The following days fell in to a routine of sorts. Sam left after breakfast every morning and rode out to the cows. Gus’s idea of setting up a trap appealed, but Sam hadn’t figured out how to do it in a way that wouldn’t cost him more cows.

He spent his days looking for clues about the rustlers. The only thing he found in all his searching was a bit of silver shaped like a horseshoe. “It’s Harry’s,” he said to Billy. “Off one of his bolo ties. He must have lost it one day out riding.” He made to throw it away then changed his mind and tucked it in his pocket. If Harry ever came back, he might want it.

He rode for home late every afternoon in order to be there for supper.

Home had developed a rhythm of sorts too. After supper, he played with Joey for a bit, waited while Elin got him into bed, then went in and kissed the boy good night. He and Elin often passed in the bedroom doorway and brushed shoulders. Sometimes her hand bumped into his.

It grew harder and harder to remember all the reasons why he shouldn’t take her hand and pull her into his arms. Kiss her.

He joined the cowboys early one morning, the sun already hot, warning of a scorching day.

“Could use rain,” Billy observed, studying the sky.

“It will come. We’ll move the cows west today.” He’d checked out the area he had in mind. The grass was good, plenty of water. “There are a lot of draws there. Could be an opportunity for more rustling. You still seeing a rider at night?”

“We hadn’t seen him for a couple of days, but Bart was on night shift last night and said he saw a rider to the north. He rode out to talk to the man but couldn’t catch him.”

Sam rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t like it, but nothing has happened. We’ll move the cows and everyone will have to keep eyes open day and night.”

Billy laughed. “We do our best, Boss, but sometimes we got to sleep.”

“I know.” He slapped Billy on the back.

They spent the rest of the day easing the cattle over the hills and into a narrow valley that forked off in half a dozen directions.

Sam adjusted his hat against the sun. He didn’t like the layout of the place, but the cows needed grass and water. He sighed. Tomorrow, he would bring his bedroll and spend the night. That way he could take one of the night watches.

Satisfied he’d done all he could for the day, he reined about and rode toward home. On the way he remembered it was Saturday. He wanted to take Elin to church and spend the afternoon with her. More and more he found he wanted to be home, not out on the range. How strange when riding after cows had been his life since he was five years old and his ma died.

Maybe not so strange, he realized. That was the last time he’d known a real home and now he had one again. Of course he enjoyed it. He had seventeen years of not having a home to make up for. That’s all it was.

He smiled as he brushed Sorry and took care of him.

From the house came the sound of Joey calling to someone. The sound grew closer and Sam waited for Joey and Elin to join him in the barn. Coming home to their smiles was the best part of his day. Then he heard Gus and told himself he wasn’t disappointed the old man brought Joey.

His smile was firmly in place when Gus and Joey stepped into the barn.

Joey chattered away a mile a minute.

Sam struggled to understand what the boy said and looked to Gus for help.

“He’s telling you about our company.”

“Company?” He glanced past Gus. His heart stalled. Had Harry returned? Don’t be foolish. Harry wouldn’t be considered company.

“They’re gone now. Young Mrs. Winter and little Georgie were here.”

“Georgie.” Joey nodded. “We play.”

Sam swept the boy into his arms as he left the barn. “You had fun?”

“Me did.”

“That’s good.” Had Elin enjoyed the visit too? Of course she had. Hadn’t she said she missed having a lot of family and friends around? Life on a Dakota ranch could be mighty lonely for a woman.

They reached the house and Sam stepped inside. His gaze sought Elin. She stood at the stove, smiling a greeting. “Hello.” Her voice offered warmth.

“I hear you had company.” That would explain the happy note in her voice.

“Sarie and Georgie. It was nice to see them.”

He could think of no reply so he put Joey in his chair, washed up, and sat down. “Moved the cows today,” he said, as he helped himself to the food. “It’s not a good spot to keep rustlers away.” He told them of the layout of the place. “But I can set a trap there on Monday. Hopefully catch whoever is watching. Pretty sure the man is looking for a chance to steal some cows and I don’t intend to let him do it.”

“I could ride out there and keep an eye on things,” Gus said.

“Thanks for offering.” Gus hadn’t been on a horse in over a year due to the pain in his hips that made it impossible for him to sit in a saddle. “I’d sooner you stayed here and looked after things.”

“Yeah, I know I’m no good on a horse.”

“You do your share,” he assured the old man.

Elin patted Gus’s hand. “I appreciate your help around here. It was nice of you to amuse the two little boys this afternoon.”

That triggered Sam’s attention. “What’d you do?”

Gus chuckled. “I showed them how to rope a post. Of course we had to use a bit of twine instead of a real rope.” He laughed. “They were sure eager.”

