Texas Cinderella

“So where is our friend Duchess?” she asked as she rubbed the horse’s neck. “Did she get the chance to leave the livery today?”

“She did indeed.”

At the sound of the male voice, Cassie Lynn turned to see Mr. Walker leading the mare into the corral. Her pulse immediately kicked up a notch.

“She and the buckboard were rented out to a Mr. Hendricks to transport a load of lumber.” Mr. Walker gave Duchess a final pat before removing the lead and closing the gate to the corral.

Cassie Lynn smiled. “I understand you’re working here now?”

“I am. A few hours a day, just to pay for River’s upkeep.” He moved around to where the trough was situated, checked the water level and began working the pump. “So, do you stop by here every day?”

She nodded. “Most days, anyway. It’s my favorite part of the day.” She held out another carrot as Duchess pranced up to her. “These two ladies and I are good friends.” Then she reached out to touch River’s muzzle. “And I hope this handsome gent and I soon will be.”

“River likes you.” Mr. Walker sounded surprised. “He’s pretty discerning when it comes to who he lets get close to him.”

“I believe the carrot might have had something to do with it,” she said drily. Then she turned to face him fully. “Actually, though, I was hoping I’d run into you.”

He raised a brow. “Were you now?”

Her cheeks warmed as she realized how that had sounded, and she rushed to clarify. “I mean, I told Mrs. Flanagan, the lady I work for, about meeting you and the children. And she thought it might be good to have the three of you over for supper, just as a neighborly gesture, you being new to town and all. Anyway, she asked me to invite you to join us this evening. If you’re free and you’d like to come, that is.” Cassie Lynn mentally winced. She wasn’t normally one to babble, but felt that’s exactly what she’d just been doing.

He kept working the pump. “That’s mighty nice of you ladies, but please don’t feel obliged.”

Was he going to refuse? “We’re not inviting you because we feel obliged. It’s something we want to do.”

“Still, I wouldn’t want to take advantage.”

Why did he seem so reluctant? “Actually, you’d be doing me a favor,” she said diffidently.

He looked up from his task. “How’s that?”

“Mrs. Flanagan is currently confined to a wheelchair. That’s why I’m working for her, to take care of her and do the things around the house that she can’t do for herself from that chair.”

He finished pumping the water and leaned against the fence, facing her. “Sorry to hear that, but I don’t understand where the favor comes in.”

“With her being confined to the house the way she is, I think it would really cheer her up to have some new folks to talk to.”

He studied her face for a long moment, as if mentally weighing some issue. Had she pressed too hard? Did he really not want to be their guest for some reason?

She was trying to steel herself to accept his refusal when he finally spoke up. “All right then. The kids and I would be pleased to accept your generous invitation. What time should we be there?”

Relieved, she gave him a bright smile. “We normally eat supper around six o’clock.”

His lips twisted in a wry grin. “And I guess I should also ask just where there is.”

Cassie Lynn gave him the directions, then looked around. “Where are Noah and Pru?”

His expression immediately closed off. “They’re back at the hotel.” He straightened and gave a short nod. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to work.” And with that he turned and headed toward the stable.

Cassie Lynn stared at his back for a moment, wondering at his abrupt change in mood. Had he been put off by her question?

She turned and slowly headed back to Mrs. Flanagan’s, replaying the conversation in her mind. He said he’d left the children at the hotel. Were they alone? She could see why that would embarrass him. But he was new to town, so it was understandable that he hadn’t found a caretaker for them. If she wasn’t already committed to Mrs. Flanagan, she would have been happy to take that position herself.

But she would make a point of giving him some recommendations this evening.

Not only was she happy to help, but she wanted to do anything she could to make it easy for him to settle in here.

If that’s what he wanted to do.

* * *

Riley went about his tasks at the livery automatically. It was the kind of work he knew well and was comfortable with. He didn’t mind working with and around horses, even when he was asked to muck out the stalls. It was good, honest labor.

But what he really itched to do right now was saddle up River and take him out for a long run. Riding across wide-open spaces was something he craved, the way a hawk craved skimming the air currents. It made him feel free and alive. It also cleared his mind and helped him see things more clearly.

