Chapter 12

12

Letty had never eaten breakfast so slowly in her life. Usually she gobbled down her food, in a hurry to finish her chores so she could scamper off on a new adventure with Rusty. Adventure definitely awaited her at the end of this meal, but so did an alarming amount of change. The kind that eradicated everything that was comfortable and familiar, burning the bridge to home so she could never return.

She pushed the last bit of scrambled egg around on her plate, unwilling to capture it with her fork just yet. After today, home would mean something completely different. A new place. New people. New responsibilities. She prayed it would come with new happiness as well, but peering into the dark abyss of the unknown left her feeling ill-prepared and inadequate.

A hand closed over hers. Letty’s head swiveled to take in her Grandmother’s compassionate gaze and sweet smile. “God’s already seen your future, child.” Her words were low, meant for Letty’s ears alone, though they swelled inside Letty’s heart like a yeasted dough threatening to spill out of its pan. “Nothing you’re about to encounter is a surprise to him. You might not be able to see past this moment, but he can. Trust him to lead you and stand by your side through every danger and uncertainty you face. You’re not alone, Letty. You’re never alone.”

Uncaring that she was about to subject a rugged Pinkerton agent to an uncomfortable emotional outburst, Letty jumped from her seat and crouched by her grandmother’s chair. With tears spilling over the brims of her eyes, she wrapped her arms around Grandmother’s waist and laid her head in her lap as she had when she’d been a small girl.

“I love you.” Her voice cracked as quiet sobs choked out any other spoken sentiments.

Her grandmother’s hand came to rest on top of her head, and Letty swore she could feel love pass through those fingertips into her entire body.

“I love you, too, sweet girl. And I’m so proud of the woman you’ve become. Your kind heart and courageous spirit will serve you well in the days ahead, but it’s your faith that will sustain you.” Her hand moved to cup Letty’s cheek, and she gently urged her face upward. “There’s no problem bigger than our God. Remember that.”

Letty nodded, her heart squeezing as she noted the tear tracks staining her grandmother’s cheeks. She’d never wanted to be the source of this dear woman’s distress, but in this moment, she needed that visual evidence of affection, to know beyond all doubt that she was loved in spite of all her fears and inadequacies.

“Now, wipe those eyes,” Grandmother ordered with a sniff of her own and a moment of heavy blinking. “You’ve got a journey to embark upon, and postponing isn’t going to make leaving any easier.”

She was right, of course. But as Letty rubbed her eyes with the edge of her apron, it occurred to her that Grandmother’s wisdom in this case stemmed directly from personal experience. Fifteen years ago, she’d left her children and her home to fulfill a purpose thrust upon her by circumstances beyond her control. Never once had she looked back or bemoaned her lot. She’d not focused on what she’d lost, but on the blessings surrounding her every day, and by doing so, she created a home brimming with love.

The time had come for Letty to do the same.

Once she had her face dried and her nose wiped, she chanced a look at her escort as she pushed in her chair and reached for her plate.

Philip Carmichael studied his coffee with all the diligence of a prospector checking his pan for gold flakes. Poor man probably regretted that second helping of biscuits and gravy. If he hadn’t been delayed by the food, he might have escaped the cabin before the waterworks began. He no doubt thought her a weepy female now. The sort who would fall apart at the least provocation. She sighed softly as she stacked the other plates on top of her own and headed for the sink.

Hopefully, she’d have the chance to correct his early impression of her before they reached Houston. His opinion of her shouldn’t matter, but it did. Maybe because he was the first person she’d be spending significant time with outside of her grandmother for more than a decade. Or maybe it was because he’d proven himself to be both reasonable and kind in his dealings with her, earning her good opinion.

“Here. Let me help.” Philip pushed back his chair and reached for the biscuit basket, then stacked the meat platter, egg dish, and gravy bowl atop it, all while keeping his coffee mug hooked over his index finger.

Add another tally mark to the good-opinion column. A man undaunted by helping with the dishes. A rare breed, according to Grandmother. Of course, he might just be trying to hurry them along, but even if that was his goal, he’d chosen a rather chivalrous way to go about it.

Once everything had been cleared from the table, Letty pumped water into the tin dishpan, then added hot water from the kettle along with some shaved soap. As she lowered the stack of plates into the tub and reached for her dishrag, she felt Philip pass behind her, his large frame barely squeezing between her and the table.

Goodness! Had the kitchen always been this small? She pressed her belly against the side of the sink as heat flushed her cheeks. Not wanting their visitor to guess the cause, she leaned over the dishpan, hoping he’d attribute whatever color was blooming in her face to the steamy water.

The Pinkerton snatched the dish towel off the rack and stood ready to dry, though he angled his body so he could see both the sink and the table. Thankfully, such a position kept him a good foot or two away from her, thereby allowing her breathing and cheek temperature to return to normal.

Just focus on the dishes. Pretend you’re handing them off to Grandmother.

Keeping her head down, she passed along the first clean plate.

“I delivered your letter to Mr. Darby.” Philip’s rich, deep-toned voice filled the space and obliterated any pretense of him being a small elderly woman. “He promised to fetch you after the last train runs this afternoon. Will you be all right on your own here until then? I can hitch up your wagon and deliver you myself before Miss Hood and I depart, if you wish.”