Joey bounced in his chair. “I rope. Georgie too.”

The three adults chuckled at his enthusiasm.

Sam tried to feel nothing but happiness that Gus and Joey had enjoyed a fun afternoon without him. He turned to Elin. “I take it you enjoyed visiting with Mrs. Winter.”

“I did.”

He wondered what they’d done.

“She and her husband moved here two years ago. They started with a soddy house and now have one made of wood. I asked what it was like in a soddy. She said there were things about it she didn’t like but they clung to their dream of making a home on land of their own.” Elin got a distant look in her eyes. “It’s what brought Nels and Anker here and Freyda’s husband. A dream that enabled them to face hard things.”

Sam studied Elin. Her dream brought her to a new country too. The dream of a marriage to Harry. Her determination was the reason she stayed, waiting for Harry to show up and keep his promise.

Not for the first time, he hoped Harry wouldn’t return. Elin deserved far better than a man like him. She deserved someone like—

He stopped. His own name did not fit there.

* * *

Elin had enjoyed a visit from a woman near her own age. It had been good to laugh about things, to share the challenges of life on the prairie, and to share their faith in God. Sarie’s faith was stronger than Elin’s.

She wanted to tell Sam about what Sarie had said and could hardly wait for supper to be over. Ignoring her previous decision to stop spending the evenings with him, she said, “Would you like to go for a walk? Or take Joey to see the kittens?”

But Joey was falling asleep.

“Put the boy to bed first.”

She did so and, although tempted to hurry the process, she read him a Bible story, said his prayers, and then Sam kissed him good night.

She set the dishes to soak in a basin of hot water before she and Sam left to enjoy the cooling evening air. They walked down the dusty trail toward the main road.

Elin could hardly wait to start telling about her day. “I asked Sarie how she managed to live in a soddy. It sounds so dark and depressing. She said she learned to trust God during those long winter days when she felt like she was trapped in a hole. Said she didn’t regret those days at all because of how changed her.”

Elin had studied her new friend with a touch of envy.

“I asked her to explain.” She wondered if she could find the same peace.

“Sarie told how George had been away, working to earn enough money for lumber for a real house. With nothing else to do but care for little Georgie, she’d turned to reading the Bible and praying for George’s safety. She said as she read and prayed, she discovered the joy of knowing God was close. He was exactly who He said He was in the Scriptures, and He would never fail. She said she made a sampler with a verse on it reminding her of God’s promise.”

Sam listened until she finished. “Life on the prairie is hard on women.”

He’d missed the point. “Don’t you see? She found a real closeness with God. Said it made everything worthwhile.” She sighed. “I wish I had the kind of faith she has.”

“Is there more than one kind of faith?” He sounded confused.

“Her faith makes her so happy. She laughs despite hard times. Have you ever looked real close at her?”

“Can’t say as I have. Her husband might object.”

Elin laughed. “Then you’ll have to believe me when I tell you her eyes glisten with joy.”

“Surely she must be afraid of something. A storm? Hail? Fire? Death?”

They stopped walking and looked at each other.

“Death? That’s what you’re afraid of.” She felt like she’d had a glimpse of his soul and his fear.

“I suppose I am. And you’re afraid of what? Failure?”

She shrugged. “I think I am more afraid of things than I care to admit. Maybe failure.” She took in a slow, deep breath. “I just wish I could feel like Sarie does.”

“Me too. It sounds like she found it by reading the Bible. Do you have one?”

“I have one in Norwegian. How about you?”

“Well, I don’t read Norwegian really well.”

She laughed at his teasing. “I meant in English.”

“I do have one. It was my ma’s. I’ve never used it much. I guess I sort of thought it was too important. It sounds wrong when I say it like that. I know she would prefer I read it and find what you say Sarie has found.”

Elin caught Sam’s hands. “Let’s agree to both read our Bibles and see if we can find what she did.”

His eyes darkened. He searched her gaze as if looking for more than she could give. And then he smiled. “I’d like that.” He lifted their joined hands so they were between their chests. “This will be our mutual project.”

She nodded, too happy for words. “I can’t wait to discuss what we’re discovering.”

“Me too.”

Still holding hands, they walked to the end of the lane then retraced their steps to the house.

Sam went to his room.

Elin turned her attention to the dishes.

Sam returned. She’d thought he’d gone to bed.

“Here it is.” He held out a small black Bible.

She dried her hands thoroughly and sat down at the table to stroke the cover. She rubbed her arms. “I have—what do you call them?”

“Goose bumps?”