And the ability to think clearly was something he definitely needed right now.

He wasn’t sure why he’d just accepted Miss Vickers’s invitation. Ever since he’d taken the kids from their home in Wyoming and set out on this never-ending journey, he’d made it a practice to keep the three of them to themselves as much as possible. All things considered, it was best if they not draw any attention to themselves. It also made it easier to slip away when the time came to move on.

And it always came.

He’d had every intention of following that same course of action here by politely refusing her invitation.

But somehow, when he’d opened his mouth, yes came out instead of no. He still wasn’t certain how that had happened. Maybe it was because he was getting travel-weary, or that the constant worry over whether Guy would catch up with them was wearing on him.

Because it certainly couldn’t have anything to do with Miss Vickers herself. After all, in other towns, there’d been other ladies, some equally as pretty, some equally as interesting, who’d tried to claim his attention, and he’d never faltered from his course.

Then again, none had been pretty and interesting in quite the same way as Miss Vickers. A way that tugged at something inside him.

Riley gave his head a mental shake, pushing aside that totally irrational thought. It was more likely that he’d slipped up because he was just tired.

Her question about the kids had brought him up short, though. Brought him back to his senses. It was probably innocent, but he’d been put in tough spots by nosy, well-meaning folks before, folks who wanted explanations about where they’d come from, where they were going, what had happened to the kids’ parents. Trust had never come easy to Riley and nothing that had happened the last couple of years had changed that.

He toyed a moment with the idea of finding a plausible excuse to cancel on her. Then he discarded it. Doing that would call as much if not more attention to themselves than if he just followed through. Besides, reneging on a promise, even one as minor as this, didn’t sit well with him.

It was just one meal, after all. And once he’d fulfilled his obligation to attend, he could insert some distance, put up some walls. Which shouldn’t be difficult since he and the kids weren’t going to be here more than a few days anyway.

Grabbing a pitchfork, Riley headed for the hay stall, but before he could get to work, he heard someone step inside the livery from the street.

A new customer? Riley quickly looked around for Mr. Humphries, but when he didn’t spot the owner, moved forward himself. “Hello. Is there something I can do for you?”

The man gave him an easy smile. “Actually, I heard Fred had hired someone new and thought I’d come around and introduce myself. I’m Ward Gleason, the sheriff around these parts.”

Riley hoped his expression didn’t give anything away. “Good to meet you, Sheriff.” He pulled off his work gloves and extended his hand. “I’m Riley Walker.”

“Mr. Walker.” The lawman shook his hand and gave a short nod. Then he released it and eyed Riley with a casual glance that didn’t fool him one bit. “Mind if I ask what brings you to our little town?”

He’s only doing his job, Riley told himself. Surely there wasn’t anything more to it than that. “Not at all. I’ve got my niece and nephew with me and we’re making our way to California. But since we’re not in a hurry and they are kids, I’m making frequent stops along the way to give them a chance to get out and about and see other parts of the country.” That was true, as far as it went.

“Any particular reason you chose to stop here?”

Riley shrugged, keeping his demeanor open and casual. “I make it a point of never traveling more than a few days at a time. My niece was getting restless and this just happened to be a good stopping off point.”

“Just the luck of the draw, is that it?”

“I guess you could say that.” How much longer would this thinly disguised interrogation last?

But the lawman didn’t seem to be in a hurry to take his leave. He crossed his arms and leaned against a support post. “So this isn’t a permanent stop for you?”

“Nope.” Riley placed his hands on top of the pitchfork handle and leaned his weight against it, trying to emulate the sheriff’s relaxed pose. “Don’t plan to be here more than a few days.” Maybe shorter if the sheriff took too keen an interest in them.

“And where are your niece and nephew right now?”

Keep it casual. “They’re resting at your town’s fine hotel.”

“Hi there, Sheriff.” Mr. Humphries’s hail turned both men’s heads toward the side office. “You looking to rent a buggy?”

Riley tried not to let his relief at the interruption show.

The sheriff straightened. “Hello, Fred. No, I’m just getting acquainted with Mr. Walker here.”