Letty’s scrubbing slowed. He would do that?

An odd sensation beset her midsection. A warm melty feeling, not unlike the one she’d experienced when she’d first found Rusty, lost or abandoned by his pack. The puppy’s dark eyes, adorable face, and fuzzy fur had won her over on sight, sparking an instant affinity that had grown into a devoted friendship.

She cast a sideways glance at Philip Carmichael. Nothing about the man said cute or adorable . His lean frame and angular face brought to mind descriptors like strapping and capable. Yet beneath the commanding exterior lay a patient, thoughtful heart—one possessing the same power to evoke melty middles as a pair of puppy eyes.

“There’s no need for you to delay your trip on my account, young man.” Grandmother batted away Philip’s offer with a wave of her hand and reminded Letty to get back to the dishes in the process. “I might be a bit peaked after my spell, but I’m no invalid. I’ll make do just fine.”

As if to prove her point, she rose from her chair and tottered over to where Philip stood, dish towel in hand. She grabbed hold of his arm and craned her neck back in order to shoot a stern look directly into his eyes.

“Taking care of my granddaughter is your first and only concern from this moment on. Do we understand each other?”

He nodded solemnly. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Good. Then give me that dish towel and take her out of here before the day’s half-gone.”

Letty turned back to the gravy boat she’d just dropped into the dishpan and scrubbed with renewed vigor. “I can have these done in just a few minutes. I don’t want you wearing yourself out.”

“Young lady, put down that dishrag this minute and dry your hands. I’ll not have you arguing with me and ruining our farewell.”

She wanted to argue for the sake of her grandmother’s health, but the idea of parting on less-than-affectionate terms had her pulling her hands from the dishwater.

Grandmother met her by the sink and wrapped her into an embrace filled with so much love, Letty’s heart nearly burst from trying to contain it. She squeezed her eyes shut to keep the tears from starting up again and forced herself to breathe as they slowly separated.

“It’s time for you to go, Letty girl.” Grandmother stroked her hair and tucked a stray wisp behind her ear. “I’ll be waiting for your telegram.”

Letty’s shoulders straightened at the reminder of their promised reunion. “I’ll send for you as soon as it’s safe.”

Grandmother smiled, her eyes moist. “I know you will.” She lifted her chin and patted Letty’s arm. “Go on with you, now.”

Letty nodded, reaching behind her back to untie her apron strings. By the time she had the apron off, Philip had put on his hat and opened the front door. The gentle autumn breeze that blew into the cabin hit her like an artic blast of reality.

She was really leaving—leaving everything familiar and beloved behind. But that was the cost of adventure. One must leave the comfortable to experience the remarkable.

“‘Be strong and of a good courage.’” The familiar Bible verse fell from her grandmother’s lips with conviction, infusing Letty’s spirit with renewed boldness. “‘Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.’”

Letty leaned in for one last quick hug, then grabbed her cape from the hook by the door and ran outside before sorrow could regain its hold on her. She didn’t even stop to pet Rusty. Just strode straight to her mare and mounted. Shadow must have sensed her scattered emotions for she tossed her head and sidestepped. Letty leaned forward and patted the horse’s neck.

“It’s all right, girl. I’m a bit of a mess at the moment, but a good ride will put us both to rights, won’t it? I’m afraid we won’t be galloping this morning, but what we’ll miss in speed, we’ll more than make up for in distance. We’ll get into a routine, and everything will settle. You’ll see.”

Hopefully.

By the time she straightened in the saddle, Philip had collected the packhorse’s lead line and mounted his gray. Rusty moved to investigate, and the little bay balked.

“Rusty! Come!” They didn’t need Philip changing his mind about Rusty’s welcome on this journey.

Thankfully, her wolf obeyed, padding over to take up his usual spot by Shadow’s front legs.

“You need to be nice to Mr. Carmichael and his stock,” she warned in a low voice. “They’re part of our family now. At least until we get to Houston. So don’t be stirring up any trouble.”

Rusty sat on his haunches, tipped his head, and made a little whining sound in his throat that sounded an awful lot like “Who, me?”

“Don’t give me that innocent look. I know you too well, you scoundrel.”

His eyes sparkled as he jumped to his feet.

Letty laughed softly. “You’re hopeless.” And completely unrepentant. Yet she adored every furry inch of him.

“Ready?” The masculine voice drew Letty’s attention to the man who held her future in his hands.

She swallowed once, then nodded, sitting up straighter as she met his gaze. “Ready.”

He clicked to his horse and set off at a walk. She nudged Shadow to follow, twisting in the saddle to take one last look at her home.

Grandmother stood in the doorway, hand raised. “Give your mama a hug for me when you see her,” she called.

“I will.” Letty forced a smile as she waved.

Neither spoke the word good-bye , but it lingered heavily in the air between them.

Memorizing every detail about the woman who’d been mother, grandmother, and best friend to her for the majority of her life, Letty craned her neck for one more minute, then turned forward in the saddle and forced her gaze to fasten on the man in the buckskin coat.

Her chin quivered, but she clenched her jaw and pressed her lips together. Grandmother had prepared her for this day, and she’d honor the woman who raised her by meeting the challenge with dignity and courage.

A chapter must end before a new one could begin, and whether she was ready for it or not, her page was turning.