Mia stared at the rock-covered grave in silence. The crudely carved cross near the head leaned to one side. Newly etched letters spelled out the name Sara. “This was your mother?”

Elias nodded. “She got sick. She told me to dig her deep so no animal could chew on her old bones. She also wanted me to find the prettiest river rocks and place on top so people would know she was there. Right before she passed, she made me practice writing the letters of her name so I could carve them in a cross. Said she wanted me to remember her Christian name and not just what I called her.”

The four of them stood in front of the grave for quite a while. Mia hadn’t known the poor woman, but she shed a tear for her anyway. She couldn’t imagine how it would feel knowing she was leaving her young child all alone in the world with no one to take care of him.

Standing there, Mia made a solemn vow to take care of Elias and provide for him as if he were her own. She sent up a silent prayer that Josiah would not be too angry with her and be accepting of her promise. All she could do now was hope and pray he would understand because she couldn’t leave Elias here alone.

She laid her hand on the youngster’s shoulder. “I would like it very much if you would come live with us. You would have your own room, hot meals every day, and schooling. Of course, you would be expected to help out with chores, but from the wonderful way you took care of your mother’s house, I don’t see a problem with that. Your mother would be so proud of you.”

“Elias.” Summer motioned with her hand, then she and Billy moved away with Elias, whispering amongst themselves. After a few minutes, the three of them returned.

“Well? Have you made a decision?” Mia asked.

“Yes, ma’am. I would like very much to come live with your family. It gets a mite lonesome out here all by myself.”

Mia refused to let the tears fall, furiously blinking them away. “Is there anything you would like to bring with you? Something of your mother’s, perhaps?”

He nodded and went inside, returning a minute later carrying a large Bible. “This is the only thing I got left. One day, I’d like to learn how to read it.”

This time, nothing could stop the scalding tears from falling. “I will begin teaching you how to read tomorrow, if you’d like.”

“That’d be right nice, ma’am. Right nice, indeed.”

---

Josiah gently pushed the rocking chair with his boot, waiting for Mia to join him. He couldn’t remember such a long and eventful day in the recent past. The last time had been when his parents died. The day of the Kiowa attack had begun like any other. He’d awakened early and helped his father with the birth of a new foal. They’d attended church, then gone on a large family picnic. Afterward, they’d hunted most of the afternoon and had just returned home when the attack began.

He shook his head, his gaze skimming the red and purple sunset filling the horizon. He hadn’t thought about that day in years. Seeing Harjo’s injuries, so like his father’s, must have brought the memories back. Harjo, on the other hand, would survive. He shouldn’t be riding for a day or two, but knowing his friend, he probably would if he thought he had a chance at catching the outlaws.

The front door creaked open, and he watched Mia back out, carrying a tray of coffee in her hands. He smiled as she placed it on the table next to the chair. She picked up one of the cups and handed it to him then picked up hers. She sat beside him, tucked underneath his arm, and sipped her coffee.

“When did you and Billy have time to make this?” she asked, the palm of one hand sliding along the seat of the double-sized rocking chair.

“We would hurry through our chores so we could cut, sand, and put it together. I was more concerned about him not telling you what we were doing. He was so excited, I just knew he would blurt it out.”

“It’s a lovely chair and very unusual. I’ve never seen a double rocking chair before.”

“Neither have I, but I wanted to be able to sit and hold you, just like this. I have an idea for a better one—prettier and a nicer quality, but this one will do for now.”

"Don’t you dare,” she said. “This chair is perfect. You and Billy worked together to make it for me, and I couldn’t ask for anything more beautiful.” She blew over the top of her coffee and took a sip of the hot liquid, then licked her lips. “Josiah, you’re not mad at me for bringing Elias home to live with us, are you?”

Josiah twisted his head to look at her, one brow raised “Why would I be mad?”

“Because I didn’t talk it over with you first. If you’d seen how he was living…actually, his house was adorable. Clean, too. His mother raised him right. But, as the trees grew, the house would have come apart. Not to mention how dangerous it was for him to be out there with Johnny and the outlaws running around the countryside. It was the sight of the lonely grave behind the house—I just couldn’t leave him out there, fending for himself.”

