor Charlotte has passed on, at the very least,” Bridgit said.
    Farjana shook her head. “Mr. Jonah believes Langnecker will go back to Western Australia. He has not, but becomes more and more persistent. Rupert keeps an eye out for him.”
    It explained why Mr. Andrus looked grim upon the news of the ex-convict’s visit. She could hardly wait for Martha’s rendition of the goings-on. The old woman would tell it as Bridgit cordially inviting Langnecker to tea, and conspiring with him to rob Mr. Andrus blind.
     
    * * * *
     
    Olivia stubbornly refused to burp. Bridgit patted the baby’s back, bouncing her while she walked. Footsteps thudded on the porch, announcing Mr. Andrus’s return. Either he was in a hurry, or he’d caught wind of Mr. Langnecker’s visit. If she gambled, she would have put money on the latter.
    “Martha! Bridgit!” The windows rattled with his call. Bridgit, baby on her shoulder, went to greet him. It was no time to worry over the previous night’s occurrences.
    “What did he want?” Mr. Andrus demanded. His eyes blazed and a muscle in his jaw twitched.
    She thought he’d have an apoplexy if he didn’t calm down. Clearly their stolen moments were far from his mind.
    “He asked to see your sister.” Bridgit bounced Olivia again. “I know you don’t want him in the house, so I turned him away.”
    “He didn’t try to force his way in?” The question carried a measure of suspicion.
    Bridgit shook her head. “He was polite enough, but seemed relieved it wasn’t Martha at the door.”
    His hand mussed a path through his hair. “He’s tangled with Martha before. Damn his hide. Don’t answer the door if he’s at it anymore.”
    “No, sir.”
    Olivia burped and followed with a coo.
    Mr. Andrus frowned, his brows drawn together as though he thought the noises were unnecessary.
    Bridgit smiled and rubbed Olivia’s back. “We’ve waited on that for more than a few minutes.”
    Martha burst out of the kitchen, waving a flour-covered finger at Bridgit. “Jonah! Thank the lord. That rascal Langnecker was back today. He nearly got in because of her.”
    Mr. Andrus’s gaze didn’t waver. “Farjana tells me you’ve been rough with Bridgit. I thought we discussed that already.”
    Martha looked contrite as a schoolgirl. “Now, Jonah. She was being smart. She didn’t get anything more than she deserved. You did say