“You … you want me to take Charlie and live in the Petersons’ house?” The statement came slowly, still not making sense even when spoken.
“Well, it's not really the Petersons’ house. It's mine.” Charles urged Charlie back into her arms. “And it will be yours once you move there. It's one of the best pieces of land I have on the property.”
“And …” Realization began to dawn, a slow, sinking feeling curling in her stomach. “You won't be there with us.”
“Of course I'll be there when I can.” He ran a hand through his hair and stepped back. “But the land requires me to work from the main house to take care of things.”
Her jaw tightened. “Then why can't me and Charlie come stay with you there?”
“Kizzie.” He ground out her name, nothing like how he'd said it earlier. “We've talked about this. There's no way I can marry you until my mama dies.”
Pain pulsed in her chest, but she stepped forward. His mama was closer to Kizzie's granny's age than her mama's but still, not too old. “I didn't say marry. I said stay with you.”
“You know that can't happen, since we're not married. And if I marry you …” He waved toward her, and the action stung, dismissive. “Somebody without any money or status, my mama will disinherit me, and then we'll have nothing.”
“But …” Her desires and expectations wrestled against his offering. Didn't he, at least, offer her something? A home? “When will we get married, Charles? I can't stay unmarried to you and sharing your bed forever.”
He rested his hands on her shoulders, his smile resurrecting but not reaching his eyes. “I've wanted to marry you since the first day I saw you, but without my inheritance, I can't offer you anything.”
“Your heart is a good start.”
His gaze softened. “You have that already. You always have, but to live the life I want to give you, we need money.” He squeezed her shoulders. “You and Charlie are mine, and I'll take care of you, but right now, the only way I can do that is to provide you a home.”
Home? But without him?
She looked down at the baby in her arms. Her heart swelled with need, hope. What choice did she have, if she wanted to be near Charles and take care of her baby?
“Isn't that enough for now?”
He rushed ahead, giving no time for an answer. “And just wait until you see what I have planned for the house, Kizzie. A new cookstove, a fence around the backyard. And I've already planned to have rugs on the floors to keep you warm through the winter.”
His apparent pleasure curbed a little of the ache growing inside her for something she couldn't quite define. She ignored it and embraced his offering. “Sounds mighty nice.”
“It is. Just wait and see.” He looked over his shoulder toward the door. “Which reminds me that I need to make sure a new bedstead is ordered for you too.” His attention dropped to Charlie. “And a cradle.”
He pressed a kiss to her forehead and stepped to the door, cramming his hat down on his head as he went. “I'll be back to help you move soon, all right?”
She nodded, breathing in the cold air the open door swept into the room.
“See you then.”
Kizzie stood in the quiet of the room, the crackle of the fire the only sound.
The bridge of her nose tingled, and her eyes stung. The strangest sense of … what? Lostness? Loneliness? Something ached through her chest. Why? Wasn't she getting so many things she wanted? Time with Charles. A place for her and Charlie?
She looked at the baby in her arms. He returned her stare as he sucked his fist. Kizzie ran a finger down his cheek, the ache branching deeper. “We'll be all right, little one. I'll make sure we are.”
But the admission failed to find its way to her trembling heart. She wasn't strong enough to make a promise like that. Hadn't they almost been killed by coyotes only a few days ago? Wasn't she living off the kindness of someone else?
Voices pulled her attention back toward the kitchen, Joshua's boots beating across the floor. He rounded the threshold in front of Nella, his dark eyes zeroing in on Kizzie.
“Mr. Charles just left here, and I don't like what I heard, Miss Kizzie.”
Kizzie's body tensed at the edge in Joshua's voice. Would they cast her out too? When they knew she'd soon be living in sin in a house Charles made for her?
“I can't just stay here with y'all.” Her words wobbled out, and she looked to Nella for some help.
“You got a place here for as long as you need, girl.” Nella stepped forward, her attention moving from Charlie back to Kizzie's face. “But did we hear right by Mr. Charles that you'll be moving to the Peterson place?”
