Elin wondered if she had misheard Sam say a child shouldn’t suffer loss. But no, he had said that. Would he now see that Joey needed the security of a home? She’d thought Harry would give it to her as well as the boy.

“Joey has lost everyone who loves him. Can you not find it in your heart to give him a home? Until Harry returns?” She clung to the hope he would return and keep his promise to her.

Sam tossed the water out the door to a nearby bush. Tomorrow she would see if it was a flowering bush. If not, she would replace it with one. “Lady, how many times do I have to say it? Harry is gone for good.”

Her plans soured into pain. “He left because of me.” It wasn’t so much a question as acknowledgement.

Sam spent a great deal of time wiping out the basin and hanging it behind the stove.

She wasn’t fooled by his seeming indifference. He knew Harry had left rather than fulfill his promise to marry her. “I am not a bad person. I would make a good wife. All I want is a home where I belong and have some value.”

Sam looked toward the window where the last pink of the day filled the sky. “Don’t take it personal. Harry’s not good at being responsible. He prefers to have fun with no regard for the consequences.”

“And other people pay for his freedom to live that way. Like Joey.” Elin tried to keep the bitterness from her voice and wondered if she had succeeded.

Sam brought his gaze to hers and she felt his regret and sympathy. “Yes, like Joey. And like you.”

Elin could not let that be the end of the discussion. She had too much at stake. The security of a little boy, but also her future. “I left my home with the promise of a new one where I would be the one—” She tried to find English words to explain what her dream had looked like. “In Norway, I am one of eight children. I am plunk in the middle. I have always been the one who was left behind, overlooked, or forgotten. Or I have been the one who was too much trouble. I came to America to be the one who mattered in a house. A home.” She swallowed hard. She did not mean to tell this man the dark secrets of her heart, and yet here she was saying to him things she had never confessed to anyone else. “Joey needs a home. I need a home.” She half considered falling on her knees and begging him to let her stay. Instead, she lifted her chin. “This will work out just fine. You will see.”

Sam’s mouth tightened. Displeasure replaced the sympathy in his eyes,

“I will go to bed.” She didn’t intend to give him a chance to voice his disagreement.

But before she had taken two steps in the direction of the bedroom, the door flew open and Joey raced out, screaming.

“I go home now. I go home now.” He raced past Elin before she could think what to do.

Sam scooped him up. “You can’t leave.”

Joey kicked and fought. “I go home. Now. You take me.”

Sam wrapped his arms about him, stopping his struggles. “Kid, you can’t go. You’ll have to stay here.”

Elin stood by as Joey exhausted himself and Sam carried him back to bed. They sat on the edge of the cot, waiting for Joey to go to sleep. She hummed lullabies she’d sung to her younger brothers and sisters and many cousins.

Joey finally relaxed and his breathing deepened.

“He’s asleep,” Sam said.

“You made him a promise,” Elin whispered. “You said he could stay here.”

Sam stood, looking down on her. “I will not argue anymore. Good night.” He strode from the room.

Elin hung her head. There was only one thing she could do. She prayed. Father God, Joey needs a home so badly and I want one. I am willing to wait for Harry, but if he isn’t going to come back and keep his promise, please let me stay here as a housekeeper. I will be the best I can be. I will make meals to satisfy Gus and Sam and Joey. I will clean the house until it sparkles. I will make a happy home for Joey. If You so grant my wish.

With that she had to be content, and she quietly prepared for bed and slipped between the covers. The sheets carried the odor of sweat and horse. She added laundry to her list of jobs to accomplish. She tried to sleep but her mind went round and round with hopes and disappointments.

One thing she was certain about. She would not be pushed out and treated like she had no value. She had come all the way to America to put an end to that feeling.

* * *

Sam wakened to the smell of coffee and bacon. Gus had gotten up to make breakfast. Something he hadn’t done in months. Then he heard a childish voice saying something about home and he remembered his guests.

Guests, he insisted to himself. Not new residents. He had not promised Joey he could stay. He’d only offered a reason for the boy to go to bed.

Twice in the night, he’d heard the boy crying and Elin’s soft humming.

He yawned as he pulled on his jeans. He didn’t want a woman and child living here but he had no objections to breakfast waiting for him. He strode from the room. “Good morning.”

“God morgen.” She sounded cheerful. Entirely too cheerful, and he regarded her through squinted eyes. Did she think he’d given in to her demands?

“Excuse me. Sometimes I forget and slip into Norwegian. Good morning.” She smiled, bright and cheerful as the morning sun.

His suspicions grew. Did she know something he didn’t? Or was she going to blithely ignore everything he said? His gaze went to the coffeepot.