He set his coffee on the ground beside him and leaned over to kiss her forehead. He turned sideways in the chair, pulling one knee up to press against her leg. In the moonlight, her hair glistened, and he ran his fingers through the long tresses, wrapping it around his wrist. With his curled finger under her chin, he turned her face toward his. He wrapped his hand around the nape of her neck, his thumb brushing along her jaw in a small caress as he slowly leaned closer.

The tip of her tongue darted out, licking her lower lip and leaving behind a glistening trail of moisture he had to taste. He lowered his mouth to hers, her beautiful face so close to his. A temptation. He wanted to kiss her, hold her in his arms. His heart swelled in his chest—actually swelled until he thought it might burst from feeling too much. How had this woman come to mean so much to him in such a short time?

His lips brushed hers, her low moan painfully tightening his body. He drew her closer, needing to feel her against him, yet he held himself back, unsure of how he felt and not wanting to scare her. Even though they shared their marriage bed, the feeling growing in his heart was something more, and he needed to figure out what it was. He cared about her, but did she feel the same? He sensed her feelings for him growing a little more each day, and he’d seen her looking at him when she didn’t think he was aware. But was that curiosity or something more? Part of him wanted to ask, but a larger part was afraid of her answer. He wanted what Clay and Sophia had—the soul-deep kind of love. Could he find that with Mia?

He deepened the kiss, letting her see a little of what he felt inside, testing her response and was surprised when she laid her hand over his and pressed his hand against her face and kissed him back.

“You have a beautiful, loving soul, iskitini chukfi luma,” he whispered against her mouth. “I could never be angry at you for being compassionate toward others. Isn’t that what the Lord asks us to do when He gave us the commandment, Do unto others as you would have them do unto you? I can do no other than welcome Elias as you did.”

Mia smiled. “You are an amazing man, Josiah West. I am glad I chose your letter.”

He chuckled. “Just remember that the next time I do something you don’t like.”

---

Several weeks later

“Anyone here?”

Josiah laid down the tack he’d been repairing most of the morning and walked out of the barn, momentarily blinded by the glare from the bright noonday sun. A few seconds later, he found himself confronted by two massive horses.

Glancing up, he grinned and grabbed the outstretched hand of his old friend, Paul Daniels. He then grasped the hand of Dean Potter, ex-military who now worked as Daniels’ foreman. “What are you doing here, my friends?”

Paul motioned with a wide sweep of one arm behind him and backed his horse up a few steps. “We bring you a gift.”

Josiah could only stare in wonder at the dozen or so magnificent horses milling around in his yard. His mouth opened. He took a tentative step forward, shaking his head in amazement. “What? Who?” He glanced up at Paul who held out a leather pouch. “This is for you from Clay.”

He took the pouch and untied the strings. With a quick glance up at Paul, he opened the flap to see a large number of bills inside. “I don’t understand.” He closed the pouch and retied the strings. “Why would Clay send this to me?”

Paul smiled. “Because it’s your money—at least some of it anyway. Your father’s horse ranch made money, Josiah. The army paid him well for the horses he bred. Clay figured you could use some of it to get started with your own ranch now that you seem to be showing the same interest.” Paul shrugged. “I sort of sent him a letter telling him you asked for a few head of horses… He took it from there.”

Josiah held out the pouch to Paul. “Then this belongs to you as payment for the horses you brought.”

Dean chuckled. “No. Like he said, these are a gift.”

Josiah turned to glance at Dean. “A gift…from who?”

Dean’s smile widened. “Your old friend, Quanah.”

“Josiah?” Mia’s quiet voice came from behind.

He turned and pulled her to his side. He wrapped his arm around her waist, needing to feel her against him. “Mia, this is a very old friend of mine, or actually I guess he’s family—Paul Daniels.”

Paul tugged on the brim of his hat with a smile. “Ma’am.”

