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SADIE
Wally left.He said he’d never be able to concentrate on the right thingamabob if he stayed, which made her laugh. She knew he’d be back for the rest of the tours the day after next, but all the same, the house sure felt empty without his big ole boots in it. How had she come to rely on his presence so much in such a small amount of time? Crazy to think that she’d taken longer to fall for James than Wally.
Not that she’d fallen. Oh, who the hell was she kidding? She liked the man, and he filled a big hole in her heart, her world, and well, he certainly knew what to do in bed. Tremors still ransacked her body whenever she thought about what they’d done.
“You sure are smiling a lot considering I blew up the kitchen,” Teddy said, narrowing his eyes in suspicion.
Sadie shook her head, realizing she’d been twirling the same bean in her hands for minutes without snapping it.
“Never you mind,” she said. “Just get the house in order for our guests and pray that they eat less than the groups that came through yesterday since we won’t be making biscuits for a while.”
Sighing, Teddy went back to scrubbing on his hands and knees. Ever since Wally gave him that pill for his breathing, her son’s stamina had tripled. Yet another thing to be grateful for when it came to Wally.
She still couldn’t believe he’d gotten the deed signed and threatened Amos on her behalf. It was everything she’d dreamed of happening since James took his last breath. And yet…she hadn’t felt the warm comfort of happiness since that moment, either, and hadn’t dared hope for more than safety for her and Teddy. But then Wally had shown up and somehow given her back both.
When the knock sounded on the front door, Sadie couldn’t suppress a smile. The fool couldn’t stay away from her either. She tossed the bean aside and wiped her hands against a rag, hastily dropping it before swinging the door open.
Her smile withered at the sight of Amos’s face, and her hand twitched as she mentally assessed the physical distance between her and the shotgun.
“Ain’t you gonna invite me in?” Amos asked, annoyed.
Sadie nearly slammed the door in his face. But instead, she rolled her shoulders back and leaned against the doorjamb, blocking his view of the inside and Teddy.
“Wasn’t planning on company, Amos. You ought to check with a woman before you show up at her door. Especially an engaged one.”
“Speaking of fiancés,” Amos said, voice as oily as his eyes. “Where is Mr. Doyle? I have a few questions for him.”
“Busy,” she said, arms crossed.
“Well, tell him to come into town and find me.”
“What for?” Sadie asked, narrowing her eyes. What is he up to now? Nothing good, that’s for sure.
Amos’s grin could’ve belonged to the devil himself as he drank her in in a way that made her shudder. She suddenly regretted having asked, feeling like she’d just fallen into a trap.
“I suppose it’s important you know the truth, Ma’am. I wouldn’t want you to go and give yourself and your hand to a fake.”
“Wally ain’t no fake,” she retorted without thinking. Her fingertips went numb with fear. How’d Amos figure it out?
“Well, I’m hoping he can explain to me then why when I telegrammed down to Tucson, no one ever heard of a man named Wally Doyle, especially one related to the Rogers family.”
Sadie’s throat went dry as her lips snapped closed.
“That’s because he’s from Washington,” Teddy said, using the tip of the shotgun to edge the door open and point the barrel at Amos.
Sadie stood up straight.
“But your mother said—” Amos sputtered, flustered.
“He’s Pa’s distant cousin from Washington. He was visiting Tucson when Pa got ill. Now git before I accidentally shoot you.”
Sadie swelled with pride as her eleven-year-old son leveled the shotgun at Amos’s face. I suppose I oughtn’t be proud of him lying so well or threatening the sheriff-mayor’s life. But dammed if she wasn’t impressed.
“You heard the boy, Amos.” She shrugged her shoulders, enjoying the way the man’s face paled as he backed down to the dirt path in front of the house. She waved before slamming the door shut and throwing the bolt over to lock it.
The cool wood felt good against her forehead as she pressed into the door, getting her bearings.
“You okay, Ma?” Teddy asked, setting aside the shotgun.
