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A shrill screamjarred Betsey from her thoughts. She blinked and focused her eyes. They were ambling down the road to the Lloyd place. She’d been so lost in thought, she hadn’t even realized how much time had passed.
Sophie Ann, Aaron’s sister was standing at the corner of the house, a wide smile on her face. The girl was practically bouncing. The majority of her blonde ringlet curls were pulled back away from her face, the rest dangling down her back. She was the kind of pretty Betsey had always wished she’d been and with looks like Sophie Ann had, it wouldn’t be long before suitors started lining up at her door. She was nearly eighteen. Betsey would be surprised if she didn’t already have a special someone waiting to ask for her hand.
Aaron pulled the buckboard to a stop by the house. He hadn’t even set the break before Sophie Ann ran to the side of the wagon, a huge grin on her face. “I’m so glad you came, Betsey. Me and ma have been wanting to come out to see you for weeks but we didn’t want to intrude.”
Samuel chose that moment to wake up. Small sniffles turned into soft cries and Sophie Ann was oohing and awwing and looking like a woman in want of her own baby to hold.
Aaron came around to the side of the wagon and lifted her down, then picked up Samuel’s basket. Betsey reached in and pulled him out, tucking him against her chest. His crying stopped when he looked up at her.
“Well, come on in. Ma’s been cooking and cleaning since breakfast was over and she won’t sit down. Samuel is all the distraction she’ll need.”
Aaron placed his hand on the small of her back. “Not changing your mind, are you?”
“No.” She gave him a nervous smile and let him guide her to the house. When she stepped through the doorway, Keri was there, smiling and looking as happy as a woman could.
“Betsy, you have no idea how excited I was when Aaron said he was bringing you over for lunch.” Keri hugged her, a bit awkwardly because of the way she was holding Samuel, and that beaming smile was still on her face when she pulled away. She looked down at her grandson, eyes shining. “Can I hold him?”
When she looked up, Betsey nodded and handed him over. Keri turned and walked across the room to where Noah was sitting, Sophie Ann right on her heels, and Aaron chuckled then leaned down, whispering in her ear, “And that’s probably the last we’ll see of our son until we leave again.”
The way he said, “our son,” sent her foolish heart to pounding again. He shut the door behind them, put his hand on her back again and led her further into the room.
For all the years she’d known Aaron and Sophie Ann, and for Ben and Aaron being best friends, Betsey had never been inside the Lloyd’s home. The main sitting room and the kitchen to her right was the size of their entire house. This house wasn’t as grand as the Avery ranch house was but it was big and roomy and she could feel the love inside the walls as if it had been planted there during construction and it continued to grow with every passing day.
They stopped by an oversized stuffed chair where Aaron sat Samuel’s basket down. “Where’s Morning Dove?”
“In the barn.”
Aaron took her hand. “Come on. I want you to meet her.”
If she wouldn’t have looked like a complete child, she would have dug her feet in and cried, “I don’t want to,” but Betsey let him lead her outside. She looked back at the house once on the way to the barn. She knew Samuel was safe but it still felt odd leaving him in the care of others.
Nathaniel, Aaron’s little brother, had moved the buckboard to the barn and had unhitched the horse. He glanced their way when they passed him but he didn’t speak or stop what he was doing.
The inside of the barn was well lit and again, bigger than the little house she and Ben had lived their entire lives in. The doors in the upper loft they used to bring hay up were open, the light spilling in to illuminate almost the entire barn. Aaron’s hand tightened, his fingers laced with her own. As much as she should enjoy the small gesture, it only made the reality of what she’d done and had yet to tell Ben about, bleaker.
In the last stall in the row, Morning Dove sat in the hay with a baby goat in her lap. She was in buckskins and some sort of small pouch hung around her neck. Her hair was straight and black and the way the light shined on it made it look like silk as it fell to her waist. She looked up when they stopped by the stall door. She’d not been able to see her clearly the day Aaron got back into town but seeing her now—Aaron telling her nothing had happened between the two of them was hard to believe. Morning Dove was breathtaking. And Betsey felt miserable knowing she could never compete with her. Why would Aaron want her when he had a woman as beautiful as Morning Dove? Her skin was flawless, her brown eyes large and fringed in dark lashes and her mouth was full, her lips rosy. Betsey let go of his hand, sighed and looked away.
Aaron peeked over the stall door. “I can’t believe Gertie is letting you handle her baby already.”
Morning Dove looked to Gertie, the momma goat. “We have an understanding.”
“What sort of understanding?”
“I spoke to her spirt. She is calm.” Morning Dove set the baby down and stood, then exited the stall. She looked her way and smiled. “So, you are this one’s bleeding heart.” Aaron made a choking noise, his eyes wide. His mouth opened as if he were going to say something but Morning Dove smiled at him and said, “Your secrets are safe with me, itákkaa.”
All the color leached from Aaron’s face. “Betsey, this isMorning Dove. She’s a little on the ornery side when she wants to be but otherwise mostly pleasant.”
Betsey smiled in spite of not wanting to. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Morning Dove tipped her head in greeting. “Likewise. I have heard much about you.”
Aaron’s pale face turned a bit pink at her words. The fact he’d discussed her with Morning Dove was surprising. What exactly had he told her that would embarrass him enough to blush?
Voices outside drew their attention and they all three turned to the door. Seeing her brother walking their way was the last thing she expected. “Ben?”
“Hey.” He crossed the barn, his steps slowing as he looked at Morning Dove. He nodded his head at the girl, then looked at her. “My money pouch is in Samuel’s basket. I was playing with him before Aaron came by and sat it down when he knocked on the door. I completely forgot about it after that.”
Ben’s gaze flicked toward Morning Dove before settling on her again. “The basket’s in the house. I’ll go get it.”