She saw his interest and poured him a cupful and set it on the table. “We Norwegians like our coffee strong and hot. I hope it is okay.”

He sipped the brew and sighed. “This is real coffee.”

She chuckled.

Joey sat at the table drinking a glass of milk. He put the glass on the table and dropped from the chair. Sam paid him little attention until he reached the door, opened it, and left.

Elin had her back to them, frying something on the stove.

“Ahh—” He tried to get her attention but she didn’t notice. He sucked back another mouthful of coffee and crossed to the door. Joey stood at the gate staring down the trail.

Sam joined him.

“I go home now?” Joey asked.

“Sorry, kid. You’re stuck with us.” He turned and stared into Elin’s smiling face.

Sam knew she’d heard him and would hold him to that promise. He sighed. He could send someone after Harry though there was a lot of country where Harry could simply vanish. Or he could let it be known that there was a marriageable young woman in the area. It wouldn’t take long before the young bucks crowded at his doorway. Many would be willing to take a child in the bargain.

She held her hand out to Joey. “Come and have breakfast.”

Sam followed them inside. Joey was Harry’s son. Morty’s grandson. He didn’t owe Harry anything, but he did owe Morty, who had treated him like a son.

He pressed back a groan. Was it just yesterday that he thought his life was complicated? If only he’d realized how simple things were then. He didn’t often pray desperation prayers but now seemed like an excellent time to start. Lord God, please don’t let things get any more difficult.

Elin hummed as she finished preparing breakfast.

Gus hobbled from his room. “My old bones tell me there is a change in the weather comin’ our way.”

Elin studied the old man. “I know something that will ease your pain.”

Gus brightened. “Girl, if you can help me, you will have a permanent place here.”

Sam opened his mouth to protest then closed it without uttering a word. It wasn’t like anyone would pay him any mind, so why bother?

They gathered round the table for breakfast. He noted the stack of flapjacks, the fried potatoes, bacon, and creamy porridge. A man could get used to being fed this way.

“I’ll pray,” Gus said. He clasped his hands together. “Heavenly Father, we are so blessed today to have Elin and Joey with us. Elin is an excellent cook. We are going to eat like kings and we are grateful for the food she has prepared that You have generously provided. Amen.”

Sam had heard less direct sermons at church. He refused to look at Gus, though he sensed the old man’s glee. Instead, he dug into the stacks of food. He wasn’t going to argue about the fact Elin was a good cook. Nor was he about to deprive himself of a feast in an attempt to prove something. At the moment he didn’t have any idea what he wanted to prove.

Joey finished and got down. “I go now?”

Sam pushed back from the table. “Tell you what, boy. I’ll show you round the place. Would you like that?”

Gus leaned forward. “We have baby kittens.”

Joey’s eyes lit up. “I go see.”

“Good idea.” Sam headed for the door, with Joey at his side, keeping a careful distance between them.

“Elin, you go too,” Gus said.

“Thank you.” She followed them outside.

“This,” Sam said, waving his arm in a wide circle. “Is the H Bar S Ranch. S for Sam. H for Harry.” Partners, just like Morty wanted, though Harry had a habit of shirking his share of the responsibility. “To your right is the barn, the bunkhouse for the cowboys, and some other buildings.” He doubted either of them cared about the storeroom or the feed bunk. “To the left is the river.” It was far enough away not to pose a threat to a three-year-old boy, though that hadn’t been a consideration when he and Harry chose the building site.

“Kitties?” Joey asked.

“Right this way.” He led them to the barn and to a manger where a motley-colored mama cat meowed a greeting. Three kittens nursed. One was black, one colored like its mother, and one a silvery gray.

Joey leaned over the edge and caught his breath. He reached out a hand and touched each kitten.

“Would you like to hold one?” Sam asked.

Joey nodded.

Sam lifted the silvery one and showed Joey how to hold the kitten in the crook of his arm. Joey sighed his pleasure as he stroked the kitten.

Sam turned to Elin. “Do you want to hold—” He stopped at the way her eyes glistened with tears. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Her voice broke.

“But you’re—” He pointed toward her tear-filled eyes.

“It’s just so sweet to see you and Joey—” Her voice quavered and she wiped her eyes with her fingertips.

Sam shrugged. “All I did was hand him a kitten. I was about to ask if you’d like to hold one.” This woman had him confused. First, she was so stubborn he wondered if she was made of steel, and now she wept at the sight of a tiny kitten. It simply didn’t make sense to him.

“I’d love to.”

