see the plant growing nearby.
“I hope I do.” Once they walked past the saloon, the night grew quieter. It wouldn’t stay that way because there was another saloon on the next block. “Your father is a fine man.”
“I know, and I love him. But the thing is, he’s happy just being at work or home. And that’s all right for him because he’s old. I’m ready to experience everything out there!”
“It’s fine to want that.”
How did he tell the boy what he’d learned without sounding like a Sunday morning preacher? Not that Jesse had anything against Sunday morning preachers; it’s just that he figured the boy didn’t pay much attention to them.
He sure hadn’t. He’d learned about life the hard way. Made some grave mistakes that other folks paid the price for. If he could keep Bingham from doing the same, it would be worth more than the herd of horses he was going to fetch. And they meant the world to him.
“You too cold to keep walking, boy?”
“I ain’t a bit cold, sir.” His red nose said otherwise but he didn’t appear to be shivering.
“I’m glad. I’ve got some things to say to you.”
“I did come along to learn everything you know.”
“Everything you think I know.”
Bingham slapped his hands on his forearms as though he could ward off the frigid air. “I reckon you’ve had more adventures than even than Hoodoo Underwood.”
Many more. Although calling them adventures was giving his experiences glamour when they didn’t deserve it.
The one and only thing he wanted now was to settle on his property, breed horses and raise children. Wake up every morning with their mother in his bed.
Out of the blue—or the dark—a vision flashed in his mind of the woman he had met earlier today. The one who was going to end up brokenhearted because she chose the wrong sort of man.
Hmm... She lay in his bed, hair the color of shimmering cream splayed about the pillow. A playful smile on her face. In his mind, he allowed himself to brush a feathered kiss across her lips because what was the harm? A pair of blue eyes gazed up at him in love, even though she knew his every secret.
Odd how something he only imagined left his heart half shaken. Slightly bereft.
“I’ve lived life, and I think maybe you envy that. The thing is, Bingham, I’d have traded every last adventure to have parents like yours.”
“What was it you did, when you were living life before you settled in Forget-Hoping-Anything-Interesting-Will-Happen?”
“I was a bounty hunter.” A robber of freedom. A maker of widows and orphans. He’d taken a life...and worse.
Bingham halted midstride. His mouth hung open, making him look like a fledgling bird expecting a worm to be stuffed into its beak.
“That’s enough talk for now. It’s cold. Let’s go back.”
“But I want to see—”
“Adventure? Look around, boy!” Jesse nodded toward a man who had just stumbled out of the saloon.
Even in the dark, he recognized the fellow who held the heart of the lady on the boardwalk back in Forget-Me-Not. The very lady he had just been fantasizing about. Although, the strange thing was, the vision seemed more solid than fantasy. The oddest part being, he was not a man who indulged in fantasy.
“What do you see?” he asked Bingham.
“A fellow having a high old time. Could be he just won money at cards.”
“The truth is more like he’s so drunk he’s going to vomit at the hitching post. He lost money because his mind couldn’t think a straight thought. He’ll wake up in the morning feeling sick to death, then he’ll do the same damn thing tomorrow night. And he’ll keep on until he’s out of money. I’ve seen it over and over, son. Haggard and hungry isn’t adventurous.”
“But you were a bounty hunter!”
What he wouldn’t give to forget that. To live on his sweet little ranch and wake up next to a blue-eyed, blond-haired woman who forgave and forgot.
Yes, one who made him forget.
* * *
Within moments of passing the split-rail fence, Laura Lee drove the team over the rise of a hill. And there it was...
Home.
Moonlight touched the single-story structure with shimmering, magical light.
As least, that’s how her heart saw it. If the reality of the house was different by the light of day, so be it. Setting the place to rights would be an act of love. The porch looked like it circled the house. She longed to spend time there. Someone had even left behind a rocking chair.
While Laura Lee’s shivers were of pure delight, she doubted the same was true for the horses. No doubt the beasts wanted nothing more than warmth and rest.
Not too far in the distance, to the left of the house, she spotted a tall red barn. A wide bridge lay across the stream cutting between the structures.
“Let’s get you settled in.” With a glance back at the house, she led the team toward the bridge. The enchantment of her four walls would not vanish because she settled the animals first.
The barn proved to be in excellent condition. It was as though the previous owners departed only yesterday. They had even left behind a huge supply of hay, which meant she would not have to unload the wagon tonight.
An hour later, the animals fed and put in stalls, she took one last, loving glance at her barn.
“Good night, everyone.” She patted the dog’s head, then closed the barn door.
She hadn’t walked more than ten steps before she heard scratching and whining. Evidently Hey...Dog preferred to spend his nights outdoors. Hurrying back, she opened the barn door. The dog pranced out, his great tail wagging.
“Even though you have plenty of fur,” she said to him while he trotted beside her toward the house, “it’s awfully cold out.”
Moments later, she stood in the spot she had dreamed of standing since...since as long as she could remember. It was fitting to pause at the foot of the stairs and simply gaze in awe of her lovely whitewashed house.
In truth, the paint was a bit chipped and faded but that didn’t dim its appeal one whit in Laura Lee’s eyes. It only meant that her house needed her as much as she needed it.
“Tomorrow night, I’ll find you a blanket,” she said to the dog. She didn’t need to reach down to pet him. He fit nicely under her hand. There was no denying that she found his presence a comfort. If she managed to sleep tonight, she would do it more soundly knowing that he was keeping watch on the porch.
“Good night, then.”
She mounted the steps, walking backward and looking one last time at her property. If the rolling hills, meadows and groves of trees looked this pretty by moonlight, how would they look in the morning with sunshine bringing everything to life?
She stared at the door. What if it was locked? Johnny had given her a deed and directions but not a key. With the stress of separation looming between them, he must have forgotten.
“I suppose I could break a window.” As horrible as it would be if the first thing she did to her house was to break something, she did have to get inside.
To her great relief, when she turned the knob, the door swung open with barely a squeal.
Stepping inside, her emotions burst from her in a flood. She sobbed out loud because she had never really believed she would have a place that was her own. Even all those times she and Johnny spoke about it, dreamed