Fred Humphries gave Riley a smile. “Well, he’s a good worker, at least so far. And he seems to know his way around horses, too.”

Uncomfortable with standing there while he was being talked about, Riley cleared his throat. “I think that’s my cue to get back to work.” He nodded to both men and headed toward the hay stall once more.

Riley jabbed the pitchfork into the hay with a little more force than was necessary. Did every newcomer to town come under such scrutiny or was there something about him and the kids that had brought them to Sheriff Gleason’s notice?

Now that he had come to the sheriff’s notice, though, he’d need to be more careful than ever. Not that he’d done anything illegal, but getting certain matters untangled if they came to light could prove tricky.

It seemed the sooner he and the kids left Turnabout, the better.

* * *

Later that afternoon, Riley exited the hotel with Noah and Pru, feeling unsettled. For one thing, he hadn’t had the chance to saddle up River and go for a ride as he’d hoped. Mr. Humphries had asked for his help repairing one of the stall gates and he’d felt obliged to agree. By the time that was done he’d had to get back to the hotel and check on the kids. Riley didn’t like to leave them alone for more than a couple hours at a time. But they’d be boarding the train again in a few days, and he had hoped to get a lot of riding in while they were here.

The other reason for his unsettled mood was that he found himself wondering for the hundredth time why he was going through with this. He’d let down his guard when Miss Vickers looked at him with such entreaty in her gaze, thinking that one meal with her and her employer couldn’t hurt anything.

But it was better to remember that he couldn’t afford to have someone look too deeply into their situation, than to keep pondering over the way he felt when he was with her.

It was probably just as well that this was only a temporary stop along their unending journey.

Noah all but skipped along the sidewalk, seeming hardly able to contain his excitement. “I like Miss Vickers. She’s really nice.”

Pru cut her uncle a quizzical look. “Uncle Riley must think so, too, if he’s letting us go to her house.”

Riley mentally winced that his distrust of everyone they met was rubbing off on the kids. “It’s only for supper,” he said, feeling strangely defensive. “Besides, she helped Noah at the livery yesterday, so it would have been impolite to turn down her invitation.”

“It doesn’t matter why we’re going, Pru,” Noah said. “This is gonna be a whole lot better than eating in our room or in the hotel restaurant.”

“Just don’t get used to it,” Riley warned. “Like I said, this is a one-time thing.” He felt a small pang of regret as he said that. Which was odd. How had the woman, after only two brief encounters, gotten under his skin this way?

As they approached the house Miss Vickers had directed him to, Riley studied it with an objective eye. It was a modest white, one-story structure with a high roof, a porch in front that stretched the entire width, and a large swing hanging on one end. Turning onto the front walk, he realized this would be the first time he and the kids would enter a family home since they’d left Pru and Noah’s own home in Long Straw, Wyoming.

Riley ushered them up the porch steps, making certain to rein in some of Noah’s exuberance. Knocking at the front door, he steeled himself. They would visit, share the meal and that would be that. In three or four days they’d board the train and resume their journey.

Miss Vickers opened the door almost immediately and smiled warmly. “Welcome. Please come in.”

“Good evening.” He nodded to her as they entered.

She returned his greeting, then smiled down at the children. “Hello, Noah, Pru. It’s so nice to see you again.”

Pru nodded shyly, while Noah looked around with eager curiosity. She led them into the parlor, where an older woman with faded blond hair sat waiting for them, commanding the room as if she sat on a throne rather than a wheelchair.

Miss Vickers quickly made the introductions. Then she waved to the sofa. “Please, sit down. We have a few minutes before supper is ready.”

Riley waited until she herself had taken a seat near her employer before ushering the kids to the sofa.

Mrs. Flanagan leaned back, with the air of a queen granting an audience. “Well now, Cassie Lynn tells me you all just arrived in town yesterday. What brings you to Turnabout?”

Riley repeated the answer he’d given the sheriff.

Their hostess frowned. “So you’re not planning to be here very long.”

“No, ma’am, not more than a few days.” Was it his imagination or was there a shadow of disappointment in Miss Vickers’s expression? If so, she covered it quickly.