He picked up the black one and handed it to her. She pressed it to her cheek and murmured Norwegian sounding words. He held the third kitten and petted the mother cat as she meowed. “They’re all safe, you know. We aren’t going to hurt them.”

Mama cat meowed and planted her front feet on the side of the manger to check on the kitten Joey held. She caught the kitten by the scruff of the neck and carried it back to her nest.

Joey laughed. “She take her baby home.”

“Yes, she did.” Sam and Elin returned their kittens. He darted a glance at her. She swiped at her eyes again and drew in a shuddering breath.

He squinted at her. “I don’t understand.”

She gave a watery smile. “They’re so sweet. And did you hear Joey laugh?”

“I did. That’s a good thing. Right? Not something to make you cry.”

She laughed, the sound ringing through the silence of the barn. “Oh, poor Sam. You’ve spent too much time in the company of men and not enough with women.”

“I had a gal once. I told you that.”

“Yes, you did. I’m sorry for your loss. Did she laugh and cry much?”

Her question stumped him. “I guess she was mostly sick. Don’t recall her laughing a lot. Or crying either. She was stoic about her pain.”

“Oh, poor Sam.”

That was twice she had said it. As if he was failing in some way. “I’m not ‘poor Sam.’”

She laughed softly. “I have a mother, numerous aunts, female cousins, a grandmother, and three sisters. There is always lots of laughing and lots of tears. But not sad tears so much as tender tears.”

Sam rocked his head back and forth. “Tender tears?” He pretended to shudder.

She chuckled and drew her arm through his. “It is one of the mysteries of being a woman. We cry when we’re happy and when we’re sad.”

She reached for Joey’s hand and they left the barn so entwined, and stood in the morning sunshine. She sucked in a deep breath. “I love the smell of a spring morning.”

He filled his lungs too, and coughed. “It smells like a barnyard.”

She tipped her head back and laughed.

Joey grinned at them, seemingly enjoying the happy sound as much as Sam.

He sobered. He’d half agreed to let them stay. He’d thought it meant hot meals, but hadn’t considered it might also mean happy shared times. It was a sobering idea.

Or was it an enticing one?

* * *

Elin silently thanked God for the answer to her prayer. Sam had agreed to let Joey stay. Which meant she would have to stay, too, to care for the boy. Seeing Sam with the cats had changed her view of him from hard and unbending to a man with a soft side. The discovery comforted her. She could make this arrangement work.

Sam escorted them back to the house. She looked about. “I will need lots of hot water.” She intended to wash every single dish in the house, scrub the grime from every surface. Before she finished, the house would gleam.

“You’ll be needing more fuel.”

He returned with a bucket full of coal and an armload of kindling wood.

She’d already discovered the pump that produced cold, sweet water.

Sam left, saying something about checking on the cows. Gus said he had to see to the chickens.

Elin set to work.

Joey wandered toward the door. She needed to keep him busy. “Would you help me wash dishes?”

He looked surprised but interested.

“Good. Let’s see how many dishes you can bring me to wash.” She noticed soiled cups and plates scattered throughout the room.

Joey nodded and brought two cups from the table by the big armchair.

She clapped. “Great find. Can you get more?”

Grinning, he brought the dishes from the living area then went to the bedrooms and found more.

She laughed and clapped with every item he brought her and his grin widened. “You are a great finder, did you know that?”

He nodded. “I find more.”

While he looked she set bread dough to rise and prepared a pot pie for the noon meal.

Finally Joey came back empty-handed and sad looking. “No more.”

“That’s because you did such a good job. Would you like to help wash them?”

“Me help.”

She pulled a chair to the cupboard and let him swish the dishes about in the soapy water. She showed him how to scrub each one, guiding his hands when needed. Soon his shirt was wet but neither of them minded.

Gus returned with a dozen eggs and put them in a basket. “You two are working up a storm.” He rubbed his hands together. “It sure is nice to see things shapin’ up.”

Elin planted her hands on her hips and studied the older man. “I will make Sam realize how much he needs me.”

Gus scrubbed at his bristly chin. “I’ve known Sam since he was a tadpole. Ten years old when Morty took him in. The boy has been raised by men. Only woman he ever let himself care for was sickly. His ma was sickly.” Gus chuckled. “I’m thinking someone as strong-natured as you is throwin’ a kink in his thinking.”

“That is a good thing, ja?”

“A mighty good thing.” Gus made his slow way to the armchair and lowered himself with a groan. “Did you say you have something that will help my old joints?”

“I’ll get it.” She got the jar of ointment from her trunk. “This is my grandmor’s special rub. Anker told me to bring lots.” She handed the jar to Gus. “You want me to rub it on?”

