You look as relaxed as my thoroughbred before a race.”
“How is Dusty?”
“He’s doing well. I’d stop by my place and let you see for yourself, but we need to get underway. If you’re still willing to join me, that is.”
“I am. I appreciate your offer.” She raised a delicately arched eyebrow. “I’m just not sure why you made it.”
He chuckled. “Because we’re going to the same spot. Why else?”
“Yes. Of course.” She faced front once again, as tense as before.
His experience with his female customers had taught him that women didn’t always say what was on their minds. Perhaps if he helped out Callie, she’d give him a clue what she was thinking. “It’s not like you to be on edge. Is something wrong?”
She fidgeted with her fan. “Since you asked...I didn’t think you cared for my company.”
“What gave you that idea?” He enjoyed spending time with her, more than he should.
“You left town so abruptly. We’d dined together just two weeks before, and yet you didn’t even tell me you were going away until the day you rode off.”
A warning gong sounded inside his head. He hadn’t realized his departure would matter to her. The fact that it had proved his earlier decision not to offer his arm had been a wise one. Although Callie made a wonderful companion and possessed many of the qualities he would seek in a wife, he had three years to go before he would be ready to go courting. He wasn’t a cad, though. “I’m sorry. As my friend, you deserved to know. Can you forgive me?”
The momentary drooping of her lovely lips followed by a genuine smile told him his message had been received. He’d accomplished his goal, so why did his chest feel so hollow?
* * *
Friend? Callie hadn’t known where things stood between them. Now she did. Chip hadn’t asked her to lunch because he harbored feelings for her. He’d made that clear when he’d failed to let her know he was leaving town until the last minute. His standoffishness earlier that morning when he hadn’t offered her his arm reinforced the message.
A lady couldn’t help but hope a man as accomplished and attractive as Chip would take an interest in her, though, could she? She longed to marry and have a family. She’d wondered if the powerfully built carpenter with the broad brow, thick brown hair and adorable lopsided smile could be the answer to her prayers. The charming man was a bit too regimented for her liking, but he was hardworking, generous and oh, so handsome.
She drew in a calming breath in an attempt to slow her racing heart. Why it had taken to thumping so wildly was beyond her. It wasn’t as though there was anything between them.
Although Chip could be a mite exasperating at times, his engaging personality and ready laugh made him a delightful companion. Since she enjoyed his company and wasn’t likely to see much of him once she began her new job in Shingle Springs—provided she got it, of course—she would make the most of this unexpected opportunity to spend a few hours with him.
Conversation flowed freely, just as it had when they’d shared a lunch all those months ago. He urged the horses into a slow trot, and the miles flew by.
A familiar screech rent the air. Callie put a hand above her eyes to shield the sun and peered at the sky, where a large bird circled. “Just what I thought. It’s a red-tailed hawk.”
“I didn’t know you watch birds.”
“I don’t, but my brother does. Isaac can identify most species. It’s one of his many talents.”
“You don’t talk about any other brothers or sisters. Was it just the two of you?”
She nodded. “Mama and Papa wanted more children, but that wasn’t to be. What about you? Did you come from a big family?”
“Big enough. And noisy. There were four of us boys, although I’m the only one left. Alexander was the oldest. I was second in line. Jeremiah came next, and Montgomery was the caboose kid, as Pa used to say.” He gazed down the road, a sorrowful look in his eyes.
“I’m so sorry.” Although she wanted to find out what had happened to his brothers, she couldn’t come up with a question that suited her.
Chip sent her a too-bright smile. “It was a long time ago, but I have good memories.”
She followed his lead, avoiding a subject he obviously didn’t want to dwell on. “You must have had a lot of fun together.”
“That we did. I look forward to the day my home is filled with the joyful shouts and laughter of my children.” He cast her a quizzical glance. “What about you? Do you look forward to having a family one day?”
She did, very much, but the question never failed to shake her sense of peace. Chip’s emphasis on the word my breathed life into fears she fought to suppress. Most men had a strong desire to father children of their own, just as most women dreamed of becoming mothers.
But what would happen if a woman couldn’t bear children? The elderly doctor who’d treated her after the accident when she was a girl of six said she couldn’t.
A muffled sob coming from behind a thick stand of manzanita bushes spared Callie the need to answer Chip’s question. “Did you hear that? It sounds like someone’s crying.”
Not just someone. A child.
Chip brought his wagon to a halt, jumped to the ground and looped the reins around a low-hanging branch of a scraggly oak. His team shifted restlessly, causing the heel chains on their harnesses to jangle. “It’s all right, fellows. I just need to have a look.”
Callie climbed from the wagon and stood beside Chip. Although she listened intently, she heard nothing but rustling leaves. “The crying seems to have stopped, but I’m certain there’s a child out there somewhere. We have to find the poor dear.”
He beckoned. “Follow me.”
They rounded the plentiful shrubs. He stopped and pointed toward a downed tree in the distance, where two youngsters sat huddled together, their attention on each other. “Look.”
“I’ll try to get closer without scaring them.” She approached slowly.
A twig snapped under Callie’s foot. The little fellow, who appeared to be all of five years old, pulled the small girl to his side and stared at Callie, wide-eyed.
She held up her hands in the classic surrender position. “I’m not going to hurt you. We’re here to help.”
The boy froze, but the slip of a girl broke free and ran into Callie’s open arms, dangling a doll in one hand. She pulled the child to her in a tender embrace. “I’ve got you, sweetheart. Everything’s going to be fine.” Or so she hoped.
Left alone, the young fellow’s gaze darted from Callie to something over his shoulder. He was shaking. What could have happened to terrify him so?
Chip drew closer to the boy. “It’s all right. We won’t let anything happen to you.”
“No.” The lad’s lip quivered. “The bad people left us here and made Papa drive away, but what if they come back? I gotta keep Ruby safe.”
Chip’s features tightened, but he spoke with admirable calm. “Ruby’s a nice name. What’s yours?”
“Jasper.”
“That’s a great name, too. You said the people took your father, Jasper? When was that?”
The young fellow shrugged. “Not too long. One of the bad men hollered to the others and told them to get back on their horses when you come along.”
Thank the good Lord they’d shown up when they did. These children could be in danger. It sounded like their father was. Callie joined Chip, cradling the frightened girl