“Yes.” She opened to the flyleaf and read, “‘To Rebecca on the occasion of her marriage to Neil Andrews. Love from Mother and Father.’” She sniffled back a tear. “I think she loved her Bible.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because the gold gilding is worn off.”

“I think you’re right. She kept it on a little table by her rocking chair and often sat reading it.” His smile lit his face. “Funny that I’d forgotten that.”

“Maybe you pushed the memory away because you missed her so much.”

“I suppose that’s so.”

“Wait here.” She hurried to her room and quietly, so she wouldn’t waken Joey, lifted the lid of her trunk and found her Bible on the top tray. She took it to the table. “This is my Bible.” It was bigger, heavier than Sam’s.

She set it before him.

He opened it to page one and laughed. “I think Gud is God.”

“Look at you. Already reading Norwegian.”

He met her eyes and they laughed softly. For her, it was the shared tender moment more than amusement that made her laugh.

“Where did you get your Bible?”

“My grandmother gave it to me. Said her mother had given it to her when she left home and she wanted to do the same for me.” Elin’s words had grown round with the sweetness of that memory.

“Read it to me,” Sam said.

“You want me to translate it?”

“No, I want to hear you reading in Norwegian.”

“That’s easy.” She read the entire first chapter of Genesis.

“It sounds so weighty and important in your language.”

“Now you read to me.”

“Okay.” He read the same chapter in English.

“It sounds different in English. I like it.”

They each closed their Bibles and looked into each other’s eyes. She felt as if she saw beyond the man everyone else saw and saw the man who had been loved by his mother and then lost her. Maybe she saw his pain and the fear it fueled.

Did he see more in her than she wanted him to see? Her fear—though she couldn’t say if it was of failure or what? She shifted her gaze, saw the basin of dishes, and returned to washing them.

Sam retrieved a towel and dried.

She wanted to say he didn’t have to. She wanted time to collect her thoughts. And yet she didn’t want to end this moment.

“Tomorrow is Sunday,” he said.

“Yes, it is.” She didn’t say that she, Gus, and Joey had all bathed and she hoped they could go to church.

“Would you like to have a picnic after church again?”

“That would be lovely.”

“This time we could go someplace different.”

“Okay.” She didn’t care if they went to the same place or sat on the grass by the garden.

“Good. Do you need help getting the lunch ready?”

“I already have it prepared.” She kept her attention on the pan of water in front of her. She hadn’t meant to tell him she’d made a picnic in the hopes they might share one again. It said too much.

He tipped his head to look into her face. “You hoped I would suggest a picnic?”

She straightened to look directly at him. “If you didn’t, I would.”

He laughed. “Oh, Elin. You are so great.” With one arm, he hugged her to his side.

She resisted the urge to lean into him and even wrap her arms about his waist. Instead, she pulled away, washed the last pot, and handed it to him. “Where will we go?”

“Hmm. I think I’ll keep it a secret. At least until I think of someplace.”

They laughed together.

Elin’s heart filled with such sweetness she didn’t know if she could contain it.

That night she fell asleep with a smile on her lips and dreamt of a picnic full of sunshine and laughter.

After breakfast Sunday morning, Sam disappeared with a towel and a bar of soap and some clean clothes over his arm. He returned with his hair wet and slicked back. His skin shone.

She forced herself not to stare and had to continually remind herself not to as they traveled to town. It wasn’t until they drew up in front of the church that her little glow of joy faltered.

The Scanlons watched her walk toward the church. They wore matching frowns that grooved their cheeks and foreheads.

Sam took hold of her elbow. “Chin up. Never let them see weakness. They’re the sort that loves to attack anyone they think is weaker.”

She drew strength from his touch and his comment and smiled at the Scanlons.

Mrs. Hillman took her husband’s arm and came toward them.

Elin’s strength abandoned her. She might have turned and fled if not for Sam’s hold on her and his soft, encouraging words.

The Hillmans didn’t stop until they were directly in front of Sam and Elin.

Mrs. Hillman’s smile wavered, then she drew in a large gulp of air and spoke. “My dear, I owe you an apology for not greeting you properly last week.” She held out her hand. “I hope you enjoy your stay here. Welcome.” She bent over to face Joey. “I’m sorry I am not your grandmother. I would very much like a grandson just like you.”

Joey’s eyes were wide then he squeezed them closed and whispered, “My g’ma gone.”

Mrs. Hillman patted Joey’s head. “I am very sorry.” She straightened and faced Elin and Sam. “Bring the boy to visit anytime. I’d enjoy it.”

Elin promised herself she would do her best to see that the two got together in the future.

Mr. Hillman squeezed Joey’s shoulder. “You’re a fine young man.”

The three of them, Elin amended.