Josiah motioned with a flick of his wrist to Dean. “And this is his foreman, Dean Potter.”

“Ma’am.”

“This is my wife, Mia.” He glanced at the three children lined up behind them. “And our children, Summer, Billy, and Elias.”

“Nice to meet you, and welcome to the family.” Paul smiled at them with a quick nod.

“Why are there horses in our yard?” Mia asked, a bewildered look on her face as her eyes followed several horses making their way closer toward her small garden.

“I was just telling your husband, Quanah Parker sent them as a gift.”

“Quanah Parker?” Billy exclaimed. “Josiah, you really know Quanah Parker?”

Paul nodded, a mischievous grin on his face. “He sure does. He used to come visit the farm, and Quanah remembers him as a scrawny mixed breed Indian with a gift for talking to the horses. The same gift Quanah has. He said Comanche memories run deep and Quanah has never forgotten how Josiah used to follow him like a shadow.”

Paul leaned forward in his saddle, draping his arm across the horn. “He wanted me to tell you the horses are from him in friendship and as family.”

Josiah was both honored and amazed at such a generous gift. “I will send him the first foal.”

“He will like that very much. You should bring the family for a visit soon. I know Anna would love to see you and meet your new wife.”

“Won’t you stay for supper?”

“Sorry, but Anna will have my hide if I don’t get back in time for the birth of our second babe. She’s not due for another month, but I’m not taking any chances. Knowing her, she isn’t staying down and is probably out rounding up cattle and will have the babe early. I almost missed the first one, and she hasn’t let me hear the end of it yet.”

Mia smiled. “I think I like her already.”

“Where are you gonna put all the horses, Josiah?” Elias asked. “We don’t have a corral big enough.”

“You’re right, Elias. What would you suggest?”

Elias’s gaze narrowed as he studied the situation for a minute. Finally, he shook his head, his mouth twisting to one side as he came to a conclusion. “We need to take Harjo’s horses back to him. Why don’t we put six of these in our barn then take the rest to his place and keep them in his small corral.”

“How do you know he has a small corral?” Josiah asked.

“Billy told me.”

“Smart boys you got there, Josiah.” Paul grinned. “We’ll help if this Harjo’s spread isn’t too far.”

“It’s not far—about five miles west of here, so you’re that much closer to home. And, thanks for the help.”

“Let me pack food for your trip. It’s the least I can do,” Mia said.

“Now that would be much appreciated, ma’am. I get very tired of eating Paul’s beans.” Dean laughed.

Mia and Summer hurried inside and gathered all the food they had on hand while the men separated the horses. Almost fifteen minutes later, the food was ready and Josiah’s horse saddled. He took the brown paper-wrapped packages of food and tucked them in the men’s saddlebags, then gave his wife a kiss.

“This shouldn’t take too long.” He turned to Elias and Billy. “Fill every water bucket and make sure the horses have a bit of grain and there’s enough grass in each stall. If they seem comfortable with you, you can brush them down. It will calm them and help them get used to their new home.” He waited for their nods. “When I get back, I’ll check on your work, so be sure to do a good job, you hear?’

He turned back to Mia and held her cheek, his thumb rubbing her soft skin. He forced his hand away and stepped into his saddle. Without looking back, he maneuvered his horse around so the three of them could easily move the small herd forward.

Retracing his steps several hours later, Josiah let his horse lead the way home. From his vantage point, he could see the roof of the house. It had been a long day, and he was tired. It was a good tired, though. He couldn’t believe his good fortune. Horses. Magnificent Comanche-bred horses at that.

He climbed down from his saddle and stretched, his horse playfully sticking his head between his arms and into his face. Josiah laughed and rested his forehead against the bridge of his horse’s nose, his fingers scratching both sides of his wide jaws. “You should be more tired than I am. Maybe you just need a bit of attention?”

His horse gently bumped his head several times then laid his across his shoulder as if giving Josiah a hug. Josiah wrapped his arms around his friend. “I’ve missed times like this too, my friend. We might have to sneak off and have some play time soon, won’t we?”