Still, the thought that she might wish he would stay longer bolstered his spirits in a way that made no sense at all.

It was a good thing this would be a one-time visit and that they would be leaving town in a few days’ time. It appeared the kids weren’t the only ones who felt the pull of this taste of family home warmth.

Which was strange, because even before he’d had to go on the run with the kids, he’d led a less-than-settled life.

Well, there was no way he’d let one look from a young lady, no matter how winsome, further complicate his life.

Which meant he should do whatever he could, short of being impolite, to speed up this little outing.

He leaned forward looking for an opening to move things along.

Chapter Five

Cassie Lynn felt a stab of disappointment at Mr. Walker’s announcement of his intent to leave Turnabout soon. Because he’d taken a job at the livery, she’d just assumed his move here was more or less permanent. Wishful thinking on her part, it seemed.

She hadn’t realized until now just how much she’d been hoping Mr. Walker would be the man who would become her marriage partner. Then again, perhaps it was better this way. She’d already decided it would be best to marry someone she had no emotional ties to.

It was a setback, but not a major one. She’d just have to turn her attention to finding another candidate for her husband.

“Why are you in that wheelchair?”

Noah’s artless question pulled Cassie Lynn back to the present.

“Noah!” Mr. Walker’s sharply uttered reprimand was met with a confused look from the boy.

But Mrs. Flanagan flapped her hand at the boy’s uncle. “Let him be.” Then she turned to Noah. “Because I injured my leg, that’s why.”

He stood and moved closer. “Does it still hurt?”

The widow responded as if it had been a perfectly sensible question. “It aches a bit.”

He tilted his head to study the wheels. “Can you get around in that thing yourself or does someone have to push you?”

She drew herself up. “I’ll have you know, young man, that I manage quite well on my own.”

Cassie Lynn hid a smile as she watched the exchange. Noah didn’t seem at all put off by Mrs. Flanagan’s manner. And for her part, the widow seemed to actually be enjoying the give-and-take.

A moment later Cassie Lynn noticed Pru, who was seated at her uncle’s side, sit up straighter and stare at something across the room. Following the girl’s gaze, she saw Dapple stretched out near the fireplace. The cat was watching them with half-closed eyes while his tail swished lazily back and forth.

While Noah and Mrs. Flanagan continued their spirited but unorthodox conversation, Cassie Lynn leaned toward the little girl. “I see you’ve spotted Dapple. Do you like cats?”

Pru nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

“I’m afraid Dapple’s a little wary of strangers, but perhaps if I introduce you, you can make friends with him. Would you like that?”

Pru nodded more enthusiastically this time.

Cassie Lynn caught Mr. Walker’s gaze for a moment. The approval in his expression caught her off guard and she felt warmth climb in her cheeks.

Quickly turning back to Pru, she stood and held out her hand. After only a moment’s hesitation, the girl grasped it and let herself be led across the room.

As Cassie Lynn eased the way for Pru and Dapple to get acquainted, she imagined she could feel Mr. Walker’s gaze on her. But that was foolish. He was no doubt just keeping an eye on his niece.

When she turned to escort Pru, who now held Dapple, back to her seat, Mr. Walker was once more focused on Noah and Mrs. Flanagan.

“If you’ll excuse me,” Cassie Lynn said to the room at large, “I’ll go check on supper. We should be ready to eat in just a few minutes.”

Mr. Walker stood as she made her way across the room. “Is there something I can help you with?”

He sounded almost eager, but she shook her head. “Thank you, but you’re a guest here. I can manage.”

“Nonsense. I hope you won’t stand on ceremony with me. My ma taught me to help out in the kitchen rather than expect to be waited on. And helping is the least I can do to repay you ladies for your generous dinner invitation.” He turned to Mrs. Flanagan. “That is, if you don’t mind me leaving the kids here with you for a few minutes?”

The widow waved her hand. “Go on ahead, we’ll be fine.”

With a smile, Mr. Walker turned back to Cassie Lynn. “Lead the way.”

She wasn’t quite sure what to make of his offer. Her father and brothers had certainly never felt obliged to help her with what they considered women’s work. She’d just assumed all men felt that way.