The Hillmans moved on and Sam leaned over to whisper to Elin. “Those good people need a little boy in their life.”

“I agree.” They moved forward into the church. Even the glare of the Scanlons didn’t bother Elin. Life was too good to let it be ruined by such pettiness.

She tried her best to sing the songs in English though a few Norwegian words crept in.

She listened to Pastor Sharp’s encouraging words.

After the service, she found Sarie and told her how her visit had encouraged both Elin and Sam to start reading their Bibles.

Sarie hugged her. “Praise God. I pray you will find as much joy and peace as I have.”

But a picnic waited and Elin didn’t linger. Nor did Sam, though several men spoke to him. They soon departed.

“Did you think of a place to go?” she asked Sam.

“Yup.” He turned down a road she hadn’t been on. “But you’ll have to wait and see if you like it.”

She could have told him she would have liked sitting on a gravel pile if it meant sharing a picnic with Sam and the others, but she wisely kept the comment to herself.

A few miles later they turned aside, climbed a little rise, and stopped. She looked about and burst out laughing. “There are rocks everywhere.” She’d said a gravel pile and this was so close she couldn’t help but be amused.

“Yup.”

“Big rocks,” Joey said, his voice round with admiration.

“It’s known locally as the Rocky Buttes,” Sam said as he helped her down.

They found a rock as big as a table and spread out the picnic. They used smaller rocks as chairs.

After they’d eaten, Gus found a grassy spot and settled down for a nap while Joey explored every rock, carrying little ones back to Sam and Elin until he had a small pile.

Elin was content to sit beside Sam and enjoy the view from the rise though she had to be honest with herself and admit the view to her right where Sam sat was far more pleasing. He’d taken off his hat. His hair was neither brown nor blond but a combination of both as if the sunshine had trailed through some of the strands and ignored others. His skin was smooth except for white fan lines from his eyes. He had a way of sitting that made it seem he didn’t have a care in the world.

He must have felt her gaze on him for he turned to look at her.

She watched his gray-blue eyes go from curious to caring to wondering.

“What are you thinking?” she asked.

He gave a little smile that fanned the skin about his eyes. “I was thinking this is much nicer than sitting around with a bunch of cowboys.”

“Because it smells better out here?” she ventured.

His smile broadened. “That’s true. The company is better too.”

“Me?” She pressed her hand to her throat in surprise.

“Don’t get me wrong. I have a good bunch of cowboys working for me but none are as pretty as you, though young Andy comes close.”

She laughed. “I’m not sure how to take that.”

“Andy probably wouldn’t be either.” He chuckled. “But then I have no intention of telling him.”

“Good thing, I think.”

They watched Joey trying to pick up a rock too big for his little hands. He struggled with it for several minutes until Sam called to him. “Look at that nice one behind you.”

Joey looked at the rock he’d been trying to get then let out a long sigh and turned to the one Sam indicated. He freed it and presented it to Sam. “Rock.”

Sam took it. “Yup. It’s a rock.”

Joey nodded and went back to the first one. After a bit, he kicked it and stomped away.

Elin looked at Sam and they laughed. The sun warmed them.

“No threatening storms today,” Sam said.

“It’s a perfect day.”

“Yup. But I suppose we need to head home. Gus, wake up.”

The old man snorted and sat up, rubbing sleep from his eyes. “I’m awake. I was just resting my eyes.”

“Uh huh. I figured as much.”

Gus frowned at Sam and struggled to his feet.

Sam took the picnic basket and Elin called Joey.

Joey stopped at his pile of rocks and tried to carry them all. When he couldn’t he sat down and cried.

“Joey, pick out a few and take them.”

“No,” he sobbed. “Want all.”

Elin looked to Sam for help.

“What’s a few more rocks around the place?” He filled Joey’s hands, filled his own, and nodded at the pile for Elin to take some.

She laughed. “At least I only took a bit of glass home last week.”

He laughed too. They put the rocks in the back of the wagon and Sam lifted Joey up. The little guy patted the rocks. “My rocks.”

When they were seated side by side and on their way home, Sam pulled a round gray rock out of his pocket. “I picked this up the other day. My keepsake to remember the first picnic we had.”

She grinned. Pleased clear through that he had thought the event special enough to want to remember.

As they journeyed to the ranch, Sam told stories of earlier times in the Dakotas. Elin listened intently. She wanted to know everything about this country, about the ranch, and about Sam.

They turned off at the lane to the ranch. Sam peered ahead. “There’s someone there.”

Elin studied the horse tied at the hitching post, her heart sinking like it held all of Joey’s rocks. Had Harry come back? And if he had, wasn’t she supposed to be excited?