“Of course.”
If Amelia wasn’t mistaken, emotion filled Zach’s eyes. Her thoughts did an about-turn. Watching his pa deteriorate must pain him deeply. She would do her best to share some of that load, at least until she heard from the Dakota farmer.
And if he would let her.
They all bowed their heads, and Pa prayed.
“God is great. God is good. Let us thank Him for our food. Amen.” He beamed at the others.
Tears tugged at Amelia’s eyes. Sometimes it took so little to give others pleasure.
Amelia reached over to cut Poppy’s food. The child ate neatly for someone so young, so at least she didn’t have to worry about Poppy offending anyone. She had told the pretend Zach all these things. She sat across the table from him… a stranger and yet not one.
They finished, and he pushed from the table. “I need to check on the cows.”
Pa pushed back, too. “I’ll go with you.” He sounded as if he had a moment of clarity.
Zach remained in his chair, his lips pursed. He obviously didn’t want to take his pa, but didn’t have the heart to refuse him.
She’d have to rescue Zach. “Pa, would you mind staying home and helping look after Poppy?”
Pa shifted his gaze from Zach to Amelia. “Poppy?” Total confusion in his eyes.
Amelia’s throat tightened. The poor man. And poor Zach looked like he’d been gutshot. Poor Kat. Her head down, she hid behind her mop of hair. Poor Gil, no doubt wishing to bury in a bottle the pain of seeing the man like this.
Amelia pushed back her shoulders. “Poppy, say hi to Gampa.”
Obediently, ever the cheerful child, she touched the elder man’s arm, and he bent to her eye level. “Hi, Gampa.”
“Hi, yourself.” Pa’s face crinkled in a smile. “Your mama says she needs help with you.”
Amelia felt Zach’s surprise at seeing the special connection between the young child and the older man.
Zach tipped his head to one side and gave a crooked grin.
It was a moment of sweet understanding.
She could do with more of those as she navigated this unexpectedly strange situation.
“What do you need me to do?” Pa asked.
Amelia shifted her attention back to the older man. “Would you play with her while I help Gil clean the kitchen?”
“Sure.” Hand in hand, the pair went into the living room. Pa found a basket of toys in the cupboard.
“You have toys?” Amelia couldn’t help her surprise.
“They used to be mine.” Kat shrugged.
“Do you mind her playing with them?”
“Nope. A cowboy ain’t got no use for playthings.”
Zach rolled his eyes and strode from the house.
“I best be going too.” Kat followed, her exaggerated swagger tickling Amelia’s funny bone.
Gil groaned. “That gal needs a mother.” He eyed Amelia. “Or someone like you to make her see sense.”