“Thanks, but no. I’ll go my room and spare you the sight of my old legs.” He limped away.

She cleaned up the last of the dishes and dried the front of Joey’s shirt with a towel. “Maybe I should hang you up to dry.”

He giggled.

She hugged him. “It’s nice to see you happy.”

He followed her as she went from chore to chore, wiping things clean.

Gus emerged from his room and sank to the armchair. Within minutes, he snored softly.

Poor man. Likely the pain of his sore joints kept him awake much of the night.

She held her finger to her lips to indicate Joey should be quiet. Not that he made much noise. The young ones in her family were always laughing and squealing, or crying. Thankfully, Joey wasn’t doing the latter.

She had no idea if she should expect Sam for the noon meal but set the table for four in case he planned to eat with them.

She pulled the pot pie from the oven. The crust was golden and flakey. She sniffed the steam rising from the holes she’d cut in the crust. It smelled every bit as good as she hoped it would.

The door opened and boots struck the wooden floor.

She turned in time to see the surprise on Sam’s face as he looked about and then he sniffed. “Is that dinner?”

“It is.” She set it on a pad in the center of the table.

Sam strode across the floor, filled a basin with warm water, and washed his hands and face.

Joey watched the water drip from Sam’s chin. He rubbed his own chin and looked puzzled. His gaze went up and down the length of the man drying his face. The way he studied Sam, Elin wondered if he’d had much exposure to men.

She chuckled softly, regretting it as Sam turned toward her looking puzzled.

“Did I miss something?”

“From what Gus said, I think you’ve missed having womanly influences in your life.”

Sam shot a protesting look at Gus, who had wakened and watched them.

Before Sam could say anything, Elin hurried to explain. “And I think Joey has had no men in his life. Aren’t you an odd pair? But God has put us together so Joey sees men and you learn what it’s like to share your home with a woman.” Ignoring the way Sam’s eyes narrowed, she waved her hand airily. “I expect it will be fun.” She meant to make it so, if only to prove how valuable her presence was.

They sat at the table. Sam asked the blessing. He indicated Elin should dish herself up first. She pushed back a smile at the thought he might not leave enough for the rest so she took what she wanted, gave some to Joey, and passed the dish to Gus.

“I don’t know what that ointment had in it but it sure has helped my old joints.” Gus held out his arm to show that it didn’t hurt. Then turned to Sam. “If you don’t keep her, I will. She’s just what we need around here.”

Sam concentrated on eating as if he hadn’t heard the old man and if he was unaware of Elin watching him to see how he would react.

Obviously he cared for nothing but his food so she left off waiting for him to say anything, to perhaps inform Gus of his decision. Someone needed to say it.

That left her. “He’s agreed to let us stay.”

Gus harrumphed. “Boy has more sense than I thought.”

Sam paused long enough to send a scowl Gus’s way then returned to his food. His plate empty, the baking dish clean, he sat back with a deep sigh. “That was delicious. Can’t remember when I ate something that tasted so good except for last night. Thank you.”

His praise brought a glow of satisfaction to Elin’s heart.

Gus harrumphed again. “You complaining about the way I cook?”

Sam grinned. “No more than you do.”

Gus gave a dry chuckle. “Never did figure out how to make a decent meal. Sure am glad you came along.” He patted Elin’s hand, causing the glow inside to grow warmer.

Gus shifted his attention to Joey. “I remember when your pa was about your size.”

Joey looked at Sam with wide eyes.

Sam shook his head. “He doesn’t mean me. I’m sorry. Your pa is Harry and Harry isn’t here.”

Joey looked down.

Elin reached out to pat his shoulder. So did Sam and their hands touched in the middle of Joey’s back. It was all she could do not to jerk back as her nerves twitched.

Slowly, as naturally as she could, she withdrew her hand. Sam did the same thing.

She hadn’t made dessert but she’d be sure to have some for supper.

Sam pushed back. “I’m riding out to check on the herd this afternoon. I’ll be back before dark.” He went to the door and opened it and let out a groan. “More company.”

Elin glanced past him. A cloud of dust tailed toward the ranch. She hurried about cleaning up the kitchen.

Sam watched the visitors draw closer. “Sure hope it’s not another would-be wife for Harry and another forgotten child of his.”

Elin’s heart stalled. Her hands held the now-clean baking dish. She seemed incapable of moving. There couldn’t be another woman seeking marriage with Harry. Could there? Even worse, there couldn’t be another child growing up without a father.

Except the more she heard about Harry, the more she understood it was possible.

“I was here first,” she said with as much firmness as she could muster. “I am staying.”