“Have you worked for Mrs. Flanagan very long?” he asked as they moved toward the kitchen.

His question brought her thoughts back to the present. “Just a little over two weeks. That’s when she hurt her leg.”

He nodded. “She seems like a feisty woman.”

Cassie Lynn gave a smile at that understatement. “She is that. It’s chafing at her not to be able to do for herself.”

They’d arrived at the kitchen and Mr. Walker inhaled appreciatively, his expression blissful. “That sure does smell good.”

“Thank you. It’s a venison roast, one of Mrs. Flanagan’s favorite dishes.”

He rubbed his hands together. “All right now, what can I do to help?”

Cassie Lynn gave him a challenging look. “How are you at setting the table?”

He drew himself up with mock pride. “I’m an expert. It’s a skill my mother insisted I master before I turned ten.”

“Smart lady.” She moved to the counter where the dishes were already stacked and waiting. “Mrs. Flanagan wants to eat in the dining room this evening rather than here in the kitchen, so I need to carry all the place settings down the hall. If you’ll grab the plates and cutlery, I’ll grab the glasses and napkins and you can follow me.”

He gave a short bow. “I’m yours to command.”

Taking him at his word, she led the way toward the dining room. Once there he helped her arrange the plates and flatware around the table, then returned with her to the kitchen and helped her transport all the food to the dining room, as well.

As they worked, they chatted about his horse, which she learned he’d raised from a colt and had a deep affection for. Just from some of the things he let fall in conversation, she could tell he thought of River as much more than a pack animal or means of transportation.

He seemed quite comfortable and at ease working beside her, as if he enjoyed her company. It was a novel feeling, interacting with a man this way. To be honest, she felt flattered and at the same time a little flustered by it all. The more she was around Mr. Walker, the more deeply Cassie Lynn regretted having to scratch his name off her husband-candidate list. She felt that they would have formed a very companionable partnership.

Were there other men who would as readily share her load, share their time and attention with her?

Is this what married life would be like? She was beginning to understand what Mrs. Flanagan had meant by not giving up on the thought of romance. Then she gave her head a mental shake. The man was leaving town in a few days. This was no time to be acting like a schoolgirl.

At last, the table was ready. Cassie Lynn returned to the parlor, with Mr. Walker ambling along at her side.

“Dinner is served,” she announced.

Her companion crossed the room and stepped behind Mrs. Flanagan. “May I?” he asked gallantly as he put his hands on the back of her chair.

The widow sat up straighter, a delighted smile crossing her face before she schooled her expression into its normal disapproving lines. She gave a regal nod and waved a hand.

Cassie Lynn had already removed the chair that normally sat at the head of the table, so it was easy for Mr. Walker to wheel his hostess into position there. Once Mrs. Flanagan was properly situated, Cassie Lynn pointed him to the spot across from the widow, while she took a seat facing Noah and next to Pru.

Once they’d all taken their places, Mrs. Flanagan looked across at Mr. Walker. “Would you offer the blessing, sir?”

“Of course.” He immediately bowed his head.

“Thank you, Jesus, for the meal we have before us and for the effort and skill of the one who prepared it. We newcomers are grateful that You have brought us to this place and for the generosity of the ladies who have welcomed us into their company. Bless this meal to the health and nourishment of we Your servants, and we ask especially that You provide a healing grace to Mrs. Flanagan. Amen.”

Cassie Lynn echoed the amen, pleased to learn that Mr. Walker had what sounded like a familiar relationship with the Lord.

As the plates of food were passed around, Mrs. Flanagan took charge of the conversation. “So might I ask how you make your living, Mr. Walker?”

“I grew up on a ranch, and working with horses is about the only real skill I have.”

“Uncle Riley is the best horse trainer around,” Noah said proudly.

Mr. Walker leaned over and gave his nephew a mock punch in the shoulder. “At least the best you ever met,” he said with a teasing grin.

“And is that where you all are headed, someplace where you can work with horses?”

Mr. Walker hesitated a moment as he shifted in his seat. It might have merely been irritation at the intrusive question, but Cassie Lynn got the distinct impression there was more to it than that.