“You really do have a way with horses.”

Hearing the strange male voice, Josiah whirled around, his hand dropping to the gun strapped low on his hip. A slow smile appeared, his hand easing away. Instead, he held it out to the handsome black man standing in front of him.

“Well, if it isn’t Bass Reeves himself. It’s been almost a year, hasn’t it? Last time I saw you, Clay and I were in Fort Smith, bringing in a herd of cattle for the military, and you’d just come in from delivering an outlaw, I believe.”

“Good memory. How is Clay?”

“He and Sophia are well. Whole family’s growing too fast.”

“I was surprised to hear you’d moved this far east. Glad, though. Good to know I’ll have someone besides Harjo I can count on when I need help.”

“I take it this is one of those times?”

Bass leaned his weight to one side, his thumbs stuck behind the waist of his dark brown pants. The tin star on his vest glinted in the evening sun. “You reckon right. With Harjo laid up, I need someone to fill his shoes, and he recommended you. Said not only are you a crack shot, but you also have healing knowledge in the Injun way. You’d be a good man to have on this hunt. I can tell you these men are ruthless and won’t stop until they’re dead and they will try to take as many as they can with ’em.”

“You’re going after the same men Harjo and the lighthorse were hunting?”

Bass nodded. “They’ve added two more to their group and with the boy, now total five. They killed a Seminole farmer east of here along with his wife and son. We’re tightening the noose and they’re getting desperate.”

“When are you leaving?”

“We’ll ride out at dawn.”

Josiah knew going could put his family at risk, especially if the outlaws were that close. He knew of three or four Seminole farmers within a ten-mile radius of his home. It was close, and he worried for his family. This was a job opportunity he couldn’t turn down. If the outlaw gang was smart, they’d hightail it south to Texas. With Bass Reeves on their trail, why stay?

He glanced toward the house and again, his family was standing outside, staring at the newcomer. Only Elias, his hand in Mia’s, seemed to know who Bass was. The boy’s eyes were open wide as he stared, unblinking. Josiah smiled at the boy’s reaction.

“Bass.” He walked over and stood between his wife and Summer. “I’d like for you to meet my wife, Mia.” He pointed to Mia’s other side. “That’s Elias,” he said, and laid his hand on Summer’s shoulder. “And this is Summer, and her cousin Billy.”

Bass tugged on the front brim of his hat. “Nice to make your acquaintance, Mrs. West.” He glanced down at Elias and knelt on one knee, resting his forearm over the other knee and met Elias, eye to eye.

“You know who I am?”

Elias nodded. “Yes, sir. Everybody knows who you are.”

One side of Bass’s mouth rose under his graying mustache. ‘Where are your folks?”

“Never knew my pa. Ma died a while back from lung sickness. I live here now. Mia and Josiah are real good to me. I get to learn how to read and write with Summer and Billy, and I even have my very own room!”

Bass nodded, the slight flaring of his nostrils and the thinning of his lips were the only outward signs of emotion as he stood. “Keep learning and dreaming big, cuz if you want good things in life, you’ve got to work for them. You’re gonna have to work hard. Nothing comes easy, but you’ll appreciate it all the more because of it.”

“Yes, sir.”

Josiah held his wife, his arm around her shoulder, his chest filled with pride for his growing family. He couldn’t have been more proud if these children were his own flesh and blood.

Bass met his gaze. “You and your wife are an amazing couple for what you’re doing here. Not too many people would take on three children, much less mixed.”

Mia smiled down at Elias, and his large green eyes stared back up at her. She looked over at Summer, then Billy. “I don’t see mixed anything, Mr. Reeves. All I see are three adorable children full of love who need love in return. If they allow my husband and me to give them that, then we are the ones who have been blessed.”

Bass nodded. “If only the world had more like you, Mrs. West…” He turned his dark gaze on Josiah. “Are you with us?”

Josiah nodded. “Yes, sir. I’ll be ready by first light.”