Page 63 of Montana Bride By Christmas
She would not let herself think it might only be her heart that had that feeling and turned to Evan. “What would you like to do today?”
The boy’s eyes went toward the door.
“You want to play outside?”
He nodded.
“That’s a good idea. I’ll take you out as soon as I have the kitchen cleaned.” She washed the dishes and tossed leftoversinto a pot to make soup. The delay would ensure that Hugh had left by the time they went out.
Evan was almost as excited as Happy and squirmed as she helped him put on warm clothing. Outside, the snow sparkled with shards of light in the bright, warm sunshine. The wind had pushed the snow into drifts and odd shapes.
Happy raced around, and Evan did his best to keep up.
While they played, Annie took several armloads of wood to the kitchen.
Her task finished, she leaned against the wall of the house, enjoying the sun and watching Happy and Evan. They’d tired of running about. Evan found a stick and dug at one of the snowdrifts, creating a hole.
Annie’s gaze went beyond the yard. How had her family managed during the storm? Was everyone safe? Was Pa safe? Had he seen the ocean? She missed them all.
Logan and Sadie lived in town but they hoped to build a house next spring and move to the ranch. She could visit them. What would she do with Evan? She’d ask Hugh.
She heard the sound of the front door opening and closing. Had Hugh returned? She realized how long they’d been outside. “Evan, Happy, come along. It’s time to go in.”
Evan carefully stuck his stick into the snowbank, and then he and the pup followed her inside.
Happy flopped on the mat in the corner for a nap.
Annie looked around. “I thought I heard someone at the front door.”
“It was Hugh,” Grandfather said. “He’s in his office.”
“Oh, I wonder how the Barrets are.” She helped Evan take off his coat, his woolen outer pants, and boots, along with his snow-crusted mittens. She hung everything behind the stove to dry. The smell of wet wool soon filled the air, and water dripped to the floor as the snow melted from the clothing.
She spared a glance at the closed office door, hoping it didn’t signify bad news and then stirred the soup. A glance at the clock informed her she had an hour before lunch. Time enough to make biscuits.
A little later, she went to the office door and tapped on it. “Dinner is ready.”
“I’ll be right there.”
She waited, but when she didn’t hear a chair scuff or boots on the floor, she returned to the kitchen and set out the food.
Hugh slipped into the room and sat at the table.
She met his gaze, knowing hers expressed concern. “Was everything okay?”
He looked confused.
“With the Barrets?”
“They were down to their last stick of wood. Other than that, still feisty as ever. I carried in a bunch of wood for them.”
“Good to hear.”
“I was working on my sermon for Sunday. Here it is Friday, and I don’t have anything prepared. I’ll be in there all afternoon if anyone is looking for me.”
That meant she couldn’t ask him to watch Evan. Perhaps she’d take him with her, but was he ready to go out? She had no wish to push him harder than he was prepared for.
She waited until the meal was over, and Hugh headed back to his office, and then she hurried after him. “Do you have any objection to me taking Evan out to visit Logan and Sadie?”
